There are also some breathtakingly elegant scene shifts where you play stints of classic, NYPD detective Max. Punchy script and Max's metaphor-ridden inner monologues are milked for all they're worth via action-text and motion comics. Some may find the constant artefacting effects distracting – but we found it accentuated emotional beats nicely, and suited Max's boozehound view of the world. Whichever way you look at it, Max Payne 3 is slicker than owl crap on an iceberg. [June 2012, p68]

It looks a treat, plays a treat and you can beat the crap out of Anthony Mundine, and unless Kyle Sandilands or Uwe Boll decide to lace up their gloves, it just doesn’t get much better than that. [Aug 2009, p.66]

Compelling, different, addictive - Heavy Rain is all of these things. Will appeal to gamers and non-gamers alike. [Mar 2010, p.70]

The Bat could not have hoped for a better send off. Graphically astounding, narratively compelling, and featuring two utility belts full of new gadgets. This is bat-time very, very well spent. [September 2015, p72]

There’s no denying Tomb Raider is a heavily influenced work, both mechanically and aesthetically (its nods to Neil Marshall’s The Descent are so happy to be there at one point Lara even re-enacts the “girlrising-out-of-sea-of-blood” scene). While it offers nothing wholly original, its salvaged parts combine to produce an experience that is consistently better than anything its own heroes have produced. [April 2013, p70]

Okay in solo, but offers must-own 4-person multiplayer madness. [May 2014, p83]

At its best, Tearaway is a wonderful celebration of Vita's creative potential. [January 2014, p74]

2013’s The Show is the complete package: amazing visuals with the capacity to fool unsuspecting relatives that you’ve temporarily forgot what country you woke up in and are watching televised baseball, and incredibly nuanced gameplay that’ll sprout a Louisville Slugger in the trousers of ardent fans of what’s allegedly America’s favourite pastime. [May 2013, p76]

FIFA 14 on PS4 is a worthy upgrade, but by and large is the same game you probably already own. If you’re still waiting for a complete overhaul... well let’s see what EA does next year. [Christmas 2013, p.81]

All you really need to know is that Hotline Miami is one of the best, and hardest to master, indie games to ever grace a PlayStation. That said, Hotline Miami still needs to be a permanent fixture on your PS3, and the Vita version executes train trips without mercy. [September 2013, p70]

Unlike Super Street Fighter IV each character here is truly unique; no two fighters are the same as each other so you're guaranteed of an interesting battle, and also longevity. This just feels like a better game all round, and while it feels great it's not for everyone. The flavour is distinctly Japanese, so if you've weaned yourself on countless anime and manga, and don't mind some Engrish, then Continuum Shift should be on your shelf right now [December 2010 p81]

A solid racing experience being far too "extreme" for its own good. [Oct 2009, p.72]

Impenetrable for twitch gamers, essential for patience imbued fantasy fans. [Jan 2010, p.72]

So it’s official, last year’s game wasn’t a fluke. PES really is back to where it belongs: at the top of the league. [December 2015, p68]

While the controls are a bit too sensitive making some levels torturous (especially the bonus stages where touching the environment means instant death), Velocity ends up being one of the most addictive and rewarding games ever made. We honestly can't get enough. [August 2012, p81]

Not to be underestimated. Runs like a dream, sucks you in with an addictive cycle of rage-reward like any real nightmare. [June 2015, p73]

If this game could be summarised with one image, it would be walking out of a bunker and seeing the city of San Francisco being torn apart by hundreds of Chimera ships - large and small. [Summer 2009, p.52]

Got a Vita and never played the original? Then get this. [August 2013, p77]

A mostly delightful platform experience, and the creation tools mean this is a time sink. [Jan 2010, p.76]

Extremely well made. [Feb 2010, p.76]

Chaotic, violent, and deliriously detailed. Only a handful of technical quirks and its cocky nihilism mar the experience. [Jan 2010, p.68]

The game designers at Insomniac have treated their series with some respect, but if you’re meeting these heroes for the first time you certainly won’t feel lost at sea. Ratchet & Clank’s latest adventure isn’t a revolution in platform-jumping, just a solid game that can suck up time like a black hole. [Christmas 2009, p.69]

Feral Ghoul ugly in many ways, but beneath its iffy exterior beats the heart of one helluva great RPG. Get past the graphics deficiency, and the sheer thrill of Fallout 4’s combat, crafting options, and exploring will hold your attention for months. [January 2015, p64]

As always, the music and the mixes make or break this package. The reuse of tracks is nowhere near as abusive this time around and, honestly, if you can't appreciate the overwhelming majority of tunes here then you're probably squarer than Spongebob. Drop these morbidly obese beats into some new multiplayer modes (that are actually worth playing this time), or let them run forever in the GH5-inspired jukebox mode to create one hell of a party apparatus. [December 2010 p72]

Uncharted: TNDC is one for the ages. Yes, the gameplay and visual wow-factor have faded in a few spots, but the inimitable charm of Nate and co., plus some of the best story-telling in gaming, make this a must-have. [Christmas 2015, p71]

The truest expression of digital combat around. Amazing. [March 2012, p74]

Slick looking and stupidly fast, Velocity 2X is a must-see genre convergence. [October 2014, p83]

Strategy and RPG heads alike cannot miss this gem. [Summer 2009, p.82]

Alongside much lengthier save times at the end of days, the interface issues are irksome enough to mar the special, very real sense of escapism Stardew Valley can so masterfully afford. Still, that escapism is so strong it’s impossible to ignore. [March 2016, p76]

Arguably the best Guitar Hero game since "Guitar Hero III." [June 2009, p.66]

Chains of Olympus was a pretty title, but even it stands as nothing compared to this graphical juggernaut. While there's no denying that the scenes depicted within can't compare with the exercise in colossal that was God of War III, the amazingly high fidelity of the graphics are guaranteed knock your sandals off in other ways. Don't let the seemingly diminutive size of the PSP fool you, this is one of the best games in the GOW series. [January 2011 p80]

For new players, this isn’t the best the series has to offer but it holds its own. If FFXV’s modern magical setting didn’t appeal, this might be the antidote. [October 2017, p72]

It’s taken a while, but Minecraft has arrived in all its creative, daunting and addictive glory. [March 2014, p76]

Simple without being simplistic, this is a gem. It requires a bit of patience though. [September 2010 p79]

Thank the gods Blizzard not only ported its baby over, but refined it, tweaked it and spiked it specifically for console. We feel all warm and gooey inside. [October 2013, p78]

Great value despite its brevity and funny too. More charming than Michael Parkinson. [April 2012, p79]

A preposterously good year of PS4 gaming starts in the best possible way with this. [April 2016, p62]

Restrung and retuned to be the best guitar tutor available. Believe the hype. [December 2013, p82]

A surprise package, impossible to write-off as a gimmick: utterly and totally addictive. [Dec 2009, p.68]

Another fine refinement of one the best games of football on the market. [November 2013, p79]

Runs at 1080p, includes tweaks and extra content. Well worth the upgrade from PS3. [June 2014, p74]

Guitar Hero 5 is proof Neversoft is getting the hang of this caper, but it could've benefited a lot from a more proven tracklist. [Nov 2009, p.70]

This is a sizeable u-turn that deserves the moniker ‘major expansion’. It really does make the original Destiny release look like a beta, thanks to large framework tweaks and a king’s ransom of exciting new content. We’re quite taken by it. You will be too. [December 2015, p60]

OlliOlli2 improves on its predecessor in nearly every way and remains and absolute blast. [May 2015, p74]

Combine some rock-solid fighting with a strategic Persona System (think: the ability to manifest a second, ghost buddy for 2 vs 1 beat downs) and Persona 4 Arena feels like a breath of fresh air. Round all that off with faultless versus and online modes, and you’re looking at a truly unique fighter that deserves to be noticed by mainstream gamers everywhere. [April 2013, p74]

This is a game for those unafraid of a steep challenge (or investing in a good driving wheel setup). [June 2016, p73]

[Y]ou're looking at everything you could want in a game; a breathtaking world to get lost in, wonderful characters, a fun tactical combat system, hours and hours worth of quests, puzzles and more booty to grab than a live stage show of Magic Mike. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is gaming at its most magical and only the hardest of hearts will not be spirited away by it. [January 2013, p60]

Going off Faith we're in for a hell of a ride. Now more bourbon-fuelled piggies, please! [December 2013, p80]

UFC Undisputed 2010 may not have made leaps and bounds over its already excellent predecessor, but it is a straight jab in the right direction. [June 2010, p.68]

Charming and hard to stop playing. See for yourself what all the fuss is about. [April 2011, p.81]

It helps that the graphics have been revamped, and they bloom into widescreen HD. It's a given that they look better than the PS2 originals, but even more importantly they don't betray your memory of how good they looked. [February 2011 p 78]

It’s a shame DICE still treads the B-grade storytelling path with its single-player game, otherwise Battlefield 4 would be dangerously close to shooter perfection. [Christmas 2013, p67]

Combat is both satisfyingly bloody and bloody satisfying. [November 2010 p80]

Look past the lop-sided multiplayer, and Doom is still one helluva reboot. It’s a must for any modern FPS fan looking to taste the ultra-violence of yesteryear. Your Nana will hate it. [August 2016, p71]

Needless to say, NBA 2K14 has set the bar extremely high for sports games on PS4. It plays just as well as its PS3 underling, and even if you’re not a super hardcore sports fan we’d recommend a purchase simply to use it as a visual showcase for your new PS4. It never fails to put a jaw on the floor. [Christmas 2013, p83]

A total package. Intriguing without being obtuse, epic without making you feel lost. [June 2009, p.54]

Few games will make you smile more vibrantly. [Jan 2009, p.70]

Don't make the mistake of viewing Crysis 2 as a new shooter on the block that has to desperately prove itself to all the established PS3 heavy-hitters. In many ways it's actually the other way around. [May 2011, p.69]

Ubisoft has suggested some plot threads may end in this iteration, but we don't think the end is anywhere in sight. Thanks to the sizeable engine update and an era shift in Assassin's Creed III, this withering franchise has been allowed to bloom once more. [December 2012, p62]

The white-knuckle thrill ride of the year. [Summer 2009, p.60]

An essential reintroduction to one of the finest JRPGs for the PS2. Now how about that FFVII remake? [May 2014, p82]

When PES 2017 gets things right – and there’s a lot of times when it gets things right – there’s simply no other sports game like it. The glory days are back. [December 2016, p72]

It would be foolish of us to pretend that Sine Mora is for everyone. The fact is most of us simply don't have the time or patience necessary to properly appreciate a game that demands so much from the player. But for those who do: buy it. Buy it now. [February 2013, p79]

Newcomers, Yakuza 0 is the perfect entry point, and is therefore worth paying the full pinky price (RRP). Veterans will be captivated by these origin stories and a ridiculous amount of minigames. [March 2016, p74]

A technical bell ringer, FC2 is set to be a cult favourite. [Christmas 2008, p.72]

While the fixed-camera isn't always your friend and the platforming relies too much on trial-and-error death, this is still one hell of a tight package. Give Castlevania: Lords of Shadow a chance to sink its fangs into you and you'll be surprised about how exquisite and long lasting its embrace can be. [December 2010 p74]

Trey Parker and Matt Stone mercilessly tear RPGs a new one while making quite a decent one of their own. [April 2014, p70]

It's like a 2D Dark Souls with randomising traps and crappy heroes. Funny, brutal, essential.. [October 2014, p76]

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is the most charming and important downloadable indie game since Journey, and that’s not a claim we make lightly. [August 2013, p75]

As an interactive story it's one hell of a good piece of entertainment. Taking your first tentative steps into this seriously rich universe, planting the seeds for larger implications later in the series, and tangling with one of the best antagonists ever, Saren, is a trip well worth taking. There's a rich, colourful cast you'll want to meet for the first time (Urdnot Wrex in particular) and very poignant moments to be had (e.g. becoming a Spectre). These are watershed gaming moments that the ME2's 'introductory' comic book could never hope to encapsulate. [January 2013, p69]

Equal parts style and substance. But a brutal old school nature means low accessibility for newbies. Worth persevering with, however. This is PS royalty. [August 2017, p79]

Co-op. Solo. Whatever your angle is, Geometry Wars delivers. [January 2015, p82]

A near-perfect fusion of old and new, video game and animated film. Nostalgiaholics will love the return visit, newcomers will get hooked on what will hopefully become a launch pad into a whole new series. [June 2016, p68]

It's incredibly fast-paced and responsive. Nailing some of the intense combos may twist your fingers off as there are no touchscreen specials except for the X-ray moves that can be initiated once you have a full meter, but fatalities can be executed with finger swipes that match the d-pad inputs. Most of the extra modes, such as Test Your Slice, are gimmicks that either borrow heavily from smartphone games (let's just say you'll slice fruit whilst playing as a ninja) or rely on 'been there, done that' mechanics that use the Vita's hardware. Balancing a man on a beam is old hat, even if he's perilously dangling above a pit. [July 2012, p82]

Far Cry 3 was a truly outstanding game. Far Cry 4 is even better. It introduces one of the most enjoyable open worlds on new- gen, looks gorgeous and features a protagonist we don’t want to bitch slap. Kryat may not be a vacationer’s dream, but it does demand your attention. [January 2015, p62]

The story, on call dialogue and expansive world make its most recent rival for parkour champ, "Mirror's Edge," look poorly executed. [Summer 2009, p.56]

A perfect port of what is effectively an emergent fun generator. [March 2014, p81]

Could have done with actual new content. Otherwise, a cheaper, shinier version of a criminally under-sold gem. [March 2014, p77]

By obliterating the worn exterior and souping up the interior, Ninja Theory has done the very difficult, and that is they've made Devil May Cry relevant again. Not only that, they've also made it accessible where previously it was definitely not, both aesthetically and mechanically, without ignoring the hardcore crowd who've been up most nights chewing their fingers into nubs ever since this surprise initiative was announced. [February 2013, p72]

Flawless game design and endless replay value mean that Super Meat Boy! more than holds its own on PlayStation in 2015. [Christmas 2015, p73]

In the end, the most meaningful change to FIFA 17 is The Journey. It, along with the increased big-match atmosphere provided by the Frostbite engine, make very compelling reasons to trade up. [December 2016, p78]

Another surprisingly good game feature is the story. Objectives and allegiances chop and change, and the radio chatter drips with comic book melodrama. [July 2009, p.68]

Once you strap yourself into the rollcaged bucket seat of Dirt 4 it’ll be extremely tough to extricate yourself from it anytime soon. [September 2017, p69]

Don’t look at its brevity with a frown: Gone Home is a hugely important game with something meaningful to say. [April 2016, p74]

Has aged remarkably well, and is polished enough to draw in curious newbies. Veterans should be well chuffed with all the DLC thrown in. [July 2016, p71]

There's not even the slightest whiff of cash-in here. Greatly expanded and built upon. Ultimax indeed. [Christmas 2014, p73]

A precious package that is both incredibly challenging and rewarding in all the right ways. [December 2014, p70]

An absolutely awesome all-round package. [Christmas 2008, p.78]

The Tekken draftees are the new Street Fighter characters you don't want to go home. Apart from integrating them visually into Ryu and co's saturated universe, each has had their exhaustive move set refocused to align with Capcom's different play style. It doesn't just work, it's brilliant. [May 2012, p70]

F1 2010 is Codemasters doing what it does best. Unadulterated, realistic racing. It doesn't lose its way with a trailer full of empty energy drink cans and promo girl panties; it focuses on the job at hand. That job is to make you feel like an F1 driver and, in this department, F1 2010 far exceeds our expectations. [November 2010 p64]

Sound Shapes' ready-made content is refreshing, creative and fun – but it's also in very short supply. That said, there's a more than capable platformer waiting for you here, and it's backed up by a versatile level editor that's pregnant with possibilities. Queasy has laid one heck of a good egg, and we honestly can't wait to see how many ways the community will cook this up. [October 2012, p74]

For a generation weaned on Rocky movies Fight Night Champion is the ultimate boxing experience. It sounds like a throwaway sentence, really. A platitude you toss at an otherwise good game to get the hard work out of the way. It's completely true though... What's particularly clever about Champion Mode is the way it pulls strings in the background to heighten the tension. During the fights throughout the story you might find yourself nursing a broken hand, or suddenly at the mercy of a bent referee or a desk full of bribed judges. Champion Mode will uppercut you with surprises like these, ones that require you to adjust the way you're fighting, across its duration. Champion Mode is bold, different and we absolutely want more of it. [May 2011 p.70]

A grand, bloody, epic adventure. [Apr 2009, p.66]

To immerse yourself in the inky swirl of its spectacle is to realise that’s it’s not just a Dark Souls III side dish. It’s a main course all on its own. [June 2016, p74]

The occasional flat gag notwithstanding, DotT’s long awaited PlayStation appearance is sublime. [June 2016, p77]

Still the best basketball franchise out there. Avoids greatness due to a smattering of visual bugbears. [December 2013, p79]

What you have is a game that feels like it only has 85 per cent of its content, and a few fighters are horrendously overpowered or have spam-tastic attacks – Phoenix and Sentinel are prime offenders. However, if it was a choice between something that looks and plays as well as this, or had tonnes in it but felt as rough as a $3 steak, we know which one we'd pick. And it looks like we got it. [Apr 2011, p78]

Take Burnout Paradise's massive open world, strip out the wild, physics-defying, cabin-crushing crashes and insert a generous handful of the world's hottest or most iconic motors. This is Need for Speed that only Criterion could create. [Christmas 2012, p.83]