Don't let your natural wariness of licensed games steer you clear, because there's more than meets the eye here. [Christmas 2015, p75]

Don’t put out an APB on what is a hilarious yet technically flawed Lego adventure. Apprehend it for little ‘uns at a reduced price. [June 2017, p77]

It feels like Game Of Thrones has finally got going in this, the penultimate instalment. [November 2015, p79]

Redeems Infinity Ward, but is uninspiring. In the face of DICE’s efforts over the fence, this wasn’t the year to stick to the old formula. [Christmas 2016, p69]

Soul Sacrifice isn’t the deepest Action-RPG out there, but it’s certainly one of the most interesting, and it feels right at home on PS Vita. [July 2013, p78]

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

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]

But no mask – no matter how flamboyant – can fully hide The Sexy Brutale’s faults. [July 2017, p74]

Far from mindless but further from brilliance, War for Cyberton is fun without being engaging, ideal for an undemanding audience. [September 2010 p.76]

More Borderlands. Fans will doubtlessly love this, but casuals may find it too samey. [December 2014, p72]

This isn't meant as a backhand, but Virtua Tennis 4 on PS Vita is virtually identical to the PS3 version, which which was quite good. Smashing, even. [March 2012, p65]

An update worthy of the source material. Old-school platforming worth jumping into [April 2014, p81]

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]

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

While it feels a bit old fashioned with a lot of story to get through, Tales of Graces f is a decent translation. If you've shied away from JRPGs in the past this is as good a point of re-entry as any. [October 2012, p78]

Even if you spend ages noodling around there, Gnog won’t last you very long. [August 2017, p77]

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]

Transformers newcomers will be sated by the solid shooting and platforming on offer, provided they don't expect anything revolutionary. But if you are a fan, the many fan favourite cameos conspire to make the stock-standard feel special. [October 2012, p.72]

In real-life, dog fighting is an elite, Darwinian art form. Here it's often the digital equivalent of school kids running in circles with paper planes, screeching "Nuh uh! I shot you!" [Dec 2011, p72]

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]

Easy to get into, difficult to master, and free as a bird. Definitely sample-worthy. [February 2014, p79]

At this point you’re probably wondering: if 2.8’s best bit is that brief, is 2.8 even worth it? Honestly, you’ll have to follow your heart on that one. [April 2016, p77]

Videogame worlds are rarely this rich and addictive. No matter your pleasure - story-based campaigning, co-op comradeship, or adversarial annihilation - Destiny delivers on all fronts. Frighteningly, this really does have the framework of a 10 year obsession. [Nov 2014, p.68]

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

The touchscreen moments are pretty lacklustre, but the biggest waste of the Vita hardware comes from the lack of co-op. multiplayer. Solid, but never spell-binding. [May 2012, p81]

QUBE packs a remarkable amount of variety into its three-hour campaign. [November 2015, p74]

The result? A flawed, beautiful contraption – which is appropriate, given how common those are in Tides’ Ninth World. [May 2017, p82]

Expertly paced and has an arresting visual style. In tight spots, combat can often become a 'flailure'. [April 2015, p80]

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]

While it won’t change your life it is full of surprises, and clever too. [April 2013, p78]

While Saints Row IV might be crass, stupid and a bit ugly in places, it’s a lot of fun. Expect to lose yourself ‘til the early hours with this. [October 2013, p74]

It’s simple really. If you’re not into Green Day – and honestly, we’re surprised you’ve read this far – you’ll likely feel it’s a load of dookie. If you are, however, welcome to paradise. [August 2010 p75]

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

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]

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

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]

Aside from a few isolated visual bugs we spotted, Syndicate seems to fix the technical bugbears that haunted Unity. Its likeable dual protagonists and fascinating setting are offset by little mechanical evolution and a few unfortunate cuts (co-op mainly). [Christmas 2015, p67]

Fast, refreshing and full of tactical nuance; these are the ingredients in the Twisted Metal cocktail, but it isn't without an odd aftertaste. Disappointingly, the single-player covers three fiends, rather than a bunch of dedicated mini-campaigns for the full menagerie of maniacs. It's live-action mixed with CGI stuff that gets a bit cheeseball in spots, but is quite engaging. The solo is decent aside from a few checkpointing oddities, but if you're a soloist we'd suggest the budget buy. [April 2012, p67]

Perhaps one of the best things we can say about Sonic Generations is that it feels complete, and that it looks absolutely stunning. 20 years offers a lot of time to draw inspiration from, and Team Sonic's determination to show off everything that Sonic has accomplished is to be applauded. As an homage it's without peer. As a game in its own right it's flawed, but it'll leave you with more smiles than frowns. [Dec 2011, p70]

Doesn't reinvent the wheel or go above last year's offering. Just a solid fan-service that delights much more that it 'infuhreriates'. [July 2015, p80]

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]

This sucker devours bus and train trips. [March 2012, p64]

For every idea that’s been given care and thought, there’s one that is far past the realm of cliché. This is less a diminishing return and more a warning that the series is flirting dangerously close with creative extinction. [May 2016, p66]

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

Arguably the best finger-abuser money can buy. An essential purchase for musou fans. [Christmas 2014, p72]

With a few more tracks this could've been exceptional. [Dec 2011, p82]

Critically the balance from FIFA 12 has been exaggerated and attackers now have emphatic control when set. So aggressive defence is out, replaced instead by ad nauseam jockeying that slows the action to a grind while attackers dangle the ball with footloose poetry. It's fist-in-thetelevision frustrating at times, and at one point we perused the pause menu looking for the "Hire cartel sniper to take out dribbler" option. [April 2012, p68]

In some matches it almost feels like the AI is taking the piss, effortlessly stringing together combinations and reversals, when it is nowhere near as easy to do this yourself. There's a lot of assumed knowledge and familiarity with the franchise, which can be disconcerting to newcomers. Positioning is key for finishers and signature moves and can get frustrating when your opponent is whaling on you almost effortlessly. [December 2012, p77]

A polished collection that every Sony fan should have in their... collection. [September 2014, p81]

So why should you bother to make it to the credits? Even in the weakest moments, there’s a rich mystery to this world that remains captivating. [April 2016, p78]

As visions of the future go, EndWar is stuck in the '80s. [Christmas 2008, p.96]

Monstrous fun, tactical and ludicrously replayable online with the right crew. Single-player provides you with great practice, but wants for narrative and reliable team AI. [April 2015, p76]

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

All-in-all the features add up to a game that is one of the best replications of the real thing thus far, especially with some top notch presentation. Just watch out for those damn ghosts. [November 2013, p83]

There are a bunch of new modes from previous versions to challenge your timing and they're insanely addictive. It won't just be your gems that'll disappear, it'll be your life. Our (life-crippling) highlight is the Poker mode. [June 2012, p 81]

The last sections of The Magic Circle are some of the best “no WAY!” twists you’re likely to play this year. [August 2016, p.76]

A somewhat flawed albeit ultimately fantastic entry to the Bat-series. Storyline really delivers, too. We can't wait to see what Warners Montreal does next. [December 2013, p76]

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

Dares to ask us how we deal with mistakes. It’s a shame the answer it provides is flat and unfulfilling. [April 2016, p76]

We're impressed with this, and you should be too. Sports Champion is a strong first showing, and a great example of the strength of motion controls. [November 2010 p66]

It sucks then that getting Diggs out of the frying pan takes a scant three hours, tops. Do that and you’ll unlock the option to replay and use the Move as a virtual camera to scour the augmented environments for hidden objects and other goodies – but that gets old pretty damn quick. While it lasts, Diggs Nightcrawler is full of surprises. If you’re looking for what Wonderbook can do it’s the best eggs-ample out there. [September 2013, p75]

While it won't satisfy technical fight-fiends, it's definitely a sterling lounge room fixture for a crowded night in of mashing each other into opposing franchise paste. [Summer 2009, p.68]

Do yourself a favour and play DS3 like a raving masochist, straight off the bat. It’s a slick, AAA sequel that’s worthy of its place in the franchise. but only if you take the initiative and crank the difficulty. We didn’t think it possible, but Visceral has engineered a sequel that will appease old fans and entice new ones, too. [March 2013, p72]

If you're into old-school RPGs, then its dose of sci-fi fantasy is good enough to bring a smile to a Klingon's face. [May 2009, p.69]

Leaving you with no indication on how to progress might have been quirky, innovative game design in 1996, but in 2012, it's an exercise in pure frustration. Replaying the initial laps over and over again, just so you can have another crack only makes matters worse. The original Saturn version of the game is on offer too if you are so nostalgically inclined, but it still doesn't manage to escape the fundamental inadequacies NiGHTS possesses. [December 2012, p80]

Pure Pool is as succinct a product as its name suggests. Expect solid ball-on-ball action but little more. [October 2014, p82]

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]

Superhot VR was a proof of concept that won the hearts and minds of any non-gamer we handed it to. But for serious gamers, this is an offering lazier than the bullets depicted. [October 2017, p77]

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]

Nowhere near as visually impressive as new-gen GTA V, Re-Elected is still wildly entertaining. [March 2015, p74]

Brimming with fan-service, unlockable content, and freeform ‘create, share, play’ fun. A must for the young and young-at-heart. [October 2013, p75]

A gorgeous explore 'n' experiment experience. Can be too directionless which can harsh one's buzz. [October 2014, p83]

Basically, the same great PS3 title we reviewed a while back, but portable and with exemplary CrossPlay functionality. Being able to whip out your Vita and pick up from where you left off (by downloading a Cloud save) is an absolute godsend and the synching process is flawless. [June 2013, p80]

What bothers us most about the entire package is this: quite clearly Tomb Raider Underworld was created without the intention of delivering a functional game...Honestly, post "Uncharted", there is absolutely no excuse for a game such as Tomb Raider: Underworld. [Christmas 2008, p.94]

It's a hell of a slog to win a match and characters are fairly underpowered at the start. It is tactically deep and responsive, but make sure you have mates to play with. [May 2012, p80]

Surprisingly polished and great value for money. Touch controls work rather well, too. [April 2012, p78]

Short, but reasonably priced. Ground Zeroes is a striking entry in an evolving franchise. [May 2014, p78]

Fans of Batman will love it, others may want to wait until the next LEGO title. [December 2008, p.79]

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

The Medal of Honor series has been a bit of a shambles ever since Medal of Honor: Frontline. The quality of this contemporary reboot, then, might surprise you. The presentation is terrific. It's a far more realistic and compelling single-player campaign than either Modern Warfare 2 or Bad Company 2; we were hugely engrossed and thoroughly recommend it. [Nov. 2010, p.60]

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]

While this PS Vita version does nothing wrong, the PS3 version's split-screen option makes that the one to get. [February 2013, p81]

I Am Alive is a surprising triumph. It's an original and satisfying challenge. A breath of fresh air. [April 2012, p71]

Bulletstorm has been lavished with a fine new coat of 4K paint. Its linear, skill-based shooting is worth revisiting, too, even if new content is thin. [June 2017, p70]

Offline, it's a slightly better game than last year. To make it a substantially better sequel you must be willing to be perma-connected to the PSN. That's all fine-and-on-the-fairway for hooked-up Aussie gamers, but it's a sizeable sand trap for the many who aren't. [May 2012, p78]

Fun and frustrating in equal measure, Cloudberry Kingdom is both as delicious and ugly as a Picnic bar. [October 2013, p82]

Has its tongue so far in its cheek its poking through to the other side. [Dec 2011, p82]

While Codemasters have made this look the goods from the glossy cars to the vibrant environments, the edge-of-your-seat events are few and far between, and the carnage is limited due to a small field of competitors. You'll either feel indifferent to its attitude or loathe it outright, and your gut reaction will tip you either way. We, and we suppose many others, will be curious to see how this sideshow influences DiRT 4. [July 2012, p76]

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

You're missing the point if you barrel through this trying to complete the chapters like a workman ticking off his list of tasks. For better or worse, Mafia II sometimes feels like more of a guided experience than a game but then you'll be totally engrossed some of the most epic firefights ever seen, and the sound design is amazing. [Oct 2010 p.68]

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]

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

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]

Right from the start, you feel like a demigod, dispatching enemies with ease thanks to an overpowered arsenal and a whole bunch of 'breaching' powers that let you slow time, enhance damage and decrease ouchies from incoming bullets. [April 2012, p65]

Fighting section is good...RPG section is problematic. [Summer 2009, p.74]

The game feels right at home here. While it may not exactly push the PS3 to its limits, seeing it run on the PS Vita's 5 inch OLED screen is still extremely impressive. The camera keeps track of the frantic action perfectly, and although a little impact is lost the fidelity of the whole package makes up for it. [January 2013, p77]

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]