A fantastic old-fashioned fighter that's maybe a little too...safe. [Mar 2009, p.78]

A disappointing 24/7 mode and huge repetition betray superb new mechanics. [Christmas 2007, p.70]

The trouble is, while their numerous parodies of classic games are often missile-guided barbs that'll nuke your funny bone, they're surrounded by an absolute shatfest in gameplay terms that, stripped of its Grade A license and related idiosyncrasies, would normally be taken outside, beaten with a stick, strung up and strangled until dead.

There's fun (in parts) but this is technically iffy and delivers a limited world.

Technical marvel with truly unique appeal - a Dead Space without the borders or boundaries.

Undisputedly dazzling - but there's an overly familiar vibe. Deserved to be better than this. [Sept 2010, p.94]

An okay-looking action game. [Apr 2009, p.90]

Not as accomplished as Top Spin 4, not as much fun as Sega Superstars Tennis. New balls please. [July 2011, p.103]

Although we've been here many times before, Timeshift is still a slick shooter with some neat ideas. [Christmas 2007, p.83]

Like the last girl in the pub after closing time - it looks ropey but it's dead dirty. [Feb 2008, p.80]

Do you like Guitar Hero and Aerosmith? This is the game for your. But everyone else? Give it a miss. [Sept 2008, p.78]

A nondescript but very decent rendition of a nationally-derided sport. [July 2008, p.82]

One of the smartest board ports yet, with a cracking interface to go with it. [Oct 2008, p.102]

Moon is a clever zombie map fraught with panic and drama - something which CoDBLOPS already has in ample supply. Bluntly put, a rip-off.

Fails to make any great strides after a decade away, but for a 360 platformer, it's a wonder. [Sept 2011, p.90]

Whether it's worth adding to your FPS library, however, depends largely on your own multiplayer desires. [May 2011, p.83]

It's still cheaper than a month at Fitness First. [Oct 2011, p.85]

It still definitely has its charms, but - on court - it's feeling older than Ilie Nastase. [Aug 2009, p.84]

Always-fantastic flight physics and map design make up for the occasional duff level. [Feb 2011, p.106]

Single player's alright then, is the conclusion we've come to. But this is a game that was either going to live and die on its Live play, and while it is better than the slightly buggy Arcade title Texas Hold 'Em, it's not quite the definitive poker game we'd have asked for.

Looks hyper-generic. Isn't. [Dec 2009, p.105]

In February Wet would be a rock-solid rental, in May it's a pre-owned bargain, but one week before ODST and one month after Batman, it's another Wanted-style cheeseburger in a world of filet mignon.

Lacks the epic feel and skills of "NHL 09" but does offer lots of goals. [Christmas 2008, p.62]

Staggering to think that EA bare behind this tosh; hang your heads in shame, boys. [Sept 2008, p.86]

A by-the-numbers JRPG punching above its weight thanks to decent borrowed ideas. [Christmas 2009, p.85]

As blotchy as it is, it still remains as pure an arcade sports title as you can hope to find.

It's a smarter, more tactical shooter than most, but not worthy of the Flashpoint name. [July 2011, p.94]

A totally competent golf game which ultimately does too much wrong and to little right. [Sept 2008, p.97]

The best MotoGP for years, thanks to a great Career mode. Just a pity about the handling.

Solid and very playable hockey game that's a clear number two in its field.

Basically, it's just extremely generic and has that 'safe' feel about its design that suggests that its spent more time with the marketers than it has the artists - but the other side of this coin is that in a functional sense, Turok is dependable.

No matter how advanced the combo system, that constant button-pounding action begins to grate, especially since there's no co-op mode (which would have rocked). But it's testament to Conan's spark that the sheer fun of the execution moves and combos will pull you through the bad times.

Time hasn't been kind to Quake Arena. [March 2011, p.118]

It's a great addition to XBLA and one that stands out amongst the crowd thanks to a level of quality that would support a full price game in itself.

MLB-standard presentation can't cover up for junior league gameplay. [Oct 2011, p.85]

Bland, convoluted and plagued with counter-productive level design. [Dec 2009, p.105]

Decent strategy game with a peculiar theme. Cartoon insectoids? The kids don't tend to play turn-based strategy, unfortunately. [Sept 2007, p.96]

Well-made with fun co-op, but not as good as it should be. [Oct 2008, p.101]

Tries to be the snowboarding version of Skate, but forgets to make it fun. Oops. [Nov 2009, p.93]

Tether the choreography to controls and you'd be on to something. [Jan 2009, p.78]

Entertaining, ultra violent American sports without a great deal of depth. [Christmas 2008, p.73]

We simply can't stress this enough; if you're planning to play this game on your lonesome, STAY AWAY; if you're all about the human co-op and the multiplayer modes go ahead and jump right in. This is undoubtedly some gamers' idea of blasting heaven; it just isn't quite ours.

Play it until the scoring system clicks and it'll have you forever. At 400 points, it's a bargain. [Nov 2007, p.96]

A surprisingly solid platformer that soon becomes repetitive. 3D's fun, though. [Nov 2009, p.92]

A step forward for the Potter series, but still a country mile behind the next big guns. [Sept 2007, p.74]

Brilliant bloodbath or bizarro bollocks? Both, actually. Terrible, superb and weird. [Nov 2010, p.90]

The Blazing Angels' boys best game yet but IL-2 Sturmovik still has the edge. [Nov 2010, p.88]

But for all the glee of the slaughter, Viking is a game butting its head against the limits of its genre. There isn't great variety in the tasks or the bosses you face and a few more genuinely off-story quests would be nice.

A game for the forgiving gamer, TDU2 is a hundred hours' worth of clumsy brilliance. [May 2011, p.88]

A bit of fun, a lot of violence. Despite the cheapo presentation, we give it a nod. [Sept 2011, p.92]

Full of different modes, but it's ultimately just too easy and riddled with nuances. [Dec 2007, p.82]

Not terrible, but largely without merit. [Jan 2011]

Impressively complete. [Jan 2011]

We originally had this down as "Ninja Gaiden Lite". We were wrong. Tedious. [May 2009, p.81]

Unfairly difficult platforming lumbered with controls that aren't up to task. Fight against both for a rewarding experience, or climb back into your coffin.

Pretty, vacant. How 18 months' development could result in a game so trite is beyond us. [May 2011, p.101]

A slick and well-presented game that entertains without alienating hardcore bikers. [Christmas 2008, p.77]

As much as we love EDF's template, the sequel needed to impress more than this. [Oct 2011, p.88]

The driving in this driving game is fast, sexy and frequently exciting. [Feb 2012, p.94]

Kudos to them for trying, but the action/RPG mix doesn't quite convince. [Dec 2008, p.84]

Rigorously mediocre. [Oct 2009, p.95]

A lukewarm experiment, and while a partner is required for fun, everything is fun with two. [Oct 2008, p.102]

Good humour, good looks and great audio, wrapped around an average game. [June 2009, p.95]

Hold out for infinitely superior "Streets of Rage 2." [Oct 2007, p.96]

Swag aside, there's nothing in this reductionist hotchpotch for fans of what Fallout 3 does so well. [Apr 2009, p.103]

Quite easily the best not-very-good game we've played in a while. [July 2010, p.96]

Undoubtedly the best tennis game on 360 featuring Sonic. Except for... no, this is the best.

Still manages to crawl under your skin. [Christmas 2011, p.109]

A fascinating multiplayer experiment, but also a really solid, streamlined single player 'vania. [Nov 2010, p.120]

If you need to satisfy your perverted cravings for dwarf tossing, go and play Oblivion (yet) again. But, please, don't buy this. [March 2011, p.100]

At 35 quid this is pretty good value for money - even if it does star the worst character in videogames. [July 2007, p.97]

Features superior platforming, but we don't appreciate having to pay to see the game's "true" finish. [June 2009, p.95]

Good stuff, but far below the quality of Guerrilla's campaign. Too limited and too staid. [Nov 2009, p.105]

Both Extraction Point and Perseus Mandate are short, dull and inferior to the original.

Black Bean has secured the licence for three years and we're sure they'll make the most of it eventually. This is just a foundation from which they can build. Little more.

A massive RPG, which could break the will of all but the most dedicated of fans.

More immersive than Kinectimals, with more freedom - but shabby around the edges. [June 2011, p.101]

Like Burnout with balls, it's a blast. [Oct 2011, p.105]

Starts off bravely but gives way to 'fraidy cat design. Balls of steel, knob of butter. [June 2008, p.86]

A waste of a wonderful idea. It's vast - but inferior to most other racers. [Aug 2009, p.78]

Functional but bland. [Nov 2011, p.112]

As a prototype of all that's come since, Wolfenstein is interesting - but not every antique is valuable. [Aug 2009, p.102]

At 800 points this would be essential - but the extra three quid is a no-no. [May 2009, p.105]

Nothing clever and nothing new; it's everything you've seen many times before, but done very well. [Aug 2008, p.99]

"Uno" still sits smugly atop the XBLA card game throne, but Lost Cities is a worthy alternative. [Aug 2008, p.99]

Exciting, but the real battle is against the controls. [Dec 2008, p.103]

Not beefy enough to warrant the fat cash. [June 2009, p.96]

A cerebral classic with the cerebral removed. A truly trivial pursuit - buy the real game. [June 2009, p.77]

It's Family Game Night with just one (dull) game. [Feb 2011, p.108]

Ultimately though, when you start to crave any given section of the game to end just because you're so utterly bored of it, when you're hacking your way through another swarm of metal enemies utterly identical to those you fought in the last twelve (almost) identical rooms, you're inevitably going to start to feel like there's something not quite right with Too Human. And you'd be right.

It's sort of like reinventing the wheel, only to realise you were making a boat. [May 2009, p.65]

Soulless stuff. [Sept 2008, p.95]

Easy and irritating. [July 2007, p.96]

The GoldenEye curse continues - just keep parying for a Rare XBLA release instead. [Jan 2009, p.76]

A very welcome strategic slant to the genre. [June 2009, p.70]

A semi-decent racer hidden behind layers of bad design and presentation. [Christmas 2008, p.72]

An average game made all the worse for having come from a superb team. A letdown. [Jan 2008, p.64]

If you've played Feeding Frenzy, you'll be okay doing without the sequel. [Christmas 2008, p.94]