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

If you're a brave soul hunting a hard game to treasure, you'll find what you seek in La-Mulana. [May 2015, p.87]

Playing with four is the most fun. [Aug 2009, p.115]

The very occasional framerate stutter aside, LMD is as much of a joy to stare at as it is to play, and PS4’s biggest sporting surprise of 2019. A wheel good time. [Issue#169, p.96]

Its new modes offer a lot, but certain elements feel marginalised. [May 2015, p.89]

The dialogue's sharp and well-acted, and the puzzles never stray into the ridiculous or contrived. It simply feels like playing the comic, and that's as strong an endorsement for a season pass as you'll hear. Roll on episode two.

It clicks in a way that few mystery games do, making you feel like you’re doing actual detective work. The biggest issue is that on a pad some of the menus feel a bit too clunky, but it’s a solid mystery you’ll be chewing over even when you’re not playing. [Issue#169, p.96]

Looking for a content-crammed explore-'em-up for your Vita? Well, dig no further. [March 2014, p.92]

Lacking its predecessors’ ideas, but a worthy twilight joyride for the Ego engine that nails the white-knuckle speed and screaming tyres like few others.

Clever and charming. [May 2018, p.89]

Its linearity is a happy tradeoff for the sharp characterisation and dialogue on offer here. [May 2015, p.93]

An unexpected gem. [May 2018, p.89]

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

It's still the only game guaranteed to get everyone in the family playing, swearing, calling you a cheat and loving every dangerously competitive minute. [Feb 2010, p.115]

Although it’s a bit buggy (we had to reload a few checkpoints to progress), it’s no secret that this will be five to six hours of your time well spent. [Issue#169, p.92]

The upgrade paths and gear-gating lend genuine longevity. [May 2015, p.94]

Interesting is the word. It’s interesting to see how each level works, how each element works together in a level so ingeniously. Stealth Inc’s mechanically fascinating, and holds you in just the right level of contempt as a player to keep you bashing your head against its heavily guarded walls.

Pulsating. [Sept 2015, p.82]

With only one further episode to come, you feel like the gravity of your decisions is magnified given what's sure to be a blockbuster finale. [Christmas 2012, p.109]

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

A rewarding and tactile experience overall despite the inconsistency. [Christmas 2009, p.118]

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.

In between setting off on field expeditions, where you assist Erebonia’s inhabitants by taking on quests, you learn more about your students and colleagues by helping them out at the school. Narrative is still the focus, and with a dizzying amount of dialogue for even minor characters it manages to feel epic and sweeping and personal and intimate all at the same time. [Issue#169, p.84]

Between the unusual character arc at its core, funky beats, and rhythm-based beatdowns, YIIK has a lot more to offer the RPG genre than just doomsaying. J[Issue#159, p.83]

The Dark Below doesn't revolutionise Destiny's addictive endgame, but the superb new missions and the lure of new gear should tide you over 'til the House of Wolves. [Feb 2015, p.91]

It's a lively way to breathe new life into RPG battles, which are often ugly and hard to follow. [Dec 2008, p.112]

The dancey track selection gives the game a more up-tempo feel.

Automata is a genre-pinching RPG that marries Platinum's combat to an overblown plot that could fuel a standalone anime. A few rough edges conceal a lot of snythetic heart. [May 2017, p.80]

A punishing, defiantly old-school adventure. [May 2015, p.94]

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

Modern Warfare is the best Call Of Duty in years, but it still can’t shake-off the cartoonish trappings. Off- and online it’s a quality shooter that does more right than wrong. [Issue#169, p.89]

The levels are an inventive joy. [Christmas 2012, p.111]

It’s hard not to be won over by a game all about bringing out the best in places and people through creativity. Concrete Genie impresses with flying colours. [Issue#168, p.73]

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

A gorgeously simple set of controls. [Christmas 2010, p.109]

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

The remastering has been handled sloppily, and accessibility additions are flawed, but the game underneath still stands proud. A good jumping-on point for new players. [Issue#168, p.87]

NHL 13's a hockey fan's dream in many ways, pursuing realism and depth at the expense of newcomer accessibility. It's still a few good ideas away from the elite sports franchises, but I'll be tweaking tactics, refining rosters and racing against icing calls right up until 14 laces its skates.

It's as satisfyingly competitive as you'd hope. London 2012 is the best athletics game we've seen in a while, even if the fact we can't guide the actual Team GB to glory puts a slight tarnish on its medal.

An above-par upgrade for the console’s best-selling sports game, mostly driven by fan feedback – with Volta mode even better than anyone dared expect. [Issue#168, p.83]

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

A top-notch sandbox adventure and also one of the finest movie tie-ins in years. [Aug 2007, p.100]

Despite some questionable multiplayer level design and an absurd story, Black Ops III is a return to form for COD - so long as you play it with friends rather than alone. [Christmas 2015, p.69]

Look past the scruffy visuals, because Flatout 4's penchant for vehicular violence means it passes its madcap MDT. [May 2017, p.92]

A totally fresh proposition. [Sept 2015, p.89]

Delightful, demanding and inspired. [May 2017, p.92]

An out-of-this-world adventure that, for better and worse, feels far from alien, even if you’ve been frozen for a few years. The familiar done well and then some. [Issue#169, p.85]

Long-time Tales fan? Zestria's prequel is a must-play. Crisp characterisation and a battle system with real-time bite? That she most certainly does not blow. [March 2017, p.92]

Full of instant gratification. Its novelty value does fade, though. [Sept 2015, p.93]

This is big and dumb where Bats was sleek and considered. But this is still a triumph – especially on a fan-service level – and absolutely deserving of a titanic culmination to the trilogy. These Robot Wars are more than worth your time.

Oozing with things to do and inventive classes to do them with, it elevates the act of shooting plants and zombies to fresh heights. [Issue#169, p.97]

Touchscreen is implemented nicely. [Apr 2012, p.113]

Strong on-ice gameplay and terrific multiplayer are offset by a lack of innovative modes. While this is a solid rebound from a shaky next-gen debut, NHL 16 still has work to do to regain greatness.

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.

This is NBA Live as it definitely should be - deep, engrossing, polished fun. [Dec 2007, p.114]

Somewhat limited by its own mechanics this is still a masterclass in videogame horror. The overuse of its core ‘run away and hide gameplay’ lessens the impact overtime but the visual and aural execution are flawless, making for a terrifying opening few hours, an unpleasantly distressing close and a satisfying exercise in fear throughout.

Playable like a digitally remastered greatest hits album. [Nov 2009, p.120]

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift takes on all the beat-'em-up rules and punches them in their stupid throats. [Issue#51, p117]

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

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

It's no exaggeration to call this phenomenal between the ropes. [Christmas 2015, p.78]

Games don't get much more friendly than this. [JPN Import; Nov 2007, p.100]

Forgive its clumsier moments. Play it for its brill soundtrack, loveable-unlovable cast and charmingly rendered brand of nihilism. Then, for god's sake, call your parents. [May 2017, p.97]

If you're a horror geek, you'll have seen worse. But you won't often have seen much better. [Christmas 2008, p.98]

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]

Such is the strength of the online modes, it lifts the overall package comfortably above the scant story offering. It pains my digits to write ‘technical tour de force’, but it’s hard to describe Crysis 3 any other way. Though lacking soul in places, this striking Prophet can still channel the divine.

The slower pace might frustrate those used to COD4's adrenaline-soaked battles or Warhawk's arcadey clashes, but it's still a thrill. As a Metal Gear game it works beautifully, capturing the series' essence perfectly. [July 2008, p.108]

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

Brimming with some of the best dialogue and characters on in a game, The Stick Of Truth is only let down by needless framerate issues and a lack of additional locations beyond South Park itself.

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

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

The large dungeons aren’t the only places for larger-scale puzzling. Every overworld is essentially a dungeon-space: this is a game of dungeons within dungeons. You automatically jump off the edge of platforms, and the game has a great sense of physicality, compounded by the twisty environment design. Combine that with plenty of inventive puzzles, obstacles that react to certain elements, and battles, and you have an intense retro throwback that constantly presents new challenges throughout its 35-plus hours of playtime. [Issue#178, p.76]

A probably-ought-to-be-illegal level of compulsiveness that belies its simplicity. [Nov 2012, p.117]

Sadly, the central story missions are where Thieves in Time trips up a little. [March 2013, p.117]

For all its strides in pacing and character development, the same pitfalls that dogged its predecessor still lurk within. [June 2015, p.88]

It's loud, it's ludicrous and more importantly, it's a huge laugh. [Nov 2009, p.110]

Changes are plentiful, but don't disrupt the formula of what makes this series so great. Come for the characters, stay for the simple-but-demanding golfing. [Nov 2017, p.79]

It's easy to get sucked in. [Nov 2012, p.119]

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

One of the most exciting PC RPGs of recent years effortlessly makes the transition to PlayStation without losing a drop of its tactical depth in the process. [Christmas 2015, p.82]

This is a solid collection with two of the best shooters of the era, but it is pricey. [Issue#178, p.82]

There are some familiar elements – Arkham City’s ice grenades reappear as the mechanically identical glue grenades for example – and most of the gains are in scale and size rather than substance, but this is still a satisfying adventure with only a few minor faults that’ll keep all but the hardest to please happy.

Tracks are filled with variation and unique gimmicks, but all retain that core challenging premise. Sprinkle in ghost challenges, a superb co-op tandem bike mode, excellent tutorials, and minigames, and this is the best Trials package to date. [Issue#161, p.84]

Everywhere that 2K9 is good, "NHL 09" is excellent. [Nov 2008, p.111]

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

Its total dominance over all contemporaries is beginning to feel routine. [June 2015, p.90]

Very similar to Patapon, but it just about gets away with it. Partly, that's because there's loads more stuff (units, weapons and consequently strategic depth), partly because the core mechanic is still top fun (albeit exactly half as fresh as before), and partly because it seems ludicrous to criticise a game about dancing, warlike eyeballs for lack of originality. [Feb 2009, p.96]

It's excellent - technically strong, visually outstanding and full of welcome fresh ideas. It also has a poorly-told story and a deadening first few hours, but - a crucial but - the de-faced alien at the chewy centre makes it all worthwhile. [Apr 2011, p.97]

Witty puzzler. [Nov 2011, p.115]

Simple but wonderfully effective, combining ‘Ooh what’s that?’ invitations to explore with ‘Ooh isn’t that lovely’ moments of beauty. Size doesn’t matter with a gem like this.

This is a fantastic alternative to the main series – offering up all the thrills of your Monday-night work league, without the worry about talk of P45s after 'accidentally' shouldering your boss into a wall.

With carefully communicated lore, healthy doses of humour here and there, enjoyable new activities, and an abundance of content, this expansion has us falling in love with TESO all over again. [Issue#178, p.80]

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

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

Recognising that genius billionaire playboy philanthropist Tony is just as important as his metal-coated alter ego, Iron Man VR is a guaranteed virtual reality thrill for fans of the shiniest Avenger. [Issue#178, p.74]

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

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

Seasoned shifters will fall (in love) again. [March 2016, p.86]