Happily, I can report that it's all chaos in the best possible way. [May 2018, p.78]

Excellent fighting, but not great at anything beyond the core hack, slash, and gas-powered aerial maneuvering. [May 2018, p.76]

Yes, you will fail, but failure seldom feels cheap or unfair. [May 2018, p.74]

The spirit if Studio Ghibli lingers, mostly thanks to Joe Hisaishi's score. But this sequel isn't as charming or bold as its new features would have you believe. [May 2018, p.71]

Even the offline AI can't dampen the sheer sweaty joy of Sprint Vector's handling. Speed, frantic movement and not a moment of motion sickness, Sprint Vector is a landmark release. [Apr 2018, p.97]

Despite being primarily a story-focused experience, the action proves just as enjoyable. [Apr 2018, p.96]

While SAOFB tries to shake up its formula, it does little to inject the game with a distinct identity. [Apr 2018, p.96]

Engaging and inventive mechanics. [Apr 2018, p.96]

Despite an initially unique premise that makes a tug of the heartstrings at the last minute, this adventure is also largely forgettable. [Apr 2018, p.95]

If Railway Empire is a toy, it's too often like the one you unwrapped on Christmas morning only to realise you need adult supervision to get it working. [Apr 2018, p.95]

It hasn't evolved enough to deal a critical hit to the competition. [Apr 2018, p.95]

A cumbersome and confusing fighter that's hard to penetrate, Dissidia NT can be rewarding for Final Fantasy fans once you get your head around the mechanics. [Apr 2018, p.94]

Somewhat cynical and clearly a little low budget, it isn't always easy to pull for Survive. Thankfully, some of the best wave combat on PS4 saves the day. [Apr 2018, p.91]

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

A beautiful game with a committed vision you'll enjoy getting lost in, especially in its charming opening hours. Sadly, uneven and poor signposting mar its latter half. [Apr 2018, p.86]

It's a bumpy ride, but one worth taking. [Apr 2018, p.85]

Dandara's restrictive controls mean it often feel frustrating. [Apr 2018, p.85]

Ultimately less party popper and more party pooper. [Apr 2018, p.85]

A joyless chore. [Apr 2018, p.84]

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

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

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]

This newer, stronger, much more enjoyable Street Fighter V may well be the best entry in the whole iconic series. [March 2018, p.96]

A well-told adventure story with surprisingly real themes, but after multiple episodes it's hard not to with you were given more of a hand in crafting it yourself. [March 2018, p.95]

This is a big game. Sadly, it's not all of the highest quality. Sometimes less is more. [March 2018, p.94]

The story, while wonderfully trope-y, takes time to fully lean into its own absurdity. [March 2018, p.93]

The flying is pleasant, if a little dull and the inverted world is fascinating to see in motion but it's no nearly enough. [March 2018, p.93]

A fine example of contemporary narrative adventure done well. [March 2018, p.93]

Lost Sphear buckles under the weight of its own ambition. [March 2018, p.92]

Has flashes of inspiration while magnifying its predecessor's flaws. [March 2018, p.90]

If you're looking for a new arena for on-screen violence, this is well worth your money. [March 2018, p.85]

Its uneven handling of core mechanics muddles its messaging and obscures its vision. [March 2018, p.85]

Unfortunately what could've been a fun tie-in is held back by technical hiccups and an inefficient combat system. [March 2018, p.85]

The ground-play remains kinda naff. [March 2018, p.84]

Building on Towerfall's sublime movement mechanics, this nails the flow of leaping through levels. A story peppered with endearingly earnest characters, makes this fantastic adventure a triumph. [March 2018, p.92]

Making one of gmaing's most complex action RPGs accessible was a tough ask, but Capcom has pulled it off in style. Offline it's a challenge, online it's your new co-op obsession. MHW is already one of the year's must-have releases. [March 2018, p.76]

Lacking content and doubling down on what's wrong with the vanilla game, Curse of Osiris is a lightweight grind and a missed opportunity to fix Destiny 2's faults. [Feb 2018, p.97]

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]

A twitchy camera inspires ire, but the game manages the neat trick of doffing its cap to Nintendo's N64 classics, while still maintaining its own identity, impresses with its charm and variety. [Feb 2018, p.94]

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]

A (literally) gut-busting dive into made genius. [Feb 2018, p.91]

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

The superior game in the series. [Feb 2018, p.91]

An essential addition. [Feb 2018, p.90]

One of the most complete fighting games you can hope to play. A challenging Arcade mode, a bespoke Story, and a comprehensive Training mode complement one of the most diverse genres in the genre. [Feb 2018, p.84]

Melancholy and masterful, the PS2 great deserve this remake. The stripped-down premise will put some off, but it remains a Playstation titan. [Feb 2018, p.87]

Quality split-screen titles that bridge generation gaps are few and far between. Cars 3 achieves this, but it’s a bit of a tough sell for solo-only players. [September 2017, p75]

Guardians grabs your attention immediately, but struggles to stay the course. [Jan 2018, p.97]

It's not perfect but there's no other PS VR game with this level of depth and detail. Even if you think you've seen it all before, you've definitely never see it like this. [Jan 2018, p.96]

While this fishing simulator is visually a-lure-ing for a virtual reality game thanks to its Final Fantasy heritage, the snags are packed in like sardines. [Jan 2018, p.95]

Ticks all the boxes and delivers a decent, playable experience, but it's hugely derivative and feels far too familiar, especially if you've played The Crew. [Jan 2017, p.92]

A thoughtful pick-you-own-post-apocalypse worth taking your time to mull over. However, meaty moments of drama are derailed by rouge banana peels. [Jan 2017, p.91]

While it looks and sounds great on an S-rank run, regular play is messy and unsatisfying. Mania's Classic Sonic must wonder what nightmare dimension he got sucked into. [Jan 2017, p.90]

Outside of the story levels, however, it struggles to truly celebrate the rich Marvel comics universe. [Jan 2017, p.87]

It's worth another trip down Sunset Boulevard. [Jan 2017, p.87]

Starts slowly before revealing some winning qualities. [Jan 2017, p.87]

A delight for all trivia hounds. [Jan 2017, p.87]

On its own merit, The Sims 4 is enjoyable enough, particularly with its rich customization. Compared to its predecessor, though, it's a life simulator that...well, lacks life. [Jan 2017, p.86]

Excellent online action offers hours of Stormtooper-shooting fun, but the so-so campaign stumbles, while cynical loot crates leave a sour taste. [Jan 2017, p.83]

A short, spooky soundscape with bags of atmosphere and sterling sound design, marred mainly by a lacklustre story and corny voice acting. [Christmas 2017, p.97]

Its not the game its forerunner was, but The Fractured But Whole's accessible combat tactics and occasional rib-ticklers ensure most players will have a good time. [Christmas 2017, p.96]

Shocking, silly and brutal, BJ's comeback spins an enjoyable, if tonally confused, yarn. Despite its issues, this is still a rollicking thoughtfully driven shooter. [Christmas 2017, p.93]

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]

A likeable follow-up that addresses valid criticisms of its predecessor and provides gory fun, but loses a little of what made it special in the process. [Christmas 2017, p.90]

With a beautiful world you'll repeatedly die for and lethal toys to play with, Assassin's Creed Origins finally delivers the game you always wanted from the series. Brilliant. [Christmas 2017, p.87]

A deeply flawed online penalty system and lack of content, solo and online, fail to support Gran Turismo's best-ever driving model. Here's hoping the online side, at the very least, develops further. [Christmas 2017, p.84]

Congratulating Rugby 18 for its base functionality is like cheering for FIFA because they remembered to include the ball. [Christmas 2017, p.83]

Gameplay becomes a familiar grind all too quickly. [Christmas 2017, p.83]

Echo's biggest problem is that the initial buzz of its concept gets fainter the longer it lasts. [Christmas 2017, p.83]

Great looking and robust to handle, 2K18 authentically replicates the full WWE experience - right down to the occasional, entirely senseless, unhappy ending. [Christmas 2017, p.82]

Not exactly family-friendly Christmas fare, but definitely worth a look with friends. [Christmas 2017, p.60]

Revitalised and exemplary FPS gaming. Multiplayer trims back to the essentials, campaign shows sensitivity and Zombies...well it's a new excuse to play CoD Zombies. [Christmas 2017, p.77]

A roughhouse riot when you find its rhythm, alternating between bloody attacks and essential damage avoidance, Ruiner may be little more than the sum of its parts, but what parts they are. [Dec 2017, p.97]

For fans of the franchise, or anyone with an urge to battle robots, there's much to love here, but its technical flaws and stingy mode options may disappoint others. [Dec 2017, p.95]

At its best, Raiders offers frantic co-op shooting against waves of enemies. But boring missions and repetitive objectives mean it's ultimately mediocre. [Dec 2017, p.94]

If you want a break from 2K's grind and high skill demands, this is a viable option. [Dec 2017, p.93]

The captivating narrative is enough to see past the flaws. Hankies at the ready; this is a true tear-jerker. [Dec 2017, p.93]

Well worth playing. [Dec 2017, p.93]

Hob is an obscurist's dream, and while it can flummox, Runic's game offers a connected world that demands to be explored, and pulled apart, and remade. It's brilliant. [Dec 2017, 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]

The story's not great, but the battle system behind it is carefully thought out. [Dec 2017, p.87]

Its appeal lies primarily with that official license and the draw of sitting down for some sim-cade powerslides. I'm down with that - for now. [Dec 2017, p.87]

A PS VR game with all the bells and whistles of a full-fat racer, but at no point did I feel the need to shake or blow on what it has to offer. [Dec 2017, p.87]

The most entertaining entry in the series to date. Aside from a few drops in its pacing, this is one of the most satisfying whodunnits on PS4 and Vita. [Dec 2017, p.86]

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]

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]

A beautiful, exciting representation of the sport. You'd be hard pushed to find a better, more accurate simulation of basketball on a modern console. [December 2017, p.82]

Big, brutal, and - alas - bloated, Shadow of War is a disappointing follow-up, conjuring battles of grand scale and then deadening their impact through grinding repetition. [December 2017, p.79]

Despite the inconsistent online mode, this is an instantly satisfying slice of arcade sports, and the most fun you can have with a Frisbee without heading to the beach. [Nov 2017, p.93]

A love letter to old-fashioned RPGs, but like all passionate romances you'll need to take the rough with the smooth. [Nov 2017, p.92]

Bloober has constructed a little game with a story that feels so much bigger than most Triple-As will manage this year. [Nov 2017, p.92]

It only takes a few matches to feel like you've seen it all. [Nov 2017, p.92]

A decent enough start blossoms into a rush of "greatest hits" set-pieces that will leave Uncharted fans eager for more from the lead duo, and send newcomers hunting eagerly for the original games. [Nov 2017, p.88]

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]

It's masterful, and practically unique - which is just about the best way to describe the game as a whole. [Nov 2017, p.88]

Codemasters' best Formula 1 game to date. [Nov 2017, p.88]

Builds on the solid foundations of its predecessor. [Nov 2017, p.88]

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]