Imperfect, but the most focused, compelling GTA ever takes 'last -gen' gaming to next-gen highs. [June 2008, p.64]

Sublime in single, co-op and multiplayer. An incredible package. [Christmas 2009, p.10]

Confident storytelling, astonishing visuals and obscenely ambitious setpieces make Uncharted 3 the best of the series and an absolute must-have. [Dec 2011, p.90]

Quite brilliant, with substance enough to live up to its stunning visuals. High concept gaming, you say? Nah, mate. Just good gaming. [Feb 2007, p.68]

MGS4 is a masterpiece, arguably the best in the series and - though many will fiercely disagree - ever so slightly disappointing.

SFIV had to be a Street Fighter that can be played by anyone who’s ever picked up Street Fighter II, and a Street Fighter that gives everyone all the help they’ll need if they’re starting completely from scratch. It’s effortlessly both of those things. While every other fighting game has become an elitist club for the best of the best, Capcom have given Street Fighter back to the people, where it belongs.

Gorgeous, funny, and epic. A landmark achievement for your PS3. [Dec 2009, p.72]

The best fighter ever made just got better in almost every way. [May 2010, p.88]

Even next to Uncharted 2, ME2's shooting holds up well.

Richer, yet more accessible - builds on everything LBP did so superbly. [Feb 2011, p.88]

It's the king of console role-players. [Christmas 2011, p.86]

A world of unparalleled potential, married to an Orwellian tale of deception and redemption. Adventures this epic only come along once in a generation. [Dec 2012, p.90]

An outstanding RPG. It's unmistakably Final Fantasy, but feels as fresh as any adventure on PS2. [Christmas 2006, p.73]

The comat is smoother, slicker, more responsive, more streamlined, more fun and more exciting than ever, the visuals and voices are of such a high quality, it's like an actual Disney film. [Nov 2006, p.86]

A triumph of set-piece design, special effects and impeccable FPS action. Mindblowing. [Christmas 2007, p.56]

Is this a better game than GTA? Technically, atmospherically, visually: absolutely. Narratively? Too subjective to call. Will you enjoy it more than GTA IV? That depends on how much you like the setting.

Overall Superb action and a smart, well-rounded story - a perfect sequel.

If Castlevania wasn't on your radar before, you need to get it on there now. In truth, it does little to innovate a genre dominated by games like God Of War 3 and Bayonetta, but it executes all its ideas with surgical precision, wrapping them up in a presentation so polished - yet so tastefully understated - it could easily have been crafted by Kojima himself; all the more credit to Dave Cox and Mercury Steam.

Testing, exhilarating and full of personality, this is an essential buy. [June 2011, p.74]

A bold, confident reworking of a winning formula - one that takes Batman to the next level with incredible tech, skill and imagination. [Dec 2011, p.98]

An emotional and fitting end to the sci-fi epic, with improved tactical combat, a huge galaxy to explore, and choices that will test your morals to the limit. [Apr 2012, p.84]

Get through visual hitches and a strained finale to find a spirited open-world gem packed with extreme pursuits, stunning scenery and hoards of savage beasts. [Jan 2013, p.91]

Immaculately designed and an absolute joy to play through. The best game of the year so far. [Dec 2006, p.22]

One of the best games ever, with a swathe of excellent online options bolted on for good measure. [Sept 2006, p.56]

Like running eyes-first into a wall of beauty, GOW2 is yet another of PS2's last minute masterpieces. [Apr 2007, p.62]

An incredible open-ended experience, but you're going to need patience to truly savour it. [May 2007, p.54]

Intense, beautiful and accessible. A return to the series' roots and a stellar game indeed. [Nov 2007, p.22]

With so much invention, intrigue and genuine brilliance packed into twelve hours of game-play, you just can't afford not to (pick up a copy). [Nov 2008, p.22]

Unless the familiarity really gets to you, you're going to love BioShock 2. It's a lovingly crafted, carefully constructed masterpiece of narrative richness and smart game mechanics. It can even be enjoyed as a straight-up shooter thanks to its innovative, tactile combat system. [Feb 2010, p.72]

Familiar but thrilling - sits easily among PS3's gods, if shy of the throne. [Apr 2010, p.94]

Limited freedom, but gorgeous, intelligent and compelling. [July 2011, p.76]

Perfectly balances free-roaming exploration, focused story missions and RPG-style leveling, with sublime handheld controls in Vita's first killer app. [May 2012, p.112]

A noticeable step-up in class from 2K12, especially on court and in the My Career mode. Only poor navigation spoils an otherwise incredible sport sim. [Dec 2012, p.100]

Games like this are what your PSP was made for. Hypnotic puzzle action that you'll play for ages. Just great. [Christmas 2006, p.94]

Addresses every criticism and packs in a load of new stuff. A masterclass in sequel-making. [Christmas 2006, p.74]

An incredible adventure in an amazing setting. Only weak detective bits and boss battles let it down.

Complex and beautiful, one of the best puzzle games of all time. [Feb 2010, p.84]

A rich and bast game designed to treat fans. Great value, lacks 'wow'. [Christmas 2010, p.72]

It's beautiful, that goes without saying, and a relentless beast in combat. But more than that, it understands how players play - what they look for, listen to, and most of all what they expect. That's why, and this is a considerable achievement, it can genuinely scare you with a common sprinkler system. [Feb 2011, p.82]

A glorious balance of challenge, thrills and accessibility. Vital. [July 2011]

The fastest lumines ever. [Apr 2012, p.107]

Simply, the best LBP on any format. [Nov 2012, p.104]

Almost endless replayability. [Oct 2006, p.60]

While Vice City Stories is just as important a chapter in the GTA saga as any, it's another re-tread of the ageing GTA3 game engine. The missions feel familiar and so do the driving and the save system - they're all remnants of a six-year-old game, after all. Upstart "Scarface" feels fresher...But this is top-drawer entertainment. [Dec 2006, p.68]

If you demand a game hold your hand, this might not be truly essential, but if you're seeking the ultimate toy set to flex your imagination, Skate is the perfect way of letting go.

Makes you feel more like being in a band, edging out its near rivals. [Issue#174, p.72]

Challenging, immersive safari shooter with liberating tactical freedom. [Dec 2008, p.66]

Instinctive, with near-infinite potential; only familiarity numbs its raw playable thrills. [Feb 2009, p.74]

Not a reinvention but the most thorough and polished GH yet. [Nov 2009, p.90]

It's more than good enough to call Peace Walker a genuine Metal Gear Solid 5. There's almost too much game here - there's no bigger game on PSP and no more varied game in the entire Metal Gear series. It's a technical showcase, sure, but Peace Walker is also a creative showcase that proves that nobody on Earth makes games like Hideo Kojima - because nobody else ever could.

Simple, smart editing tools and sound racing make this the king of kart racers. [June 2010, p.90]

"Quotation Forthcoming"

Satisfaction in Vietnam doesn't come from being quicker than an opponent, or having better kit, but from being smarter and using what you have to wisely.

Characterful, amusing, violent and intriguing: Yakuza 4 is excellent fun. [Apr 2011, p.72]

Brash, unique and fun - refreshes old-school values to shame most modern shooters. [Apr 2011, p.80]

Its mad humour brings the laughs, while odd weapons and perks make the gameplay feel fresh again. [Oct 2011, p.110]

Utterly unforgiving... But stick it out and you'll see months of crushing lows and glorious highs. [Dec 2011, p.94]

A phenomenal multiplayer FPS with a polished campaign and smart co-op. Looks and sounds great, but - next to the PC - exposes the limits of the PS3 hardware. [Christmas 2011, p.90]

A polished, deep basketball sim that will amaze fans, while welcoming those curious about the sport. [Christmas 2011, p.107]

For a mini, this sure packs plenty. [Christmas 2011, p.111]

It's not perfect, but this ingenious joy is original, surprising and charming. [Jan 2012, p.109]

Perfection. Tiger 13 is so good it raises the question - what can EA's PGA Tour series do next, shy of personally jetting you to Augusta to play on Amen Corner itself? [May 2012, p.108]

Robotic perfection is replaced by organic error. [Nov 2012, p.94]

Tweaked in all the right places, 2013 is the finest PES of the PS3 generation, delightfully recreating the ebb and flow of the modern game. [Nov 2012, p.102]

XCOM has more meaningful decisions and consequences than Mass Effect and more scares than Resident Evil. Turn-based strategy games are cool again. [Dec 2012, p.98]

Think pinball FIFA and you're halfway there. A fast, frantic sports sim, with simple controls that belie hidden depths. [Dec 2012, p.104]

It's a masterpiece of balance, of design, and the jewel in Sony's online crown.

Too hard at times, but this beautiful vision of an alien-infested Britain makes for a great shooter. [Jan 2007, p.52]

Overall Intelligent, inventive... Crush's main drawback is its steep learning curve. But that's what brains are for, right?

Overall Five ace games in one box. The slowdown shouldn't stop you having an Orange Christmas.

Overall Nothing much new - except for the most dazzling playlist to grace the series yet. Great.

Action packed, content-heavy and very beautiful, GRID sets a new PS3 racing standard. [July 2008, p.76]

Improved, with enough here to keep you busy till "Persona 4." [Feb 2009, p.84]

Imaginative, epic and brilliant, but not for instant fix gamers. [Dec 2008, p.26]

A triumph. [May 2009, p.77]

Overall Sexy, epic and wonderfully ridiculous - a slick action game.

A deep, involving, endearing adventure with heart. And ?sts.

Overall polished to near-perfection, this is the next step in music games. [Dec 2009, p.84]

The best FIFA yet. Will even make huge PES fans think twice. [Nov 2009, p.80]

Massive, rewarding, funny - all you'd expect, plus some cute new twists. [Nov 2009, p.66]

It's bursting with content. [Apr 2010, p.96]

"Quotation Forthcoming"

A super package with a clever story. Some patchy execution. [Christmas 2010, p.68]

Striking and confident compared to Origins' drab brownness. [Apr 2011, p.86]

Shadow of the Colossus is essential, Ico is great but showing its age, but both are worthy of a revisit - especially if you've never played either of them before.

A confident and surprising change of direction makes this the best Resistance yet. Varied, thrilling and technically impressive, with only a few notable flaws. [Nov 2011, p.92]

A bold and more random game, which still thrills like few others - but the increased realism makes for a chaotic, often taxing experience. [Dec 2011, p.96]

Arguably less fluid and immediate than its rival FIFA 12, PES 2012's superior single-player game is nevertheless deep, challenging and often outright magical. [Dec 2011, p.102]

The solo campaign is fun but bombastic to point of being bewildering, but the rest of the (gargantuan) package is typically life-consuming stuff. [Christmas 2011, p.96]

Back to Karkand's maps are tried-and-true classics, and BF3's tech brings plenty of thunder. It's a bit on the expensive side, however.

Despite its age, Metal Gear Solid HD still does bang-up stealth, and couples it with some of the maddest storytelling ever pressed to disc. Still essential. [Feb 2012, p.100]

Keenly directed and liberatingly open, Journey is occasionally impenetrable - but that's the price of mystery. A short trip, but one to cherish. [Apr 2012, p.90]

Despite the gargantuan scale, it's never less than incredible fun. [Apr 2012, p.96]

Tense beyond belief, beautifully bloody and perfectly paced, A New Day is an affordable piece of interactive brilliance. [July 2012, p.103]

A beautifully detailed experience. [Nov 2012, p.105]

Crucially, it's great fun, and you'll want to play Absolution through more than once. [Christmas 2012, p.90]

Skilled, stylish, well-balanced kart racing. [Jan 2013, p.101]

All a Scarface game should be - full of action, swearing, sleaze, '80s music, decadence... it's a pure joy.[Dec 2006, p.80]

DMC3, but easier. If you don't have the original, get it. [Oct 2006, p.87]

Home console-quality scrapping that doesn't hurt your thumbs. An essential purchase for fight fans. [Sept 2006, p.70]

Great looks gel with genius game design. [Christmas 2006, p.20]

The sweetest eye candy around, low on strategy but alive with punchy action. First-rate. [Apr 2008, p.80]

Uniquely entertaining, if cliched at times. [Jan 2008, p.60]

Flawed in structure, but magnificent to play, Paradise is within touching distance of vital. [Feb 2008, p.62]

Epic, tactical and polished - this will work your brain. [Nov 2007, p.82]

There's more quality sports action here than you'll ever need. [Oct 2008, p.74]

A slightly improved, gleeful and irresistible triumph only tempered by familiarity. [Issue#174, p.76]

Pro Evo 2010's headline improvements outweigh those in FIFA 10, but EA's game was at a position of greater strength, and has arguably made a more significant leap, with lots of smaller refinements...We're cautiously proud to confirm PES is back on track. [Nov 2009, p.72]

A fantastic rally game wrapped up in extreme sports presentation. [Oct 2009, p.62]

Another superb PSN offering from the Pixeljunk team. [Feb 2010, p.92]

The best FIFA yet, but a post width shy of vital for solo players. [June 2010, p.94]

"Quotation Forthcoming"

A well-paced and great-looking adventure, and one that rewards time spent with some incredible sights. [Aug 2011, p.92]

Funny, clever and original, it's not really mini at heart at all. [Oct 2011, p.111]

Faster and more aggressive, SCV is what the series needed. Long term fans may bemoan the changes, but this is the perfect starting point for newcomers. [Feb 2012, p.94]

A charming fantasy adventure bursting with soul. The platforming is 2D; everything else is deep and intuitive. [March 2012, p.113]

Grabs you by the collar and keeps delivering. Up there with "Killzone" and "Black" for best FPS on PS2. [Christmas 2006, p.64]

Excellent graphics, sound and handling make this a great choice for newbies and purists alike. [Oct 2007, p.64]

Tough, dynamic racing. A blistering thrill ride that makes good on PlayStation 3's promises. [JPN Import; Jan 2007, p.58]

Too slight to rank among PSP's elite, but Chains of Olympus is as sweet as it is short. Terrific. [May 2008, p.70]

Overall perhaps the best party game ever - if a little less cohesive than "Guitar Hero." Still, vital.

Short and lacking context, but action-packed and technically dazzling. [Mar 2009, p.50]

One of the most polished, deep RPGs ever made, and on PSP it's better than ever. [Dec 2007, p.84]

Even if you don't like golf, give it a go because it's one of hte most charming and playable experiences on PSP to date. [Aug 2008, p.80]

A strange mixture of tracks but the instruments work brilliantly.

Sterling footy action but the lack of new ideas is starting to grate. [Nov 2008, p.62]

Excellent value and another step forward. [Oct 2009, p.82]

A startling, yet satisfying experience - if you can handle it. [Christmas 2009, p.86]

It's essentially a nine-hour film that you nudge along by following on-screen button prompts, although you feel more connected with the action than this might suggest. [March 2010]

Huge. [Dec 2009, p.102]

The best b'ball game of the season, but still not perfect. [Christmas 2009, p.90]

Honed, if familiar fun, but online focus causes solo player wobble. [June 2010, p.80]

Rich, atmospheric, memorable and measured. [Oct 2010, p.87]

2K's gameplay is still miles ahead of EA's elite. [Christmas 2010, p.91]

"Quotation Forthcoming"

Three big, bouncy adventures for 30 quid - plus upgrades. Nice. [May 2011, p.92]

Easily the best in the series, and a must-have for PSP owners. [June 2011, p.92]

Good news for buffs: new players are probably best with the original. [July 2011, p.94]

A genre-spanning yarn that still captivates, that makes up for its simplicity with variety, and looks better than ever. [Aug 2011, p.92]

Rich, atmospheric and open-ended, but let down by twitchy AI and out-of place boss fights. Deus Ex is the thinking man's FPS, but it could have been smarter.

One of the most polished fighters on PS3. [May 2012, p.100]

Deep, hilarious, and simply brilliant fun. [Jan 2013, p.98]

Army Of Two has even managed to innovate on a small scale - the non-magnetic cover system (which allows you to fire over and around walls without gluing you to them) makes combat feel fast and fluid, while the Aggro combat system (which draws the enemies towards the most dangerous player, making the other player effectively invisible) turns an MMORPG staple into a pretty effective combat mechanic.

Best scrapper ever? Perhaps, but VF5 is <I>such</I> an acquired taste. Great, but not one for all. [Mar 2007, p.64]

Much better than on PS3. [Oct 2007, p.79]

A well designed shoot-'em-up that tells an engaging story. [Dec 2008, p.82]

The attention to detail is staggering and it handles like a dream. A true technical showcase. [May 2008, p.74]

Four more hours of the classic TOD? Frankly, this is hard to fault. [Oct 2008, p.70]

A mediocre campaign, elevated to greatness by superb online play. [Apr 2010, p.88]

This well polished, if slightly limited, multi-player game is a steal. [Aug 2009, p.62]

A rewarding slasher, which puts action ahead of plot and atmosphere. [Oct 2009, p.56]

The result is a game that's as informative as the best of documentaries and right up there with the best party games available on console. That's assuming the people in your party like The Beatles of course. Despite the sheen, authenticity, and seminal extras, Rock Band 2 can still hold its head high as the most instantly gratifying and universal game in the series.

Substantial, hilarious and huge. Sadly, this port feels hamstrung next to the DS version. [Dec 2009, p.88]

This really is a special edition. [Sept 2010, p.94]

An odd fit for PSP, but manages both staggering depth and accessibility. [Oct 2010, p.92]

"Quotation Forthcoming"

Add a new competitive online mode (only two players, mind) where you can earn upgrades for your ship and you're looking at another must-buy. [May 2011, p.92]

A joyful, successful new entry, thanks largely to its fearless approach to the medium. [Nov 2011, p.96]

Rough edges aside, it's a genuine portable blockbuster. [Christmas 2012, p.98]