A fine send-off for the Dishonored series, with enough new tricks to let you experiment freely, explore, and execute in a shorter but no less satisfying campaign. [December 2017, p.83]

Embrace it like a comfortable pair of shoes. [Jan 2014, p.84]

No huge changes have been made on the pitch, but thanks to improvements to The Journey and Ultimate Team, this is the most comprehensive and beautiful game of football on PS4. [December 2017, p.84]

The buzz Dishonored will give you is unrivalled, and the spontaneous moments of brilliance you'll experience will be unique. It's a wake-up call for first-person gaming, resurrecting long-lost values and casually plunging a knife into the neck of the generic sequel.

The best in the series since PES 3 way back in 2003. [Christmas 2014, p.82]

The return of designed, not generated, tracks is massively welcome, and the visual upgrade is superb. A masterclass in consequence-tempered driving, this is simply the best rally sim yet. [Issue#160, p.94]

Accessibly strategic and addictive. [Dec 2009, p.108]

Tekken fans will wait for Namco's own Tekken X Street Fighter to really sink their teeth into, but for the SF devout and series agnostic fighting fans, SFKT offers finely tuned and emergent action and a positively regal rumble of the genre's celebrated a-listers.

Kat is the perfect, charmingly reluctant heroine, and stylish, interactive cut-scenes reveal her to be endearing and smart-talking. Sharp characters and an utterly bonkers narrative combine with gorgeous visuals to create a wholly unique experience, and this is the thrilling and magical adventure that you and your Vita deserve.

The game is inches away from scoring 10/10, and it's only the familiarity of the core gameplay that makes it feel less than the very, very best. But it's definitely the biggest, and if this is the finale, then God of War III gives Playstation's toughest hero the send-off he deserves. [Mar 2010, p.97]

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.

Immersive, addictive, and authentic, it's a sensational return to form for the series. [Oct 2009, p.118]

Gripping even to those with no interest in the world of hoops and dunks. [Christmas 2014, p.89]

From the cinematics to the script to the sound design, Chicken Police delivers. If you’re a lover of film noir aesthetics and solid witty dialogue, peck it up. [Issue#183, p.67]

Dark Souls Remastered is more or less the same game from back in 2011, but what's remarkable is just how incredible it still is to play, despite all the later imitators. An essential RPG. [Issue#151, p.86]

You often learn by dying, yet this somehow never feels unfair. Compelling and endlessly replayable, the quality of Dead Cells is unlikely to cause division among your friends. [Issue#153, p.94]

Players look like real men rather than EA-style waxwork models. [June 2008, p.94]

Borderlands 2 is a top-class FPS that perfectly captures that 'shooting things is fun' rush into an endless cycle. The game it most reminds me of is Doom: it recreates that lost-in-the-moment, circle-strafing intensity perfectly, so that you never get bored of it...If you're tired of brown military shooters and crying out for something different, then get involved – this is one of the most imaginative and rewarding blasters of the year.

Three of the best games on PS3 remastered so they look like they came out last week, and all on one disc to boot? It's a no-brainer for fans and newcomers alike. [Dec 2015, p.72]

The most challenging FIFA to master in years, if not ever - but that's exactly why you'll be playing it for ten months rather than ten matches. [Dec 2015, p.76]

It's short, but Gorogoa sticks around exactly as long as it needs to. Little else out there has such satisfying eureka moments. [Issue#151, p.97]

Even old Demon’s Souls hats will find plenty new to marvel at in this faithful and stunning recreation that showcases just why PS5 is so impressive. [Issue#183, p.83]

Sloppy storytelling sees it fall short of perfection, but this is a smart evolution over Dishonored, with memorable levels - and memorable ways to tear them apart. [Jan 2017, p.121]

In short: it's a bit good. [Christmas 2014, p.95]

Forget any fears you had. Kratos makes a truly triumphant return in what proves to be his best game yet. Every change - the addition of Atreus included - is for the better, while every non-negotiable tradition is perfected. [Issue#149, p.74]

You may have played them before, but they're still relevant, and being able to play arcade-perfect Street Fighter III: Third Strike, with ranked online play, shouldn't be missed. [Issue#151, p.95]

Each ending is radically different, and there are even two extra ones when you’ve finished the main game which have never been available before in the UK. Fans will love the extra TLC in for this enhanced version of the very static original, and newcomers will experience a visual novel like never before – an anime that is very much yours, and an unforgettable time travel thriller to boot. [Issue#160, p.89]

Bigger and more beautiful than its handheld form, with only a few concessions made along the way to make it fit. [Nov 2015, p.93]

At last! The long-awaited PlayStation release proves that great game design never dies, and now it's even better with Cross-Buy. Fresh hell, hot from the infernal BBQ. [Dec 2015, p.79]

Works as both an arcade kickabout and a tactically broad sim. PS4's best footy game yet. [Nov 2015, p.96]

It's a bright, distinctive and hugely playable game, and is a massive slap in the face for other PSP fighters. [Oct 2009, p.122]

This is more interactive adventure than traditional 'game', and a brilliant example of the benefits of narrative-driven gaming experiences. With a cast we're becoming more and more invested in, and scenarios of increasing moral complexity, the end of the world is fast becoming one of our favourite places to be.

The inclusion of new sandbox maps, accessible crafting, and beautiful as well as genuinely horrific moments, ensures Metro Exodus keeps the series on track. [Issue#159, p.77]

There were questions over whether the Undisputed series would be another journeyman fighter, occasionally shoring up weaknesses but never quite improving enough to beat the best. Instead, this addresses virtually every criticism of the last game, then throws in a load more that nobody even thought to ask for. Champion.

Rock Band might wait on the horizon like a dark army, but for now, Guitar Hero still rules. [Christmas 2007, p.102]

Superbly voice acted, and with great-looking animation and environments, AI: The Somnium Files is a decadent production giving you one of the best videogame detective mysteries this generation. [Issue#168, p.78]

It’s such a rare treat to find yourself blown away by a game you had no expectations of. I don’t want to ruin that feeling for you, so forget everything you just read after hitting the ‘buy’ button on the store, so you can enjoy the through-the-looking-glass wonderment of SITTM afresh. I can think of only one reason you wouldn’t go and play this, and it’s that you hate fun.

Bayonetta is about as gloriously silly as PS3 gaming gets. [Christmas 2009, p.108]

It’s the MK11 you know and maybe love but it looks like a new game on PS5. Running at 60fps in 4K gives this brawler a new lease of life. A must for newcomers. [Issue#183, p.75]

The best Beatles game you can possibly imagine. [Nov 2009, p.128]

Spectacularly violent stuff. [Nov 2009, p.122]

This is a perfect update, with glittering HD and savage speeds. [Nov 2008, p.112]

There's a ton of depth here - line changes and create-a-play customisations are just the start - but the main thing is that it plays fast and fluid [Oct 2008, p.104]

Charming, engaging and affecting, this is a unique experience that any indie fan should take in. Finally, a positive use for the term 'bro-op.' [July 2013, p.98]

So big The Witcher 3 wants a rest. This is an epic told with flair, coupled with one of the liveliest open worlds on PlayStation 4. Odyssey is not just the best Assassin’s Creed in years, but one of the finest action RPGs you’ll play. [Issue#155, p.72]

Just enjoy the intensity: like all great art it leaves you wanting more; leaves you with the feeling that somehow you've connected with the universe. That's right, I said art. [Mar 2009, p.100]

Takes what was great about the first and adds to it without diluting it. It’s possibly a little too simple – the boss battles aren’t much of a challenge – but that just makes it all the more relaxing. [Issue#165, p.94]

The campaign isn't quite as thrilling as the 2013 reboot, but mechanically this is leaps ahead of Lara's last and the extra modes are sublime. At this rate, the next one could equal Uncharted. [Dec 2016, p.70]

There is no other game on PS3 that you're guaranteed to still be playing this obsessively this time next year. [Nov 2007, p.84]

For a couple of pounds more than the cost of a burrito, it’s a tasty morsel of personality – but prepare yourself for a technically demanding challenge.

Simply the best-ever reproduction of this high-speed, high-tech motorsport. It’s very familiar, but nonetheless noticeably superior to the 2018 game. Essential. [Issue#165, p.85]

No mere sequel, XCOM 2 reshapes everything with lots of success. It won't coddle you, and the invisible dice hate you, but overcoming these odds is as sweet as ever. [Dec 2016, p.72]

A fantastic reboot that reworks Samurai Shodown’s best ideas into an accomplished Street Fighter V-alike. It can’t truly escape the trappings of its own heritage, but fans will adore SNK’s return. [Issue#165, p.82]

Deliciously destructive. [Feb 2011, p.114]

It's game on between the big two once again. [Dec 2009, p.114]

It looks, sounds and feels like nothing else out there, and while you might not squeeze quite as much out of it, you're still looking at the first great gaming experience of 2013. Welcome back, old pal.

Where it counts, 2K9 is hard to fault. [Dec 2008, p.121]

A surprisingly solid puzzler. [Feb 2011, p.114]

Its structure turns out to be exactly the fresh spin on the genre we've been waiting for. [Dec 2016, p.76]

"Quotation Forthcoming"

With a starkly powerful grasp of aesthetic and some profound artistic ambition, The Swapper's instinct for puzzle design isn't quite matched by its storytelling. But it's close. [July 2014, p.78]

Prepare to be grapple hooked. [Dec 2016, p.77]

Joe Danger's return is as thoroughly enjoyable as his debut – a combination of predictable physics, challenging level design and varied tasks make it more than a "play once, discard" downloadable. Perhaps it doesn't quite leave the safety of the original's blueprint enough, or capitalise on the excellent concept of making a stunt-heavy movie, but it remains a chirpy, robust platformer with surprising depth.

It’s rare to get top-quality Amiga games on PlayStation. Yet this collection can feel bare-bones, with extras only stretching to affectionate TV filters. If you’ve never played Turrican this is a curiosity. If, however, you grew up on the series there’s a sugary hit of nostalgia. [Issue#186, p.85]

Though Tacoma's crew inhabit a far flung future with problems to match, I found myself believing in their relationships. [Issue#150, p.90]

Slick brawling, charming visual design, vibrant set-pieces and that glittering guest star mean it's still well worth crashing this kids' party. [Dec 2016, p.78]

See past the low-budget looks, and you’ll find this is no shaggy dog tale. It’s a well-paced adventure that’s worth sinking your teeth (and claws) into. [Issue#185, p.85]

It's far from groundbreaking, but it is a simple golf sim with impressive longevitiy, and that makes it the best golfer around. [Nov 2007, p.94]

An entertaining oddity that never panders, enriching through tasteful adult gags and a truly earned sense of progression. [Oct 2014, p.90]

Gorgeous, and instantly satisfying to control, inFamous: Second Son shimmers across the screen in a way that simply wasn’t possible on PS3. The core missions lack sparkle, but this sandbox yarn is heroic in full-flow.

You’ll quickly learn which foods you’re comfortable making under pressure, but the harder challenges push you out of your comfort zone. With over 350 levels, there’s masses to do. And while hitting buttons to make food is pretty much all you do, each challenge feels unique. Though we don’t think we’ll ever be able to eat sopapillas again. [Issue#182, p.156]

Smartly multi-layered plot. [Apr 2008, p.112]

Brutally compelling and utterly essential. [Oct 2014, p.91]

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]

Plucky. [Oct 2014, p.92]

NHL 17 plays and feels as great as always, but the improvements plateaued some years back and this year's gameplay tweaks...are welcome but largely inconsequential. [Dec 2016, p.80]

A gripping story filled with emotional and thrilling moments. Twists and turns in the narrative feel very well done, and may leave you feeling shaken. [Issue#150, p.94]

A unique creative vision that's not to be missed. [July 2014, p.82]

It’s a unique genre mash-up that doesn’t utilise the best-quality ingredients, but its two core elements complement each other well enough to result in a winning recipe. [Issue#182, p.156]

Make this your first PS VR purchase. [Dec 2016, p.82]

One hell of an invigorating game. [Aug 2010, p.108]

It's a game in danger of tossing away its decade-long undefeated streak. [July 2014, p.85]

Beyond’s a huge technical step forward for interactive drama, but seems less resolute than Heavy Rain not to stray back into familiar game territory. Commit to it like its actors do to the eccentric plot, though, and the rewards are gigantic – Holmes is where the heart is. Another essential purchase for interactive-drama disciples featuring a knockout turn by Page, but one that spreads itself thin telling its story through so many genres.

Despite the steep entry barrier, it's essential for partying types. [July 2014, p.86]

It looks fantastic, with animation delivering the TV-standard realism EA always aims for2 while offering gaming cues for eagle-eyed players to spot; using the stick skills to shuffle keepers out of position for a slap shot will leave you wide-eyed and fist-punching the air. See, that Nicolas Cage opener paid off. [Issue#182, p.160]

While there’s no ignoring the limitations of the production, everything culminates into a laser-focused indie experience that is very much more than the sum of its parts. For a sunrise you won’t soon forget, this is more than worth the just-overfive- quid price of entry. [Issue#186, p.82]

A fitting end for the tale of Kazuma Kiryu. With so much to see and do on top of an engrossing crime drama, it's well worth the trip. [Apr 2018, p.77]

Of all the many Lego games, this is the most distinct and enjoyable. [June 2017, p.84]

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

Despite some minor technical flaws and a few clumsy moments, Metrico is a smart and rewarding experience that uses PS Vita's features brilliantly. [Oct 2014, p.94]

Impeccable visuals and some slick, considered design make it one of PS VR's most impressive. [Dec 2016, p.87]

Barring the occasional niggle, this is a fantastically imaginative return. It brings an addictive appeal that'll have you scratching the musical itch long after you've unlocked everything. [Feb 2016, p.83]

A love letter to the classic series written in blood, Doom Eternal is a fast-paced and utterly thrilling way to paint the town (and Mars, and ethereal realms) red. [Issue#174, p.89]

The biggest change is the new edition's complete graphical overhaul. [Apr 2018, p.80]

Accomplished and addictive. [Aug 2009, p.117]

There’s less focus on building up a single party than in some games in the series. There are so many characters you’ll often switch them around without having time to outfit everyone to perfection. But it’s fun to see everyone come together for this finale, and being an ensemble piece means that four games in, this is an epic-feeling send-off. [Issue#182, p.136]

The deaths caused by the controls being not as responsive as we’d like may annoy, but there’s a whole world out there you’re going to want to feast your eyes on. [Issue#186, p.79]

A veraciously detailed RPG that sometimes forsakes fun in the name of 'realism.' [Apr 2018, p.83]