An excellent PlayStation Mobile title for less than a dollar. Do get. [December 2012, p83]

A title that needed another couple of months in the oven. [Christmas 2008, p.68]

Addictive and charming in equal measure, and never short of new ideas. [May 2014, p77]

A large dash-step behind the generous content found in Injustice 2, but still represents a knuckle sandwich we’ll happily chew on for months. [August 2017, p72]

A solid entry into the FIFA family, but not a necessary upgrade if you're happy to stick with last year's offering. [December 2014, p74]

A one-finger salute right up the arse of the free-roaming crime genre. [December 2008, p.68]

Severed is an unusual game that remains compulsively fascinating, making full use of PS Vita’s strengths – feeling like it couldn’t exist anywhere else – to craft a quietly moving tale. [July 2016, p77]

Things get better with faster cars but too often it feels like you’re trying to guide a brick through thick porridge. Drifting just shouldn’t this much of a chore, and we constantly crave more momentum when we’re loosening up the rear wheels. Online’s more attractive as these problems are masked by the thrill of the chase. [August 2010 p73]

Well built with minor flaws, this is definitely one to get hold of. [May 2009, p.70]

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]

What cannot be understated here is how enchanting these titles remain. We don’t care if you’re a newbie or a returning fan, Yoko Shimomura’s lovingly reproduced score, combined with the absorbing in-game universe it envelops, will hook in many an RPGist. The old magic persists here, folks. Reclaim this kingdom. [January 2015, p68]

Thankfully, the base game itself remains as utterly essential as always. [January 2016, p78]

Takes a big step forward for defence, next let's look at sharpening player handling. [November 2014, p72]

Overflowing with new content, offers much more for soloists, and is just as hilarious as ever. Garden Warfare 2 is not to be underestimated. [May 2016, p77]

Media Molecule, more than any other dev, makes games that fit snugly into its platforms, and here it’s maximised nearly every feature PS4 has to offer. [December 2015, p66]

Even the odd spiteful stage can’t dull the boisterous appeal, and for every frustrated ragequit it inspires, there’s an hour or more of big dumb grins in this flamboyant bundle of unabashed fun. [July 2016, p73]

The graphics are utterly gorgeous, and the soundtrack is a wistful selection of haunting folk music. In a lot of ways, this game conjures up nostalgia for a time that never was; but this matters not. This is a game that single-handedly moves PSPs in Japan. Now we can see why. [Aug 2009, p.76]

Surprisingly exceptional and unique. [Dec 2011, p80]

It's official: Gran Turismo 5 is on notice. Like V8 Supercars 3 [Pro Race Driver 3] wooed us from GT4 back in the halcyon days of PS2, SHIFT 2 Unleashed is currently busy courting us with its incredible sense of speed, well-rounded garage, long list of tracks and impressive attention to detail... Forget what you think you know about where Need for Speed games stand in the racing sim landscape because the crew at Slightly Mad Studios has just taken a bulldozer to it. [May 2011 p.72]

While the episode does provide a conclusion to Max’s bittersweet story, its splintered things apart more than tied them all together. [January 2015, p75]

On Fire is a substantial update to an already excellent game, adding a considerable selection of new features, modes, and unlockables that – taken as a whole – make this the definitive version of NBA Jam. [Dec 2011, p79]

The sad reality, though, is that most will probably dismiss LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes as just another block-based kids' game. Don't be one of those chumps, because it's a valiant shot at the stars, built upon a solid brick foundation, which should be applauded. Is it simple? Yes, but often devilishly so, and that doesn't stop it from simultaneously becoming one of the best superhero outings and the definitive LEGO game thus far. [August 2012, p77]

Will you do YOUR part, citizen? You should. [May 2015, p80]

It's not the second coming of adventure games, but Broken Age is still a memorable jaunt. [July 2015, p82]

LIS has built a series of pivotal plot-forks based on seemingly innocuous actions, but the isolated nature of this heartbreaking scene makes me fear it’ll be forgotten when the series draws to a close. [November 2015, p74]

[P]layers won't get much out of SSX until they put a lot of time into each of the game's courses – packed with branching paths, high ridges, and suicide leaps – and work out a custom plan of attack. Without one, SSX can deteriorate into a discombobulating frazzle of questions like: where am I going? Is this the fastest way down? And how come the CPU is 15 seconds ahead of me? While the required exploration means a tonne of replay value, it also means newbies will have to board up a hockey stick-shaped difficulty curve to feel in the game. [April 2012, p70]

While this version of Crysis comes sans multiplayer, it's also available for a budget price, and the single-player campaign alone is easily worth the price of admission. [Dec 2011, p79]

The fact is that having flawless portable versions of Sons of Liberty and Snake Eater (plus the two MSX originals) in a box is worth an exclamation point and a purchase if you're patrolling past it in your local games shop. [August 2012, p79]

It's a turn of the century time capsule that showcases the pinnacle of 3D platforming – a genre that's been rendered all but extinct by our modern obsession with shooters and sandbox titles. [March 2012, p77]

One of the most memorable indie games of the past decade. Best played with friends. [June 2013, p76]

Without a doubt the best GT in the series thus far, but held back by aging game design and time-delayed DLC features. [January 2014, p70]

A worthy sequel to a true PSP classic. [May 2009, p.68]

And on that bombshell, may the next fledgling Final Fantasy fly fans to a realm that values a clear plot and strong characters over pinball machines. [February 2016, p74]

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

Load times are an issue, but this tap-dancer proves to be pretty, and pretty taxing. [May 2014, p83]

Starts out great, there's a bit of a lull in the middle, and finishes just as high as the superlative original. [Christmas 2014, p76]

We love the fighting that is present in SoulCalibur V because it's fast, inventive and approachable; but those improvements are all but squandered on threadbare single-player that's basically a bootcamp for pushing players online. That transition is fine if you've got the mad skills. However, newcomers may find that SoulCalibur V will too soon limit them to either replaying quick battles ad infinitum (to unlock useless hairstyles and arse-less chaps), or going online to be thoroughly pantsed by the grandmasters. [February 2012, p.72]

Reckoning is not about narrative. In this respect, it's a defiantly linear experience. What it is about is gameplay choice within the oft-rigid of an RPG. The way it accomplishes this is particularly fresh, and maybe even suggests a new precedent in the evolution of the genre. It's about time, right? Big Huge Games has clearly been paying a lot of attention to what's going on, and the result is that Reckoning is a patchwork of everything great that's been done to forward modern RPGs in recent times. [March 2012, p70]

A strong second episode and some of Telltale's funniest work to date. [June 2015, p74]

Utterly unique and reasonably enhanced since the last outing. This is still to die for. [December 2014, p77]

Ultimately, RAGE is soulless and short-lived. Jack up the difficulty for more of a challenge, but underneath a few stand-out moments is a shooter that's been outclassed and out gunned. [Dec 2011, p78]

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]

The environment’s naturalism and splendour make the core of the game feel more exotic than it really is. [November 2015, p79]

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 game captures the excitement of the sport, forces you to concentrate for laps on end, and can be as much of a time-sink as you choose, either with a full career or bite-sized challenges, and a smart middle ground where you need to beat a roster of chosen rivals for their contracts. [November 2012, p72]

Folks who have a single-minded, fashionable dislike of the series will recognise a handful of meaningful changes to the formula, but nothing that will keep them jacked in for long. Being in the middle-ground of the love-hate CoD spectrum, we’ll happily play this for months. [January 2015, p62]

God of War III Remastered is a Pandora's box worth reopening. Though the hinges creak with age, and a few edges aren't as polished as they could be, the contents still shine, even after half a decade on. [October 2015, p68]

Still oozing with cool. Great game design (shamelessly Frankenstein’d together from other franchises) is timeless. Armageddon board. [February 2016, p77]

Watch Dogs comes close to earning Best in Show, but falters on some critical open-world elements. Bring on the sequel! [July 2014, p74]

A hodgepodge of intergalactic hard arse, this is a must for those wanting something moody and fresh. [May 2009, p.60]

Three games in, this series is now a full-armed and operational destroyer of wallets. Combat and creation have been greatly improved. Use Force-buy. [December 2015, p78]

Uncharted: Golden Abyss shines as a fun, authentic prequel that looks bloody amazing as a first generation title. The larger cinematic moments may not blow your mind, like similar set-piece events in Uncharted 3, but there's still no denying how succulent this looks on that 5 inch OLED screen. [March 2012, p60]

A very competent, atmospheric shooter that isn’t solely about blowing shit up. If you’re not afraid of the dark and need a change of pace, a ride with Metro: Last Light might be exactly what you need. [June 2013, p68]

Not worth the upgrade if you already own it on PS3. Definitely worth a next-gen late-adoption. [January 2014, p83]

It's all very fast-paced too, and rewards players who opt for the highest difficulty, but then it's just a fun knockabout when you drop it down to 'casual'. Soloists always have the highscore to keep them hooked, and it's surprisingly addictive. A winner all round, really. [Dec 2011, p81]

In a decade, God of War: Ascension may very well be looked upon as that weird middle child that nobody really wants to talk to. But for now, it’s still a consistent, well-polished bundle of fun and really, that’s all that should count. [May 2013, p72]

Darkstalkers Resurrection is a well preserved piece of history of which no fighting game fan should be unaware. Go check it out. [July 2013, p80]

Still hilarious. Still addictive. But while the toy/game mechanics are cleverer than competition, far too much extra investment is required to make Dimensions as satisfying and features-full as ye olde TT LEGO games. [Christmas 2015, p76]

Lovingly ported to PSV, but not completely ageless. [June 2014, p77]

Visually astounding and addictive, few videogame worlds are as fleshed out as Puppeteer’s. [November 2013, p82]

Underneath the cute exterior lies a tough-as-nails sim exposing the realities of prison life. If you can see past a few offences, lock your door and lose the key. [September 2016, p72]

A chill platform puzzler whose dazzling production values aren’t matched by stable framerates or especially memorable moments. Rime’s only reasonable. [August 2017, p79] [August 2017, p81]

Forget all your fears. The 3D platforming games of PlayStation legend have never looked or played better. [September 2017, p83]

Addictive platforming is rarely this sweet. [Feb 2015, p80]

A solid update to this apex icecapade. Feels like EA's holding back for the next-gen though. [November 2013, p83]

The niche this mad gun’s aimed at should get this immediately. Everyone else: run. [April 2014, p81]

Telltale's most creative adventure has promise, we're just holding out for the more alluring loot. [Feb 2015, p76]

Beautiful carnage, free gravity cat, and no consequences. How can you not go head over heels about a game like that? [March 2016, p72]

Rivals is a sequel that confidently overtakes 2012’s Most Wanted. No doors are blown off, but needs are very much fulfilled. . [Christmas 2013, p75]

Dead Rising 2 is what you wanted it to be, but it unfortunately suffers on a technical level with too many loading screens and bogus screen tearing. Despite these minor setbacks this is one of 2010's best games. [November 2010 p77]

So that's Pro Evo 12 – not massively different to Pro Evo 11, but enough of an improvement to warrant the upgrade. So far as comparisons to FIFA go, our view is that it is neither better nor worse, but simply... different. And that's just fine with us. [Dec 2011, p73]

Magic 2014 has a perfect UI system but its tutorials aren’t particularly gentle with Magic virgins. Veterans know what to expect, buy with confidence. [September 2013, p80]

Not much effort has gone into this 'remastering' but Grim's an Adventure genre all-star. Test your noodle in this netherworld now. [April 2015, p82]

A kick-ass second chance at one of the best action RPGs released in the past decade. [June 2013, p77]

Fact is, when Revengeance is firing on all cylinders it’s a great, albeit short (six hours, tops) action game. [April 2013, p78]

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

[I]t's the Vita-specific features that may well entice new players to the otherwise hardcore fighting series. The lower difficulty settings actually let you dominate in fights on the easy setting (and there's 'very easy', too), unlike easy on Street Fighter IV, while a wholly touchscreen fighting mode lets you finger your enemies to death. It's not the best way to play the game, but it means that even the greenest newbie can win a fight without having to remember increasingly complex combat commands. [April 2012, p77]

The way the series approaches DLC will continue to divide; Tiger Woods 12 features 16 courses on the disc but a further 20 are already available as DLC... The game needs a course creator; it's a feature PC golf games had last century. [June 2011 p.78]

While its visual splendours cannot be denied, a few fumbled design decisions hold this back from true greatness. [May 2014, p73]

More accessible than Rock Band 4, and there are odd endorphins to be had from actors praising your efforts. It’s the tight-fisted nature of DLC that holds this back from greatness. [January 2015, p71]

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]

Intelligent mechanics, intense gameplay, well thought-out mission structure and plotlines are all winners in our book. Bring on the endgame antics! [May 2016, p70]

Let’s not pull any punches. This PS Vita version features the exact same pugilism, panty-service and pendulous paired appendages of Dead or Alive 5 on PS3, just in the palm of your questionably-callused hands. [May 2013, p75]

A lacking update from the 2007 collection. Not sure it's needed. [Apr 2009, p.76]

It’s the game hardly anybody played, remade in such a way as to demand every respectable gamer's attention. Take the plunge. [April 2016, p70]

Thomas Was Alone comes together into something more than the sum of its multiple simplistic parts. [July 2013, p79]

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]

The facial animations, the explosive combat moves and virtual acting are all top notch, elevating Enslaved to being an above-average action game. Also, there's an enthralling story being told here with entertaining characters and it proves difficult to put the controller down. [November 2010 p72]

This is the meanest Sonic game ever. Springs will punt you into spikes, the layout works against you as it's hard to get the blue fella up to speed, and the 3D special stage (a rip-off of classic SNES game F-Zero) is tripe. Bummer. [February 2012, p.76]

Slick brawling, charming visual design, vibrant set-pieces and that glittering guest star mean it’s still well worth crashing this kids’ party. [Christmas 2016, p66]

A brutal and gory game that earns both its rating and place in the franchise. [July 2014, p76]

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]

All those lonely train rides will never be the same. EA has successfully shrunk FIFA into a rich, technically brilliant version for your pocket. Not only is it visually comparable to its PS3 papa, but it plays brilliantly. To sum it up, FIFA Football is FIFA 12 with a few smart design modifications and apt throwbacks to FIFA 11. [April 2012, p73]

SFxT for Vita is a maddeningly brilliant obsession that will burn holes in your mitts. If you're looking for a fighter to permanently fuse to your hip, or want to save yourself having to spend $30 just to unlock the DLC of your PS3 copy, punch a hole in your piggy bank and go pick this up. You won't regret it. [December 2012, p71]

Could do with shorter 'mini-loads' between retries. But otherwise great. [Christmas 2012, p.83]

As any standup will tell you, the key to a successful joke is the execution – and Jazzpunk tees up its titters masterfully. [December 2016, p80]

Amazing to look at, great to play. Forgive the tardy loading times and this is a winner. [March 2012, p63]

Looks marginally better than the PS3 version. That's about it. [February 2014, p83]