The warfare is as dull as the characters. [June 2007, p.101]

If the tracking listing consisted of Lady Gaga and Crystal Castles, twiddling a little arrow around and hitting the face buttons might be more satisfying. [Sept 2010, p.117]

Get/bribe some mates and there's a great game here. [July 2011, p.92]

There are some great puzzles in here, but they're presented with more of a spit-shine than actual polish, lacking the precision of larger studios' games and suffering clipping woes. But as a curio, a breath of fresh creative intent and a piece of leftfield storytelling, Papo & Yo beats games with ten times the budget and manpower.

An unrefined Portal-lite it may be, but this first-person puzzler occasionally weaves sharply spun noggin teasers to provide some proper ‘Eureka!’ moments.

It does feel like this sequel is a little cut down. [Christmas 2014, p.95]

The quality of the footy secures Euro 2016 a big score, but presentation and licensing issues see Konami very nearly make a hash of an open goal. [June 2016, p.84]

A familiarly average start, but with sharp writing and dramatic set-pieces. [June 2016, p.92]

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]

This is one of PS VR's more complete adventures. [Apr 2018, p.88]

It's not brilliant, and it's not terrible. Instead, it hovers in a murky region between the two. [Oct 2008, p.90]

Falls into the trap of sludgy platforming. [Dec 2013, p.94]

Familiar issues hold it back from hooking us on its feeling. [July 2016, p.90]

There's been nothing quite like this conducting-meets-combat mashup since its original release, and it's still as wonderfully barmy and deeply moreish as ever. [Oct 2017, p.94]

A novel twist on traditional sports games, then, but one that's equal parts New York Giant and Jacksonville Jagu-arse. [Dec 2015, p.91]

It's the best kind of 7/10. The gunplay is raucous, but never revolutionary. The relationships make you laugh, if not cry. Binary Domain is unpolished in all the right places – the rough edges make it a unique metal snowflake in a production line of identical, shiny shooters. Fill that Mass Effect gap with a game that loves you.

Genuinely hard not to enjoy. [Apr 2009, p.100]

The great thing about Semispheres is its difficulty curve. [Apr 2017, p.95]

In places it feels like a rush job, but there are also enough fresh ideas to challenge any co-op team. That’s reason enough to grab a brush and get involved. [Issue#171, p.89]

The fundamental gameplay couldn’t be simpler, and the dialogue is terrible… but it’s good. There’s a staggering 170 characters to unlock, and you’ll soon find favourites. With an enormous amount of content, online and offline co-op (if you can find other players; I couldn’t), and some cool-looking moves, it’s a shallow but entrancing adventure. [Issue#157, p.88]

This game is best played up close – as you would with a computer monitor – and not half a room away on your sofa. While we don’t doubt that with its tight strategy gameplay and weekly challenges it’s a compelling title on its native platform, here it leaves much to be desired. [Issue#166, p.92]

What we have here is a beloved, fun game battling an ill-advised move into virtual reality. [Issue#158, p.96]

The best game adaptation of the manga yet, though that’s not saying much. Save for a few eccentric moments, it plays like a forgettable and outdated sidestory. [Issue#155, p.91]

Sadly, though, you'll spend more time fighting the controller than the enemies on screen. [June 2018, p.88]

Sadly, it won't leave much of a lasting impression. [Dec 2016, p.85]

Familiar thrills from this no-frills series. [Issue#158, p.85]

Living up to its developer's name, this puzzler is double fine value at £9.99. Just be warned that its own see-saw of fun counterbalances every five belly laughs with a mildly exasperating headache.

Bad news if you're after something brand new, but great if you're happy with their winning mix of firepower and smart laughs. [Aug 2008, p.102]

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

When the game does slip into heavy narrative - which is infuriatingly often, creating a horrible stop/start pace - the story is a mess. [Nov 2015, p.107]

An approachable fighter with plenty of depth for those wanting to sink their teeth in. It’s much more than a pretty face, but why does it keep insisting on flashing its pants at us? [Issue#160, p.86]

Despite its awkwardness and repetitiveness scenarios, Republique has heart and a rich, slow burn plot that keeps you guessing. [June 2016, p.94]

In isolation, Reloaded is a serviceable Bond shooter – although there are better options out there. But when judged against its highly acclaimed ancestor, the kids are only just alright.

Although the result is less than the sum of its parts, there is fun for committed shoot-o-philes. [June 2010, p.113]

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.

The swift gunplay is upgraded with some basic RPG features, but the repetitive quest hunt structure slows down the fun. This Wang needed a virtual Viagra to impress. [July 2016, p.84]

The pad controls are something of a compromise, but a good one for the most part. [Aug 2015, p.90]

Playing more as a meditative experience that doesn't outstay its welcome, this is an ascent you will make more than once. [Issue#152, p.86]

A rock-solid combat system is held back by the extremely poor story mode and limited offline options. Not a disaster, but Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite still squanders its immense potential. [Nov 2017, p.86]

I'd have happily raved about this clever Bejeweled-style puzzler were it not for its utterly outrageous price. [Sept 2009, p.107]

The tracking is also a bit off. [Dec 2010, p.99]

One of the best games in the series, but one held back by technical issues and traditional repetition. Get past that, and you'll find hours of zombie slayin' fun. [Feb 2018, p.96]

There are great ideas at play, you’ll laugh from time to time, and it’s definitely a story you’ll want to follow to the end. However, where the Danganronpa games are deliciously dark and furiously inventive, Zanki often leans on sexual innuendo to entertain when it really doesn’t need to, like a fire juggler who keeps making boob and willy jokes. [Issue#162, p.82]

In the moments where it all comes together, it really works. [Issue#154, p.80]

Joyful and strange, Wattam’s a hard game to explain, but not a difficult one to play. Once it wraps you in its welcoming arms you won’t want to let go. Until you end up kaboomed, that is. [Issue#171, p.90]

Wonderful visuals mask a messy, unnecessarily frustrating stomp. [Sept 2015, p.86]

The main emotion evoked by fuzzy beast buddy Teotl is pity. [Christmas 2010]

A big improvement over the original, and one that deserves to be played by loads more people. So at least eight of you this time, yeah? [July 2009, p.90]

MKII gives a fascinating insight into how far fighting games have come in the last decade and a half. [Sept 2007, p.114]

Like a puzzle world mini-GTA 2 where failure can be as much fun as success, Mugsters is a shot in the arm of original thinking. All in all, a minor work of genius. [Issue#152, p.80]

A big, dumb, action movie blast. And that's fine by us. [Oct 2009, p.108]

Stick with bigger bro. [Jan 2010, p.114]

Unfortunately, Wild Arms 5 lets itself down by using the tiresomely repetitive structure of "visit dungeon, fight boss, return to village, proceed to next dungeon." [Apr 2008, p.112]

The big-pixel graphics look sparky in HD, and crucially for massive babies like us, there are some easy Trophies to be had. [Sept 2009, p.112]

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

It's surprising to see a game from a truly esteemed developer fall into such an indistinct art style, borrowing characters but none of the gripping visuals from Madworld – just as it's surprising that Platinum can botch a camera, deliver another stuttering framerate, and display so many rough edges. But most surprising is that for all these flaws, Anarchy Reigns is still a fulfilling online experience.

Individual elements can delight and there's potential for greatness, but Steep suffers from not being able to make them work together. It's worth playing at least once just for the new effects, mind. [Feb 2017, p.94]

It’s difficult to recommend… unless you’re a glutton for punishment or Satan himself. [Issue#162, p.82]

A genius idea guaranteed to amuse, Job Simulator offers incredible short term thrills. Alas, unfulfilled potential means you'll hand in your notice quicker than is ideal. [Dec 2016, p.95]

There's enough tactical depth. [Aug 2015, p.92]

The Dark Pictures Anthology has yet to truly impress but, for the price, there are worse fates. However, reader beware, you’re in for more than your fair share of screaming puritan jump scares. [Issue#182, p.158]

Damn, it looks good. [Sept 2008, p.104]

Fundamentally a solid and detailed racing sim. [Issue#158, p.86]

Penarium's quirky design - modeled after retro arcade games - and dark influences definitely give it impressive razzle-dazzle, but not enough to warrant unlimited repeat visits. [Dec 2015, p.94]

The digitised card system gets the job done, building on other versions we’ve seen in the past, but still has irritants. For instance, instead of getting a window of time to activate a quickplay card, it gives you a dialogue prompt after every action asking if you want to use it. That said, with so much content, it’s hard to complain. [Issue #175, p.76]

There are obscene levels of charm here. [Apr 2017, p.95]

It’s fun and twitchy, and it really shouldn’t be as good as it is in VR. The game runs at a chaotic pace (this remaster in traditional mode is 60fps in 4K) as you zip around the screen and zoom up close for melee strikes. But it does work, as it’s effectively teleporting you from enemy to enemy if using melee, and playing out like a classic arcade shooter if using homing lasers. If you’ve never played the series, it’s time to start; if you have, then there’s no better reason to own PS VR. [Issue#155, p.90]

It does get repetitive after a while, but there's funny dialogue, simple yet effective mechanics, and 'copter unlocks to keep you hooked. [March 2012, p.95]

The controls are fiddly but the platforming is fun. [Aug 2011, p.110]

The formula needs an update. [Nov 2014, p.94]

Beautiful and bizarre, the likeably certifiable antics on show are ultimately undone by a repetitive structure, lack of ideas and undercooked scraps.

It's just a shame that the gameplay at the heart of its Story content hasn't pushed on. [Dec 2014, p.83]

A great example of how to adapt something on VR to create an experience that's familiar, and true to the game that spawned it but something all its own at the same time. [Feb 2018, p.92]

Gameplay is enjoyable but in a brief and shallow way. The longer you spend with it the less you get. There's a lack of imagination where this feels more about keeping you occupied than creating an interesting world filled with atmosphere. It lacks the variety and texture you really need keep things exciting.

This bittersweet narrative adventure will play your heartstrings like a fiddle. [June 2017, p.87]

Yes, 47's animations and shonky plotting have hardly aged gracefully. But when this killer's aim is still so precise when pulling off thrillingly executed puzzles, I can overlook a couple of wrinkles on that barcode branded bonce.

Overall, this is a brief game, though you can replay missions to max out your skills or find secret statues. That these unlock old-school modifiers like Big Head mode at least shows the game’s got a sense of humour. [Issue#182, p.136]

One thing New Dawn does superbly, however, is prevent player fatigue. After the first dozen hours, you feel empowered, you’re comfortable with the rhythm of outpost captures, and there’s still plenty for you to do. Which weapon or vehicle will you hunt materials for next? That double jump you’ve unlocked will come in handy for the treasure hunt you couldn’t quite finish. And so on. [Issue#160, p.91]

A huge open-world horror, stealth-action, adventure melting pot that manages to tap into everything we love about Sony’s games while finding its own voice buried beneath the horde of ideas. Days Gone has been worth the wait. [Issue#162, p.74]

The series is back on form. Bangkok's the most challenging level so far (note the electronic locks that render 47's lockpick useless), but also the most rewarding. [Nov 2016, p.95]

It makes experimenting with cartoonish ultra-violence so, well, painless. [Feb 2008, p.90]

Mad Riders' only real problem is a lack of originality, as most of its makeup is borrowed from ATV games that have come before. But it's tweaked and mixed these ingredients together so well that it deserves to be called the best of them – and at £7.99 there's more than enough value on offer to appeal to anyone out there.

That’s not to say My Friend Pedro doesn’t have its moments; somersaulting and sniping is novel, and when you clear a room by weaponising the environment it’s incredibly satisfying. Just don’t expect the slickest shooter. [Issue #175, p.80]

As long as you're not expecting anything more complex than the ancient side-scroller that inspired it, Bionic Commando offers plenty of fun. [June 2009, p.100]

Maybe the linear route was cheaper, but the lesson is if you want to go to Mars, don't do it on a budget. [July 2011, p.90]

SBK-09's overall implementation pushes your patience instead of your PS3. [July 2009, p.105]

Taking a similar approach to Heavy Rain's storytelling-with-a-controller, Asura's Wrath is a brave, unique and beautiful interactive animation that's simply a bit light on gameplay. Unlike Quantic Dream's game, your mistakes have little consequence and you're not offered decisions about Asura's destiny. If you were, he could have ascended even higher.

Played solo, frustration can be the dominant emotion you feel, played with others, it can lead to colorful language in the best possible way. [Issue#152, p.90]

Irresistible concept. [July 2015, p.92]

What lets it down is the lack of variety in design. [Dec 2016, p.80]

The main attractions are set-pieces that play heavily on the series' combat systems. [Apr 2016, p.95]

Clever and beautiful in places, Puddle's just too wet behind the ears to know when its players need a break. [March 2012, p.107]

There's little reason to buy Ultra Street Fighter IV if you have any version of Street Fighter IV on PS3, but post-patch it remains great despite a rather crusty conversion. [Apr 2015, p.95]

The turn-based combat is Gust at its best, and watching skills evolving into stronger versions, rather than characters learning new moves and making old ones irrelevant, is a nice way to show the characters growing in strength that feels right out of the anime. Mechanically it’s punching above its weight and is more magically charged than some bigger JRPGs, but it’s let down outside combat by stiff animations that feel a generation old, actions rarely feeling like they match up in conversations. Plus, multiple tedious side-quests to level up your guild bottleneck story progression. We love the characters and combat, and it feels like a beloved PS3 game we missed out on, but in 2020 the magic wanes. [Issue#179, p.76]

The humour is as sharp as a good episode of the TV show. [Christmas 2007, p.104]

For all its simplicity and frustrations Grip is an intense arcade racer that’s inherited the flaws of its vintage along with Rollcage’s strengths. [Issue#156, p.86]

The genius of Unit 13 is it doesn't try to take that glossy, cinematic action experience of a console shooter and give it to you on a handheld – instead, it takes all the best parts of mobile gaming and gives them to you in a shooter.

The Aim Controller is the star of the show. In its grip Farpoint comes close to matching the expectations we have for a VR 'game,' even though that game is just a by-the-numbers alien duck hunt. [July 2016, p.86]