In many ways, Touch my Katamari feels more like game for your phone than a Vita title: incredibly accessible, yet designed for small bursts only. [April 2012, p76]

When a well-planned incursion comes to fruition, the game is rewarding; the rest of the time, it's plagued with camera weirdness, clipping errors and a clunky combat system. [April 2012, p75]

The omission of four-player cooperative play (as seen in its PS3 counterpart) hurts and seems a bit of an oversight but that doesn't stop it from being a damned fine platformer. Rayman Origins looks a treat, plays pretty sweet and walks its own beat. [April 2012, p75]

In the end the experience of piloting an F1 car around the world's premiere race tracks isn't here. This is one racer that gets the black and white flag for bad behavior. [April 2012, p74]

Escape Plan feels way too barebones an experience. There aren't many gamers out there who'll want to revisit and three star puzzles they barely fumbled through the first time due to iffy controls. [April 2012, p74]

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]

The problem is the level design in the game is absurdly old hat. While there are a handful of mission types, like Direct Action, Covert, and High Value Target, the levels they take place in and the related objectives are painfully bland. "Move to this point and activate this switch. Now go down the stairs and activate this other switch." Blah, blah, blah… [April 2012, p73]

At its core this is Konami's Ninja Turtles beat 'em up re-skinned for Matt Groening's cash. But whereas everybody gets a rad turtle in TMNT, one poor bastard in every four player posse gets stuck with Marge and a vacuum. [April 2012, p80]

[G]ripes aside, Gotham City Impostors is a surprisingly solid shooter and with the sizeable first DLC drop, Warner Bros. is promising improvements across the board. If they deliver on that, consider upgrading this score to must-buy status, rather than a nice-to-have. [April 2012, p72]

Sadly Dead Souls simply bolts a zombie apocalypse onto Yakuza 4's broken template, without making any effort to improve it. What is it about Dead Souls that feels painfully dated? The clunky and overly complicated combat and camera controls, combined with inconsistent rules are the main offenders. [April 2012, p72]

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

While the predecessor was a solid albeit short outing with optional co-op, this sequel seems less polished. The backgrounds lack the eye-catching finish, the plot is just a discombobulated mess strewn together and while Klei Entertainment has evened out the difficulty spikes it lacks the charm of the original. [April 2012, p71]

[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]

Even under duress, it's easy to lose yourself in this strange, enchanting world. Sadly, it's all too brief. We felt we'd barely scratched the surface when the credits rolled. Sure, there was a suitably enigmatic ending, but we wanted more. Much more. [April 2012, p69]

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]

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]

[W]e put the controller down (during a 'gameplay' sequence) and watched in stunned frustration as the game continued on happily playing itself for six minutes. It's inconceivable that there are gameplay levels that cannot be failed or be changed by your actions. Even Dragon's Lair, the game that birthed the concept 29 years ago, had consequences. [April 2012, p66]

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]

For those expecting a Tarantino-like exploration of the consequences of being a bad person, you're looking at the wrong series. It didn't take long for us to realise that Ninja Gaiden 3 has more cheese than a fondue party, but it works in the favour of this frantic over-the-top hack-and-slash title. [April 2012, p64]

[Y]ou're only allowed to customise and upgrade the character you're controlling. You can determine who'll be in your squad, but you can't tell them what guns and abilities to use. In fact, AI-controlled squadmates don't even have abilities. They're just grunts with guns and act with all the intelligence of tactical awareness of action movie cannon-fodder, and it affects your offensive options. [April 2012, p.62]

Mass Effect 3 is an amazing experience in and of itself. It's also the perfect capstone to a true AAA franchise, offering a poignant conclusion that'll stick long after the credits have rolled. You're standing on the precipice of one of the best games Earth money can buy. [April 2012, p.60]

Pretty dull. You'll grind rather than grin your way to victory in this limited ride. [Dec 2011, p82]

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

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

More than an update, this is an overhaul. If you have even a passing interest in basketball, or love sports games, get this now. [Dec 2011, p82]

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

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]

It's still riotous. If Dead Rising 2 shuffled past you last year, now's the time to grab it with two, bloodied, clamouring hands. [Dec 2011, p80]

Surprisingly exceptional and unique. [Dec 2011, p80]

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]

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]

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]

WRC 2 is a game that, if you were to it to someone, sounds like the perfect rally game. Once it's in your hands, though, you can't help but feel a bit glum. Whether it's a lack of time, money or skill, we're hopeful that Milestone comes back next year with a title to do the license proud. [Dec 2011, p76]

It would be foolish of us to pretend that Dark Souls is a game for everyone. It's perfect at what it does, but a big part of what it does is make you suffer for your mistakes. It is a harsh, uncompromising task master and you will have to work to win its approval, because it certainly won't work to win yours. [Dec 2011, p74]

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]

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]

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]

It's hard to genuinely dislike a game like All 4 One. While it's obviously and quite severely flawed in a lot of ways, it's also possessed of a certain irreverent charm that – while derivative – is often enough to keep you playing irrespective of the fact that you're not really having a great deal of fun. [Dec 2011, p69]

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

The characterisations by the actors is second to none and even though this tall-tale takes you to fantastical places and events, the script is never once unbelievable. You never feel like an outsider. If anything, you'll feel right at home, ensconced in the constant drama of this loveable cast of returning reprobates and reprehensible villains. [Dec 2011, p60]

Space prohibits a more comprehensive deconstruction of NeverDead's myriad flaws, so instead here's the pithy summary: this game is utter bullshit. There are heaps of bad games out there, but few that glory in their deficiencies the way this one does. [March 2012, p78]

The bot is pretty special as their outer flies off, and you need to be tactical at times to get the best of them. Not bad, but not great either. [March 2012, p78]

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]

Shines where it ought to, but much too soggy around the edges. [March 2012, p76]

Not without problems but surprisingly addictive once you get the rhythm down pat. [March 2012, p75]

The truest expression of digital combat around. Amazing. [March 2012, p74]

The Darkness II is a radical departure from Starbreeze's old template. Gone is the effortless noir cool, plus the old stealth sections and overworld exploration have been given the barest of lip services here. [March 2012, p72]

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]

Has made some really solid steps forward in combat but needs a more readily digestible plot to entice newcomers. [March 2012, p68]

The biggest problem is a lack of variety in the stages and enemies. Aside from the odd boss fight you're just hewing your way through the same old scum with the same old tactics. Couple that with the fact that this offers less story than a homemade sextape and this gets old, fast. [March 2012, p65]

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]

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

BigBig has put its shoddiest mini-games first, and mastering these challenges to get to the 'good' stuff is very tedious. Even if you do stick with it, the sense of reward soon give way to growing disappointment, thanks to re-skinned repetition. Not good. [March 2012, p64]

So-so fighting but an okay diversion. The AR is really cool, though. [March 2012, p63]

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

Plays great, looks great, and there's enough in here to keep you entertained 'til next year but the lack of online multiplayer is a real blow. [March 2012, p62]

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]

When you take into account the bargain basement price and what benefits you'll reap from it (assuming regular use), Move Fitness could be one of the wisest game purchases you ever make. [January 2012, p.81]

The real shining star of Medieval Moves, though is the bow and, considering the game was developed by the same team behind Sports Champions, this comes as little surprise. We regularly ditched the sword and shield in favour of the bow at every opportunity. [January 2012, p.80]

The augmented reality tech is nifty, but it's let down by some rather bland game design. [January 2012, p.80]

You'll spend roughly an hour to an hour-and-a-half on each episode and once you're done, that's it. It's also one of the easiest games to rinse for trophies too, so if you're one of those people who's looking for an easy boost, you've found it. Everyone else, bred on a diet of L.A. Noire and Heavy Rain, will find this fairly pointless. [January 2012, p.78]

All told, Jurassic Park: The Game may be marketed to you as a new-age Dino Crisis and a wild ride, but in reality it plays more like John Hammond's dinosaur tour as it was originally intended. You're locked on a linear track and inelegantly chauffeured through dino dioramas that you'll have close to zero interaction with. The tour grinds to a halt for the occasional toilet break (read: light puzzle moments), but once that business is dispensed with, you're escorted back to your proverbial jeep on a scalextric track and the tour limps on. [January 2012, p.77]

The game looks crusty. The sprites introduced last year are pixilated and their animations limited. Plus the game lacks any creative flourishes during the massive super moves. We love the idea of a stunning 2D fighter, but there's no technical or artistic creativity here. Note to SNK – invest some money to make it look like a cartoon made by a ninja Walt Disney. [January 2012, p.76]

Perhaps 'ambitious' is the absolute best thing we can say about Hydrophobia Prophecy. List its features and goals as bullet points and it sounds incredible, but in the end it H2-blows. [January 2012, p.75]

We found Catherine to be fairly enthralling, both in the old school challenge of its block-based conundrums and the addictive downward spiral of Vincent's narrative. Likewise, the quasi-RPG sections offer just enough exploration, offer endearing characters that are beautifully animated and lead to a variety of wacky endings to replay for. [January 2012, p.74]

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is a no brainer purchase. [January 2012, p.72]

While a bit old fashioned, Tekken Tag Tournament succeeds as an HD update and a cheerfully robust brawler. [January 2012, p.70]

Happy Feet Two may not be as broadly appealing as its Lego co-op competition, but is a decent kid's movie tie-in. Certainly much better than the first game, as KMM's attachment to the IP shows. [February 2012, 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]

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]

From the first mission to the last, J.A.S.F. is left to rot by the arcadey and capable Ace Combat for sheer thrills, embarrassed by the variety of missions offered in H.A.W.X. 2, and technically outperformed by the more serious IL-2 Sturmovik. [February 2012, p.76]

It's fitting that the developers are called Mastiff, because this game looks like a dog's breakfast. Each mission is a waterlogged shamble through the land that time and PS2 forgot, where you'll have to re-kill the same six simpletons over and over. [February 2012, p.75]

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]

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]

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]

Combine this lacklustre multiplayer with a solo campaign that only lasts six or so hours, and Space Marine is an experience that's much too small for its impressive looking Powerboots. Only the super diehard need apply here. [November 2011 p74]

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]

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]

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]

Sure, there are some minor kicks in three player co-op, but they're very short-lived and fraught with frustration. Call of Juarez should have stuck to its guns and remained an Old Wild Western. Avoid this like you would the real po-lice. [October 2011 p80]

Bodycount is a thoroughly boring ride that won't challenge your reflexes or intelligence. Ironically, the fact that this takes under four hours to get through is the best thing going for it. [October 2011 p75]

Despite the flaws this'll be on your mind well after the credits roll. The plot is engrossing enough to make any techno freak froth at the mouth with lust. Human Revolution is a truly authentic Deus Ex game, and a great gaming experience in its own right. [October 2011 p74]

If you've ever wanted to drive through a chain link fence. If you've ever accelerated towards a speedhump instead of slowing down for it. If you've ever thought going through a corner sideways would look a hell of a lot cooler than bumbling through it like a normal schmuck. If you've ever thought any of those things, play this game without delay. [October 2011 p69]

Though this game can offer fleeting firefight fun it is constantly dragged down by questionable design and a severe lack of polish. Whichever way your eye meets it, Transformers: Dark of the Moon is out of this world ordinary and to expect anything better from it would be lunar-cy. [September 2011 p80]

Captain America: Super Soldier is rudimentary gaming at its worst, a tired old melange of linear corridor crawling and basic brawling. It's utterly unsatisfying. That the whole thing weighs in at a squidge over four hours only further sabotages any shred of quality that managed to smuggle itself into the final game. Don't play this. [September 2011 p76]

Insect Armageddon succeeds in one small regard. Good games should make you feel something. Unfortunately the emotion it frequently elicits is rage. While the price is about right, and measured against the games that came before it in the series Insect Armageddon doesn't look that bad. But that's a bung comparison in the wider tapestry of quality games out there that can be had for a few bucks more. [September 2011 p74]

Despite a few rays of fun, F.E.A.R. 3 is a production that offers gloom, minus any impending sense of doom. As an action-based first-person shooter it's solid enough to stand alongside is contemporaries in the faceless, grey-brown ranks of the FPS genre, but it does nothing to stand out from the status quo. [September 2011 p71]

Armageddon is by no means a bad game, it's just a completely different one to what series fans will expect, or possibly want. Unfortunately, in returning to its underground roots, Volition has forgotten to capitalise on what their series does best: geo-modding the crap out of everything in sight - minimum restrictions. [August 2011 p80]

Madness Returns is in a tricky position. It could never offer pistol-quick mechanics because of the character design and it often feels like a chore to finish a stage. You'll also probably get pretty tired of finding and shooting switches to reveal a hidden platform, or slogging through another round of five or six enemies. Yet it dares to be different, so if you're happy to admire it for is own sake then you should find some fun amongst the insanity. [August 2011 p74]

We're not entirely sure who's going to play this game, or even who it's ultimately suited for. People who are fans of Mikami and Suda will no doubt snap it up without a thought, and so will those who are tired of the 'usual' slew of action games. Sure, Shadows of the Damned has character and shows of incredible, grotesque and inventive beats, but as a game it's left lacking. [August 2011 p70]

It's true that there are plenty of superior overall shooters out there that'd murder for a character with a quarter of the charisma Duke Nukem oozes. He's a dinosaur; a two-dimensional mound of muscles with a gun. But that's the joke. Duke Nukem Forever really is a several-year old game masquerading as a new release. [August 2011 p67]

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]

While your characters are nimble – able to double jump, slide on the spot, cling on to walls, ceilings and sporadically placed platforms – the melee combat is pretty tiresome as enemies overwhelm often by number rather than by skill. Cross your fingers you have a ranged attack in your repertoire else you're screwed. [July 2011 p84]

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]

As with the rest of Virtua Tennis' shtick it's a simple system that hides its complexity well. Along with an addictive, board game-style World Tour mode,it's hard not to recommend Virtua Tennis 4. Perhaps the stellar motion controls are relegated to throwaway mini-game, rather than being fully integrated. [June 2011 p 79]

As fun as it can be, Neptunia is an extremely niche title. If the only game you ever play is Black Ops, avoid this like a spinning-up death machine. If, however, you really miss the JRPG heydays of the PSone and PS2, you need this. Now. [June 2011 p76]

If you have all the accessories to play this game as it is meant to be digested (Move, Sharp Shooter, a decent online connection and four non-idiotic mates on standby for co-op) it's one heck of a good game. Lack even two of those prerequisites though and SOCOM: Special Forces will come across like a fairly standard operation that takes a bit too much liberty with the descriptor 'special'. [June 2011 p68]

Just so there's no confusion, let's state it plain: Batman: Arkham City is not only the best superhero game ever made, it's one of the best games ever made full-stop. Batman: Arkham City takes the already superlative original and gloriously expands on it. It's a deeper game, more complex, more inventive, more mature. In our view it brings the caped crusader's world to life better than any comic, movie, or television show before it ... To say it one last time: this is what it means to be Batman. And when it comes down to it, who the hell doesn't want to be Batman? [Nov 2011, p.62]