It’s an unassuming shooter where the only complexity comes in making your own guns out of bits and bobs you find dotted around on Archivist ships. That provides just enough complexity to keep you moving forwards, while the rest of your grey matter’s simply enjoying the absurd onslaught each fight presents. Simple, effective, cha. [Issue#153, p.89]

Combine the racing with the vast creative options and this is a splendid package for which the best is yet to come, via community-created tracks, cars and freaky figures. [June 2010, p.114]

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

The objective-based Architect mode is especially satisfying. [Dec 2009, p.18]

Nuance comes from special moves which don’t use up one of your three goes (Rainbow feint! Olympic kick!) and the sense of challenge in deciding how to spend in-game credit. Success brings riches, but it’s not always wise to splurge it on players – investing £14K in a youth academy limits transfer options, but guarantees a promising youngster every six months. Which sounds like a long wait, yet at seven minutes per match seasons fly by in evenings just like those dugout sims of yore. This time with no threat of the tape wearing out. [Issue#172, p.80]

When it's good, it's absolutely bloody brilliant. But the deeper you delve, the tougher it is to ignore its few flaws. [Aug 2009, p.106]

A heck of a catch. There’s plenty below the surface: this shark RPG isn’t afraid to comment on cycles of violence and pollution, while also being a gleefully good time. [Issue#177, p.145]

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

Such customisation even translates to Hardcore Mecha’s multiplayer mode, where you can duke it out with another person’s mech either locally or online. The result is an incredibly robust package, and the ultimate small-scale homage to robot anime. [Issue#172, p.86]

It's lean, with few repeated ideas, and boasts one of the best save rooms you'll ever experience. [Christmas 2014, p.88]

The quality is a little uneven, but a good sense of humour and a determination to be inventive takes Pixel Ripped 1995 a long way. It’s rippedjeans- tastic! [Issue#177, p.157]

Perhaps the only downside to Tokyo Dark is the amount of text present in comparison to gameplay. There is a lot of talking, to the point where it verges on visual novel territory, and more interactivity with other aspects of the world would have helped prevent this. If you don’t mind a bit of reading, though, this is a gripping and stylish whodunnit. [Issue#172, p.86]

There’s a surprising number of changes, and most work. With an enjoyable campaign and a generous amount of online content, Cold War deserves a warm reception. [Issue#183, p.68]

One of the best retro shooters in a long time, Valfaris mixes a smart combat loop with pixelperfect design, wrapped in a bombastic heavy metal silliness that oozes fun. [Issue#170, p.91]

Pretty little explosions and detailed alien foes make this a visual treat, and the frantic action is always absorbing. [July 2007, p.107]

Still one of the most unique character action games we’ve played, combined with a heartwarming story and retro-futuristic setting that is just pure feel-good. Simply… wonderful. [Issue#177, p.150]

Stranglehold has a cool-as-anything hero, a strong story, a great pick-up-and-play vibe and - later on - a genuinely taxing tactical side. It is, in short,one of the most exciting games of any genre on PS3. [Oct 2007, p.84]

Strictly in terms of gameplay, this is probably a 7/10 - fun and polished if a little repetitive - but there's absolutely an extra level of enjoyment and quality here thanks to the smart and sensitive use of much-loved material. [July 2009, p.86]

A big improvement over the original, and one that deserves to be played by loads more people. So at least eight of you this time, yeah? [July 2009, p.90]

The most fun we’ve had with a music game in ages. Sophisticated yet approachable for those who belt out bangers and virtuosos alike – it’s got real potential. [Issue#183, p.64]

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]

There's something hugely satisfying about playing Civilization: Revolution. It feels clever, but it's actually about as educational as reading the ingredients off a box of Cheerios and pretending you've got a PhD in chemistry. [July 2008, p.102]

Whether multiplayer was a distraction that led to standards ever so slightly slipping in single-player is debatable. With such a strong combat system and beautiful looks, Kratos’ prequel could have eclipsed them all with a handful of key tweaks. Not quite the murdery meteoric rise we were hoping for then, but certainly not a fall from grace either.

Grab your pimp cup and step up to the battle, and you'll find not only some serious karaoke, but the best online set-up for any music game yet. [Issue#51, p.104]

Boasting two exceptional modes in franchise and Longshot, it mightn’t have the cult following of its PS2 years, but this is as good as EA’s veteran NFL series has ever been. [Issue#153, p.88]

A crackling little puzzle game with a very slow learning curve. [July 2012, p.109]

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

Brief though it is, Shadow Legend VR is stuffed with an amount of joy and enthusiasm many games can only dream of. It’s a hell of a knight. [Issue#172, p.93]