This is Resi at its peak. Shame that it's a straight port, though. [Dec 2011, p81]

Killzone 3 stands as a fantastic entry to the series and an engrossing action romp for any fan of the first-person shooter genre. All of the things we loved about Killzone 2 have made a return and have been built upon. However, with some minor issues across the board and a campaign length that's a little too Modern Warfare 2 for our liking, Killzone 3 is held back from the dizzying heights of perfection. [March 2011, p64]

Positively hypnotic in PS VR, this is an ideal showcase for your new virtual reality kit. [Christmas 2016, p79]

Undoubtedly the best extreme sports game ever. [Feb 2009, p.72]

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]

A riveting cerebral experience. Has that 'one more episode hook'. [July 2012, p83]

Resogun is a downloadable crack of the best variety. Buy it. [January 2014, p76]

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]

The list of faults we've found during our time with GT5 is surprisingly long. And yet, we just keep playing it, and playing it. For all its foibles the profoundly realistic handling keeps drawing us back. The desire to tune up competitive cars from old pusbuckets keeps us fiddling with air filters and extractors. We'll criticise the final product, but that doesn't stop us drooling over the supersexeriffic premium car models, lavished with the kind a detail that we just did not anticipate seeing this generation. [February 2011 p72]

The overwhelming feeling that shines through in Darksiders II is that this is an all-or-nothing bet that's been painstakingly crafted by a team who's all too well aware of the price of failure. Clearly there's been a lot of love put into this. So, should you cross over to the dark side of this underworld, one more time? Grinding nether-regions for 20 hours straight has never been this satisfying. [Issue#72, p.70]

Just as delicious as we remember it, but now cut much thicker and slathered with gorgeous graphical garnish. Bon appetit. [October 2014, p74]

Exceptionally presented, additively brutal. [June 2009, p.62]

Though Zero Escape comes with reams of text, it's all well written, thoroughly addictive stuff that encourages multiple playthroughs to see its 24 endings. Any Vita owner looking to try something different is advised to make the leap of faith and scoop this up immediately. [Christmas 2012, p.81]

A modern masterpiece flanked by an okay sequel and a round-off that still delights. This isn’t the Big Daddy of PS3 trilogies, but it’s a circus of value. [December 2016, p83]

At the end of the day, though, Splinter Cell Blacklist is all about thwarting evil doers within the veil of shadows and in that it excels exponentially. With an enjoyable globe-trotting campaign and a robust multiplayer offering, we’re glad Sam has re-entered the Sony spotlight. [October 2013, p72]

There's really been nothing else quite like it this generation, which makes comparison difficult, and its one misstep is the fact that its only online component is a paltry ranking system. In truth, having multiplayer inside the chaotic sphere of Vanquish would have made Mikami's latest baby the prodigal son of third-person shooters. There's always next time though. [December 2010 p78]

Minor control updates and all the DLC included. Looks gorgeous, still plays great. [February 2014, p83]

This is how you pay homage to the greats. Rediscover your gaming heritage. [July 2015, p83]

The biggest problem Bulletstorm has is that it's at odds with itself. It wants you to have a blast killing imaginatively, but gives you limited ammunition, uses cheap tactics and saves the best toys until way too late in the game. It wants you to revel in the wonderfully hackneyed story, but then suddenly gets all touchy feely, serious and humourless for no reason. [May 2011 p.75]

No-brainer for ardent fans. Everybody else should wait for a price drop. [May 2015, p75]

This formula may be 20-years-old but Chronicles’ gameplay is still razor sharp and the visuals are oddly endearing. To quote one of its Engrish quest-givers: please investigate into it. [August 2013, p78]

Secures the crown as this generation's greatest fighter. That said, will price gouge returning fans. [August 2014, p81]

The best arcade racer on the market bar none. [December 2008, p.76]

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

Atmospheric and pretty as hell, Resident Evil has been brought back to life with much love and respect. [March 2015, p72]

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]

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]

Ironically, those who overindulged on Minecraft will appreciate it most of all – its structure turns out to be exactly the fresh spin on the genre we’ve been waiting for. [Christmas 2016, p67]

Transistor is more Supergiant magic, even if it doesn't surpass its previous attempt. [July 2014, p78]

Very few games have the capacity to go from frustrating and infuriating to magical and sublime in the space of a few heartbeats (particularly when you get into a Zen state of mind and everything literally falls into place) but Lumines: Electronic Symphony walks that tightrope beautifully. [April 2012, p76]

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]

The time you spend playing the game – when you're on the field – isn't as rewarding as all the stuff that goes on around it. Scouting is a dream, and the commentary on each player in this mode adds a sense of realism and character, backed by a stream of social media feeds. So, yeah, it's still good, but next year ought to be even better. [October 2012, p76]

More than seven years on and Stranger’s Wrath is still fresh. Apart from some annoying pop-up tutorial boxes on PS Vita and some niggling issues when retrieving ammo, it’s still unabashedly brilliant. A must buy for sure. [March 2013, p80]

When the dust settles and the credits have rolled, Resistance 3 stands as a very solid shooter, even though it is a slightly disappointing conclusion to the series. Resistance 3's single-player may be at a slightly lower point in the franchise, the multiplayer offerings have never been this much fun. Either way, this is an apocalypse trip that every sci-fi fan out to saddle up for. [November 2011 p68]

A solid collection well worth it for newcomers and veterans alike. [November 2014, p70]

Three undeniable classics made even classier. A nut-worthy purchase. [August 2012, p74]

While it lasts, The Swapper is one of the cleverest puzzle games in recent memory, both in terms of its mechanics and philosophical plot. [August 2014, p82]

LEGO: Marvel Super Heroes is a pretty attractive package, boasting a lot of game and overflowing with reverent fanservice. [Christmas 2013, p79]

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]

This 'Western-JRPG' has been faithfully ported. Lack of cross-save/buy is annoying. [September 2014, p73]

inFAMOUS 2 is an electrifying sequel that has risen to the challenge and bettered the series on every conceivable level. On top of this Sucker Punch has resisted the urge to throw in an utterly superfluous multiplayer mode in favour of an extremely versatile User Generated Content system that'll ensure this game is constantly brimming with new content. [August 2011 p63]

Its blend of brutality and sentimentality won’t be for everyone, but this is a dense, absorbing game. [January 2015, p72]

Despite the at-times frantic movement Outland superbly promotes fast flowing gameplay. It's a winner, and the two-player co-op modes are just bonuses on top of a truly satisfying and rewarding title. [July 2011 p84]

A game of contrasts and challenges, the greatest irony of all is that there’s no dilemma to be had here. Your own Decision Game is simple: Virtue’s Last Reward fans must buy it, no question. [October 2016, p74]

Packed full of content. Looks and plays better than ever before. Consider us a fan of the Skyland. [December 2013, p78]

A return to pre-Ghosts form for the series, both in terms of solo and adversarial multiplayer. Held back by a lacklustre co-op offering, but otherwise a rock solid entry. [Christmas 2014]

A big hitter, but not quite a home run due to unfixed bugs and a lack of evolution. [June 2014, p76]

Forget “The Real Driving Simulator”, Project CARS is racing simulation at its finest. [July 2015, p71]

Boasting looks that kill, a fresh-faced roster, and a pleasing amount of post-story content, MKX is the new fighting game champ to beat. [June 2015, p70]

A runaway three-peat for the undisputed king of the court. [Christmas 2014, p80]

The first and last episodes remain some of Telltale’s finest work, helping anchor a dark, involving narrative. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s a chain- smoking, bourbon-drinking pig. What more do you want? [January 2015, p79]

A splendid mix of free-roaming action, RPG leveling, and sexy visuals. [June 2012, p77]

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

After a slow start it builds to a thundering crescendo and slaps on the action thick and fast, and you'll find a city that's yours for a good time, but not necessarily a long time. Dodgy vehicles aside, this has a belter of a combat system and is a lot of fun while it lasts. Get it. [Sept 2012, p.66]

Wonderfully unique and truly intoxicating. Double Fine strikes again. [April 2011, p.80]

The definition of a pick up and play that's fiendishly addictive. This is perfect for the Vita. [May 2014, p77]

Hitman: Absolution absolutely nails the modern gaming trope of presenting oodles of gameplay choice. It would be an insult to polarise Absolution into 'stealth' or 'action', where the real beauty of the game is found in the fertile grey area in between. [December 2012, p66]

Although each year's Call of Duty has always been a package deal, Black Ops II represents a watershed moment. It's bulging at the seams, not only because nearly every team that's ever worked on Call of Duty has had a hand in it. The engine has been tweaked, multiplayer and CODcasting are both revolutionary, single-player has a decent lifespan and offers more than the same roller-coaster but on a tougher difficulty setting, while Zombies is mental comic relief. [Christmas 2012, p66]

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

Demanding. You'll love it and curse it at the same time. Much better with friends. [January 2011 p80]

Heavily recycled from the PS3 version, but still one of the most rewarding 2D fighters around. [April 2012, p80]

Action-JRGs don't get any better than this. [January 2014, p81]

Despite the MP issues, Watch Dogs 2 hacks this series back on track with its gorgeous locales, and silly emergent fun. Marcus isn’t *quite* our cup of tea, but he sure beats the hell out of the last guy. [January 2016, p71]

This is a year in which FIFA switches down a gear in terms of pure speed, yet provides marathons' worth of value, if you have the stamina for it. [Christmas 2015, p68]

Yes, it’s punishing. But it’s the good, sexy kind of punishment. [February 2015, p74]

A solid follow-up that although enjoyable, doesn’t quite reach the same heights of its debut. [April 2014, p80]

A gorgeously produced pinball dream that comes close to besting the real thing. [February 2014, p81]

So over the top it makes Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay look restrained. This is an absolute laugh riot throughout. [Dec 2011, p66]

Amazing value for newbies and borderline amazing to look at for veterans, this has a little something for everybody. [May 2015, p82]

Super Stardust Delta represents phenomenal value for the pittance asking price. You'd need space rocks in your head to pass this up. [April 2012, p78]

A surprisingly deep and addictive golfing experience. [December 2008, p.82]

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]

Though the formula hasn't exactly been built from the green ground piece up, Telltale has gone above and beyond our expectations. Take, for example, the fact that Middle-earth is one gigantic, seamless hub world that can be be trodden across (or fast traveled through) from one end to the other. [January 2013, p64]

Clever, colourful and enchanting. You'll be hypnotised from the start. [September 2012, p75]

It’s been a long time coming, but Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 is finally forcing EA to put up a fight again. Game on. [January 2013, p80]

A jazzy, jiving b-ball package, but too similar to 2K8. [Christmas 2008, p.82]

Unfortunately the Move controls have turned out to be a real flop. Rather than the same sort of control over your racquet as, say, the ping pong in Sports Champions, Top Spin 4's controls feel significantly dumbed down. There really doesn't appear to be any connection between your player's arm and your actual arm – backhands you perform in your living room will be regularly interpreted as forehands by the game and there doesn't appear to be much difference between a spirited slog and a apathetic wiggle of the wrist. [May 2011 p.77]

Trust us when we say this is the best VR game since Batman. Our word is our Bond. [March 2016, p80]

All you really need to know is that this is a very capable port of one of the most celebrated games of 2012. Prepare to be drawn into a superbly written apocalyptic tale that will hook you in completely and aim for your feels. [November 2013, p83]

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

The single player mode is quite challenging at any difficulty level as the momentum of any battle frequently shifts. There are some balancing issues (particularly on the easier difficulties), which may make going it alone less appealing. Versus and online, however, is where Skullgirls really shines and will keep you equally entertained and frustrated. [June 2012, p80]

TTT2 succeeds on a number of levels. It innovates within the series itself, the genre as a whole, while simultaneously appealing to hardcore fans and those who have only casually played Tekken since it debuted in the mid '90s. The game you get on your PS3 is based on the 'Ultimate' version of the arcade game with a few added characters thrown in, making the already chunky roster even plumper with 50-odd fighters. [November 2012, p70]

It looks lovely and the frantic combat is delightfully nuanced, but be warned: it’s brutal. [November 2015, p78]

Local co-op lives on thanks to the unbelievably enjoyable Sportsfriends. [July 2014, p83]

Ultimately Dragon Age II feels like a one step past, and two steps back from Origins. It has been specced purely with us console gamers in mind and now has a low barrier of entry that will rally new fans to the Dragon Age banner. That's admirable, but fans who did get into Origins will lament the less masterful storytelling and the noticeably uneven visual presentation. [May 2011 p.78]

Despite its age, VF5 is still as solid as a palmfist to the midsection from a karateka. This is fast, technical and bereft of 'super technique bollocks' seen in other fighters. If you've never ventured beyond DOA or Tekken try this. [July 2012, p83]

A wild ride, and worth the price of admission, but you've been on this one before. [December 2010 p71]

Veterans should hold onto their hard-earned pesetas for a future budget buy. If you’re a newbie to the series it’s ok to buy it at a high price, stranger. [December 2016, p81]

The presentation still bites. Players and stadiums look drab, and PES 2013's overall physics can't compete with EA's replication of momentum, but at least Konami's offering is doing some things differently than FIFA, and doing them bloody well. [November 2012, p72]

Do you have a job? Book holidays immediately. Girlfriend, boyfriend? Dump them, or tell them not to call for the next few weeks. We've found one of the most addictive and accessible PSN titles ever. [November 2010 p80]

Grid 2 is a gem of a racer. There’s never been any doubt that Codemasters have the skills and resources to make good looking games with world-class handling, and Grid 2 reinforces that. While its storyline provides reason, the thrilling events are the reason you’re here. [July 2013, p74]

The randomness can grate, leaving you facing a boss with your starter weapon, or having an enemy at the entrance of a room take your last sliver of health. [July 2016, p74]

Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a mindless beat ‘em up obsessed with treasure chests (and pleasure ones): it’s so much more than that. Dragon’s Crown is the renaissance of the genre and it’s well worth your gold, soon-to-behardened adventurer. [October 2013, p77]

It's a pleasure to be given so much freedom in a shooter to go where we want, solve problems and bag bosses with any concoction of stealth/gung-ho/entrapment tactics. [February 2012, p.74]

Who'd have thought the guys behind Far Cry 3 could show JRPGs how it's done? [June 2014, p70]

The graphics are as strong as the combat. While everything's very simple it all runs smoothly and everything's nicely animated. Cutscenes tend to drag, though, and some of the voice acting will have you cringing, but we're truly impressed by the size of the game and the direction. [Oct 2010 p78]

By the time the post-credits wrap, this long-delayed production will have earned a place in your heart of hearts, alongside its predecessors. [February 2016, p70]

Visually weak, but delivers in other aspects. [Christmas 2008, p.90]