Disarmingly simple and consciously limited, Push Me Pull You’s longevity is questionable, but this isn’t designed to be played for days on end. Stick it on when friends and family are round, secure yourself a festive amount of booze and snacks, and you’re all but guaranteed yuks of both kinds. [August 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]

Fans concerned about this being the first Sly game not made by Sucker Punch should worry no more. Developer Sanzaru Games ‘gets it’ and has brought a lot of great ideas to the table that show, without a doubt, that action platformers are still a massively entertaining genre. [April 2013, p76]

Wrong Number isn't a classic like its sibling, but it is still bloody good fun. [June 2015, p76]

By not taking itself seriously and focusing on the exaggerated swagger of old folk legends, Gunslinger manages to be the best game in the series. [August 2013, p74]

A HD remake created with TLC, but it’s still brutally difficult. Argh! [October 2013, p83]

Guardians of Middle Earth's early days are a bitch, and can be made bitchier by the fact it has no local matchmaking. Push through this brief difficult period, and you'll be hooked. It's almost loathsome how addictive this can be. You ever laugh at all those World of Warcraft Gollums? That's gonna be you. [February 2013, p78]

If you mooch for free off only one MMO this year, make it this one. [February 2014, p78]

Doesn't save the series, but doesn't condemn it further. Great with a co-op buddy, or if you like the score attacks. Only passable as a solo, narrative-driven experience. [May 2015, p72]

The definitive DOA for your PS4. Old content greatly outweighs the new. Still plays like a dream. [April 2015, p80]

But for every archaic design choice that's needlessly re-trodden for the sake of sticking to 'the blueprint', Sonic 4 introduces other new features that help to replace the nostalgia with a bit more substance. Just the simple ability to quick-jump to any zone, act or special stage in any order (and to compete with your mates scores and times) makes this instantly better than its predecessors. Long-suffering Sonic fans rejoice; the magic is back. [February 2011 p80]

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

A compelling companion piece for the Arkham franchise, and an impressive PS VR proof of concept. Held back by a high asking price for not a lot of content. [Christmas 2016, p74]

Is (currently) free, looks better, and you can now be messed with by stream-watching gamers. What's not to love? [May 2014, p76]

If you’ve never played a golfing game before this would be a great place to start. It’s packed with a great introduction to the sport, dozens of hours of content, and there’s few things more satisfying than rocking up to the 18th one stroke behind, only to sink an astounding 35-metre chip for the tournament win. [June 2013, p79]

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

Charming and bargain basement priced, but needs more oomph. [Feb 2015, p80]

Though your moves become bigger, faster, flashier, you'll rarely feel like Spider-Man. We've often thought of him as being a fluid, dynamic character and in Shattered Dimensions he's anything but, as he gets 'stuck' for a moment when transitioning onto a wall from the ground, or not being able to stick to certain objects. Not all surfaces can be clambered, and forget about web swinging and leaping onto a wall in one motion. Also, why have we gone back to swinging from invisible hooks in the sky? Hadn't we done away with that [December 2010 p80]

While cloning the original into this sequel, a lot of enhancements were added (but a just as many bugs got in as well). [June 2015, p78]

The bulk of Resident Evil 6 is highly polished, AAA blockbuster stuff. Capcom has bet big here and delivered a tonne of content that not only delivers extreme value for money, but also gameplay to suit every Resident Evil fan type. As impressive as that feat is, one can't help but feel that this sequel is more of a catch-up to other games, rather than a bold zombie into bold new territory. [November 2012, p66]

But despite the bland storyline there's no denying that Star Ocean: The Last Hope excels in other areas, most notably with its intense and satisfying combat system and a lively and engaging level progression which gives the proceedings a good pace. While certainly not a classic, this JRPG is fun enough and shouldn't disappoint Japanophiles. [May 2010 p77]

It just needs a little more zest and content. [Feb 2010, p.72]

Whether you're a rookie or an in-the-know veteran, this is an enjoyable package. [January 2014, p78]

A noticeable decrease in hilarity turns Brighter Darkness into the series' first sin in a long time. Only the most dedicated will forgive it. [December 2013, p83]

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

Riotous fun to begin with. But when the difficulty ramps up faster than a halfpipe, frustration creeps in due to loose controls and mechanics. [April 2016, p75]

MUA 2 is a compelling superhero romp, though the button mashing nature of play needs updating. Still, it’s an absolute hoot and beautiful to look at. [Dec 2009, p.78]

Solid, but not quite what we expected. [Apr 2009, p.70]