Weirdly passionless, with rough edges at all corners that leave you wondering where all that money went. Current sequel talk is bonkers. [Aug 2016, p.90]

In a word - Boo. [Jan 2008, p.114]

You can enjoy it without playing the other games first, but there's a good chance you wouldn't understand a thing. [Aug 2009, p.119]

The addition of a couch-play co-op mode with its own story is nice, but the procedurally generated maps lack the finesse of the main story. Rogue Corps is an odd release. It’s not Contra enough for fans but just about fun enough for the casual shooter crowd. [Issue@168, p86]

The game could learn from its pint-sized protagonist. [Dec 2015, p.91]

What Pixel Gear does is accomplished, but it isn't satisfying enough to make you hit reload. [Christmas 2016, p.91]

Trouble is, whichever character you pick, the game ends up largely the same. [Nov 2007, p.112]

There's crippling slowdown and the excruciating script. [May 2009, p.102]

Gameplay is sandwiched between terrible cut-scenes. [Feb 2013, p.104]

A severe lack of polish. [Oct 2016, p.94]

A smart, tough base game completely obscured by janky execution. [Christmas 2015, p.83]

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

The story is muddled and not engaging, which could be forgivable if the action was more involving. Using the monocle to see clues is a nice idea, but it’s underutilised and poorly implemented (though it’s possible some of this could be a porting error). The encounters with the Mother are successfully tense, and the (few) monster designs are good. It’s almost a shame you don’t see more of them. Silver Chains does achieve some solid jump scares and would be worth a run-through with friends if you can pick it up in a sale. Overall, though, it sadly lacks both substance and polish. [Issue#186, p.85]

You’ve played this before, 25 years ago on PS1. The ideas are ancient, the implementation poor, and when a dubiously named hero is the only fun you get from a shooter in 2020 it’s time to avoid. [Issue#182, p.160]

Making your men do what you want, when you want, is still clumsy and imprecise. [Apr 2009, p.101]

Dull puzzles. [Sept 2008, p.96]

Sweet, small, but imperfectly formed. [July 2016, p.90]

This isn't as cinematic or exciting as "Call of Duty 4," but for people who want to clear rooms instead of triggering events, there's a lot to enjoy. For bullet-junkies jonesing for a fix, it's a perfectly decent form of violent methadone. [Mar 2008, p.110]

Little more than an unfortunate blip on the gaming radar. [Sept 2011, p.116]

There aren't any highs as such, just moments of not sucking. [Aug 2011, p.108]

From awful to appealing. [May 2012, p.116]

If you're willing to rise to the challenge and master its crumby controls, there's just about enough novelty to make it worth your while despite its limited shelf life. [Nov 2015, p.107]

The overbearing cartoon license does its best to gobble up all the fun. [Apr 2014, p.92]

It's a bit of a worry that the redheaded warrior sent out to save the world has been equipped with nothing but a thong and a set of spherical breasts. [Sept 2010, p.117]

Only marginally more enjoyable than trying to read the original poem. [Jan 2008, p.104]

All the depth of a "Saved by the Bell" special, but just as secretly satisfying. [June 2008, p.106]

Another half-hearted adventure to leave on the shelf. [May 2011, p.118]

Guns are loud enough to give God perforated eardrums. [Nov 2011, p.106]