It has nothing to offer that we haven't already seen in a thousand other hack-and-slash adventures. [Feb 2007, p.82]

A puddle-deep affair that struggles to justify a full-price release. [Apr 2008, p.72]

A farily well done RTS that suffers from a few problems that put you off, like banging your teeth on a sausage gristle. [Aug 2006, p.77]

If you have a knowledge and love of golf, this might give you a more substantial - if less fun - game than "Tiger Woods."

A hollow experience. [Feb 2010, p.80]

Wooly, hollow and redundant. [Aug 2007, p.78]

I wanted so badly to be enjoying myself, with all the effort that had gone into the characters and likenesses, but I wasn't allowed to. And now I am cross.

Had Life Stories...been a little more mature in its scripting, I might have even recommended this. As it is, your mum would find it patronising. [June 2007, p.86]

Considering the budget price, you could do a lot worse on your quest to find an original adventure game this summer. [Oct 2008, p.65]

If it's multiplayer automotive giggles you're after, "FlatOut 2's" party mode is far superior. [Sept 2006, p.78]

The levels feed artificially protracted. [July 2009, p.74]

It's designed for console, so the mouse and keyboard controls are horrendous and the disparate gameplay elements don't add up to a whole hill of black-eyed beans.

Just because this game isn't as cynical as "The Godfather's" art-slashing antics, doesn't mean it's any good - it's with great regret I have to say it's not. [Nov 2006, p.74]

So sloppily ported. [May 2007, p.68]

A series that increasingly looks stuck in the past. [Jan 2007, p.77]

That Overclocked isn't better is sad because there's a good story being told. [July 2008, p.85]

A tired old rehash of Blitkrieg - the last RTS game from developers Nival. [June 2007, p.76]

There's little point bothering with Mata Hari, unless you're looking to sedate a relative and lack Rohypnol. [Dec 2009, p.75]

Lengthy load times, dated visuals, and obtuse interface and an unnecessarily decentralized recruitment system. [Dec 2009, p.73]

While it does nothing spectacular, it has enough pretty colours and plain, shallow addictiveness to hold your attention for the two or three hours the game lasts. [Sept 2008, p.76]

Right now, Star Trek Online is a mess of a title with little to recommend beyond the novelty of flying around in a replica of the Enterprise. As soon as that novelty wears off (ideally within the 30-day trial period), this will be one universe badly in need of a reboot.

A proper ship simulator. And within that bracket, it faithfully reproduces long, combatless floating sessions. [Sept 2006, p.75]

As far as Sims expansions go though, it's mediocre. I mean, come on, it's bloody weather...And gardening. What's next? "The Sims 2: Picking Your Arse?" [June 2007, p.86]

If you're a reality fan looking for a full-on Civil War experience, this is it. [Aug 2006, p.54]

While Pipe Mania is a pretty good remake, shelling out 20 quid when you can play perfectly good Java-based versions for nothing online is simply money down the drain. [Dec 2008, p.77]

It's actually a bit dull if it doesn't strike you in the right way. [Apr 2010, p.91]

It's really hard to put into words how excruciatingly bad the acting is, but the phrase "unnecessary pauses" comes to mind. [Nov 2008, p.77]

It's choked by its own clumsy presentation and inability to develop its own ideas. [July 2007, p.83]