Is Mortal Kombat going to take Super Street Fighter IV's crown? No. It lacks the nuance and depth of Capcom's champ; but by adding balance to its own familiar shtick, and giving us the ace Tower mode MK has made itself a real alternative.

Some of the collision detection is a bit off and it doesn't have the big-budget heavyweight feel of "GTA," but it's an enjoyable, robust crime yarn. [Oct 2006, p.70]

Great online, but disappointing single-player. [Christmas 2008, p.72]

Overall A puzzler that's more demanding than Lumines, but is engaging and satisfying if you can hack the pace.

A fanboy production through and through. As a straight-up fighter it has depths both visible and invisible. But it feels without focus: there's so much going on that there's no core, nothing for anyone below expert level to latch on to. All the best moves are here, but where's the heart? [Mar 2011, p.84]

A rare retro game that's improved with age. [Oct 2008, p.79]

It's limited, sure, but this absurd wrestling parody is more WWE than the actual WWE itself. [May 2011, p.93]

It can get a bit hard to see where you're going with so much happening, and progression doesn't feel as though it's entirely in your hands, but for enjoyment, sparkle and that 'one more go' factor, this is a hard one to turn down. [July 2007, p.85]

Hit and miss action in some moody settings. [May 2009, p.60]

A weak, aimless story and limited freedom to explore betray the fun, varied and creative combat in this beautiful post-apocalyptic wasteland. [Christmas 2011, p.104]

A refreshing love letter to the Wild West, but its variety is part curse. [Aug 2009, p.70]

Still class, but more or less the same as last year. [Jan 2008, p.79]

Excellent in terms of quality and quantity. [Christmas 2006, p.90]

A beautiful and OTT retro title, but one where depth is obscured by effects. [Sept 2009, p.68]

If the controls were completely reliable rather than "reliable most of the time", Escape Plan would be a classic. [Apr 2012, p.109]

Learn its language and you'll find unnerving depth. [Nov 2012, p.98]

Ugly, but addictive. [Christmas 2009, p.94]

It does make for some great Guitar Hero tracks. [Sept 2008, p.78]

It genuinely doesn't age. [Christmas 2009, p.94]

An epic Lego adventure spoiled only by a lack of guidance. [Jan 2010, p.90]

"Quotation Forthcoming"

Once you're over the cosmetic gloss, you might wander back to Madden for your gridiron fix, especially if you own one of the older "NFL Streets." Worth a look, however. [Mar 2007, p.77]

Not quite the game its big brother is, but it's not far behind. It straddles the fun/sim divide well with fast, fluid racing. [March 2012, p.92]

Amalur is a brisk action blast that just happens to last upwards of 50 hours. Not the best world ever built, but a fun place to spend a few weeks. [March 2012, p.110]

Surprisingly relaxing. [Dec 2011, p.111]

Challenging, weird and wonderful, Gitaroo Man is unlike anything else on the PSP. Finally, a worthwhile PS2 port. [Sept 2006, p.78]

Combat is still a swingfest and puzzles can be frustrating. [June 2012, p.108]

Great fun - and pretty much essential if you're a Marvel fan - but never truly 'super.' [Feb 2007, p.72]