A near flawless example of how to reboot a franchise. Gripping, satisfying and strangely dark, we struggle to see how this origin story could have been told much better. [May 2013, p.77]

Ultimately, though, no matter what you read elsewhere, its perfection, or lack thereof, will boil down to your own ability either to forgive, or to be blind to a few inarguable flaws: a slow start for an FPS, an ending that doesn’t feel earned, and too big a contrast in your behaviour versus Elizabeth’s reactions to it.

Gears Of War: Judgment is like a crown with no jewels; it’s still solid gold, sure, but that something is missing is all the more obvious for the size and magnificence of the gems which were once there.

Accessible, surprisingly innovative and completely engrossing. [Issue#95, p.87]

An average overall experience. [Issue#95, p.86]

A brilliant adventure, platform and puzzle game. [Issue#95, p.84]

Has far too many rough edges and faults to come close to Firaxis' brilliance. [Issue#95, p.82]

Some will take issue with Dead Space 3 on a fundamental level, given that it shirks many classical survival-horror tenets to pursue and action-heavy path. But when the action is generally so good, it's hard to stay crazy with Visceral for long. [Issue#95, p.73]

Moment on moment action is outstanding, boss battles some of the most hectic and awesome we’ve seen in years and the presentation – from the bonkers cut-scenes to the brilliantly eclectic evolving soundtrack – is top-notch.

It’s not all bad. Through the slow-boil of falling standards, sometimes we found ourselves not hating it as much we probably should have and, occasionally, there were glimpses of what Aliens: Colonial Marines could have been, should have been. It’s best at being an intense shooter, but sadly that intensity is all too rare.

Offers little practical benefit beyond learning how to better perform within its own four virtual walls. [Issue#94, p.87]

It's not a complete car crash by any means but Black Knight Sword's refreshing setting can't conceal the loose combat, disjointed difficulty and overall lack of ambition. [Issue#94, p.86]

Only worth it for a nostalgia trip and for the flawless netcode. [Issue#94, p.85]

Can only be recommended for fighting game addicts or Achievement hunters. [Issue#94, p.84]

It's hard to deny the sheer amount of fun that Kinect Party offers. [Issue#94, p.83]

When it comes down to it, Crashed Ice isn't much more than an extra bit of advertising for Red Bull's own tournament. [Issue#94, p.82]

A masterclass in how to tell stories in games. [Issue#94, p.80]

Monolith has managed to introduce a relatively difficult genre to consoles, only to fall at the simplest of hurdles. [Issue#94, p.79]

Offers little more than the free trial vision can provide. [Issue#93, p.88]

It was always brilliant and now, in 2012, it's merely less so. [Issue#93, p.87]

While it attempts to provide an accessible strategic space challenge, Planets Under Attack is sucked into a black hole instead. [Issue#93, p.86]

This game is a fossilised turd that never deserved to be excavated. [Issue#93, p.85]

PID's all-consuming repetitiveness wears thin extremely quickly. [Issue#93, p.84]

For the price of one personal training session, it's pretty good value. [Issue#93, p.83]

Appalling levels, terrible writing, repetitive gags and weak shooting mechanics make for one of the least enjoyable experiences of 2012. Be smart and avoid at all costs. [Issue#93, p.82]

Blue skies, great control and a real challenge - Transformed has all the hallmarks of one of the classic Sega games it brilliantly celebrates. Still, the less devoted may find it too playful for a hardcore racer, or too hardcore for a playful one. [Issue#93, p.81]

Sonic & All-Stars Racing is easily the better game. [Issue#93, p.80]

Despite a lack of online play and some design niggles, the game rarely misses a beat. [Issue#93, p.78]

It's fun, and an indication that Treyarch is willing to explore ideas that Infinity Ward has thus far ignored. [Issue#93, p.74]

The game itself is categorically excellent and even if it isn't quite what you might expect from something labeled Devil May Cry, this is a robust, deep and brilliantly executed action game, not to mention a sterling effort at reinventing something that was – if DMC4 was anything to go by – beginning to grow stale.

It's every bit as stupid, chaotic, flawed and brilliant as it sounds.

With its crushing difficulty, simple mechanics and fan service extras, this is a brilliant package for shmup fans. It just doesn't have much for everyone else. [Issue#92, p.89]

Poor controls. [Issue#92, p.88]

It's straightforward, meaty gameplay, but the lack of multiplayer feels a little brain-dead. [Issue#92, p.87]

The control system completely alters the game. This might disappoint fans, but we prefer it. [Issue#92, p.86]

Terrifically boring. [Issue#92, p.84]

Surprising depth. [Issue#92, p.82]

It will tickle you with nostalgia before slapping you with its frustrating countering system. [Issue#92, p.80]

Okay in short bursts, but there's no reason to play single-player. A huge missed opportunity on EA's part and another year it won't be taking COD's crown. [Issue#92, p.78]

Like any game of such scope, not every part of it is perfect. Yet, taken as a whole, there is very little that can compete with its wonderful, lavish, historical playground. [Issue#91, p.22]

Gameplay has a wicked flow to it. [Issue#91, p.90]

This isn't a good game, but it's one that will grow on you after a few hours. [Issue#91, p.89]

An impossible sell when you repress the action, screw the controls and forget to include AI. [Issue#91, p.88]

Not anywhere near as good as Streets of Rage 2, which came out 20 years ago. That said, it's fun, and more importantly knows that it's outdated. [Issue#91, p.87]

Basic wrestling action made all the better by deep customisation and accessible grappling. [Issue#91, p.86]

We wish the gameplay had been polished up as much as the graphics. [Issue#91, p.85]

A novel idea and clever piece of kit, but indecision on whether it's a videogame or learning tool is a downfall, along with its confusing bespoke notation method. [Issue#91, p.82]

Decent fantasy fare with loads going on an loot drops aplenty. [Issue#91, p.80]

Voice acting's okay. [Issue#91, p.79]

It's an improvement on staring out the window. [Issue#91, p.78]

It's simply a bit of fun. [Issue#91, p.77]

A very slick dance floor mover. [Issue#91, p.76]

Simply put, it's Criterion's most accomplished racer. [Issue#91, p.74]

It's like The Sims, but with much shorter life expectancies. [Issue#91, p.66]

You can ignore the smoke and mirrors for a while, but there's just no substance. [Issue#91, p.64]

Far Cry 3 has strong, albeit a little forced, RPG elements. And during its better moments it feels more like Skyrim than it does a typical FPS.

There's really no excuse to see frame rate issues spoil what is very nearly a perfect conversion, but it's a price worth paying to see Jehuty fly again.

A study in pure, unadulterated excellence.

Easily one of the 360's finest shooters, then, and we genuinely can't wait to see what 343 does next.

True, the content available on Xbox Live continues to improve, but even with the spate of excellent titles to hit the service over the last year or two, there are very few as good as Hell Yeah! Wrath Of The Dead Rabbit.

What is there is so compelling that the lack of additional stages can't help but feel like a disappointment. The game's strengths are a double-edged sword. Regardless, this is still one of the best games of this year. With a bit of work, a potential sequel could be one of the best games of any year.

If the awful premise wasn't bad enough, the gameplay you're presented with really makes the whole experience feel like an enormous waste of time.

Horizon sacrifices purity for spectacle, trades tuning depth for racing equality and shifts to an open road setting where once were trackside barriers and preset circuits, though none of this detracts from the glorious driving mechanics that Playground Games has superbly re-created under the watchful eye of Turn 10.

Definitely better teamed with friends. [Issue#90, p.91]

Bloody brilliant. [Issue#90, p.90]

A fighting game for those who aren't into fighting games, offering plenty of shallow thrills and gorgeous visuals but little beyond that if you want to go deeper. [Issue#90, p.88]

Playing The Expendables 2 is like playing a port of Cannon Fodder coded by a dog while the entire population of America shouts at you. It's horrible. [Issue#90, p.87]

A rich and varied score attack game of surprising depth. [Issue#90, p.86]

A good game, but a familiar game. [Issue#90, p.84]

There's work to be done, unquestionably, but for the first time, FIFA feels like it's going to capture the essence of football along with the mechanics. [Issue#90, p.82]

A wonderful return to form. [Issue#90, p.80]

There are enough major improvements to the mechanics to appease your average pucker on the street, but fans of the series' casual roots will be left out in the cold. [Issue#90, p.79]

This game could send the blood pressure of a Buddhist monk into the stratosphere. [Issue#90, p.78]

It's probably one of the best co-op games you'll ever play. [Issue#90, p.72]

High Moon has put its soul into this one, and it shows. [Issue#90, p.70]

RE6 has something for pretty much everyone. [Issue#90, p.66]

You'll get bored before the end, but Dust's fantastic characters, brilliant combat, engaging platforming and beautiful visuals will keep you smiling for the majority. [Issue#89,p.89]

Kinect actually works. [Issue#89,p.88]

It might be better than Risen, but Dark Waters is constrained by its PC roots and hampered by inconsistent design and a truly awful engine. [Issue#89,p.84]

Like tuna salad in the sun, Hybrid is decent while we write, but it's definitely a case of eat it now or eat it never. [Issue#89,p.83]

Frustrating. [Issue#89,p.82]

As much as it may lack polish and finesse, Sleeping Dogs makes up for its minor shortcomings with pure entertainment. [Issue#89,p.78]

This kind of purity is exactly what's been missing from the series for years. [Issue#89,p.77]

Tekken games seldom disappoint, but TTT2 is the best in years. [Issue#89,p.73]

Too easy, too short and too luck-based. [Issue#88, p.87]

Saved somewhat by its excellent puzzles and incessant inventiveness. [Issue#88, p.86]

Captures some of the brilliance of its setting, but fails to take advantage of it with gameplay, which is a real shame. [Issue#88, p.84]

Gets very repetitive. [Issue#88, p.83]

Another fun installment, but it's all starting to feel a little too predictable. [Issue#88, p.82]

Switch off your brain and bask in the silliness. [Issue#88, p.80]

Without the Ferrari license, Test Drive's latest does the bare minimum that a racing game should do, but it still gives you access to some stunning cars and fun races. [Issue#88, p.79]

A very solid performance. [Issue#88, p.78]

If you were looking for something a little more evolved, you'll come away disappointed. [Issue#88, p.76]

Vast, sprawling, beautiful and infinitely playable, Darksiders II is the biggest and best surprise of 2012. So far. It will fill all the time between now and other big hitters. [Issue#88, p.26]

A short-lived blast that doesn't quite get to grips with Microsoft's Kinect sensor. [Issue#87, p.89]

Techland has overlooked the fundamentals. A shoddy, albeit lightning-fast, racer. [Issue#87, p.88]

Though you might think Kinect would be the perfect fit for its staccato gameplay, it ultimately makes things even more frustrating. [Issue#87, p.87]

It's not quite as good as we thought. [Issue#87, p.87]