As an RTS game R.U.S.E. succeeds. It's tough and it's tight. As an RTS game, however, it's destined to only be embraced by a small, hardcore community. [Oct 2010 p.75]

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]

Shank is one of those games that sums itself up in its own title. It's also a game wears its influences proudly on its arm like a 'mum' tattoo. You're looking at a 2D brawler that nods at classic beat 'em ups and pretty much every arcade game released in the late '80s. Aesthetically it's a beautifully animated homage to the greatest graphic novels and golden-age comics. [Oct 2010 p.75]

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]

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

The gameplay stutters slightly in minor ways, and the visuals in major ways; but we still found this to be irresistible to put down. If you're the type of level-headed gamer who values fun over graphics,or you nd some mates are looking for a great co-op game, then we'd say the bludgeontastic Dead Island is a bash well worth your cash. [November 2011 p70]

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]

While FIFA 12 is certainly solid, there's a big part of us that prefers FIFA 11. The tackling might have been brainless, but compared with the almost-there Tactical Defence it's almost the better devil. Last year's game might not have required the extra skill, but it was less frustrating. While FIFA 12 has fixed a lot of annoying bugs and introduced some great new features, at our next football gathering we'll still be kicking around with last year's champion. [November 2011 p72]

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

The trail is quite compelling; well-written enough to hook-drag most gamers to the end. The pay off? It’s definitely worth all the brain abuse. [December 2015, 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]

Gameplay-wise, not exactly a killer app, but anybody who looks at those visuals will be dead impressed. Short, but plenty of reasons to replay, and it’s the spookiest game since Alien: Isolation. [November 2015, p72]

A lovingly-crafted callback worth answering, despite its truncated length and elementary difficulty. [October 2016, p68]

Taken as a whole, El Shaddai is a remarkable achievement, as beautiful as it is baffling. While its quirks prevent us from recommending it wholesale, for those of you who crave innovation and imagination in your gaming diet, this is something you simply cannot afford to miss. [November 2011 p78]

Over time, as you form a pack of new friends who are up for regular games, this could transform into a regular party night classic –albeit one where your party guests are in different houses. And might need worming. [March 2016, p78]

While it great barrier reeks of quality, Abzû is not as breathtaking as it could be. [October 2016, p72]

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

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]

Fun. It's three little letters that seem to have been lost - Mercs 2 has it in spades! [Nov 2008, p.98]

The most authentic WWII shooter yet, but often at the expense of fun. [December 2008, p.72]

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

A little tomb raiding may sound fun. But there's nobody here to hold your hand, you dig? [May 2015, p77]

This would be a great deal if it was packed with a $4.25 happy meal, but at almost full retail it's a thieving shamburger. [May 2015, p76]

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

Short on runtime, but also the bearer of surprising plot revelations and brand new mechanics. It’s enough to stop this from being just another brick in the wall. [September 2016, p71]

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]

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

Still pretty niche as far as JRPGs go, but well presented and packed with multiple paths and replayability. [May 2015, p80]

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]

Played as intended, with three mates in one room, Screencheat is the most fun you can have in a local multiplayer setting. Worth owning, just to have on your HDD for parties. [April 2016, p71]

A step in the right direction for the franchise. [Christmas 2008, p.84]

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]

Those of you expecting instant gratification best move along to another playground. Yakuza 4 is a slow burn and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. The balance between intense brawling, wacky distractions and convoluted exposition is deep and detailed and guarantees you endless hours of enjoyment [April 2011, p72]

Despite the fact that series has (arguably) successfully made the leap to new-gen systems, there’s still a lot to like with Assassins Creed Rogue as you gallivant about the globe. You’ve played it all before, but finding out if the grass really is greener on the other side helps breathe new life into the Creed. [January 2015, p60]

A truckload of guilty fun, Prototype offers a lot of freedom. Beneath it all it's a simple kill-fest, but it works well. [July 2009, p.72]

Buy this for the best hero and plot of the series, and insane hours-for-dollars value. [January 2016, p81]

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]

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

Like Test Drive Unlimited 2 before it the cutscenes in Apocalypse are universally terrible. The obviously deliberate digital comic approach feels cheap too, making the sequences feel like placeholders for real animation that never eventuated. It's all a bit childish, really, and features the worst approximation of a foreign accent since Christopher Lambert tried to sound like a Scotsman in Highlander. You'll know it when you hear it. We do question why Evolution bothered devoting manpower to the story mode and we'd be happy not to see it again. Fortunately, players will spend far more time playing Apocalypse than they will do with awful cutscenes. The racing is still furious and fun – and that's always the main thing. [May 2011 p.74]

Telltale has absolutely nailed the feel of the franchise and the charming visuals are a treat. Christopher Lloyd is great as Doc Brown and newcomer A.J. LoCascio's impersonation of Michael J. Fox's Marty has to be heard to be believed. The music, a blend of cues from Alan Silvestri's memorable original score with a hint of Huey Lewis, is near perfect. [April 2011, p.81]

Who says couch based co-op is dead? Gear up, team up and plunder. [January 2015, p66]

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]

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]

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

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]

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]

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]

We’ve missed the WWII theatre, and Sniper Elite 4 is a rollicking good reason to get back to Nazi-blasting. Story isn’t amazing, but the joy of stealth-sniping – particularly in co-op – is Reich on target. [April 2016, p74]

Never Alone delivers something different. It’s often frustrating, but hey, it’s windy out, Inuit? [January 2015, p69]

Act now, think later’ is the nature of Berseria’s beast, a battle system that thrives on heat-of-the-moment muscle memory and snappy knee-jerk reactions. [April 2016, p76]

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]

Probably should have kept to the arcades, but worth a look if you've got the extra coin. [July 2014, p82]

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]

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]

You wouldn't play this on your own. It's not quite the new SingStar or Guitar Hero, but it is good simple fun. You can even cheat a bit, like we did, by only moving your hand that grasps the Move controller. Do that, though, and you're cheating yourself. [February 2012, p.78]

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

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]

Red River stands out as the more intelligent but vaguely scruffier cousin amongst the likes of Call of Duty, Homefront and Crysis 2. What you have is a thinking man's game that begs to be played in co-op. PS3 owners have been screaming for a great game to play with mates who will work towards the same goal, and this is it. [June 2011 p.73]

Depending on how brave you are (or your peripheral set up) the handling model can be altered from reasonably forgiving to brow-mopping stressful. Knuckle down and learn the nuances and you'll lose yourself in some glorious moments, recreating key battles and moments, swopping through the air and perfecting the art of dogfighting. [May 2012, p80]

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

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 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]

It’s a little short, but still manages to satisfy, is dirt cheap and sure to leave you a smile on your dial. [Christmas 2013, p80]

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]

Codemasters has a record of making its racing games shine visually and aurally and DiRT 3 is no different... Each vehicle has its own timbre, and with the inclusion of the riotous Group B cars and bespoke Gymkhana terriers the soundscape has been pushed further than ever before. Revving them out to redline and listening to the motor screaming and straining the bolts is a primordial joy where noise and fury fuel your desire to push these things harder. [July 2011 p.80]

Great multiplayer. Quality, yet anorexic single-player. Knock [20] points off this score if you're an offline-only gamer. [April 2011, p.68]

The defining moment came when, having spied a particularly rare class of collectible, we sent the Overlord in to smash the crate that held it. Before he could reach it, a little pointy-hat-wearing gnome, not even a foot high, darted in and nicked it, gibbering all the way back to its grubby little warren. Our clichéd expectations of fantasy gaming had been shattered. [Aug 2009, p.72]

Once you earn and understand how to flick between the dimensions (on all four shoulder buttons) Conundrum will have you calling people over to the TV to boast how "S-M-R-T" you are. That joy is offset, however, by Airtight Games' insistence on pinpoint first-person platforming, something that's a source of intermittent frustration. [September 2012, p74]

The camera work is tight on this rollercoaster, and the generous unlockable content makes this feel like much more of a love letter to fans. [September 2012, p75]

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

Improves the JRPG rigmarole with one or two great ideas. Is a letdown in the writing department. [June 2014, p79]

Challenging, with a massive variety of gun customisation, held back by unfortunate bugs. [June 2014, p81]

The visuals may be as appetizing as earwax, but this is still inexplicably fun, especially with a cohort. [March 2014, p79]

It's still not quite perfect, but Awesomenauts Assemble is certainly a noticeable step up from its PS3 older brother. [May 2014, p75]

Mechanically, a step up from Assault Horizon, but has barebones solo and is F2P. A nice substitute while we wait for a PS4 Ace Combat. [August 2014, p76]

The one and only PS4 difference – camera-only dancing –intermittently works. Woo. [February 2014, p81]

Shinji Mikami has managed to steer the survival horror genre back on course with an extremely tense and ridiculously bloody tale. [Christmas 2014, p64]

Not to be missed a second time around. Definitive is mostly a joy to visit... even if there isn't a shred of new content to play. [Christmas 2014, p68]

For once a musou game that doesn't take the slash. A must for genre fans who missed the original's release. [November 2014, p74]

Not the best in the series, but packed full of new exclusive extras that make a return visit well worth it. [March 2015, p80]

Sets a respectable pace for two-wheeled racing on the new gen. That said, the graphical horsepower of the PS4 is still underutilised. [September 2014, p78]

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

A respectable take on the Gundam metaseries that's sure to please the faithful. Not particularly approachable for anybody else though. [September 2014, p80]

It's still no Monster Hunter, but it's good enough to attract and retain a few new slayers. [June 2015, p79]

There's definitely fun to be had here for the F1 faithful, but we can't shake the feeling that Codies is taking the foot off in preparation for the inevitable next-gen follow-up. [December 2013, p79]

A stellar addition to any local social gathering. Decent competitive online components, too. [December 2013, p83]

A visual feast that won't sate you if you if you're a sim-leaning soloist. Offers social, arcade fun in spades, however. [December 2014, p68]

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

Could've been worse. It's blurst. [December 2014, p79]

EDF fans may “BFD” but it's beaut for bug blatters of a strategic bent. [Feb 2015, p79]

If you’re a fan of the franchise you’ll be getting this for new challengers Jacky Bryant, Rachel, Momiji, Leon and Ein. The Power Launcher move is about the only new mechanic addition. It looks hilarious, won’t rock worlds. [November 2013, p85]

Alone in the Dark and Sin City collide to shine a light for imperfect (yet mesmerising) adventuring. [May 2015, p79]

Like a new wrestler getting a push, the fans will determine if 2K’s series succeeds or fails. [January 2015, p86]

Infinity Ward has taken its foot off the accelerator here. The marketing department might as well have called it Call of Duty: Coasts. [Christmas 2013, p68]

A deja vu update of last year's Don Bradman 14. Minimal graphics tweaks and not much else. [May 2015, p81]

Veterans should vacay here. New players from Skyrim will still get hit with the culture shock of lots of grinding over emergent exploration and nuanced combat. [September 2017, p74]

The main reason you will enjoy it is because the twin analogue stick controls are as simple as they are rewarding and each tackle is a cacophony of limbs that is extremely visceral. [July 2010 p73]

Two games deep and two systems later, the grappling simply still isn’t as much fun as slugging it out, especially for those who have a more casual interest in MMA. [June 2016, p75]