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]