It's inventive and engrossing - and almost ridiculously cheap. [Feb 2010, p.115]

Then there's the combat, which just isn't fun at all. [Christmas 2009, p.104]

Constant hesitation blunts what could be a sharply enjoyable romp. [Christmas 2011, p.111]

A technically accomplished, visually impressive game that you'll struggle to work up an appetite for. [Feb 2008, p.82]

Resistance is a fine game, and easily capable of standing up to the scrutiny a big launch title attracts. But it doesn't quite do enough to make us add 'the Chimera, on Tower Bridge, with the Bullseye' to our list of classic shooter moments. [Apr 2007, p.104]

Only minus the satisfying touch-screen interaction. [Apr 2011, p.118]

The issues aren’t ruinous, and in the case of the multiplayer more an inconvenience that EA needs to address than anything else – but it’s enough to take the shine off what should be one of the best shooters on PS4.

So much was promised, and so little that's new has been delivered. Certain fundamentals are woefully sub-par (the horse riding is absolutely shameful), and it's either laziness or a troubling lack of creativity that's led to such a generic and repetitive selection of story missions. And yet the game is saved somewhat by the wealth of content it includes (and the well-integrated, largely compelling nature of these side-dishes), and the moments that remind you just why this series remains such a big draw.

A fine twin-stick shooter that's just a few minor tweaks away from something really special - though score-chasers up for a stern challenge may well adore its charms. [Feb 2015, p.95]

It suffers from a couple unfortunate problems but counters these with some neat new innovations. [July 2012, p.101]

Prettier and choked with superfluous PS4 control additions, yet still the same brilliant game underneath. Never played it? Buy this. Want to re-play it? Stick to the PS3 version.

This sequel's main addition is that you can now play co-op online as well as locally. If you manage to get a good trio together the game is best enjoyed in threes, so it's definitely a good addition – although snapping between the characters (using the trigger buttons) is so instant that nothing gets lost if you choose to go solo. Beyond that it's an extension of the old formula, but when that formula involves some challenging gameplay and this much prettiness, that's no bad thing.

Personality, guns and destruction are Bad Company's strongest cards and it plays them hard. [Aug 2008, p.98]

The spirit if Studio Ghibli lingers, mostly thanks to Joe Hisaishi's score. But this sequel isn't as charming or bold as its new features would have you believe. [May 2018, p.71]

Far deeper than it first appears - though its extended loading times do leave a bitter aftertaste. [June 2011, p.109]

Everything that's good about Fight Night Champion is the stuff that's been least fiddled with from Round 4. [Apr 2011, p.100]

Satisfying in parts in a way that only kicking a supernatural wolf can be, but it doesn't quite recreate the satisfying ebb and flow of other beat-'em-ups. [Spring 2011, p.106]

A solid, nostalgic fighter, but lack of depth in the core combat means it's unlikely to hold you attention for long in a crowded genre - and Street Fighter still pummels it into the dirt. [June 2011, p.102]

It's also more predictable, with fewer affecting decisions than the first part, but that's not to say that you won't umm and ahh over what to do on multiple occasions. This is still an excellent piece of narrative-driven gaming, where you grow attached to the cast and enjoy/endure the consequences of your actions. It's where Heavy Rain meets the zombie apocalypse, and that should be enough to sell anybody.

Remains faithful to the original at all costs. [Sept 2014, p.108]

It's gently hypnotic stuff, but fight a dozen super-intelligent skeletons and you'll soon be yearning for the simple pleasures of "Lumines." [Mar 2007, p.111]

The platforming gameplay itself is simple, but in conjunction with the lovely art style and excellent soundtrack, there are times when Sound Shapes becomes a genuine joy. [Oct 2012, p.119]

With no campaign to test your trigger finger, the trio of a safe (albeit polished) battle royale, waning multiplayer, and rotting Zombies make BLOPS4 feel like a relic next to a post-Forsaken Destiny 2. [Issue#156, p.94]

A nostalgia trip for Castlevania fans, a flawed but enjoyable adventure for others. Prepare to look up a guide every now and then to find your way, though. [Issue#165, p.87]

A well-put together action platformer with lots of charms, spiced up with colourful graphics, but one that fails to outgrow its influences in any meaningful way. Fun but predictable. [Issue#153, p.92]

It takes a while for things to get stale though, and until then this is a surprisingly strong new entrant to the off-road scene. [Nov 2008, p.117]

Lemmings in reverse. [Mar 2008, p.108]

At 6.29 quid steal. [Christmas 2009, p.107]

It's no Towerfall; you'll still spend some time wondering how or why something happened, but at least you'll all be in the same blocky boat. [July 2016, p.96]

Like its music, though, Everyday Shooter slowly gets under your skin. Just bear in mind it's more chill than kill, kill, kill. [Feb 2008, p.96]

The only truly next-gen element is the powerhouse visuals. [May 2007, p.104]

The real-time battles open the game's appeal up beyond the hard-nosed RPG fan. [Sept 2007, p.112]

It's occasionally fiddly and frustrating, but take one look at the pretty pictures and all that rage melts away. [Aug 2011, p.107]

Even if you just own the Starter Pack models there’s still hours of fun to be had levelling up in the returning Arena modes.

Wonky tech and punishing challenges will leave your cold, but with our without VR, this has moments of brilliance that are worth the price of admission alone. [Oct 2017, p.88]

Mostly good news. [Mar 2010, p.103]

The real appeal of Mega Drive Collection is as an interactive history lesson. [Mar 2007, p.114]

Not even the savvy touchscreen controls can gloss over the real problem: the uninspired world you're forced to inhabit - and for a 20+ hour commitment, that's a bit of an issue. [May 2014, p.83]

Despite the frantic nature of the game suggesting pushing you forward is its main motivation, some sections do have a death mechanic that sets you back to a checkpoint. It’s a fun ride full of spectacle, but messy to the point where you can struggle to connect, never really committing to pursuing either experience or gameplay. [Issue@168, p86]

s. There’s certainly room to experiment and tinker. Yet for all the fun you’ll have in Wreckfest’s sandpit circuits the constant technical hurdles hold it back. [Issue#167, p.92]

Though the game is brief, you’ll return to it for a go at beating your high scores, or to take on a pal in the competitive mode featuring the Prince’s colourful cousins. It’s a truly bizarre game through and through, but all the better for that. [Issue#183, p.67]

Fantastic for kids. [Christmas 2013, p.86]

What Saints Row: The Third is made for though, and where it really excels, is just messing around to your heart's content. Okay, perhaps not your heart – maybe the heart of some homicidal lunatic with a fetish for molluscs. Because from the Octopus Launcher to the Manapault (a car that lets you hoover up and then fire out pedestrians) to the Apoca-fists (which turn anyone you punch into instant man-paste) no game has ever given you such an eclectic toolbox to toy with.

If you can look past its flaw you'll find a bundle with more charisma and creativity than most on PS4. [June 2015, p.91]

Though fugly and unrefined, a clutch of decent missions and ever-engaging shootouts mean The Division 2 is just about worth signing up for. Only just. [Issue#161, p.93]

In enhancing net features, it's forgotten those who want to swing solo. [Oct 2008, p.95]

A cartoony feast for the eyes and ears, with a great overworld and lovely design. The platforming could be better, but it’s engaging enough to be worth your time. [Issue#168, p.79]

A colourful feast for the ears and reflexes, Dyad's issues can't ruin this trance party. [Jan 2013, p.114]

The best we can expect for now. [Apr 2011, p.112]

There's too much repetition, too little excitement, and it all feels like it's been done before. [Feb 2010, p.104]

Whether you find its t&a-heavy stylings cheap or charming, the unique combat and constantly entertaining animations are almost enough to elevate it into the realms of the genre's giants. At present though, without an on-screen moves list it's too fiddly to put the hours of training into – which is frustrating, because you will want to put those hours in.

The lack of an engaging drama or choice means this one isn't so much a digital page-turner but best enjoyed at your leisure, ideally with a nice cool drink to hand. [Issue#150, p.88]

It's hard to be cross with any game that has you rescuing space rabbits. [Apr 2016, p.94]

Enjoyably challenging. [June 2016, p.86]

Unless you're a disciple of the first "Digital Devil Saga," you'd be better off investing your RPG funds in "FFXII." [Mar 2007, p.116]

Battles rarely deliver on the promising setup and there's no sense of peril. [June 2014, p.82]

Among clumsy PS2 ports and tedious retro collections, it comes as a bracing gust of sea air. [Apr 2007, p.103]

In gameplay terms this is a distinct step down from Far Cry 3 itself – DLC should enhance the core game, not make you pine for it – while from an experiential perspective, the trouble with setting out to make something disposable is that, even when you’ve done your job well, you’re left with exactly that.

There's still loads to like here. [Oct 2011, p.115]

To be fair, this is a game that degrades everyone. [Dec 2008, p.106]

Better than the already-out Inferno Pool, and worth a look. [Feb 2010, p.111]

Fails to offer enough content that's new. [Feb 2015, p.92]

For all its good intentions and moments of skin-crawling tension, the areas it impresses in aren't as important as the ones it doesn't. Ultimately, it leaves you hollow. [Oct 2017, p.83]

A fascinating and absorbing game. It's also infuriating and chaotic. [Dec 2011, p.97]

Fractured. [Christmas 2015, p.79]

Acquiring the lanthorn provides more of a twist as this enchanted instrument can move around more objects, such as a snakey platform beneath your feet or blocks triple your size. It’s this kind of magic that adds to this enchanting little world very much inspired by a bedtime storybook. And if all that doesn’t tap into your inner child, a section featuring slides certainly will. [Issue#181, p.86]

Jak can still turn heads. [Apr 2012, p.112]

Ridiculous tricks and the gritty visuals impress, but Street's flashes of brilliance are undone by glaring flaws - such as the ball hitting an invisible wall at the sideline. [May 2007, p.112]

With just 13 (visually interesting and welldesigned) levels, the long-term appeal lies in loot grinding; earning chests for better weapons and accessories, while levelling up each character individually. Otherwise, it’ll only last you about five hours. Bot AI and server activity can support this approach, though whether your tolerance for playing the same levels again and again can is another matter. [Issue#159, p.82]

Got a PSP and WiFi at home? You've found your next shooter. [June 2007, p.104]

In its single-minded effort to deliver the best console racer handling the world’s seen, Polyphony lets a number of technical issues drive on by for yet another game.

New endings mean the leading ladies feel slightly more fleshed-out, but those aforementioned old chestnuts have deep roots in the game’s numerous and extremely varied – er – routes. That is to say, it’s more of the same. Obviously that’s not a bad thing but, like marriage, it won’t be for everyone. [Issue@168, p.92]

Still an excellent port of the game you know and love. [March 2015, p.93]

Our biggest concern is the putting. The analogue control that's so effective for approach shots lacks sensitivity on the greens. [Apr 2007, p.110]

Early frustrations aside, it's compulsive experience that plays heavily to PS Vita's strengths in both the core gameplay and its structure. [Jan 2016, p.93]

It's not overly long and the price is right, so if you fancy something different and clever, with just enough characters to keep you going, Minit might well be the one for you. [June 2018, p.80]

For a series that was consistently outstanding for so long, being merely 'good' simply isn't good enough. [Nov 2007, p.108]

FIFA 08 is a workmanlike effort from EA. [Dec 2007, p. 98]

It can be restrictive, but overall The Warriors works thanks to its recreation of '70s NYC. The clothes, music and graffiti combine to lift a simple fighter into an atmospheric trawl through the Big Apple. [Apr 2007, p.111]

Mixing up your items is still the name of the game, though. While you level up in fights, a lot of your sense of progression comes from creating more powerful items (and finding higher-quality ingredients to do so). Holing up in your atelier, mixing the perfect items for quests, is still one of the most satisfying crafting systems around. You frequently return to your home to store materials, encountering warm little character events. A degree of automation makes mixing easy to get into, but customisation has evolved to the point where you can’t help but think up alterations to make, for instance, your bombs more powerful. There’s a strong connection to your items and equipment. [Issue#185, p.82]

Solid, but not startling. [Issue#51, p.103]

A bit like go-karting. [May 2013, p.109]

If you love racing sims and the WRC, you’ll get a lot out of this; but for the second year running, if you can only pick one rally game, Dirt 2.0 is the better choice. [Issue#180, p.75]

Everything this kind of expansion should be. [Christmas 2011, p.97]

Watch Dogs relies on unfiltered girth to entertain. Another victim of cross-gen releases, there’s nothing particularly ‘new-gen’ about the game, but there are plenty of good ideas and a lot of activities to keep you busy. The fundamentals for a truly special game are in place – but as was the case with Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, it now falls to the sequels to fully realise it.

For 2D shooter nostalgists this is close to essential, but for everyone else it's just a comprehensive curio. [Aug 2007, p.114]

A good game, but one you’ve played before. The single player is sorely lacking innovation, but the online side is strong like bison, even if the power of PS4 is sadly missing.

Star Wars is a huge draw that's hard to overlook. [Nov 2015, p.108]

If you were already in, you'll stay in. But if you want to join the club, it's only worth it if you're going to put in the hard yards to get your member's card.

This straddles the generation gap rather awkwardly. [Feb 2014, p.90]

Still a classic, but slightly less fun when you don't have the option to play it on the go. [Spring 2011, p.116]

Buttery-slick controls. [Dec 2011, p.91]

Fingers crossed it gets a patch, because when it does, it'll be essential. [May 2010, p.105]

Neon Abyss really shines when you you have unlocked enough upgrades to experience the carnage in full.2 Getting to that point, however, can feel like a long, hard slog. If you’re up for the challenge, persevere and this will offer you a dense, addictive experience that you’ll keep coming back to. [Issue#179, p.80]

It plays like Street Fighter, but can't look it square in the eye. [May 2013, p.114]

A no-brainer for Lego enthusiasts - a no-thank you for those upset by locked content. [Dec 2015, p.88]

You'll get plenty of enjoyment from the younger touchdown slinger too. [Nov 2009, p.131]

Eden might be an acquired taste, but with its one-of-a-kind controls, creative art style and cracking multiplayer, it's definitely worth the hard work...and the 4.99 BP asking price. [Oct 2008, p.94]