The ground-play remains kinda naff. [March 2018, p.84]

Just a tad overpriced. [Jan 2012, p.114]

Measured against the rest of EA's high quality pro sports line-up, NBA 09 looks and plays a distinctly amateur game of B-Ball. [Oct 2008, p.103]

It’s a clever use of Disney licences that kids will absolutely adore, even if grown-ups will be less enamoured by the mission – and merchandise – structure.

The potential for a huge payoff in the final episode is undeniable. Still, the choices in this first episode will rarely make you stop and think for long, and there’s too much downtime, until a thrilling final half-hour. It’s good, but more undead than determined survivor [Issue#154, p.90]

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

Back out on the streets and nothing much has changed. Eyes forward, pedal down. [May 2007, p.94]

An intriguing but all-too-brief 3.19 curiosity. [July 2010, p.118]

A haunted walk through beautiful Norwegian countryside. Come for the mystery, stay for the chat, leave with more questions than you bargained for. [Issue#173, p.88]

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]

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]

Running around robbing ancient artefacts, desecrating temples and cracking intense puzzles is just as satisfying as ever, and feels like vintage Tomb Raider through and through. [Dec 2008, p.92]

The mechanics of Awesomenauts initially feel overly shallow – to its detriment. Combat mostly consists of repeatedly pressing one or two face buttons, and there's no real diversity in your objectives. But as you become more familiar, the game's tactical options reveal themselves, and honing your approach to capitalise upon your favourite character's skillset is an enjoyable process.

Outrageous special moves - Barrage of Lions, anyone? - will have anime fans squealing with glee. [Apr 2007, p.118]

Amazingly it works - particularly in online co-op. [May 2009, p.97]

Solid, if slightly dreary. [Apr 2012, p.115]

A beautifully judged, moving tale with puzzles cleverly entrenched in the story's take on mental illness. [July 2015, p.93]

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.

It’s always nice when a rhythm game’s story is as strong as its action, and Deemo’s gentle and touching narrative is a great example of one that works. Refreshingly for its genre, it revels in its tranquillity rather than strives to be a wild night out encapsulated in a screen. Simple, yet satisfying. [Issue@#171, p.92]

A perfectly serviceable level concept and map with a few neat ideas, but its balance is off and replay value is much lower than that of the other episodes in the series. [Aug 2016, p.84]

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

Persona 2 isn't for everyone. The esoteric style and ageing looks will see off many a curious gamer, but persevere through the niggles and you'll uncover a stylish, incredibly written, charismatic experience.

Given the dodgy quality of Batman games in recent years, this may be the best one ever. [Dec 2008, p.121]

No matter the scale of the fight, the combat system works. Each character’s unique fighting style is represented so they all feel different to play. It’s robust enough that Omega Force’s characteristic style, all about mowing down thousands, feels satisfying even when you go toe-to-toe with a single powerful enemy. Other One Piece games are welcome to try, but Warriors still has the treasure mark firmly painted over it. [Issue #175, p.70]

Dante's set its own standard in levels of exploity, B-movie style unpleasantness. [Mar 2010, p.112]

There’s a lot to love about Ryza’s new adventure – Atelier’s cutesy charm is still infectious – but it ends up feeling less sure of itself as a game about alchemy than prior entries (such as the great Atelier Lulua), while also being a promising setup for things to come. [Issue#170, p.86]

You’ll see everything Donut County has to offer in the few hours it takes to finish. Like a doughnut: short but sweet. [Issue#154, p.97]

The story's not great, but the battle system behind it is carefully thought out. [Dec 2017, p.87]