A pleasant PSN surprise. [Dec 2011, p.91]

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.

After a strong opening level, the campaign veers off through street shoot-outs and crystal-meth labs – there's only one other actual 'heist' after this. Hostages can be bound up and traded for a respawn, but can't be used for cover.

The big surprise isn't that it serves up another great campaign, but that its take on Modern Warfare's world-conquering multiplayer may be the best yet. With Spec Ops and Survival mode, this is one hell of a package, and sees off the trilogy with a bang: not much has changed, but this is as big and beautiful a game as ever.

Those who don't bother with the solo campaign won't miss much. Indeed, the online experience in its different incarnations is so addictive and gratifying that it's almost enough to let the balance and technical issues slip. But only almost.

Generations always draws you back with its level design and compulsive simplicity.

Despite some trademark Insomniac humour in the mix, it feels like the reins have been put on a undoubtedly talented studio in order to make this kind of game.

This is at times a devastating experience – and, at times, it will leave you breathless with awe. There's no denying that a substantial part of the appeal is masochistic. The dedication and patience required to get the best of Dark Souls are steep, but its scope is staggering, and the rewards truly worth it.

There's no question that this journey of music and life is one well worth taking.

There's not much to gripe about. Sure, some missions have a tendency to drag after you've just downed what seems like your 152nd jet. The generic plot also carries all the emotional clout of tumble dryer instructions. But these unfortunate quibbles never truly sour the flight.

Those hoping for an entirely overhauled Sims experience will be disappointed, but it's doubtful anyone will harbour such expectations. Mysteries add some nice structure to the otherwise open-ended gameplay, but this is basically – as the name suggests – The Sims with added animals. Which, for plumbbob devotees, should be enough.

This can't contest Undisputed as an MMA game, nor the best fighters on beat-'em-up terms. Yet there's a place for it, simply 'cause no one has bridged the gap between these genres. So, who wants to step outside?

This instalment of Burnout strikes just the right balance between addictive and repetitive, especially as it features big bro's groundbreaking Autolog system for competing against your buddies.

Despite the shortfalls, this is an excellent FPS, raising the art of virtual shooting to a new level with the sort of OTT gunplay that makes other games look watery weak by comparison. That, combined with the exceptional art style, makes this an experience worth having – and id a more relevant and contemporary developer than it's been in years.

For the second time in succession, Naughty Dog has created a game that can claim to not only be the best on PS3, but also one of the best in gaming history...A visual, technical and narrative tour de force that takes the sky-high expectations of an entire community and blows them out the back of a jumbo jet, replacing them with more show-stopping moments than you could hope to find in a dozen other games combined. [Dec 2011]

Beautifully polished and endlessly exciting, Rocksteady's latest take on Batman is finally the hero that PS3 truly deserves. [Dec 2011]

There's much more exciting elevator action you could be having. [Nov 2011, p.117]

Both games include 3D for the first time in the franchise. [Nov 2011, p.116]

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

Yawn. [Nov 2011, p.115]

Witty puzzler. [Nov 2011, p.115]

It's more addictive than shelling pistachios. [Nov 2011, p.113]

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

There's nothing really wrong with this game. [Nov 2011, p.113]

God, it's so confusing. [Nov 2011, p.113]

The only flaw? It's occasionally too brilliant for its own good. [Nov 2011, p.113]

Sorry, Sam old buddy, but its time we dropped you off at the great retirement castle in the sky. [Nov 2011, p.112]

Is it better than FIFA? Will the Arse win the league? No and no. [Nov 2011, p.110]

The game constantly makes you look a titanic fool, but matching the rhythm of the Move's rumble to your gestures for extra speed is oddly satisfying. [Nov 2011, p.109]

You also now get the Winter Classic. [Nov 2011, p.109]

Enduring masterpieces. [Nov 2011, p.108]

Guns are loud enough to give God perforated eardrums. [Nov 2011, p.106]

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

All of the weapons are amazing and you'll switch for the hell of it. [Nov 2011, p.101]

Hideous graphics. [Nov 2011, p.99]

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

The game certainly doesn't make things easy for you. [Nov 2011, p.99]

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]

This set new standards in creating exhilarating set-pieces and pacing. [Nov 2011, p.96]

We may have a two-horse race on our hands once again, but the thoroughbred in the lead shows no signs of slowing down. [Nov 2011, p.93]

Aside from the bananas plot, what makes El Shaddai unique is its looks. [Oct 2011, p.116]

This is a rugby relic from a bygone age. [Oct 2011, p.116]

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

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

Repetition limits the fun. [Oct 2011, p.115]

There are just enough endearingly old school boss fights and survival modes to keep you coming back to this. For a day or two, anyway. [Oct 2011, p.113]

A charming puzzler to get your grey matter sweating. [Oct 2011, p.113]

A truly artistic and brilliant piece of design. [Oct 2011, p.112]

Despite the positives, there's no escaping the fiddly controls and flyaway firearms. [Oct 2011, p.111]

If there's one thing it can't be accused of, it's playing it safe. [Oct 2011, p.110]

Exhilarating, cinematic and dripping in Steve McQueen cool. [Oct 2011, p.106]

If you're into a bit of hardcore Spanking, you'll love this. [Oct 2011, p.104]

It's a charming act of self-mutilation. [Oct 2011, p.103]

There's no excuse for chess fans not to, ahem, 'check' it out. [Oct 2011, p.103]

Played with friends this is excellent fun full of teamwork and panic as you manage rather than defeat the undead. [Oct 2011, p.103]

No rest, no pity, no remorse - it demands 100% of your attention. [Oct 2011, p.99]

By no means a disaster, but it captures none of the majestic, mechaphiliac idiocy of the movies. [Sept 2011, p.117]

Both beautiful and chaotic - a bit like Cheryl Cole's bed hair. [Sept 2011, p.116]

A botched remake. [Sept 2011, p.116]

Like olden days Command & Conquer. Only minus the combat, the war, and the fun. [Sept 2011, p.116]

Little more than an unfortunate blip on the gaming radar. [Sept 2011, p.116]

This would have been an embarrassment in 1987. [Sept 2011, p.116]

A ham-fisted cover shooter with sloppy controls and dully weaponry (read: spells). [Sept 2011, p.116]

Fast, fluid movement, pin-sharp aiming and the endless cool of a rechargeable slo-mo function are on your side. [Sept 2011, p.114]

This is big, dumb fun for the first couple of hours. [Sept 2011, p.113]

Copies Arkham Asylum almost to the point of plagiarism, but it's a decent imitation. [Sept 2011, p.112]

The shooty racing is good, clean fun. [Sept 2011, p.112]

It feels like Ape Escape is a curio from times past. [Sept 2011, p.111]

It certainly won't get you in fighting shape. [Sept 2011, p.110]

The trouble is the interface, which is cumbersome like a one-legged elephant. [Sept 2011, p.109]

Pretty amusing until you realise what a shameful rip-off it is. [Sept 2011, p.108]

It's beautifully designed, it's clever, and it's more addictive than picking scabs. [Sept 2011, p.107]

Leaves you to grope blindly for rhythm from memory alone. [Sept 2011, p.107]

If I'd bought this for the Atari ST in 1989, I'd want my money back. [Sept 2011, p.107]

Played in small bursts, EDF's knowingly daft, trashy action is an unapologetic hoot. [Sept 2011, p.107]

A curious hybrid: a stealthy shooter with RPG-like exploration and storytelling. It's not as direct as a sci-fi COD, nor as expansive or open as Fallout. Instead, it's somewhere in the middle. But that's also what makes the series special, and Human Revolution does the Deus Ex name proud, providing an absorbing world to investigate and a satisfying freedom to play by your own rules. [Sept 2011, p.100]

There's a massively deep fighter hidden here. [Aug 2011, p.115]

The problem is that, even at its best, it's an 11-year-old best. [Aug 2011, p.114]

The controls are smooth. [Aug 2011, p.113]

A shameful and hybrid beast, but one you might just want to tame. [Aug 2011, p.112]

The menu systems are archaic and confusing even for an RPG fan. [Aug 2011, p.111]

Still looks gorgeous. [Aug 2011, p.110]

Was it necessary to also make it so ugly? [Aug 2011, p.110]

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

Occasionally fun. [Aug 2011, p.110]

The choice of missions in the open world is disappointingly limited. [Aug 2011, p.110]

If you're just updating, think twice unless you're desperate to see a heartless Ryu murder everyone in his path. [Aug 2011, p.110]

There aren't any highs as such, just moments of not sucking. [Aug 2011, p.108]

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

What excitement there is gets suffocated by the inert tracks. [Aug 2011, p.107]

A delicious amuse-bouche made of fun. [Aug 2011, p.105]

A hearty fantasy banquet. Tuck in. [Aug 2011, p.104]

Possibly the most disappointing aspect of Shadows is that we know these developers could have made this awesome. [Aug 2011, p.102]

Clunky loading times. [July 2011, p.105]

All in all, this isn't a good month for life on Mars. [July 2011, p.103]

Everything works and it will kill a few hours, but only in a rubber-necking, see-where-it-goes kind of way. [July 2011, p.103]

As satisfying as a rum cocktail on a sunny day. [July 2011, p.101]

It's not all chatter and romance. [July 2011, p.100]