Too hard to be fun, too mean not to frustrate, but challenging enough to be rewarding. [Christmas 2008, p.92]

Not quite the number of the beast - but from Schafer it's a minor disappointment. [Christmas 2009, p.94]

The grind-heavy mechanics may be for online obsessives, but solo players shouldn't bother. [Dec 2008, p.103]

Despite the name on the box, AODA's latter half makes it a supporting act to Butcher's Bay's main attraction. It doesn't matter how many triple twists and double somersaults a gymnast pulls if he smashes his face on the landing, and AODA crash lands pretty bloody hard. Fortunately, it's a broken nose limited to a small part of a packed box. [Apr 2009, p.82]

A huge game for a tidy price. [Oct 2009, p.104]

The best. Only better. A 2D game of this quality, lushly redesigned, is worth a hundred 3D romps. [Sept 2007, p.94]

It's good, but not good enough - proving the loudest car on the grid is rarely the healthiest. [July 2010, p.88]

As a remake it holds up better than any other shooter from the same era. [Feb 2012, p.90]

It's certainly a good game, but we want to wage war against Sawyer from Lost, not our 360 controller.

Too much streamlining has blunted FFXIII's hooks. This isn't epic, it's arduous. [May 2010, p.67]

A timeless classic, but one we've played to death before. Still, 400 points isn't bad value. [Dec 2007, p.96]

The infrastructure is definitely in place for a corker of a kickabout but the important thing - that intangible soul - is still frustratingly missing.

Enslaved is a rare game: a title with shades of Beyond Good & Evil great-ness set in a decimated world that's genuinely striking to explore. You'll have played better adventures before, but you'll be hard pressed to name a more captivating one.

Promises much but proves to be a limited, lacklustre take on the RTS. [Apr 2009, p.77]

It's a game of two halves, but the good half carries the bad. [Dec 2011, p.103]

Okay if you're looking for feature-filled b-ball - but EA do it better. [Jan 2008, p.78]

The best fantasy looter on 360 (Sacred II included), but the lack of multiplayer hurts the package. [June 2011, p.118]

A smart mix of retro twin-stick shooter and current tech, and a glorious throwback to arcade blasters of olden times. [Christmas 2011, p.111]

So, turns out there's room in this world for both GTA IV and Saints Row 2, then. Truly, they are utterly opposite sides of the same sandbox coin. If you were in any way disappointed with Rockstar's return with Liberty City then we have absolutely no hesitation in recommending you buy this.

It plays a lightning-fast, ultra-competitive game, and the statistics are unbeatable in their completeness. [Oct 2007, p.96]

An astonishingly ambitious adventure that's, largely, beautifully executed. [Jan 2008, p.72]

A gently challenging head-scratcher with lovely presentation and a worthwhile story to tell. [May 2011, p.121]

Not as smart as Defence Grid but more fun, this is brains, brawn and great big balls for ten pounds. [June 2010, p.121]

A lengthy campaign which stands the test of time. [Christmas 2011, p.108]

In stark contrast to the first game, you'll never be at a loss for something to be getting on with. You never feel compelled to do anything by the book and every session you play, you'll find yourself concentrating on a new part of the game, continually getting distracted by something else along the way.

Vision of the future, relic of the past - after such a long wait, Rage turns out to be both a triumph and a tragedy. In 2011, this just doesn't cut it. [Christmas 2011, p.104]

Consistently slick in almost every regard: animation, level design, and combat. Stylish and memorable. [July 2011, p.119]

Lacks the appeal of a "Hexic" or a "Lumines," but a surprisingly solid puzzler nonetheless. [Apr 2008, p.96]