From one angle, you've seen much of it before, but it's never looked so searingly brilliant, or felt so surging. [Mar 2008, p.94]

A better game than the original, but also a less even one. [Feb 2009, p.94]

Leaves the majority of its competitors languishing in its slipstream - with a glorious pile of fresh debris raining down around them. [June 2010, p.100]

The dialogue's sharp and well-acted, and the puzzles never stray into the ridiculous or contrived. It simply feels like playing the comic, and that's as strong an endorsement for a season pass as you'll hear. Roll on episode two.

For a couple of pounds more than the cost of a burrito, it’s a tasty morsel of personality – but prepare yourself for a technically demanding challenge.

It's the best footy game on PSP, but isn't a big step up from last time out - and therefore stops short of a 9/10. [Christmas 2008, p.96]

Shift is the racer NFS could've only dreamed of evolving into last year. [Nov 2009, p.132]

An unusually complex driving game that demands real dedication and only fully reveals its true power once you've put the mileage in. [Jan 2011, p.108]

It's also more predictable, with fewer affecting decisions than the first part, but that's not to say that you won't umm and ahh over what to do on multiple occasions. This is still an excellent piece of narrative-driven gaming, where you grow attached to the cast and enjoy/endure the consequences of your actions. It's where Heavy Rain meets the zombie apocalypse, and that should be enough to sell anybody.

In a year of shining PSN goodness, Guardian of Light draws its guns against DeathSpank, Shank and Scott Pilgrim and shoots them like endagered animals. [Issue#51, p.102]

It could easily be tedious, and it's certainly templated. But the diversions are good enough, the hero personalised enough, and the ability to move around the world quick enough via your immediately available horse and map-skipping fast travel, that it feels like an adventure all the same. Plus, leaning down to slice enemies with a scythe from a horse makes it feel like you're playing demon polo, which is awesome.

This type of game is exactly what PSP needs more of. [May 2010, p.111]

A clever mix of real-time and turn-based battling keps combat fresh and there's real tactical depth. [Nov 2007, p.112]

The constant pressure of combat, fuelled by rapid five-second respawns, keeps the action ripping along at a formidable pace. [Oct 2007, p.94]

It's a great example of how sports games should be done - both as a simulation that teases ever greater skill from all comers, and as a service to fans. [June 2009, p.88]

For a dark, cerebral and genuinely unique journey on Vita, this is peerless. [Jan 2013, p.108]

What counts is that, once mastered, Vanquish has arguably the best example of third-person gunplay yet committed to Blu-ray. [Issue#51, p.112]

It's gently hypnotic stuff, but fight a dozen super-intelligent skeletons and you'll soon be yearning for the simple pleasures of "Lumines." [Mar 2007, p.111]

For once, it's a brilliant update of a genuine classic. [Sept 2008, p.104]

NHL 13's a hockey fan's dream in many ways, pursuing realism and depth at the expense of newcomer accessibility. It's still a few good ideas away from the elite sports franchises, but I'll be tweaking tactics, refining rosters and racing against icing calls right up until 14 laces its skates.

The platforming gameplay itself is simple, but in conjunction with the lovely art style and excellent soundtrack, there are times when Sound Shapes becomes a genuine joy. [Oct 2012, p.119]

A playground of destruction like nothing else you can buy. [Apr 2011, p.108]

It takes a while for things to get stale though, and until then this is a surprisingly strong new entrant to the off-road scene. [Nov 2008, p.117]

Lemmings in reverse. [Mar 2008, p.108]

At 6.29 quid steal. [Christmas 2009, p.107]

Still looks gorgeous. [Aug 2011, p.110]

It's still number one - barely. [Dec 2009, p.122]

Ten hours in you might have doubts, but stay with it and you'll be smitten right through to the frankly unbelievable end. [Apr 2010, p.104]