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]

Fans of the original need to play this. A fun story sits beside what made the last game special. Combat is mediocre, but flashy enough to bash through. [Issue#186, p.86]

It stands out as the most complete version of one of the greatest fighting games of all time. [July 2014, p.90]

So this is a beautiful, sun-drenched idyll in which you’ll never want for something to do, and as such Black Flag is an excellent pirate fantasy. However, the core game is undermined by issues which should have been booted out of the franchise years ago. Eavesdropping missions have always been abysmal, and there’s a boatload of them here.

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]

Crash has cruised back to prove he’s still the best. PS1’s premier kart racing game is also the finest on PS4. With free updates to come, we’re staying on the grid. [Issue#165, p.79]

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

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

It looks spectacular and captures the magic of Disney across its many varied worlds. Despite some grindy moments, and an Uncanny Johnny Depp, that charm can’t fail to raise a broad smile. [Issue#159, p.80]

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

It's still number one - barely. [Dec 2009, p.122]

A sumptuous looking retread through an iconic scare-fest. Its fantastic frights are more than worth the uncompromising challenge. [Feb 2015, p.88]

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]

Its necessary backtracking may bug you occasionally but the joyful core of its being will bring a smile to the lips of even the most stoic. [Issue#151, p.85]

An essential purchase. [Christmas 2016, p.79]

Ten hours in you might have doubts, but stay with it and you'll be smitten right through to the frankly unbelievable end. [Apr 2010, p.104]

The most original idea on the PSP since "Locoroco." [July 2007, p.115]

The sense of progression draws you on constantly. [Dec 2009, p.120]

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

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

If you own Sony's handheld but haven't bought this yet, then quite simply you're doing Vita wrong.

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]

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]

It succeeds throughout because every element feels like it's pulling its weight. Flying, driving, shooting, free roaming chaos, linear missions: Everything feels big and in your face. [Apr 2010, p.94]

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

The problem - and the reason Maddden doesn't creep into 9/10 territory - is the (Connected Careers) mode feels like a bets. [Nov 2012, p.113]

Crucially, it's a story you'll want to see through. [June 2015, p.94]

You really need to be ready for some cleverly placed jump scares. Having to survive and investigate makes Death Mark more akin to Zero Escape than Steins;Gate. All of this, plus the beautifully gruesome artwork, clever dialogue, and a classical soundtrack that sends shivers up your spine, creates a visual novel experience you won’t easily forget. It’s unlike any horror visual novel before it. [Issue#156, p.86]

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

Unique, dripping in detail, and well worth rediscovering. [Oct 2014, p.83]

When you've got a series that lets you transform foes into sheep and demands you save tourists from feral intergalactic squirrels, whinging over resolutions seems smaller than its dinky droid sidekick.

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]

The story is charming and enjoyable. [June 2008, p.105]

There are other platformers around, but not many can offer brains and beauty, never mind such a happy ending. [Nov 2009, p.125]

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

Sucker Punch has raised its game and then some. [July 2011, p.86]

Easily one of the greatest racers on PS3 to date, both in terms of addictiveness and broad, crowd-pleasing appeal. [Oct 2007, p.98]

Yakuza 5's combat may feel dated, but its characters, sense of place, and absurd wealth of minigames and side activities are as fascinating as ever.

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

A fantastically outrageous conclusion to a remarkable story, albeit one that doesn't quote recapture the highs of Virtue's Last Reward. Don't even contemplate playing until you've finished VLR. [Sept 2016, p.104]

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.

A welcome outsider take on a consistent series, increasing the pace still further in online multiplayer to fantastic effect. However, solo play feels a bit safe in comparison. [Christmas 2014, p.79]

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

Bugs aside, a tremendous and uncompromising simulation of a kind we may not have seen previously on consoles. [July 2015, p.89]

The best FIFA’s been on current-gen in the purist’s sense, with Champions League implementation strengthening the game’s grip on the genre from a casual’s perspective too. [Issue#155, p.84]

Fall[s] just a tad short of greatness. [June 2015, p.82]

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

A rewarding entry in the series. [Nov 2015, p.107]

With a focus on care and comfort, this is textbook cosy gaming. Its world of spirits is one you’ll want to get lost in and there’s unlikely to be a single guest you won’t be endeared to by journey’s end. Set sail under a snuggly blanket as the nights begin to pick up a chill, and let your heart be warmed. [Issue#180, p.74]

Very playable. [Christmas 2009, p.117]

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.

A ruthlessly challenging, rich expansion to the world we fell in love with complete with a touching backstory - if a bit sparse on the side-quest front. [Christmas 2017, p.91]

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]

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

While Sleeping Dogs doesn't innovate enough to be considered on a par with Rockstar's finest, the fact that it comes so very close [and even improves up those games in a couple of ways] deserves massive credit. This is the game Saints Row has spent a decade desperate to be... It's unquestionably 2012's most brilliantly brutal surprise. [Sept 2012, p.95]

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]

Stacking is utterly individual and cat-in-clown-shoes crackers. [Spring 2011, p.112]

Every combo is a perfect and unique snowflake, though some are more conducive to high-score chasing, while others are just a mad curiosities.

This is a fantastic package - a dark, witty tale of death and retribution that can be whatever you want it to. It captures the ebb and flow of tension that stealth games forgot about years ago, but presents it in a way that feels utterly contemporary. [Dec 2012, p.88]

Tether the plethora of modes here together and you get a Power Rangers-style mega-force that 's much more than the sum of its parts, and only the overly familiar template and a lack of soul keep it from nabbing a higher score. Although it's technically brilliant, running at a constant 60fps, it lacks the esoteric charm, ideas and personality to rank as a true classic.

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

A brilliantly weird and different experience. [Dec 2009, p.124]

It's been a hell of a ride so far. [Sept 2015, p.89]

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

With games often lasting five minutes or less, you don’t feel like you’ve lost a lot when you inevitably cark it. While the familiarity you gain with the opening world does get frustrating – you spend a lot of time there – there’s a one-more-go compulsiveness to Spelunky that leaves you chasing more gold than Jr (they called the dog Indiana).

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]

One of the best games on PSP. [JPN Import; Apr 2010, p.110]

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

This does so much right, in fact, that if the controls didn't make our thumbs sad that score would be higher – as it is, this fighter comes oh-so close to a flawless victory.

At its most fluent, you feel like you're piloting the track itself, not just the craft, such is the sweet feeling when you master the sinuous pinches and folds of courses. [Dec 2007, p.110]

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]

This fantastic future sport is easy to learn but difficult to put down, and the very agreeable price point makes this a title that you won't want to leave on the bench. Rocket League has a rival. [Issue#150, p.86]

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]

Despite a few issues that continually niggle, a pulse-quickening amount of freedom and stylistic assurance come together to easily eclipse Ubi's original offering. [Jan 2017, p.125]

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]

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

A disastrously addictive 'rogue-ilke' time sink that clearly benefits from more than two years of PC Early Access tweaking. Don't argue - just get it. Now. [Feb 2016, p.88]

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]

Delightful but requiring a deft touch to master, this really is golf for everybody. [Aug 2008, p.104]

Unless you're the sort of misanthrope who never invites people over to your place, new Singstar is essential to the PS3 experience. [Oct 2007, p.90]

Whether you want to play explorer, detective, or Bill Murray, Outer Wilds has you covered. We’ll say it again: one of the best games you’ll play this year. [Issue#169, p.93]

The cast, cues and fracas are still bringing down the house. [Apr 2014, p.86]

More technically stable than previous episodes. [June 2014, p.92]

With incredible breadth and detail, Project Cars 2 can be absolutely wonderful. Bit it feels unfinished, and so similar to the original game, you really don't need both. [Dec 2017, p.89]

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]

Leaving aside the moments when you find yourself running aground at possibly the worst possible time, this is absolutely a voyage you’ll want to undertake for yourself. [Issue#162, p.81]

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]

A maddeningly addictive top-down shooter. [Apr 2012, p.118]

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 new madden that genuinely feels fresh rather than a half-hearted, contractually-binding annual roster update. [Nov 2016, p.91]

If you ally yourself with the ‘I don’t get it brigade’ you’re missing out on some of the best storytelling in gaming.

This year's career mode has everything else you could want. [Nov 2016, p.94]

The sequel’s best expansion by a distance. This update delivers a lively campaign that deserves to lure lapsed players back into the Fallen fold. [Issue#155, p.97]

Out on the park it plays brilliantly, presentation wise it's a massive leap forward for all of EA's sports titles. [May 2010, p.96]