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]

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]

The Nippon Ichi crew are masters of turn-based strategy so there was no guarantee that they could do an action game, any more than Madonna was guaranteed any success in her acting career. But succeed they have; gamers can dive into their wicked anime universe with pick-up-and-play accessibility [Aug 2009, p.78]

A surprisingly fun title with a unique look. Flawed but charming. Well worth an attempt. [Feb 2010, p.70]

There’s a level of complexity and polish that belies the lo-fi visuals, the gore, the bonkers story and the motley crew of nutbags that you encounter. Under new ownership, Grasshopper has – dare we say it? – grown up. [March 2016, p70]

Battles are random. You’re dumped in at the deep end with little indication of how to do what you’re meant to, and when compared to FFXIII everything feels so last century. The characters have the same emotion as a corpse. It’s not at all streamlined, and graphics are washed out and low-res; it’ll take the most hardcore JRPG fan – and we’re emphasizing the ‘J’ – to accept this. A pity, as the townships and world are intricately designed. [Apr 2010, p.76]

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

A three-hour experience that is equally touching, haunting and well worth your time. [December 2013, p82]

[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]

Only Hobbit-sized improvements to the formula. May as well wait for the inevitable re-release that includes the third movie DLC. [June 2014, p77]

It's a bit rough here and there but it can also deliver a lot of good times. If you have co-op on your mind, leveling up with mates has its moments but it quickly devolves into a frustrating group training mode. Single-player gamers? Jog on elsewhere. [July 2011 p.82]

If you're looking for an ethereal, Limboesque puzzler that will challenge your intellect, this isn't it. What's required of you is always obvious, thanks to a predictable mish-mash of platforming and box puzzles. [October 2012, p76]

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

In almost all other respects Castle of Illusion pales in comparison to the Rayman Legends of the world. We’d also recommend Duck Tales Remastered over this in a heartbeat, too. But if you prefer your platformers easy and protagonists in pants, Castle of Illusion is still worth the price. [November 2013, p85]

Gorgeous eye-candy (mostly) and tunes that stay with you for decades. But years of rhythm games make the once revolutionary Patapon feel simplistic. [October 2017, p76]

A slow burn that (eventually) picks up into a decent DLC. Standing between you and the good stuff: a load of deja vu. Make with the Destiny 2 already. [December 2016, p76]

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]

So dumb it's dangerously good. [Apr 2009, p.72]

Until Dawn doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel, but the sense of immersion is real, as are the heart palpitations. [Christmas 2016, p75]

It’s a pity the backtracking mars an otherwise clever title. [March 2013, p78]

For the skim readers out there; there are two ninja launch titles for Vita. This one cuts the other one a new butt crack. [April 2012, p80]

If you can ignore the eyesore low-res video feedback of the PlayStation Eye, the book itself and the creative crap it spawns looks sharp, well animated, and it grows in complexity. Likewise the interactive stories and narration are top-notch stuff. [Christmas 2012, p.76]

It contains everything you'd expect of a middle-of-the-road puzzle game, and it's executed competently. But the creators of this game suffered from a paucity of ambition. There is a tsunami of innovation crashing through the worlds of online and interactive learning, Rocksmith being but one example. [January 2013, p74]

An Android platformer ported over to Vita with little aplomb. A fun diversion, but only for a while. [November 2014, p77]

Well presented, technically solid and fun. Runs out of challenge and interesting concepts roughly halfway through, however. [September 2014, p73]

Doesn't quite live up to the jumbo expectations that come from being a Sega-backed platformer. But there's enough bad ass in here to take its competitors to tusk. [October 2015, p72]

So while you'll be unconvinced by the visuals and voices behind the boy and his beast, when the Majin goes harumphing into battle to save you from the latest onslaught of sinister humanoid ooze, stopping only to breathe his healing gingivitis all over your battered body, you'll find yourself wondering; why this has done for you what the massive production of Enslaved could not. The answer? Heart, baby. Kid's got heart. [January 2011 p72]

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]