If you’re for the West, you will latch onto Redemption like an ornery rattlesnake. If the old West is of no particular interest to you, you still ought to find it difficult not to appreciate the incredible level of workmanship and depth on display here. It is a true opus. [July 2010 p.69]

It's a slow burning experience. Your first couple of hours feel a bit ho-hum but stick with it. Forgive the disappearing corpses and the occasional odd animation and you'll be hooked all over again. [July 2010 p72]

Split/Second does a lot well. The key component is the environmental destruction. Each track is littered with dangerous traps and shortcuts that can be triggered by you or your A.I. opponents. [June 2010 p74]

If you’ve waited until now to give this series a shot, Skate 3 is as good a place to begin as are. It’s more of the same in some ways, but certainly better in others. We just haven’t fallen in love with the city. [July 2010 p74]

Essentially, Dot Game is a next-gen homage to early NES RPGs. This is a 23-year-old game design with a 3D graphic 'overhaul' - no more, no less. If you pine for the past, this should keep you entertained, but it may frustrate new gamers. [July 2010 p75]

Ostensibly, Lost Planet 2 has been built with multiplayer in mind. As a single player experience is competent but slightly underwhelming. [June 2010 p72]

Amazing value for the money. This isn't so much SF5 as it is "Street Fighter 4.9". [May 2010, p.76]

The cinematics, while cobbled together from a ‘90s cop movie handbook, are more polished than most. If you were starving, you could lick this dish clean and be satisfied. But it wouldn’t taste like anything you hadn’t eaten before. [June 2010 p74]

Production wise, there's little reason why this couldn't have been on PS2. With a little patience and a lot of forgiveness, you will have fun with Nier and it's very easy to get into, but there are far richer experiences elsewhere. [June 2010 p79]

Less about providing an expansive footballing buffet of content and more about being authentic Cup paraphernalia, it features no club leagues but instead focuses on guiding one’s preferred international squad through qualification to a virtual World Cup Final. [June 2010 p76]

After Burner is pretty simple kind of game, though that’s not a bad thing at all. Like Outrun, this is an exercise in getting better and better by looking for paterns and refining your skill in twitch gameplay, but the arcade thrills wear off pretty fast due to repetitive gameplay. [July 2010 p76]

Final Fight may not be the longest game in the world, but it has been upscaled to HD. It’s a wonderful time capsule of fun that is worth replaying. The ‘must be online’ DRM hurts the package though. [July 2010 p76]

This was an ambitious production, but it boils down to sluggish platforming and repetitive fetch quests. [June 2010 p78]

If you were soured towards the franchise thanks to Just Cause’s variety of glitches, repetition and a half-baked control scheme; you should totally give this franchise a second chance. Not only has Avalanche solved these problems, it has crafted one of the most exciting and entertaining open-world romps we’ve experienced in years. Plus; stripper zeppelin. [May 2010 p.67]

It really seems as though Monumental Games focused more on flashy presentation and cheap thrills rather than handling and physics with any true depth. That said, it is a much more fun and accessible racing game that will attract new fans without hitting them over the head with a super-hard technicality. MotoGP 09/10 stands as the antithesis of racing sims like SBK-08 Superbike whose superior track-side feel was marred by bare bones presentation. There’s eye candy and pizazz here now, but it comes at the expense of handling purity. [May 2010 p.78]

This game earns our highest accolade because it is a thoroughly entertaining ride from go to death throe. It finds a perfect balance between taxing platforming, cerebral puzzles, and glorious set-piece battles that loosen the bowel when you realise they're in-game graphics. Top that off with masterful camera work – that makes us totally rethink our hatred of fixed-camera action games – and you have a sequel that easily eclipses anything out there and reclaims it's rightful place at the pinnacle of its genre. [April 2010, p.61]

Battles are random. You’re dumped in at the deep end with little indication of how to do what you’re meant to, and when compared to FFXIII everything feels so last century. The characters have the same emotion as a corpse. It’s not at all streamlined, and graphics are washed out and low-res; it’ll take the most hardcore JRPG fan – and we’re emphasizing the ‘J’ – to accept this. A pity, as the townships and world are intricately designed. [Apr 2010, p.76]

But the more changes they make to get in line with a faster-paced style of gameplay, the further away they drift from what made the franchise unique for so many years. The drudgery at the beginning may annoy the casual gamer with an investment of several hours before Paradigm Shift is available and a half-a-dozen more before the first summons. Fans, however, won’t care in the slightest. They’ll be well aware lead time before proceedings really kick off. [Apr 2010 p.64]

Pre-canned cutscenes suddenly give way to in-engine sections where the characters continue to converse, only silently – via slabs of text you need to click through instead of pre-recorded speech. There doesn't appear to be any real rhyme or reason as to when this will happen – it just seems like a cheap way of extending the cutscenes. All it does it undermine the atmosphere – the game goes from a modern, cinematic action-drama to a static, dusty old RPG in the blink of an eye. [Apr 2010 p.70]

Will the multiplayer be enough to prise flocks of fans from Modern Warfare 2’s steely grasp? Possibly, because it’s really quite good. It’s primarily the use of destruction that distinguishes it from Modern Warfare 2, because in many other ways it’s very similar. The destruction, however, and its dynamic impact on the maps is a massive point of difference. In almost every way Bad Company 2 technically outclasses the original, but that’s to be expected. We just miss the mischief. [Apr 2010 p.68]

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

The gameplay is ageless and timeless – probably because it’s a shameless copy of a certain plumber’s racing adventures on another console. There are weapons and powerups for both offensive and defensive manoeuvres, powerslides mean turbo boosts, and while the racing’s a bit bland in single player there are missions that earn money in order to unlock more of the cast, music and courses to race on. [Apr 2010, p.76]

Possibly the greatest movie-inspired title ever. This positively oozes atmosphere and is a must for the fans. [Mar 2010, p.72]

Plot-wise, this doesn't match the original. However, the combat has been spliced to near-perfection. [Mar 2010, p.64]

Derivative and simple, but well-produced and very playable. Please, just go to Hell. [Mar 2010, p.68]

But despite the bland storyline there's no denying that Star Ocean: The Last Hope excels in other areas, most notably with its intense and satisfying combat system and a lively and engaging level progression which gives the proceedings a good pace. While certainly not a classic, this JRPG is fun enough and shouldn't disappoint Japanophiles. [May 2010 p77]

You can go online and play with your mates, but it doesn’t do enough to be exciting or even pretty to look at. Diagnosis: take one dose of Final Fantasy XIII and start another of Valkyria Chronicles. [May 2010 p.79]

It all feels a bit sterile, too, and the weird floating pool cue doesn’t do much to alter that. Solid, but hardly exciting. [Feb 2010, p.77]

Chronicles runs smoothly, but we just wish we had more room to see what was going on in the gem-filled half of the screen. [Apr 2010, p.77]

MAG won’t wow you with its graphics like MW2, nor does it offer any kind of offline component. Instead MAG delivers online battles that feel epic and the outcomes actually affect your PMC. [Apr. 2010, p.72]

Someone forgot to add "fun" to the jetpack. [Mar 2010, p.75]

Sure, the monsters are nothing new – we’ve seen more gruesome stuff elsewhere – but at moments throughout the game you’re suddenly in a psychologist’s office, answering questions about your fears and sexuality. Depending on your answers the game changes, though some changes are cosmetic (certain characters dress in a different way) but it pushes the emphasis firmly on the cerebral rather than twitch gunplay. [Apr 2010, p.77]

Sure, the monsters are nothing new – we’ve seen more gruesome stuff elsewhere – but at moments throughout the game you’re suddenly in a psychologist’s office, answering questions about your fears and sexuality. Depending on your answers the game changes, though some changes are cosmetic (certain characters dress in a different way) but it pushes the emphasis firmly on the cerebral rather than twitch gunplay. [Apr 2010, p.77]

It's still dumb but a lot tighter and more fun than the original. Just make sure you play it in co-op, okay? [Mar 2010, p.74]

The handful of events last for about one afternoon. [Mar 2010, p.77]

It'll test your patience, but persevere and your sense of self-satisfaction will swell. [Jan 2009, p.64]

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

A nice little curiosity, but seriously, Street Fighter V is out. [Mar 2009, p.78]

Few differences from last year. [Feb 2010, p.75]

Like him or otherwise, Eddie Van Halen is a guitar hero, no doubt. This game just doesn't reflect that. [Mar 2010, p.76]

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

A surprisingly fun title with a unique look. Flawed but charming. Well worth an attempt. [Feb 2010, p.70]

We reckon it holds its own. It doesn’t even look that bad after a quick 720p makeover. Why would anybody buy Rogue Warrior when you can get something like this for a quarter of the cost? [Feb 2010, p.77]

Rogue Warrior isn't a complete fiasco. We tried to like it, but it just wasn't worth releasing. [Feb 2010, p.73]

If you've got a 3D TV, buy it. [Jan 2010, p.74]

It just needs a little more zest and content. [Feb 2010, p.72]

Beyond a party game with a crowd, there’s very little in the way of a compelling single-player mode here. Instrument-based games do a great job of making playing solo fun. Karaoke Revolution does not. [May 2010 p.79]

Streamlined and pretty, this is an example of a simple idea being the best idea. [Jan 2010, p.84]

In short, this sequel is a worthy heir. If Assassin’s Creed II was a cart full of hay, and the process of buying it represented an epic leap of faith from a tower, we would have no hesitation in telling you to dive right in. Hell, we’d push your arse into it. [Christmas 2009, p.90]

The career mode is insultingly linear, short-lived and your progress through it is interspersed with cheesy live-action videos of people giving you mad props for kooking your way through. In addition, when you take into account its sub-par visuals, a physics system from four years ago, and the ludicrous price of admission; RIDE is pure frustration made plastic. [Apr 2010, p.71]

Like a dry cracker for dinner, this is very bland, very boring, and not much fun at all. [Jan 2010, p.75]

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

A shade too workmanlike in most areas. [Feb 2010, p.75]

Dreadful presentation. [Feb 2010, p.74]

Collection is a title that you ought to play even if you played God of War and II back in 2005 and 2007. You ought to play it so you can marvel at the technical achievement, and to see how the games have shaped so many of those that we play today. [June 2010 p79]

Braid deserves success for being bold, original, and brilliant. Get it as soon as you can. [Jan 2010, p.83]

"History is written by the victors" says one character. Infinity Ward has just written history. Modern Warfare 2 is fast paced, deep, flexible and utterly, totally belongs in your console. [Christmas 2009, p.64]

Take away the (great) LEGO visuals and chuck a few extra songs in there and there’d be no reason you wouldn’t be able to pass this off as Rock Band 3. [Christmas 2009, p.76]

Where PES trumps FIFA is in its tactical depth. This year it's bordering on ludicrous just how in-depth you can manipulate the way your team plays. [Dec 2009, p.80]

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

Just as robust as we’ve come to expect, although the over-zealous censorship grates a lot. [Feb. 2010, p.74]

Newbies should check the originals, whilst veterans will find this frustrating. [Jan 2010, p.82]

There’s nothing particularly wrong with Tekken 6, but the series is starting to age. Gorgeous graphics help, but this genre needs some fresh blood. [Dec 2009, p.66]

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

Reading about it in abstract, one could be forgiven for thinking that Fairytale Fights is a game for deviants and sickos, created to corrupt the young. This is not the case; everything is far too cute to be offensive. While it may sound sinister that the Naked Emperor character has visibly erect nipples, or that the Mother Goose Gun has an inflamed, purple ringpiece, in reality these flourishes are too stylised to make one bat an eye. It’s like the difference between ‘#@%&!!’ and a proper swear word. [p74 Christmas 2009]

It’s very simple to get in to, and although there are challenges you don’t ever lose, making it more of a toy than a competition. It’s still largely irrelevant for adults, though. [Christmas 2009, p.76]

It might not take you that long to run through and the amount of skeletons you’ll take to pieces might rack up like a Geiger counter, but this is a charming game. [Dec 2009, p.87]

Borderlands starts out great and only gets better from there. If you’re up for an epic, awesome and subversive good time, get your arse to Pandora and explore the Borderlands. [Dec 2009, p.72]

The amount of content you’ll reap from the create-a-wrestler alone will astound. If WWE’s your thing, welcome to nirvana. [Dec 2009, p.76]

Football fans who go to sleep with their laces on and foam at the mouth at the prospect of creating a virtual team ... should tattoo this title’s release on their hand and sell their copy of FIFA 09 to the blind kid around the block. [Nov 2009, p.74]

Compared to GTAIV’s paint-by-numbers mission design, the average job in Chinatown Wars is more of a left-field, mayhem-filled shenanigan. This even extends to the wanted system; Huang doesn’t skulk away and hide from the heat like Nico – he prefers to utterly destroy pursuing cop cars in a crazy Blues Brothers-esque escape. [Christmas 2009, p.78]

If God gave rock ‘n roll to us then it is settled: Tim Schafer is God. A must play. [Dec 2009, p.62]

The spectacular combination of generation-defining visuals, high adventure and cinematic intensity makes Uncharted 2 absolutely essential. There aren't any reasons not to own this game. [Nov 2009, p.64]

Visually it’s a real treat, and the animations are top drawer. It’s a massive step-up from last year and precisely what the series has needed with the long-time critical dominance of the 2K franchise [Christmas 2009, p.77]

The best basketball you can buy, and a great effort for 2K’s 10-year bash. [Christmas 2009, p.77]

21st Century standards such as midlevel checkpoints and an inventory system that halts the action so you can equip yourself are eschewed in favour of, well, death. You can't even pause the game, so if you're in for this you're in it for the long haul, hours at a time. [August 2010 p76]

Minute attention to detail proves that slow and precise can still mean tense and exciting. [Dec 2009, p.81]

We’re looking forward to the kind of stuff people are going to come up with here, and as the software is designed with different entry points there should be no limit to the type of content that comes out of this game. [Christmas 2009, p.79]

Even though the lashings of blood have been removed, it’s still a sexy and rock-hard title. [Dec 2009, p.79]

Although many stages are re-hashed from other games in the series, there’s enough here to tempt veterans back for more. Newcomers should not hesitate to jump in. [Nov 2009, p.71]

The atmosphere is top notch, and the game bristles with a raw energy that is a joy to behold. The art direction is excellent, particularly in Rage Mode, and the soundtrack is one of the best we’ve heard. It’s unfortunate the gameplay can be a little repetitive and dying is just plain annoying. [Nov 2009, p.78]

It truly is a must-have package. A thoroughly entertaining and pivotal part of the Speed franchise and the racing landscape in general, we want more like this. [Nov 2009, p.68]

Unimpressive graphics and animation make this an experience that is better than average, but really not much more than that. [Nov 2009, p.71]

MUA 2 is a compelling superhero romp, though the button mashing nature of play needs updating. Still, it’s an absolute hoot and beautiful to look at. [Dec 2009, p.78]

The visuals themselves, from the evolving avatars and costumes to the stages, sets and recording booths, are beautiful. The gameplay is typically right on the button. The mixes are great. It’s all close to faultless. [Nov 2009, p.70]

Far and away the best flight game we've played - a huge surprise and thoroughly recommended. [Oct 2009, p.68]

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

It's amazing this has been crammed on one UMD with little sacrifice. Essential. [Oct 2009, p.76]

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]

It probably could have been a bit longer. [Oct 2009, p.64]

Novelty and genius are not the same thing, and after a weekend with Wolfenstein you will most likely have seen enough. It’s fun, corny action, but it’s not a keeper. [Nov 2009, p.76]

Nothing new, but add enough throatal lubrication and it's a hoot. [June 2009, p.65]

Grey, old, and well beyond retirement, KOF XII is irredeemable. [Oct 2009, p.74]

It’s very punishing due to the random roaming nature of your monsters and the lack of a timer between levels. It takes a lot of effort to get right. When you do it is very rewarding, a real lightbulb moment, but getting there might prove too frustrating for many. [Christmas 2009, p.79]

Each time you start [a minigame] it feels like you're forcing yourself to drink your own urine whilst frying in the desert: you don’t want to do it, but must to make it to the end. [Sept 2009, p.66]

There’s no co-op, which is odd (there are cooperative modes in multiplayer though) – but there are some truly memorable moments, like your first shootout at high noon. Horse mounted battles and even stagecoaches get a look in. [Aug 2009, p.70]

Where Street Fighter IV feels like a measured and calculated game of chess, BlazBlue feels more like a game of basketball: it’s easy to get the basics, but once you’ve got to grips with its intricacies you’ll feel be slam-dunking and showing off. [Apr 2010, p.74]