While it's underwhelming in places, there's a lot to like as you venture into the weirder parts of Andromeda. Frequent technical issues hamper the experience somewhat, as does an uninspiring main story. [May 2017, p.82]

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]

By turns infectious and infuriating, this is a glorious throwback for the most part, but its inconsistencies hold it back from greatness. Likeable, but flawed. [May 2017, p.77]

Sometimes infuriating, occasionally wonderful, VR Ping Pong has a sweet spot where it plays beautifully, but it's hard to find. A brave but flawed experiment. [Apr 2017, p.97]

Part gruesome medieval fantasy, part bleak supernatural horror, Berserk evokes the spirit of its source but descends into drudgery in an overlong campaign. [Apr 2017, p.96]

The great thing about Semispheres is its difficulty curve. [Apr 2017, p.95]

Its chunky art style gives the whole thing a heart-warmingly retro look. [Apr 2017, p.95]

There are obscene levels of charm here. [Apr 2017, p.95]

An unusual assembly of parts, but captivatingly weird. [Apr 2017, p.94]

Positively brimming with quantity, if not always quality, it struggles to find a fitting template to consistently showcase its strengths. [Apr 2017, p.92]

A total nostalgia bomb from start to finish, this JRPG has all the spells and whistles - not to mention ornate text boxes and a wonderful original soundtrack. Count me in. [Apr 2017, p.91]

A boring stealth game, made all the more annoying by Tom's bewilderingly poor fitness (four seconds of sprinting and he's knackered) and the worst gun in the history of games. It's rubbish. [Apr 2017, p.90]

Despite its simplistic premise and exterior, Forma.8 lacks neither ambition or challenge. [Apr 2017, p.90]

It's double-handed fun while it lasts. [Apr 2017, p.90]

A fun, if short-lived trip back into the mind-bending world of Psychonauts. [Apr 2017, p.88]

A brilliant multiplayer battler with a combat system that captures meaty melee battles like no other, but a mediocre single-player unfortunately drags it down. [Apr 2017, p.86]

The small, scattered levels live in the shadows of the Souls/Bloodborne worlds. Otherwise, Nioh matches - and occasionally surpasses - FromSoftware's genre giants. [Apr 2017, p.77]

A brilliant mix of accessible RPG elements, exhilaratingly fluid action and awe-inspiring environments that consistently captivate. Anchored by the charmingly blunt Aloy, Guerrilla crafts an experience that will live long in the memory. [Apr 2017, p.80]

Whether you’re a series fan, a JRPG evangelist or a total turn-based newcomer, this is an essential play. Persona 5 is packed with stuff to do, expertly put together and exquisite to the last pixel. An unabashed masterpiece. [Issue#134]

A decent-ish shooter that makes you feel like the Terminator - until you start regularly crashing. If it were more reliable it would be highly recommended. [March 2017, p.97]

If you can keep up with the tunes, this is quite the sensory experience. But unless you're blessed with serious rhythm, Starship Disco's brutal beat will quickly overwhelm. [March 2017, p.96]

It's the quality of the headscratchers that earns Turing a passing score. [March 2017, p.96]

Is it fun in small, vitamin C-rich doses? Absolutely. [March 2017, p.96]

Tense at first, the initial thrills dampen the more time you spend in the company, but The Flame In The Flood's warm ambience and unusual design are worth discovering for yourself. [March 2017, p.94]

A collection of highs and lows, Dream Drop Distance is fluid but flawed. It's Aqua's heart-stirring tale that will make seasoned keyblad wielders rejoice. [March 2017, p.93]

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]

With a wonderful story that actually makes sense to newcomers to the series, brilliantly varied fighting and a world packed with things to do, this is the best Yakuza yet. [March 2017, p.90]

Although endlessly exuberant, and often truly original, the sequel fails to fix the first game's issues while introducing new stumbling blocks. Hardly smooth shifting. [March 2017, p.87]

The truly incredible opening half alone makes this an essential horror game. Mixed fortunes later on recall the series post-Resident Evil 4, but it nonetheless remains one of gaming's greatest ever comebacks. [March 2017, p.80]

A short but sweet turn-based nod to the original games that ends up celebrating Lara's heritage even better than Rise of The Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration. [Feb 2017, p.97]

It's just dull. [Feb 2017, p.96]

Maybe with another update Surgeon Sim will be a slice of VR brilliance, but until then, it's time to pull the plug and call it. [Feb 2017, p.96]

It's not on par with Flower or the like, but its similar vibe impresses. [Feb 2017, p.96]

Individual elements can delight and there's potential for greatness, but Steep suffers from not being able to make them work together. It's worth playing at least once just for the new effects, mind. [Feb 2017, p.94]

An underwhelming Batman game, but a great Bruce Wayne one. A satisfying counterpart to Rocksteady's Arkham games, but it won't win over Telltale naysayers. [Feb 2017, p.93]

You won't be sweating with confusion over its brainteasers, but the laser focus on making you feel like a super spy earns this bite-size experience a License To Thrill. [Feb 2017, p.92]

Easy to pick up after only a couple of rounds, this is one of the best social virtual reality experiences you'll have - but only if you find the right people to bark at. [Feb 2017, p.90]

A disappointing PS4 port of a brilliant game that revived and revitalised its genre. Cross your pitchforks for a thorough reworking on PS Vita in the future. Handheld husbandry? It'd be perfect. [Feb 2017, p.88]

It's lovably shonky in the classic Grasshopper style, but this is a game of surprisingly layered depth and subtlety, and the studio's best game in yonks. [Feb 2017, p.85]

A disappointing PS VR offering from a studio that should know better. It feels like an early tech demo that someone's attached a daft price to. Basketball? Nope, just balls. [Jan 2017, p.129]

It's a shame those overly stingy ratings try to zap the fun out of this fair. [Jan 2017, p.128]

This is a game that might actually be better without VR. [Jan 2017, p.128]

For all that grappling, it has too few hooks. [Jan 2017, p.128]

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]

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]

Small-time smiting just isn't good enough to summon me back any time soon. [Jan 2017, p.118]

It's all wonderful stuff, then - until it ends. Which it does surprisingly quickly. [Jan 2017, p.118]

Silence is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. [Jan 2017, p.118]

This gruesome shooter is a must-have for any zombie-slaying aficionado. Know that its solo mode pales in comparison to co-op, where utter havoc can be wreaked. [Jan 2016, p.117]

Despite (literal) rough edges, Time Machine VR conjures up dino wonder like an aquatic Jurassic Park. Pity it's a little too short to fully justify its price tag. [Jan 2016, p.116]

Almost everything about Weeping Doll underwhelms. [Jan 2016, p.115]

Play alone, if you dare. [Jan 2016, p.115]

The concept and delivery deserve praise. [Jan 2016, p.115]

It's Lovecraftian genius: your imagination does the work, spinning up dread. [Jan 2016, p.114]

One of the prettiest games we've seen so far on Playstation VR, but no amount of delicious dino looks can save this clunky, confusing quest. [Jan 2016, p.112]

Despite a "Miss" in the story slots, series staples and modern-day mechanics converge to create a seamless spectacle. Cue that famous victory fanfare. [Jan 2016, p.109]

A magnificent, deeply personal tale of a boy and his monster. Smart, subversive and emotionally enriching, this is one of the most evocative games to grace PlayStation in the last decade. Clearly, you can't rush genius. [Jan 2016, p.102]

No need to splash the cash: here's a no-fuss, free party game collection for all ages, and with some style. Even the weaker games will be short-lived hits. [Christmas 2016, p.97]

There are too many niggles here to make it a must-have. [Christmas 2016, p.96]

If Gunjack's combat had just been a little more thoughtful, this space blaster could have been a real VR delight. [Christmas 2016, p.96]

Reveals itself to be a lot like space: beautiful, but mostly empty. [Christmas 2016, p.96]

Five years on and Skyrim's quality still stands head and shoulders above all RPGs not named The Witcher 3. It's well worth a revisit, even if the mod support is sorely lacking versus other formats. [Christmas 2016, p.94]

Just bang-average. [Christmas 2016, p.91]

This is an unusual, engaging and worthwhile bit of counter programming. [Christmas 2016, p.91]

What Pixel Gear does is accomplished, but it isn't satisfying enough to make you hit reload. [Christmas 2016, p.91]

The rougher edges of WWI make Battlefield a louder, fiercer, more engaging shooter. But the carefully interwoven campaign and multiplayer aspects show a more reflective side. [Christmas 2016, p.86]

A nightmarish virtual reality world that scares and sickens in equal measure. [Christmas 2016, p.86]

Far too often, Sports Bar VR takes its ball and goes home. [Christmas 2016, p.86]

While they look lovely, the puzzles aren't quite challenging enough. [Christmas 2016, p.86]

It's a shame Ace Banana can be so flustering, because there is a decent shooting gallery to unpeel here. [Christmas 2016, p.86]

Respawn could have settled for big dumb fun, but Titanfall 2's eclectic, standout campaign and honed multiplayer make for a smart and unusual shooter. A total rush from beginning to end. [Christmas 2016, p.84]

The individual parts are all solid: they just don't all play nice when mixed up. [Christmas 2016, p.82]

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

Another strong entry in a series that's keeping itself relevant. While familiarity is creeping into multiplayer, Zombies and the campaign are the best they've been in years. [Christmas 2016, p.79]

A fantastic end to a fine season of assassination. [Issue#130, p.93]

Hitman's developed better than expected - but the onus is now on IO to keep adding content throughout the next year. [Issue#130, p.93]

A genius idea guaranteed to amuse, Job Simulator offers incredible short term thrills. Alas, unfulfilled potential means you'll hand in your notice quicker than is ideal. [Dec 2016, p.95]

Elegance and simplicity is the intent, but in (virtual) reality, it soon gets old. [Dec 2016, p.94]

A great spin-off offering a well-rounded package that condenses, but doesn't surpass, the pleasures of its bigger bro. Just be aware of possible motion sickness. [Dec 2016, p.93]

With no player limit, only one headset required and endless replay value, this is the perfect VR party game. [Dec 2016, p.92]

A must-own puzzler. [Dec 2016, p.89]

A fun skill puzzler that just about achieves its potential. [Dec 2016, p.89]

Feels like an underwhelming adventure trying to piggyback on VR's inherent charms. [Dec 2016, p.89]

Own PS VR? Then Thumper needs to be part of your gaming collection. Don't own a PS VR? Thumper still needs to be part of your gaming collection. It's that simple. [Dec 2016, p.88]

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

A remarkable update of a classic videogame, Rez Infinite is a perfect fit for PS VR. The astonishing new Area X is worth the cost of entry alone. Utterly essential. [Dec 2016, p.86]

Sadly, it won't leave much of a lasting impression. [Dec 2016, p.85]

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

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]

What lets it down is the lack of variety in design. [Dec 2016, p.80]

Colorado scores an unexpected win when it comes to a much overlooked element. [Dec 2016, p.80]

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]

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

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

An assured, confident outing with barrels of both quantity and quality. Physical play is more rewarding than last year; attacking play's more excitingly incisive, and The Journey's a great experiment. [Dec 2016, p.74]

A beautifully made project, indeed, but one with limitations that peg it behind the likes of Virginia or Dear Esther. [Dec 2016, p.73]

A solid idea, but that's all. [Dec 2016, p.73]

Hoops: they did it again. [Dec 2016, p.73]