Way superior to rival "Beijing 2008." [Oct 2008, p.103]

For 2D shooter nostalgists this is close to essential, but for everyone else it's just a comprehensive curio. [Aug 2007, p.114]

Most of the issues have been addressed, making for a much more palatable bike sim. It’s still lacking spectacle and charm, but the quality’s much higher. [Issue#185, p.88]

Watch Dogs relies on unfiltered girth to entertain. Another victim of cross-gen releases, there’s nothing particularly ‘new-gen’ about the game, but there are plenty of good ideas and a lot of activities to keep you busy. The fundamentals for a truly special game are in place – but as was the case with Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, it now falls to the sequels to fully realise it.

It makes experimenting with cartoonish ultra-violence so, well, painless. [Feb 2008, p.90]

It's rarely short of absurd charm or interesting things to do. [Oct 2014, p.88]

You'll only come over all outraged and teary when Edinburgh Castle goes 'boom'. [Sept 2007, p.116]

Our biggest concern is the putting. The analogue control that's so effective for approach shots lacks sensitivity on the greens. [Apr 2007, p.110]

A sequel with increased complexity but no more finesse than the original. Payday 2 has a swag bag full of worthy ambitions, but overstretches when it comes to execution.

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

After a handful of runs you may feel as if you’ve seen everything. The combat system still makes this worth a try if you’re itching for more roguelikes. [Issue#186, p.82]

The issues aren’t ruinous, and in the case of the multiplayer more an inconvenience that EA needs to address than anything else – but it’s enough to take the shine off what should be one of the best shooters on PS4.

The problem here isn't the looks or the amount of stuff there is to do, it's the controls. [Oct 2009, p.109]

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

Loads of geeky fun. [Aug 2009, p.118]

Regarding this catastrophic failure of infrastructure, a wearying, cynical malaise of ‘Eh, what can you do about it?’ pervades Rania’s early forays into the city and proves just a little too real for us. The game’s own answer to this question is ‘carry out individual acts of kindness’, as with each one Rania makes Nivalis a slightly less miserable place for at least one person she encounters on her rounds – and sometimes that’s enough. [Issue#182, p.156]

Played in small bursts, EDF's knowingly daft, trashy action is an unapologetic hoot. [Sept 2011, p.107]

The game's relentlessly narrow focus frustrates as much as the repetitious grind of the racing. [May 2008, p.98]

Kane & Lynch 2 is as much an online grudge generator as it is a video game. [Issue#51, p.120]

A fiddly one to get to grips with, stick with Snake Pass and everything will eventually click. When it does, it's a decent platformer that should raise a smile or two. [June 2017, p.82]

There's a decent fighting system underneath all the pencil-sketches and pixie dust. [Mar 2009, p.102]

Frequent death promotes experimentation with an impressive collection of weaponry and party member traits, making this great for a quick trip and less something for lengthy sessions. [Issue#150, p.94]

The closest Killzone Mercenary comes to having a thing is in its touch controls, and as satisfying as they are the marriage of console shooter and iOS game doesn’t elevate it into the realm of the exceptional.

There are at least enough creative, sharing and multiplayer options to stop things going stale. [July 2010, p.118]

Cheap jump scares aside, White Day is still as unsettling as it ever was, even 16 years after its debut release. [Oct 2017, p.87]

We're approaching unbroken cutscene territory. [July 2014, p.88]

A range of mission objectives keeps things interesting, and there are nice moments when the action is used to tell the story.2 It’s fairly simple (it’s based on a kids’ cartoon), but this twist on the genre is easy to understand, and fun to stick with until the credits. [Issue#182, p.160]

Addictive. [Oct 2007, p.113]