A convoluted narrative muddies the waters too with a series of dubious decisions that affect the ending, and the game fast outstays its welcome with a stack of tenuous puzzles. It’s impossible not to feel like there’s something special hidden between the chases, but for a game with such a wilful director, all it actually needed was an editor. [Issue#164, p.96]

Lost Sphear buckles under the weight of its own ambition. [March 2018, p.92]

Despite some minor technical flaws and a few clumsy moments, Metrico is a smart and rewarding experience that uses PS Vita's features brilliantly. [Oct 2014, p.94]

Fighting fun. [Feb 2012, p.107]

Traditional FPS gameplay is given a new spin with PS VR as the frighteningly fast, wide-eyed fun of flying in 360 degrees is matched by tight controls and a welcome lack of motion sickness. [June 2017, p.88]

It loses a point because of its Virtual Currency (VC) obsession, a recurringissue in 2K games. It’s supposed to ensure that all your actions in every mode – career, MyTeam, even watching 2KTV – secure rewards, but they’re often someagre that the entire game comes across as a grind, aimed at funnelling you towards the PS Store to part with real cash.Please don’t do that. The only way games like this and FIFA will change in the next gen is if their players make a sustainedeffort not to exchange any of their hard-earned dosh for digital trading cards. Otherwise this is solid, but on that front 2K (and EA, and the rest) must do better. [Issue#181, p.94]

Fine for fans, but no-one else should touch it with a greasy finger. [July 2007, p.114]

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

Unresponsive controls. [Christmas 2011, p.111]

Not as inventive as Wes Anderson’s films, as bizarre as Twin Peaks, nor as quirky as Double Fine, Trüberbrook is merely a casual, occasionally surprising, but always gorgeous adventure. [Issue#161, p.90]

A capable and involving massacre-'em-up shaped from a rusting cookie cutter, but one begging for modernisation via an engine overhaul and some good ideas. [Sept 2013, p.90]

For fans of the franchise, or anyone with an urge to battle robots, there's much to love here, but its technical flaws and stingy mode options may disappoint others. [Dec 2017, p.95]

As far as being an actioner that's worthy of your time, this is not up to the standard we'd expect. In fact, it's nowhere Nier. [June 2010, p.105]

A pleasantly filling 7.99 cod supper. [July 2010, p.107]

Excellent online action offers hours of Stormtooper-shooting fun, but the so-so campaign stumbles, while cynical loot crates leave a sour taste. [Jan 2017, p.83]

With a light and airy story, a number of insubstantial game modes and a limited roster of characters, this is a package that has about as much substance as the twin protagonist’s battle suits. It’s one for Lady Satsuki’s Elite Four, assorted devotees and few others. We’d rather be watching the series. [Issue#166, p.84]

The wrestling element has been butchered. [May 2007, p.90]

These additions are all obviously welcome, but the racing itself doesn't really show much sign of progress. [Aug 2017, p.93]

Somewhere in the confusion of half-baked genres, messy visuals and flawed design are some great features. Battleborn does itself no favours trying to convey them. For the persistent only. [July 2016, p.92]

A one-trick pony. [Aug 2012, p.117]

Happily, I can report that it's all chaos in the best possible way. [May 2018, p.78]

While mechanically stiff, like an automaton, this is still a compelling VR fairy tale. Lore hunters are rewarded, but even the less dedicated will want to go digging. [Issue#157, p.89]

A charming, uncommonly smart spiritual sibling to Contra, full of awesomely crafted homages to action cinema, but troubled on PS4 by a few bugs I'd like to nuke from Orbit. [May 2016, p.95]

A briefly brilliant bug hunt, then. Just don't expect the war against these aliens to last. [March 2013, p.115]

By turns infectious and infuriating, this is a glorious throwback for the most part, but its inconsistencies hold it back from greatness. Likeable, but flawed. [May 2017, p.77]

The theatre of destruction around your ship will leave you in awe. [June 2014, p.90]

The combat's big and forceful, but you can only shoot dudes for so long when you know that your reward will just be more dudes to shoot. [June 2010, p.118]

An accessible, and crucially, fun scrapper. [May 2009, p.96]