Broken Sword 5 is clearly a real labour of love on Cecil and co’s part, but their desire to recapture the spirit of the beloved early games has left this one feeling more than a little dated.

Pulpy fun that writhes in its take on Lovecraftian lore. Call Of Cthulhu is a Hammer Horror-like cult classic in the making that overcomes its shortfalls to offer an RPG you’ll stick with through its many endings. [Issue#156, p.92]

It's a fine example of how licensed games should be done. [Sept 2008, p.96]

Each campaign offers enough of a twist on the core loop to keep things interesting, either with environmental effects such as a health-sapping chill in the air or otherwise by switching up the rules of engagement. Acquainting yourself with each class’s specialities, especially as you equip better weapons and unlock new abilities, is a treat as well. However, there’s little to recommend to those who are not already fans of the genre and eager to roll some dice. [Issue#164, p.90]

Resistance is a fine game, and easily capable of standing up to the scrutiny a big launch title attracts. But it doesn't quite do enough to make us add 'the Chimera, on Tower Bridge, with the Bullseye' to our list of classic shooter moments. [Apr 2007, p.104]

A lot of love has gone into this game. Jokes and nuggets of DC lore are scattered throughout – they’re glittering little studs of care and attention. Sadly, they don’t build into such a wonderful whole. [Issue#156, p.84]

If you don't own a Vita, Velocity Ultra for PS3 is still a must-play - just keep in mind that you're getting a less-than-flattering upscaling of a modern handheld classic. [Jan 2014, p.84]

It's old and occasionally clunky, but this is a little piece of history that definitely holds up. [Jan 2010, p.118]

Old-school puzzle game with a weird galactic theme. [Sept 2009, p.107]

One thing New Dawn does superbly, however, is prevent player fatigue. After the first dozen hours, you feel empowered, you’re comfortable with the rhythm of outpost captures, and there’s still plenty for you to do. Which weapon or vehicle will you hunt materials for next? That double jump you’ve unlocked will come in handy for the treasure hunt you couldn’t quite finish. And so on. [Issue#160, p.91]

Genuinely hard not to enjoy. [Apr 2009, p.100]

Considering there’s the touch of an interesting puzzle here and there, we’d have loved something a little stronger than the tasty but weak cocktail we got. [Issue#170, p.86]

An approachable fighter with plenty of depth for those wanting to sink their teeth in. It’s much more than a pretty face, but why does it keep insisting on flashing its pants at us? [Issue#160, p.86]

Especially commendable are Cricket 19’s best-in-show customisation options. While only England, Australia, and Australian domestic sides are licensed, all non-licensed sides – and there are loads – can be immediately overwritten with fan-created versions. Giving you ‘real’ names and kits for the exotic likes of Barbados Tridents, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, and, uh, Denmark. Oh to have such touch-of-a-button editing functionality in PES. [Issue#164, p.89]

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]

This instalment of Burnout strikes just the right balance between addictive and repetitive, especially as it features big bro's groundbreaking Autolog system for competing against your buddies.

Although the game can look a little rough around the edges, it's still a thoroughly worthy addition to the blood-soaked legacy of Castlevania. [Jan 2014, p.94]

Solid shooting and a handful of suicide-inducing party tricks can only get you so far, and it's this absence of atmosphere and lack of connection to your surroundings that holds Syndicate back from becoming a fulfilling experience.

For the large part, whether offline or on, Operation RC manages to successfully inject old skool Resi charm into an enjoyably frenetic shooter. If the idea of battling rooms full of stretchy-tongued monstrosities with athletic controls in iconic surroundings has your Umbrella sense tingling, this is well worth a look.

Elsweyr is something of a drab comedown from Summerset’s embarrassment of floral riches, but there are compelling quests, and you can’t dislike anything with dragons. [Issue#164, p.93]

For all its simplicity and frustrations Grip is an intense arcade racer that’s inherited the flaws of its vintage along with Rollcage’s strengths. [Issue#156, p.86]

Whenever you die, you are returned to the Refuge and the world resets, with the order and position of the ‘rooms’ changing. But while death means you lose any consumables you may have picked up on your adventures, you keep any Sparklite you’ve collected, taking the sting out of what could otherwise be a frustrating mechanic. And while it’s not in the realm of soulslike difficulty, there’s enough challenge for this game to feel rewarding and make you want to keep playing. [Issue#170, p.92]

Lair Of The Clockwork God is sometimes very, very clever, although this cleverness leads to rare instances of self-indulgence that obscure the way forward, which is thankfully the exception rather than the rule. When the disparate parts fit together, and you overlook the ropy platform controls, there’s an unusual game in here with personality. It’s a jolly (and occasionally filthy) adventure, the likes of which we’d love to see more of. [Issue#183, p.65]

Those hoping for an entirely overhauled Sims experience will be disappointed, but it's doubtful anyone will harbour such expectations. Mysteries add some nice structure to the otherwise open-ended gameplay, but this is basically – as the name suggests – The Sims with added animals. Which, for plumbbob devotees, should be enough.

Never enough to convince you that it wouldn't be much better if it ditched the retro hardline and splashed out on some graphics. [May 2010, p.113]

A pleasant, if somewhat hairy, surprise. [Sept 2008, p.104]

A great Yakuza spinoff that stumbles over its well-meant but clunky detective gameplay. More doing, less talking, and a sense of humour could’ve elevated it. [Issue#164, p.83]

To make a game based on real events can be difficult, but thanks to the nuanced writing it becomes clear that in such a conflict, there is no black and white. It’s an earnest attempt at tackling real events, teaching you about a foreign culture in the process. [Issue#153, p.86]