Downloadable fun at its finest. [Feb 2008, p.98]

20 new trials - feats of skill that perfectly complement the flawlessly translated controlset. [Apr 2012, p.113]

An odd but very welcome addition to PSN. [Apr 2009, p.97]

The core combat loop delivers a unique and very satisfying soulsborne, and the push to an open world is a win. But technical problems and a lack of enemy variety hold The Surge 2 back from greatness . [Issue#168, p.80]

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]

Devotees to the 20-sided dice will be pleased with the level of fan service on offer here, while even those who've never dared step into the Games Workshop will garner some no-thinking-required enjoyment from this fun if basic orc-driller. [Nov 2011, p.98]

A collection of highs and lows, Dream Drop Distance is fluid but flawed. It's Aqua's heart-stirring tale that will make seasoned keyblad wielders rejoice. [March 2017, p.93]

Only its lack of depth prevents Impact from troubling the top tier of wrestling games. [Nov 2008, p.104]

A creative stealth game that improves on its predecessor, though remains a little rough around the edges. Styx remains a deeply unpleasant character. [May 2017, p.93]

When it goes the way you want, though, Victory VS is a bold, enjoyable mess. [Sept 2015, p.94]

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]

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

There's too much trial and error, but this is still a refreshing spin on a stale genre. [Nov 2012, p.97]

Tense at first, the initial thrills dampen the more time you spend in the company, but The Flame In The Flood's warm ambience and unusual design are worth discovering for yourself. [March 2017, p.94]

While I’ve got my steel toecap in the puppy’s ribcage, I might as well say that the galaxy-trotting do-good gig gets repetitive quickly.

This is a game that understands the hardcore racer, and that it’s important to choose the font of your bike number. But it’s also a game that believes its handling to be so compelling it doesn’t need to dress up nicely to achieve, say, an 8/10. It isn’t.

Solid, chunky fun with chainswords. [Oct 2011, p.115]

It all becomes a beautiful addictive dream. [Nov 2011, p.99]

A few awkward steps threaten to spoil its performance, but strong characters and exceptional production values earn Dancing All Night a rousing reception. [Christmas 2015, p.77]

Deserves an award for its ability to reduce four supposedly mature adults to giddy yelps. [Christmas 2007, p.112]

It's the quality of the headscratchers that earns Turing a passing score. [March 2017, p.96]

While the game feels padded and the animation creaky, DMC4's crisp combat wins through. [Sept 2015, p.95]

With deeper options, this would have been an essential. [Oct 2007, p.100]

Engrossing pick-up-and-play action. [Apr 2012, p.115]

More of a place worth seeing than a game worth playing. [Nov 2011, p.104]

Some great modifications, but lacklustre world design, shallow progression and awful cutscenes deprive it of traction. [Christmas 2015, p.80]

The problem is, it's all a tiny bit unbalanced. [Christmas 2008, p.102]

Cars can be tricked out until they look like four-wheeled drag queens. [Christmas 2008, p.88]

It's definitely playable, and respectable value at a penny under seven quid. [Sept 2009, p.112]

It just doesn't feel quite as fun or innovative as the original. [May 2010, p.103]

Race Stars makes sense when taken as a distilled caricature of everything F1 – rainstorms sweep in and temporarily change the landscape, safety cars slow down the leaders and bobble-headed heroes shout insults in vastly exaggerated (casually racist?) accents. It's a chocolate pretzel of a racer that's worth a spin for anyone looking to avoid the chin-stroking of F1 2012.

The never-ending waves of vigilante violence appeal to my stubborn side. [Nov 2012, p.117]

A briefly brilliant bug hunt, then. Just don't expect the war against these aliens to last. [March 2013, p.115]

It's also a meaningful exploration of the frustration and release of boss battling. [June 2015, p.86]

We'd be happier of the frame rate didn't stutter like a cartoon pig on busier corners. [Christmas 2008, p.115]

Sexually frustrated robots aside, the gimmick of captaining two spacecraft means this is worth a look. [July 2011, p.91]

There's no doubting Crash's place in history, but this restoration shows its age a little too much at times. One for reliving, rather than creating, memories. [September 2017, p.79]

The sharp dialogue and heartfelt narrative are let down by the shoehorned relationship between the lead characters. Nonetheless, it's a worthy sequel. [Nov 2017, p.78]

Thief is worth it for the setting and hardcore stealth, but it’s marred by some poor AI and passive gameplay.

Weirdly charming. [July 2011, p.91]

It's never demanding. [Christmas 2010]

This is still a fine package, though. A new Country Clubs feature enables you and your friends to compete against one another and rival clubs, boosting your XP and coin-earning potential all the while, and the career mode is still huge. There's also the new Tiger Legacy Challenge, where you relive Eldrick's career from the age of two right into the future – it's a massive, well-executed addition narrated by the man himself.

As well as transforming abilities, you unlock room-affecting powers as you progress, and these are a lot more iffy– indications of where to use some are irritatingly lacking. The lack of map markings for currently impassable objects or collected heart pieces also feels a bit annoying.2 Still, it’s a lot of fun throughout its short duration, and the cartoony surface is backed up by plenty of heart. It’s not the best game of its type, but it’s an example worth playing. [Issue#178, p.76]

When a game brands itself "bizarre", I expect something a little more off-the-wall than a 2D fighter. [Nov 2012, p.119]

If Just Dance 3 was another girl on a nightclub dancefloor, I'd probably be a bit intimidated by her. I can practically feel her derision seeping from the TV as I awkwardly flail my limbs, Move controller in hand, in an attempt to emulate the steps shown on-screen.

If you like it quiet, Afrika's peacefulness and sense of freedom offer something to savour.[JPN Import; Nov 2008, p.116]

Best of all, technically it's fairly good. [Apr 2009, p.103]

An absorbing mix of ideas: an intense retro-tinged shooter with an unusual level of complexity. [Nov 2017, p.81]

Falls slightly short in substance. [June 2015, p.88]

A decent enough racer. [Nov 2011, p.113]

Although the gameplay and character models feel refreshed (Patrick’s limbs are delightfully floppy), the level design pales when compared to newer 3D platformers. Fully remade,2 including a remastered soundtrack, Battle For Bikini Bottom proves to be fun on a technical level, but the barren worlds, many NPCs you cannot interact with, and vexing objectives (the rolling ball in Mermaid Man’s lair, anybody?) make it fun and frustrating in equal measure. Fans won’t want to leave this one at the bottom of the sea. [Issue#178, p.82]

The level of control this system gives is compelling, and creatively arranging dialogue fragments is rewarding. The need to find the ‘right words’ creates an interesting tension throughout – unless you’re a people pleaser in real life, in which case this may hit a little too close to your everyday. Its short length and focussed story allows for an engaging variety of dialogue options and social scenarios, but it does also feel more like a proof-of-concept in the end. But it’s less than a tenner, which feels like a reasonable price, and we’re going to enjoy seeing how Insatiable Cycle fleshes out this dialogue system in future as what we’ve overheard here presents a tantalising snippet of conversation. [Issue#179, p.72]

No mere spinoff, this is a beautiful addition to the series. [June 2015, p.89]

It's no Diablo, but this is decent nonetheless. [July 2011, p.95]

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.

Wicked local multiplayer appeal. [Nov 2017, p.81]

Coupled with a sedate soundtrack composed by Austin Wintory, a sonic sensation that enters your ear like waves lapping at a shore, it’s a relaxing experience from beginning to end. [Issue#161, p.84]

"Quotation Forthcoming"

While its presentation is bogged down with messy menus and woeful atmospherics, packing in all 203 eligible teams and simply letting the tournament happen provides a platform for the magic to be recreated over and over again.

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]

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.

Eventually this becomes a satisfying process, but it can take a while to get to grips with. [Issue#161, p.83]

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

The obtuse solutions in later puzzles require a horrible amount of trial-and-error, mind. [Nov 2011, p.115]

Despite the pratfalls, it’s fun to swing into action here. [Issue#187, p.85]

A survival game that gets way more right than wrong. Resources are genuinely scarce, a real sense of danger permeates the whole thing, and the post-apocalyptic setting has been well crafted. That a game with such a troubled development has turned out so well is impressive, and as a different gaming experience it's well worth a play – even if it does feel like a warm up for The Last Of Us.

At various points you need to choose how you feel about the other characters using the star-chart-like Senses Sympathy System, rating them on a scale. This is the only way you make decisions and branch the narrative. It’s a nice idea that works for the most part, but also feels a little clunky. For a visual novel that released in Japanese in 2012 it still holds up well, and it’s a mature story that relies on sci-fi disaster thrills more than romance, which leaves it on top. [Issue#179, p.80]

The team-based multiplayer is undeniably good. [June 2011, p.108]

The one notable downer is that the AI can be unforgiving. [Nov 2007, p.107]

This is a strong wrestling game, featuring the best grap engine yet seen on PlayStation, and only the weedy selection of extracurricular activities prevents a higher score. [Dec 2007, p.88]

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]

A refreshing dip. Things don’t look as impressive under this virtual sea as they do in the video clips, but there’s still plenty to keep you gently bobbing along. [Issue#178, p.83]

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

Long-time players will be disappointed at Joe Rogan’s absence from the commentary booth this time around, even if Daniel Cormier and John Anik’s excitable tones are perfectly serviceable. And that’s a phrase which perfectly sums up UFC 4 in general. It won’t surprise MMA fans, but it should delight. [Issue#180, p.72]

There are moments when it feels like it's on the cusp of greatness, threatening to make you an offer you can't refuse, but the inevitable letdown is never far behind. [Sept 2010, p.104]

Besides spider death, each area has multiple objectives. Some of these force you doing a little bit of thinking, others simply ask you to destroy a set number of a certain object. Levels start out small, their routes unfurling as you reach spider-killing milestones. Progression is satisfying, though once you become used to the game’s tricks it wears a little thin. Still, if you want to “kill it with fire” and a whole lot more, it certainly lives up to its promise. [Issue#187, p.85]

There are plenty of pacing and puzzle problems, but Zero can still be a horror hero at its best. [March 2016, p.87]

A good, solid racer, but not a great one. Its main problem is that it undeniably compares unfavourably with its closest competitors (it's secondary problem is its grating soundtrack, but I'll charitably let it off the standard -2 dubstep modifier). With a less inhibited approach to level design and slightly more refined handling its success would be less qualified.

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]

Lighthearted, loveably manic, and shamelessly fun, this is a great fit for PSP. [Aug 2009, p.118]

A remarkably solid effort that experiments with the genre and celebrates the finesse and timing of martial arts. It's just a shame it feels so incomplete. [Nov 2017, p.89]

With such assured motion, incident-packed races and gorgeous stadium track visuals this should be an easy recommendation, especially since it’s a deluxe version of an already-polished series. But the harsh handling model and extreme sense of déjà vu suck out a lot of the fun. [Issue#187, p.85]

The hooning that ensues is heavily derivative of both Mario Kart and also ModNation Racers, copping the funky weapon pickups of the former and the screaming drift mechanics of the latter. It plays just like you're imagining, with the added gimmickry of the "Transformed" bit in the title giving rise to certain moments where your car will literally transform into a hovercraft (boring) or jet (radical). [January 2013, p70]

There's little to criticize. [Christmas 2010]

Zombie Army 4: Dead War offers few variations on the horde survival template… but what it does, it does it so well. If you love arcade shooters, it’s a no-braaaaaainer. [Issue#172, p.77]

This is a well put-together package. [Jan 2013, p.109]

A cracking collectathon for master and aspiring builders alike. Simplistic mechanics make for a relaxing, though no less engaging, experience with plenty to see and do. [Issue#161, p.82]

Mission objectives are simplistic and the multiple sandbox maps are small by modern standards, but creative abuse of the game’s destructive weapons never fails to raise a smile. A welcome reinvasion. [Issue#179, p.70]

F.E.A.R.'s slo-mo gunplay is worth experiencing, but the whole game hangs on a single gimmick - and ultimately it isn't quite enough. [May 2007, p.86]

It won't keep you amused for great stretches at once – it feels a bit more like a really great app than a fully fledged game – but for enjoyable chunks of puzzle-centric play to dip in and out of, this hits the mark.

By no means a bad game, it's hard to shake the feeling it'll end up as a stopgap until Dirt Rally hits. [March 2016, p.88]

Faithful to its roots, perhaps even to a fault, T&E’s new adventure is still a welcome dose of childhood to those of a certain age. [Issue#161, p.97]

This is a sublimely addictive action throwback with an occasional habit of shooting itself in the foot. At least I can say this: politics has never been so exciting. [March 2016, p.89]

A smart puzzler that builds admirably on the blocks of its predecessor. [May 2018, p.91]

We’re in love with the unique control system, but the longterm appeal of the launch version is questionable. If/when more features arrive to fill in the gaps, it’ll be an essential purchase. [Issue#179, p.74]

You can enjoy it without playing the other games first, but there's a good chance you wouldn't understand a thing. [Aug 2009, p.119]

It's just a shame it hasn't got a faster, snappier matchmaking system. [Christmas 2008, p.104]

While there's online support, it's a bit too sterile compared to offline matchups. [Feb 2018, p.91]