A lengthy open world experience that manages to evolve constantly instead of becoming dull and repetitive, and a unique online experience that needs to be played to be believed. Get out there and get yourself connected. [Issue#169, p.76]

Between your staff and the by-the-numbers building options, there’s little opportunity for the emergent story moments the genre is known for. Mind you, when there’s an epidemic of Mock Stars swaggering through your halls, it’s not such a bad crowd to get lost in. [Issue#173, p.84]

You'll be humming its infectiously cheerful tunes for weeks. [July 2016, p.85]

A little piece of retro vampire-blasting joy. [Mar 2010, p.111]

A spellbinding little fantasy adventure. [Sept 2010, p.110]

A celebration of videogaming’s brashest decade, Narita Boy at times tries too hard to impress but always feels good to play. Turn it up to 11 and enjoy the ride. [Issue#187, p.83]

Delivers a visually exciting experience. [May 2013, p.107]

The warmth in the world has survived the scaling down. [Jan 2010, p.106]

This is a comprehensive package. [Sept 2010, p.113]

Signs Of The Sojourner is a compelling adventure that explores loss, healing, and the intimacy of conversations, wonderfully gamifying interaction. [Issue#187, p.89]

Silly, smart, and rewarding, all at once. [July 2016, p.85]

Luckily, there's plenty more to do when you're bored of the main story. [Aug 2010, p.118]

The presentation is brimming with cartoony amusement. [Sept 2010, p.114]

A basic upgrade. The SSD helps load some elements more quickly; the graphics aren’t radically improved. That said, the game is still phenomenal. [Issue#187, p.88]

A hugely compelling adaptation. [May 2013, p.109]

The Aim Controller is the star of the show. In its grip Farpoint comes close to matching the expectations we have for a VR 'game,' even though that game is just a by-the-numbers alien duck hunt. [July 2016, p.86]

Adventurers both young and old will appreciate the frantic battles against a range of fairytale monsters in medieval villages and deep underground caverns. As if by magic, it seems that Move has finally found its happily ever after.

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

It won't win converts to the genre and the plot is problematic, but The Division is a handsome open-world offering, spiked with treachery. [May 2016, p.81]

The learning curve is spot on, with each new dimension properly introduced and then quickly integrated with the others, so that you're always making progress and never feel patronised.

Such a simple yet intensely satisfying and addictive experience. [Apr 2007, p.102]

It is a genuinely exciting arcade racer with just the right amount of meat on its jiggling ass. [Dec 2007, p.102]

There's also a vast amount of replay value in the secrets. [July 2008, p.98]

Future levels offer better value for money, but this Intro Pack is a confident first chapter containing the ultimate Hitman experience. Scrub Absolution's nightmares - the series is back to its prime. [May 2016, p.84]

Reminiscent of both Hohokum and Polly Pocket, K0-0P Mode's bright, chunky dioramas are a treat for kids young and old - particularly in PS VR. Glory to Gnog! [July 2016, p.89]

At times the games’ age is apparent – in some repetitive and annoying boss fights, or the way special moves shift you annoyingly away from where you initiated them in order for them to animate properly. Even so, they’re still immensely playable. Yakuza is one of the few series that elicits genuine belly laughs while telling a gripping story. [Issue#173, p.96]

Newcomers will be happy to find a strategic RPG that doesn't take itself too seriously. [Jan 2008, p.115]

As remasters go, it's not a total washout - but it's not the stunning revamp it could have been. As a PS3 classic now available on PS4, however? Essential. [May 2016, p.87]

Great value. [Feb 2011, p.103]

A better game than the original, but also a less even one. [Feb 2009, p.94]

Ground Zeroes offers a couple of evenings of essential PS4 stealth. And really, who could put a price on that? Other than Konami… who plumped for the overly stingy one. Rich in depth and quality, if not quantity, this prologue provides an exciting peak into a potential PS4 classic. Just steel yourself for a bite-sized Big Boss.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a surprising failure as an open-world video game, but within its beautifully lit world of monsters lies a much more traditional story-driven RPG of immense quality.

A consistently strong introduction to the Diaz brothers and their plight. We only want the best for them but know full well things are going to get worse over the course of the season. [Issue#155, p.88]

Distressingly addictive. [Feb 2011, p.103]

It's the best footy game on PSP, but isn't a big step up from last time out - and therefore stops short of a 9/10. [Christmas 2008, p.96]

If you were in a bad mood, you could hang Dragon's Dogma out to dry for its clumsy camera and controls, simplistic warrior-rogue-mage class choice, shallow combat and bad dialogue (which frequently misuses the words ere, e'er, aught, ought, ill, and so on.) But it's hard to be in a bad mood while playing such a brave, sprawling, original take on role-playing. Accept its failings and you get to enjoy its beautifully esoteric successes.

This deftly made return to Mega Man revives the core series beyond being a novel retro throwback, giving it a gorgeous coat of fresh paint at the same time. [Issue#155, p.94]

While not the masterpiece it could have been, this imaginative, immersive sim provides an impressive, dense sandbox with plenty of exciting toys to play with. [July 2016, p.93]

NBA 2K19 is fantastic at all the times when it isn’t asking you to part with real cash. Although sadly, in MyCareer, you’ll be tempted to open your wallet way too often. [Issue#155, p.95]

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]

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]

Still, the actual wrestling is terrific, and breathes new life into WWE gaming.

Underneath the cute exterior lies a tough-as-nails sim exposing the realities of prison life. If you can see past a few offences, lock your door and lose the key. [Aug 2016, p.86]

Short and horrifying, it’s worth coming home to your PS VR headset for this family reunion. These walls talk, and you’ll want to immerse yourself in what they have to say. [Issue#155, p.87]

One of the most individual and visually striking games available on PSP. [July 2007, p.110]

Valkyria Chronicles has had a rocky history in the West, with the third game never even hitting our shores, but Valkyria Chronicles 4 is just what the fans ordered. [Issue#155, p.96]

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.

A solid and joyously colourful racer with plenty to explore, and the Transformed element is thankfully no mere add-on. Each track is well-balanced, with a variety of vehicle sections and shortcuts through the water or air. With friends and online, this shines – and there are plenty of positive comparisons to be made between this and Mario Kart.

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

One of this year's best indie offerings so far. [Aug 2016, p.88]

It's the first import game that punishes you for not being a Yank. [Sept 2010, p.118]

A stopgap sequel. [Dec 2010]

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

Buzz's transition to next-gen is further proof that Sony continues to "get" social gaming brilliantly. [July 2008, p.107]

An insane intergalactic treat. [Sept 2010, p.119]

It’s a terrifically fun game to throw on, whether you’re playing alone or with a mate, and it proves that Darksiders still has plenty of stories to tell. [Issue#173, p.91]

It’s not perfect but Blood & Truth is one of the more complete experiences for PS VR. Some control issues are eclipsed by high production values and a playful use of PS VR’s capabilities. [Issue#164, p.86]

Compared to Modern Warfare, World at War is loud and crass. [Christmas 2008, p.100]

An utterly compelling process. [Issue#151, p.84]

The ending is so wrong you'll want to scrub your brain clean. [Mar 2009, p.92]

It's unbelievable fun with four people in the same room, and likely to become one of teh most popular network games. [July 2007, p.104]

Whether it's playing Buckaroo on your board for 15 seconds straight or hearing the game manually mix your custom soundtrack during an über-trick – bloody surreal when you're listening to Bankrobber by The Clash – there's nothing else quite like this on PS3. After years of waiting to get royally piste up, SSX's blizzardy brilliance remains as intoxicating as ever.

The trilogy ends with Dracula’s Curse, which adds four playable characters and multiple routes, taking us even closer to the metroidvania approach we love. Arguably the best game in this collection, it demonstrates why director Hitoshi Akamatsu is one of the unsung heroes of the 8-bite, erm, -bit era. [Issue#164, p.96]

The graphics are endearing and the gameplay immersive. [Feb 2010, p.111]

Can be as thrilling as the season it's based on. [Christmas 2009, p.113]

It’s also the best of the three DLC packs to have finally hit Skyrim on PS3. Deeper than the largely customisation-focused Hearthfire, and more integrated into the game as a whole than Dragonborn, this is a lengthy extra chunk of game that’s well worth the money for anyone looking for an excuse to jump back into Tamriel.

There’s an undeniable charm to be found in conversing with a cake NPC, fighting bizarre bosses, and travelling through the Horse Dimension, but there’s a solid game underlying the comical presentation. Four difficulty settings will ensure you find the level of challenge you’re after, and a PVP Arena mode will let you challenge your friends to switch things up. [Issue#164, p.96]

Unless you hate Queen (boo!) this is near essential. [May 2009, p.99]

It's absolutely worth bearing in mind when weighing up a purchase: you're getting two full games here, both dark and complex, and both well worth playing. [Mar 2009, p.86]

One of the best superhero experiences yet - maybe not quite the equal of inFamous, but a genuine alternative for the inner maniac in you. [July 2009, p.98]

When you and Patapon 2 are on the same page of its rhythmic song book, this is a treat of a dance party. You won’t be able to resist getting down to this sick beat. [Issue#173, p.89]

The content may be bare-bones, with your choice of Titans limited, but paring back the MOBA experience to its core makes Megalith incredibly fun and empowering (and nauseafree) in PS VR. [Issue#159, p.94]

This is the best Atelier yet, and a prime point for newcomers to jump in. [Issue#164, p.90]

Best giant stone frog puzzler ever, ever, ever. [Sept 2009, p.108]

A great collection of retro platform shooter action. If you’re wondering what all the Mega Man fuss is about, this is a good place to start. [Issue#173, p.89]

Playing fast and loose with historical fact, Onimusha: Warlords remains a PlayStation classic. Even some of its questionable design choices can’t dampen the fun. [Issue#159, p.92]

The post-game wrap-ups are especially good, enabling you to look at each player's top moments from the match. [Dec 2007, p.111]

Strange, but somehow comforting. [Mar 2009, p.94]

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]

A smart, charming game that makes the most of PS VR for puzzles, but never quite cuts the strings of its technical limitations. [Issue@159, p.97]

This PS4 release includes two new difficulty levels, with Easy making enemies less daunting thanks to increased damage output. Hard, meanwhile, should satisfy any cravings you have for a challenge when gunning for Diamond rank. And unlockable outfits add extra character to a whimsical 2D platformer that already had enough to spare. [Issue#164, p.90]

As a package Soulcalibur VI lacks the polish of recent fighters, especially in the story mode, but the core gameplay, honed over many years, offers some of the sharpest duels on PS4. [Issue#156, p.88]

Short on innovation but engaging and full of character, Tales Of Vesperia is one of the best tales games and sits well in the collection of any JRPG fan. [Issue#159, p.96]

What counts is that, once mastered, Vanquish has arguably the best example of third-person gunplay yet committed to Blu-ray. [Issue#51, p.112]

Visually beautiful, and packed with great dialogue and emotional intrigue. The strong narrative makes you feel a part of the story. [Issue#168, p.93]

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]

A fan-pleasing return to form for a long-time PlayStation favourite, with huge future potential if it follows its contemporaries in delivering live roster updates. [Issue#156, p.96]

Despite the shortfalls, this is an excellent FPS, raising the art of virtual shooting to a new level with the sort of OTT gunplay that makes other games look watery weak by comparison. That, combined with the exceptional art style, makes this an experience worth having – and id a more relevant and contemporary developer than it's been in years.

An effortlessly explosive adventure on your PS3. [Jan 2014, p.89]

Costume Quest glows with creepy artistic charm. [Issue#51, p.118]

While Chasm doesn’t offer anything particularly new to the genre, it does deliver intricate locations and satisfying swordplay in spades. [Issue#153, p.86]

As a pure fighting experience, this can't compete with its MMA counterpart. But there's so much to do that the actual wrestling is often secondary...It's those rich, user-generated elements that make this the deepest, most playable WWE game yet. [Nov 2009, p.114]

The really exciting thing is the appearance of the new event types. [Oct 2009, p.120]

Beyond beautiful visuals and taxing puzzles, there’s also a hefty sci-fi story. Inspired by Japanese visual novels, Dysis’ investigation as she pushes inland into the ruins of a forgotten civilisation is intriguing, and full of twists. The dialogue that punctuates the puzzles rarely feels too long, and this mystery makes you want to keep pressing on. It’s a mixture that feels fresh, and the two halves of puzzle and story feel highly polished: more than enough to keep you remaining in this puzzle paradise. [Issue#177, p.144]

Yakuza is really where Sega took much-mourned Dreamcast classic "Shenmue." [Nov 2008, p.108]

Want to blow up stuff and drive faster than a greased weasel stapled to a Catherine wheel? Blur is your new best pal. [July 2010, p.110]

When Valhalla is at its best, it evolves series mechanics. And when you’re cruising down river, about to blow your raiding horn, there’s nothing quite like it. [Issue#183, p.71]

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]