The undeniable charm of using automatic weaponry on magical monsters is just about enough to make it worth a look. [Christmas 2008, p.120]

While the detective stories are fun enough, there’s often not a lot to them. This makes the game feel a little too lightweight, as it flirts with the idea of having more detective gameplay but never really manages it – for example, you’re able to save statements in your diary, which is fairly pointless, as the most complex it gets is giving you some multiple-choice decisions to make. [Issue#159, p.82]

A worthy companion piece to the film - against all odds the stealth is actually fun. [Feb 2009, p.100]

Largely decent, if derivative, but glinting away in the torchlight are constant hints of what might have been. [Aug 2016, p.94]

The whole package is, of course, fugly and cheap. But whether it's surprisingly enjoyable dogsledding sections or physics gaffes that often see dead animals inadvertently do the splits, I had a smile on my face throughout.

Big, brutal, and - alas - bloated, Shadow of War is a disappointing follow-up, conjuring battles of grand scale and then deadening their impact through grinding repetition. [December 2017, p.79]

With no campaign to test your trigger finger, the trio of a safe (albeit polished) battle royale, waning multiplayer, and rotting Zombies make BLOPS4 feel like a relic next to a post-Forsaken Destiny 2. [Issue#156, p.94]

It’s a short, by-the-numbers thriller that’s enjoyably creepy even with the limits of the production on full display. [Issue#164, p.89]

With historical challenges, new sticker/ number/helmet decal editors and a brutal Pro Career for the full experience, there’s plenty to keep fans happy. But it isn’t doing enough to appeal more widely than that, and even its target market will lament the technical steps backwards from MotoGP 17. [Issue#164, p.89]

While action is thin on the ground and the performances gave me flashback to my Drama GCSE, I enjoyed my time on the OPM sofa staring at Doctor Dekker's couch, refreshed by its willingness to lean in so intently to its own silliness and B-movie aesthetic. [Issue#151, p.88]

Throwaway fun. [Christmas 2008, p.117]

A fan-pleasing return to form for a long-time PlayStation favourite, with huge future potential if it follows its contemporaries in delivering live roster updates. [Issue#156, p.97]

Despite a few dodgy accents, Omensight sounds decent and looks even better. [Issue#151, p.88]

A game that is often fiddly. As well as action points, there are fire points – some actions require a mix of both – and an awareness bar, which can be spent on special abilities or held onto, because it acts as a secondary health bar. All of that’s a lot to keep track of, and with a squint-inducing UI, you often end up feeling less like James Bond and more like the poor MI6 bod who has to do his paperwork. [Issue#153, p.86]

This can't contest Undisputed as an MMA game, nor the best fighters on beat-'em-up terms. Yet there's a place for it, simply 'cause no one has bridged the gap between these genres. So, who wants to step outside?

Every action is coupled with a frustrating feeling of unpredictability in a game that really should deliver precision inputs for its harsh, stealthy goals. [Christmas 2014, p.85]

If making your own vehicles holds appeals, especially if you have some engineering knowledge, you’ll have a lot of fun with this. Just be aware that the world you’ll explore is little more than a glorified testing ground. [Issue#177, p.144]

Mostly enjoyable game that prolongs things by forcing you to revisit levels; levels that aren't compelling enough to withstand repeated visits. [Issue#151, p.88]

I awarded the PS3 version 8/10 and while this is a marginally better game, the final product has to be considered a disappointment when weighted against its lofty expectations – and sphere-kicking stablemate, which has already set the bar high for PS4 sports sims.

A packet of steak McCoy's next to Dark Souls II's ribeye. The action is handsome and combat can bite, yet with Bloodborne on the horizon, Lords is a bit of a hard sell. [Christmas 2014, p.86]

Fans of the God Eater series won’t be disappointed. Fun, fast-paced fighting – if you put in the effort to master the complexities of the combat system. [Issue#160, p.88]

But while it's easy to create races, playing them is another matter thanks to ruthless power ups that make racing a joyless messy chaos. Overall the experience is a mixed bag of good and evil. If you're creative juices flow freely at the thought of making beardy Gandalf drivers and courses that are Mordor-meets-Nürburgring, then lifespan is only limited by your imagination.

It's hard to find a match online, and offline the game shows its age with a stuttering framerate, long load times, and a drop in texture detail when the screen fills with enemies. [Issue#151, p.94]

Freedom Wars can't match the series it aims to ape, but this is almost as worth checking out for its bizarre, clever conceit as its satisfying, if shallow, combat mechanics. [Christmas 2014, p.87]

This adventure balances its challenge and gameplay variety well against its short length. Ultimately it’s not as layered as indie darling Hollow Knight but it’s a worthwhile play while you wait for Silksong.[Issue#177, p.156]

Great when it’s delivering gripping, cinematic moments. It’s just a shame that the bits when you’re controlling a slightly menacing AI aren’t the highlights. [Issue#164, p.91]

Its biggest problem, though, is the competition that's already available on the store. [Oct 2009, p.123]

Strives for, and achieves, nothing more than competence. [Christmas 2014, p.88]