A total waste of a disc and DVD case in our eyes, Samurai Warriors 2 does nothing that comparable games don't do an awful lot better. Definitely one to be avoided. [Issue 12, p.94]

It's just boring. [Issue 12, p.116]

Not concerned with complex game design or elaborate plot, The Original Trilogy sets out to do one thing only - please gaming SW fans the world over, and it achieves this admirably. [Issue 12, p.90]

This is exactly the same as last year's version. Ignore the Rivalry and Cinemotion fluff and you'll be hard pushed to spot genuine advances. At least EA pretends to try. [Issue 12, p.99]

The most detailed, realistic, sprawling, long-lasting, and satisfying racing game ever - Eden has actually pulled it off. A must for any high-definition petrolhead; it's absolutely stunning. [Issue 10, p.80]

It's good fun while it lasts. [Issue 12, p.116]

A fundamentally flawed and boring RPG, Enchanted Arms might be steeped in Japanese charm but without any sense of fun or involvement, there's no reason to buy this. [Issue # 11, p.84]

We're hoping the online component's as good as we think it'll be, because between the ugly new look and the lack of any offline multiplayer, there's nothing here for offline gamers. [Issue 12, p.96]

So little experimentation yet so few mistakes in a genre that's littered with notorious misfires. More freedom would have wowed us, but this one for impatient "GTA" fans to investigate. [Issue # 11, p.76]

Free poker game with gambling cat picture! Bargain. Poker is free after all. [Issue # 11, p.104]

Fantastic production values and a great concept let down by a lack of checkpoints, dull art direction and horribly repetitive, shallow gameplay. What a shamefully wasted opportunity. [Issue # 11, p.88]

What just about saves the day for the yellow cancerous blob, though, is the one modern addition it does have - Achievements. [Issue 9, p.106]

Dead Rising features arcade-quality gameplay wrapped around a classic movie theme and sprinkled with tons of extras. Worth buying an Xbox 360 for - everyone should play this game. [Issue # 11, p.72]

It's not worth getting for single-player. The AI is broken in a way that it will react and counter your moves by having the instant reaction times only an unthinking machine can have. [Issue #7, p.120]

Galaga has varied enemies, a cute double ship trick, as well as tough bonus stages that are nearly impossible to get perfect for (Hello Achievements!). [Issue 9, p.106]

No one likes finding secret hidden stuff anymore. This is 2006. [Issue 10, p.106]

About as fun as chiseling "HATE" into your eyes with a scalpel. [Issue 10, p.106]

Much slower and less action-packed than we'd hoped - plus, it doesn't even look that much like a next-gen game. The online mode needs to be awesome if there's any hope for this one. [Issue 9, p.80]

Gimmicks aside, it's a very short and linear adventure that you'll probably only play through once unless you're an Achievements whore. But then...we had such fun playing it. [Issue 9, p.74]

As long as you're a fan of the RTS format, it's hard to fault Battle for Middle-Earth II on anything other than the controls. We think most will adapt soon enough, though. [Issue 9, p.84]

A game that can't decide what it is and should never really have been released; something that Ubisoft clearly realises given the amount of effort that hasn't gone into promoting it. [Issue 10, p.86]

An intense racing atmosphere hides behind controls that demand your full attention and patience. Once mastered though, fantastic track design tips the scales from "good" to "great." [Issue 8, p.90]

Blood Money manages to strike a perfect balance between compelling and complex. While not the 'next-gen' experience we expected, it certainly delivers in terms of pure enjoyment. [Issue 7, p.84]

Forget preconceptions - Table Tennis is king. While it may be a little empty in terms of structural depth, the hugely addictive gameplay more than makes up for it. Don't let it pass you by. [Issue 7, p.90]

This would be embarrassing on a Dreamcast, let alone the hulking next-gen monster console we call Xbox 360. This is not a next-gen game and it's not fun either. [Issue 8, p.98]

Uno is a good laugh in multiplayer, it only costs 400 Microsoft points and even a dribbling child could get all 200 GamerPoints from it. [Issue 8, p.120]

A poor effort that simultaneously shows up EA's footballing naivety and its rampant capitalism. It will sell like the proverbial hot cake, but don't say we didn't warn you. [Issue 7, p.100]

There's no sitting on the fence with Final Fantasy XI. It's a game you'll love or hate. Got infinite time? Got infinite patience? Then go for it. Otherwise? Steer clear. [Issue 7, p.94]