In its defence, Retribution is free to play – so while it can’t compete with Killzone Shadow Fall, that’s an unfair expectation to begin with. But it’s still a PS4 release, and in this regard feels like a grubby stowaway that’s snuck aboard a glitzy cruise liner bound for the golden shores of next-gen.

Brilliantly rookie-friendly. [July 2010, p.114]

This is big, dumb fun for the first couple of hours. [Sept 2011, p.113]

Traditional to a fault, 505 hits every target on the JRPG dartboard...except the bullseye. [Sept 2016, p.107]

If you crave a slice of nudge-nudge, chop-chop weirdness, it's a curio shop worth visiting. [Dec 2012, p.105]

It won't be dislodging your go-to online game from the play queue any time soon. [Feb 2016, p.90]

It's the repetition that grinds you down. Boss battles provide brief breaks in the monotony, but they're just the seeping gizzard of consolation inside a disappointing, fleshy haystack.

Shambles. [Aug 2008, p.104]

Even the light cycle sections...are reduced to a forgettable, linear scramble. [Feb 2011, p.104]

The likes of Spider-Man and Just Cause are many knots ahead of this one. Even when you upgrade to get more skills, everything feels oddly stiff. Movement lacks momentum, and fights are either trivial or annoying as you’re peppered with gunfire. World Seeker is an entertaining take on an anime open world game, but this ship’s a fixer-upper. [Issue#161, p.83]

There's nothing amazing about this Spidey. [Christmas 2011, p.115]

The odd firefight generates some excitement, but this is all too rare considering that you're piloting a 30ft tall walking tank of death. [Issue#51, p.111]

The two-player co-op prevents total shame. [Jan 2008, p.114]

With "Oblivion" looming, Untold Legends' one-noe gameplay feels woefully outdated. [Apr 2007, p.116]

Repetition limits the fun. [Oct 2011, p.115]

Hours of carving out tiny chunks of land and cowering in corners. [Dec 2009, p.18]

Frustrating and tedious. [Apr 2010, p.113]

A crummy-looking Magic Ball, but it's not without its charms. [Dec 2009, p.18]

A contemplative seafaring adventure that tickles the brain in more ways than one. Occasionally the tide is choppy but you should stay the course nonetheless. [Issue#166, p.88]

The challenge drops out of the game entirely. [Apr 2008, p.112]

Punishingly samey environments. [Aug 2017, p.93]

Ultimately less party popper and more party pooper. [Apr 2018, p.85]

The rally fundamentals are there, but so is a disappointingly shoddy career mode. Genre fans will find a lot to love, but this is far from taking pole position. [Issue#155, p.86]

It's so weighted down by uninspired foundations. [Aug 2007, p.114]

Everything from the ideas to the backdrops feels rushed. [Feb 2009, p.100]

The frame rate is embarrassing. [Christmas 2010]

Combat itself is a stuttering fit of clipping, incorrigible AI an dropped frames. [May 2015, p.93]

It doesn't have to make sense - just go with it. [Oct 2015, p.94]