Like being married to Cheryl Cole. [Dec 2008, p.74]

Not quite as awesomely mindblowingly epic as "Civ IV," but it's not far off. [Dec 2008, p.78]

The beauty of it is that the game doesn't place any restrictions upon your ambitions (or lack thereof). [Mar 2007, p.77]

The joy of breaking things apart with giant hammers really is enough to prop up any amount of dull shooting. [Oct 2009, p.58]

It might sound trite, but if you like god games there's nothing here you won't have seen before. [Sept 2009, p.70]

Buy GCII, and you may never need another strategy game ever again. [Dec 2008, p.64]

It's like going to bed with clean sheets, and squirming around because you'd forgotten how great going to bed was. [June 2007, p.85]

And even though the game is rich with tension (certainly enough to offset the mediocre graphics), unless you're at her majesty's pleasure, you probably won't have the time.

A near-perfect sequel. [Jan 2007, p.78]

A huge amount of content. [June 2010, p.82]

Can't wait for more. [Jan 2010, p.82]

All in all, this is a rather well-thought out expansion; Obsidians's release of a broken game is the only betrayal. [Christmas 2007, p.93]

Vast database. [Apr 2009, p.62]

Boss battles are explosive, brutal encounters, while some perfectly cast actors bring each character to life with genuine aplomb. If you leave your brain at the door, you just might find hours of mindless fun here.

Aquaria just oozes quality. [Mar 2008, p.86]

As a brave experiment in all-action shootery, STALKER has certainly succeeded, though with its dearth of personality and many peculiar foibles, you can't help but wish that the publishers had granted GSC some extra time to polish their creation. Oh, hang on a minute... [Apr 2007, p.56]

It holds it all together with coherency, and more of a sense of storytelling than was ever apparent in Season One. [Jan 2008, p.75]

It's an expansion that's clearly been designed with passion. [Jan 2008, p.82]

A superb interface, the ability to garrison your men and unit veterancy are also worthy of high praise.

Once momentum is established there's lots of enjoyment to be had, in both quality and quantity. [May 2010, p.93]

Some of the most polished and laugh-out-loud writing that Telltale, or any other devloper, have made for a game since LucasArts in the '90s. [Mar 2009, p.75]

It's undeniably charming, but how long you remain charmed depends largely on your patience. [Feb 2009, p.68]

With its amazing sets, inventive ways of killing, solid storyline with a great twist at the end and more emphasis on stealth, 47's latest is not only the most accomplished Hitman title ever, but a serious contender in the world of stealth gaming.

So blimmin' addictive. [Jan 2010, p.77]

If you're not a master multitasker, you may want to ditch the Red Bull and play something less intense, but until then we'll keep our bastard-massive UFO hovering right over your base.

Nothing VVVVVV does is actually new or different. [May 2010, p.91]

To be fair though, it's something of a novelty to have room available in a list of negatives to be able to castigate a game's misogynist overtones - because in every other department The Witcher is an intelligent, adult and thoroughly compelling adventure.

With a great story, tons of missions, beautifully rich settings, satisfying fighting and brilliant characterisation, all swaddled in over 20 hours of play, Jade Empire has transcended its Xbox roots to reincarnate itself as a high-kicking, epic RPG for PC. The chi is strong with this one.

While there's still a decent driving model underneath, it's hard to see RACE appealing to fans who've driven Simbin's other titles, and so, this time at least, the hare comes out on top. [Jan 2007, p.87]

A worthy way to end this series; one that got better as time has gone by. [Mar 2010, p.82]

Strong good humour. [Dec 2008, p.77]

Incredible atmosphere. [June 2010, p.76]

The PC market should revel in the fact that it can do console games, and do them better than the consoles can. [Sept 2006, p.70]

Somehow, the game, as a whole, comes together beautifully. [Sept 2010, p.80]

It's funny, clever and thoroughly enjoyable to play. [July 2010, p.86]

The visuals, music, gameplay, feel and balance are all spot on. [Jan 2010, p.64]

Tightened engine. [May 2010, p.78]

The balancing could do with some tweaking, with some enemies too hard to defeat and some bosses too easy. [Aug 2007, p.70]

If you'd like to know what it's like to keep check on every bullet you have left, or how easy it is to parallel park a Panzer, then Red Orchestra is the war game for you. [June 2006, p.78]

The problem is that most of the downloadable content is aimed at specific character types: a pure combat character probably won't give a stuff about spell tomes or a Wizard's tower, while the average mage will find the powerful new quest items totally useless. You're far better off just choosing the content you want online, and this works out a hell of a lot cheaper too, even if you buy everything (£12).

Strong Bad fans will find this episode essential. [Jan 2009, p.75]

Satisfying. [Nov 2009, p.73]

Clever, original and genuinely pleasing to play, this is easily worth the 8.99 pounds you'll pay for it on Steam. [Sept 2009, p.82]

More polished than I ever dreamt it would be.[Christmas 2006, p.86]

Much as I was thrilled by the action, I was equally nonplussed by the lack of emotional connection to the characters and the plot. [Mar 2009, p.64]

TAD is pricey for an add-on pack, but if you can stomach the cost, there's plenty of succulent, meaty goodness to be had from TAD. Plus it will big up your brain, and that can't be a bad thing for a pony. [Christmas 2007, p.82]

However, once you pass the infant stages of the game, play becomes all too familiar, all too repetitive and all too unpolished. I'm not saying avoid Age of Conan - feel free to give it a go and enjoy the early stages with your free 30 days of play.

It still doesn't address the simplistic combat. [Christmas 2006, p.77]

Moai does manage to disguise the triple-puzzle rut of the series better than the other episodes. [May 2008, p.89]

A relaxing, addictive and intuitive action-puzzler. [Christmas 2009, p.86]

It feels like someone at Telltale noticed the baloon was deflating, and brought out a comically oversized pump. [May 2007, p.71]

Double Agent comes close to earning a Classic award, let down only by the fact that we wanted to see them run a bit further with the trust system idea.

This update isn't monumental. It's merely the bacon topping on an already bulging turducken. That's turkey, duck and chicken. [Dec 2006, p.99]

An excellent game that would have breached the 90% barrier had it been a little bit more substantial and erred less on the combat side of things. [June 2009, p.62]

Infuriating loading times are a major issue. [Mar 2009, p.74]

The whole routine of coming to a doorway, deploying your Optiwand, storming the room, arresting the suspects, cuffing them, picking up the weapons, reporting it all to dispatch - it all just becomes a bit of a chore after the hundredth room or so.

Excellent despite niggles. [Jan 2009, p.66]

If you've finished the original and want to keep that mouse finger in shape, this expansion is worth a trip to the land of the dead for. [May 2007, p.83]

The satisfaction of finally winning a battle doesn't even begin to outweigh the frustration of having to win it all over again.

Trine deserves recognition for bringing the Lost Vikings template back to our PCs, but it isn't a classic. [Oct 2009, p.66]

It's certainly not gong to supersede the increasingy popular "Battlefield 2," as most of its merits merely held over from its predecessor, but nevertheless it's a brilliant evolution of one of the greatest online shooters ever made. And it's got giant walking tanks. [Dec 2006, p.62]

As a strategy game, very few titles reach the epic scale and excitement of Men of War's biggest battles. [Apr 2009, p.68]

A hearty recommendation. [Jan 2010, p.82]

The world is fully realised, it feels solid and vibrant. The enemies are smart, the allies are smarter.

Hugely imaginative. [Dec 2008, p.64]

Once you've learned what number corresponds to what key, you'll be fine. [Feb 2009, p.85]

Playing Toki Tori is like putting your finger into a kitten's mouth, only to realise that the kitten is actually a great white shark. Except this is a good thing. [Oct 2010, p.86]

If your machine is up to the task, then don't hesitate to snap up what is undoubtedly the best indie game we've ever had the pleasure to paw. [Feb 2007, p.86]

I normally hate banging on about graphics - but the stark beauty of TM should be clear to one and all. Every time I shut my eyes I see those shimmering blue skies and blinding flashes of colour - and, yes kids, that's because it's been burnt into my retinas. TrackMania United is officially, totally great.

Full of radioactive goodness. [Apr 2010, p.84]

The biggest advancement the series has seen since polygons. [Christmas 2006, p.73]

An incongruous addition to Fallout 3 that has little or no bearing on the wider world itself. [Nov 2009, p.73]

TDU still offers a massive, inviting, and involving world for racing fans to gather in and share their love of cars. All with a cocktail on the side, too. [Mar 2007, p.64]

If you have a lot of patience, follow The Path. If not, bugger off and pick up an FPS. [Aug 2009, p.75]

For all its faults Hell's Highway is a rich experience that should be played through at least twice, because in completing the game you just want to keep going. [Dec 2008, p.68]

Once you get past that initial irritation, it's one of the best underwater games. [June 2007, p.78]

One of the most challenging and addictive city-builders we've played this year. [Jan 2007, p.70]

Just on the match alone, Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 is a fantastic game. [Dec 2008, p.68]

Brighter than ever. [Sept 2007, p.78]

A really involving little sim. [Christmas 2009, p.78]

While it's no classic, every Monkey Island fan should be playing this. [Oct 2009, p.68]

The spectacuar way in which the game is presented is enough to make the most players want to overlook the deep-running problems it harbors and plaudits must be paid to a setting this original and so excellently realized. [June 2008, p.64]

A noisy, polished and suitably spectacular racer. [Aug 2010, p.84]

For just over eight measly quid, you get one of the most challenging Total War campaigns to date. [Sept 2006, p.58]

Any problems melt away fast with writing as sharp and hysterical as this. [Jan 2009, p.75]

This is an adventure game for anyone who loves adventure games, anyone who loves to laugh, and anyone who loves seeing animals represented as gun-toting sociopaths. And who can't admit to at least two of those? [Mar 2007, p.78]

If I have a gripe, it's that the introduction of Hugh Bliss's magical talismans makes for some rather force puzzles. [July 2007, p.80]

This may be Sam and Max at their most entertaining, but it's not their most logically coherent outing. [May 2008, p.89]

More fun than 50 Formula One races, with or without Nazi-themed S&M. [Sept 2008, p.71]

The production values are high. [May 2010, p.92]

Consoles, you win this round. [Feb 2008, p.82]

Truly a visceral, retro experience that takes us to a warmer, happier time. [Feb 2008, p.90]

Worth buying if you like the "Heroes of Might and Magic" series. [Aug 2009, p.74]

Essential for those who likes a sit down and have a think. [Aug 2010, p.82]

At the heart of it all, just a damn fine, playable game, overblessed with the 'one more go' factor and a joyful sense of reward vs. effort put in. [Dec 2007, p.86]

The plot is a bit of nonsense and the NPCs' AI is dumber than a bag of hair, but slashing up civilians with the Claw is always amusing. [Aug 2009, p.68]

Overlord II's brand of guiltless comic villainy is more entertaining than 'true' evil could ever be. [Sept 2009, p.64]

What it adds - the more capacious level design, the daylight, the mech bits, the cover system - doesn't amount to much more than a garnish of new ideas on an old chicken salad of a game. But as I said, the magic of F.E.A.R. is certainly in position. That basic pleasure of time slowing, of watching a death ballet unfold as glass shatters, masonry crumbles and bodies cartwheel with morbid elegance - it's all intact, and it's as incredible to behold as ever. [Mar 2009, p.56]