The Last Worker's free-flying hovercraft gameplay is inventive, but its most exciting implications are left boxed up.

A relatively tough but mechanically lean sci-fi strategy game.

Thoughtful and packed with units, but it should be more intuitive to play. [Aug 2003, p.66]

The Cave isn't bad, but it is mystifyingly bland for what it sets out to be – and that ends up being worse than a glorious failure. We need more games like this, with this much love on display. With its actual adventure bits lacking the spark of its concept and artistry though, The Cave ends up sending you on an ill-fated trudge through platform purgatory in more ways than one.

<i>Battle of the Gods</i> could have used a touch of divine inspiration. [July 2006, p.67]

Wheelman executes its core mechanics well, but not much else. [June 2009, p.76]

GreedFall's combat, dialogue, and romance are overshadowed by better RPGs, but it's competent enough to recommend with caveats.

Menacing robots, a gorgeous world, and an intriguing premise, but ultimately too minimalist for its own good.

Payday 3 could be one of the slickest co-op shooters around, but it's mired by a grindy progression system and its always-online nature. It needs some time to cook before it's worth digging in.

I'm optimistic about what Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League can become, but let down by what it is now.

All of the money management amounts to nothing, because the ongoing saga of a single-player dynansty is built on a foundation of unrealistic and unsatisfying gameplay. [Holiday 2003, p.97a]

A really good parody. [Nov 2011, p.76]

This game doesn't take itself too seriously (especially the new surprise ending), which is either a credit or a fault depending on how seriously you take the movies. [Feb 2006, p.35]

A solid fighting game mired in its own questionable presentation. Superseded since its console launch.

With its fundamentals unchanged and last year’s foray into classic cars removed, F1 2014 provides very little beyond a perfunctory car and track.

An interesting story with some beautiful scenery, but let down by half-hearted puzzling and some derivative story beats.

We've always been major supporters of this series, but it's time for the developers to inject some new life into it. [July 2004, p.75]

Little Nightmares 3 adds a welcome online cooperative mode and some freshly bizarre environments, but the series' formula is becoming a little staid.

The freedom, and the constant sense that I’d be surprised when I turned the next corner, somewhat smoothed over the frustrations of Death’s Gambit, but it’d be a stretch to say I enjoyed it as a whole. Figuring out the best strategy for each boss fight is satisfying, but actually beating them isn’t fun enough to justify the pain of battling the stingy stamina system. Throwing myself at the same boss 29 times in a row just wasn’t quite worth the hassle.

Great cooking and foraging systems, but not a lot else to keep you busy.

Nails the look, the sound, and the speed, but Redout stalls on the sensation.

Not worth it as a solo adventure. In co-op, Wildlands is an enjoyable stealth romp that too often gets in its own way.

A capable attempt to recapture the magic of WWE, let down by the decision not to update any single element of the console versions.

All details are overridden by your answer to this very simple question: Just how much do you like Aerosmith? [Feb 2009, p.74]

Just another half-assed console port. [Mar 2009, p.74]

The explosions are amazing, and it’s fun in short bursts, but Just Cause 3 is ultimately an unremarkable, shallow experience.

Serves up a generous range of play styles, but it’s hampered by repetitive levels and a few uninspired design choices.

A pleasant five-hour distraction, but nothing more.