Our biggest gripe is it's just too cheap and mean, leaving you very alone and swamped in single player against the hordes of enemies and overpowered bosses. Foes come thick and fast and players who charge at the edge of the screen whilst it's scrolling will get a sudden foot to the face for their eagerness [Oct 2010 p.76]

It’s still far from perfect – main menu freezes abound and the EU and NA servers will frequently fail to even show up, so you’ll probs find yourself on a JP one – but when it works, it really works. Finally. [November 2013, p84]

While engaging modes shake things up when it all gets a bit shallow, think twice if you’re looking for a fighter with depth. But as a series send-off for obsessives? It’s a knockout. [May 2016, p75]

While the narrative is bonkers, Killer Is Dead iterates on tired gameplay to make a gorgeous game playable. [November 2013, p84]

Basic to look at, but totally delivers bite-sized sessions. Tough, too. [Christmas 2012, p.83]

The other main problems with Dog Days (besides the limitations of its ambitious visual style) are its length, its threadbare story and its realism identity crisis. Dog Days is a decent game by a talented developer, but it's still weighed down by these flaws. [Oct 2010 p.74]

An entertaining distraction needing more variety for true longevity. [Feb 2015, p79]

This is a welcome return to its predecessor’s winning formula, with an extra helping of blood and guts. [May 2016, p76]

Although completable in a single sitting, Grow Home is just as long as it needs to be without overstaying its welcome. [December 2015, p70]

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

On a technical level, sadly, Zombi disappoints. That said, Zombi is saved by an evocative world and a few innovative features that make it feel newer. [December 2015, p71]

There’s a lot here – a lot of scrap to collect and cars to push off the side of the road – but nothing gluing it all together. [December 2015, p75]

It doesn't add much to what's familiar about Monopoly, but it's a faithful adaptation. [Feb 2015, p81]

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]

Superficially it might look like a reskin, but Battlefield Hardline is no cop out. [May 2015, p71]

The gameplay is ageless and timeless – probably because it’s a shameless copy of a certain plumber’s racing adventures on another console. There are weapons and powerups for both offensive and defensive manoeuvres, powerslides mean turbo boosts, and while the racing’s a bit bland in single player there are missions that earn money in order to unlock more of the cast, music and courses to race on. [Apr 2010, p.76]

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]

Currently an uneven mix of old school vs. new, and goofy vs. serious. A somewhat shaky start. Hopefully this won’t make for a receding heir line. [November 2015, p75]

The bait is nostalgia. The victim is your wallet. Wait for that price drop, true believers. [October 2016, p73]

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

It all feels a bit sterile, too, and the weird floating pool cue doesn’t do much to alter that. Solid, but hardly exciting. [Feb 2010, p.77]

The game’s dystopian, drowned burg a pleasure to explore. It’s just a pity the engine is a little bit of a shambles. [November 2015, p78]

Zombie Army Trilogy is a real treat until it gets bogged down in repetition. Best served with a side of friends. [May 2015, p78]

The story is such fun, and its world rendered with such affection for the source material (and for Victoriana, in general), that you can’t help but be swept up in the mystery. [September 2016, p74]

Don’t look at its brevity with a frown: Gone Home is a hugely important game with something meaningful to say. [April 2016, p74]

Unimpressive graphics and animation make this an experience that is better than average, but really not much more than that. [Nov 2009, p.71]

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]

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