This is exactly how a conversion from consoles to touch pad should look: You won't find any virtual buttons or triggers, the controls are fine-tuned and custom made for gestures, while the content is as huge as on its console brethren. The mobile Joe delivers on a large scale.

Characters, puzzles, humor: The Cave bears the distinctive handwriting of its creator Ron Gilbert. But while this creative beauty was awakened after a 20-year-long slumber, it shows some facets that are not as pretty. The puzzles could be more elaborate, the level design more varied and the engine more fluent.

As far as Karaoke games go, at its core SiNG Party is as good as any: The recognition works well, the tracklist is as big as varied. Unfortunately you won't see any original videos and the lyrics of some songs have been edited to become family friendly. On top of that I miss the community features that the competition on other platforms introduced.

There is no doubt: On Wii U 2K13 celebrates the same magnificent basketball as on 360 or PlayStation 3. But be aware that the engine is not as fluent as on other systems and that the new features for the Wii U GamePad are either unnecessary or well conceived but implemented halfheartedly.

Ninja Theory had big boots to fill. But they mastered the reboot of the iconic stylish action series. The fighting system manages the balance between traditional dynamics and contemporary combo madness. The art design is close to perfect. The narrative though is sometimes losing focus and refuses to give the characters room to grow for most of the time. Nonetheless this is the first big action highlight of the year.

The relentless difficulty level hides some potential for frustration. But nonetheless the handling is surprisingly simple, the level design is interesting.

Rejoice, hobby generals: Battle of the Bulge is the first strategy highlight of the year. Alongside Ravenmark this is the best you can get in turn based strategy for your iPad.

The story is as confusing as the characters are interesting. But then, who needs a story, when you can have well executed old-school brawling fun? The multiplayer keeps things interesting, but be warned: Your frustration threshold will be put to the test before you start to enjoy the hectic, sometimes chaotic but always entertaining mayhem.

Under the goo-goo eyes and the rather clumsily animated characters hides a challenging old school role-playing experience that punishes every little mistake you might make in your battle strategy. But more importantly: The magic of an era long forgotten is still there.

The concept with its mix of well-proven action and exploration on one side and tower defense on the other is interesting. But especially when it comes to everything associated with the latter the QForce leaves much to be desired.

The tactical implications of saving people while keeping an eye on the fuel gauge are interesting. But you'll lose interest sooner rather than later, thanks to the frustrating design.

When it comes to two-stick action this is as good (or bad) as any. But with its comic style and the sheer amount of enemies it reminds me positively of an isometric Serious Sam.

Mike Bithell fills the most simple geometrical figures with tremendous life. While the storytelling is absolutely charming the mechanics in this puzzler stay too simple most of the time.

The difficulty level goes way beyond what you usually describe as "challenging, but fair" – this is do-or-die-retro-feeling. This illegitimate spawn of Ghosts'n Goblins and the humour of Monty Python doesn't disappoint when it comes to the audiovisual design. Unfortunately the mechanics are not near as creative.

The curse of the license strikes again. The action reminds me of Gauntlet and actually the Guardians stay as shallow and monotonous as the retro classic. No challenge and no variety make it difficult to appreciate the colorful art design.

This jump & puzzle-adventure doesn't deliver the variety or charm of Fly'n or Giana Sisters Twisted Dreams, but in its own (quite small) microcosm the puzzles work well.

This is an interesting arena brawler with lots of action and a Sony celebrity cast. It can get quite chaotic though. Thanks to the tighter controls on the dual-shock controller the PlayStation 3 version trumps the Vita counterpart.

Vice City is a magical place that is home to my most memorable videogame experiences. And everything is there, or at least it seems: Crusin' through the city is fun, the soundtrack is as good as ever, so is the dialogue. But as soon as you really have to play, the systems' limitations spoil the fun.

Gateways is imaginative, no doubt. But to become a '2D-Portal' it needs more challenge and more diversity.

For a few half hours here and then it might be okay, but it doesn't offer the social element of FarmVille nor the amount of content or diversity of Harvest Moon.

If you're looking for a game to justify project Greenlight, this is it! It would have been a damn shame if this little platforming gem couldn't have been released.

The campaign delivers as it did on other systems, but suffers from framerate issues. The multiplayer drags the Wii U experience down. I can live with the small number of available players, even though some modes suffer from that. But the connection losses are a big disappointment.

If you like your adventure loaded with puzzles, this might not be your cup of tea. But if you like unusual characters and stories, you should join Horatio and Crispin on their pixelated retro-journey.

Why is there no release of the complete trilogy for the launch of a new console? That would have been added value. Nonetheless this is basically the same game that you can get on other systems, give or take some interesting additions as well as nagging faults: An entertaining and sometimes tragic ending to a space shooter that doesn't live up to its potential.

I always emphasize how much I like Tekken Bowling – and keep forgetting how much I missed Tekken Ball. With the extra content this would be the first choice for Tekken aficionados – but just if you use the ProController. The standard Wii U GamePad is made with a lot of games in mind but not beat'em ups.

Sports Connection fails from start to finish: Controls are sloppy, visuals are boring, fun is absent.

Neither visuals nor controls of this once epic adventure are optimized for the tablet. Add to that numerous bugs and crashes and the only advice that I can give you, is to stay away from this.

Controls are easy to pick up, the rank and reward system is motivating, the choice of playable characters is surprisingly large. But when it comes to maps and modes, the content falls short.

The presentation is cute beyond believe, the music is great, the fighting system is as simple as varied – it sure sounds like a winner. But at its core there are too many weaknesses on display, most notably the absence of RPG elements, which makes the fights too monotonous in the long run.

Even though the capabilities of the new system are underutilized, this is still a well executed physics puzzler that relies too often on trial & error.

Transformed is one of the best fun-racers in recent months and a classy alternative to Mario Kart, whose dominance is crumbling away. Without the frame-rate problems during split-screen races the speeding hedgehog might even have outpaced the racing plumber. Nonetheless with GamePad support and exclusive modes the Wii U version snatches the pole position.

I have to keep an eye on my provisions, I have to leave the safe path and might have to face deadly foes. If I don't want to die I have to face my fears and accept a suspenseful and lethal game of hide-and-seek. I've never experienced a more intense fight for survival in an open world.

If you played last years' version, you'll know most of the content. It's up to you if four new missions, a drone and a volcano scenario are worth the purchase, while you can get the predecessor with a budget price.

The classic concept motivates, but Shin'en stays safe. With more content, more diversity and only a few fresh ideas this could have been a download gem in the early life of Wii U.

It should have been the same experience as on other consoles. But technical issues, mainly the pop-up distance and frame rate issues hold this assassin back. Not to mention the underutilized GamePad.

Two worlds collide: On one side you get loads of bizarre enemies and hair-raising ideas. On the other you get frustrated by old-fashioned mission design, poor AI and boring gunfights. Like Stewie says: "Again! Again! I love repetition!"

There are a lot of minigame compilations out there. But no matter how hard I try, I can't think of one worse than this. Absolutely none of the disciplines can satisfy. And what the heck do you need a story for?

30 games? Yes! Great? Hardly! If you want minigames for your Wii U GamePad buy a ticket for Nintendo Land or visit the Rabbids.

At first glance it makes you curious. The art design is interesting, but once you have seen it all you'll find that it is little more than an overpriced minigame.

Even though I was hoping for a little more creativity on Wii U when it comes to the touchscreen controls, this still is a magical and extensive adventure.

This is a charming arcade-puzzler with an interesting approach on storytelling. The concept worked on the PC and it works well on Wii U. But in the end it is just a small appetizer: After little more than three hours the fire is extinguished.

Nintendo rediscovers fun for the core gamer: New Super Mario Bros. U is hardly surprising, but delivers quite a challenge with its classic jump & run roots.

In the end Nintendo Land can't fascinate as Wii Sports did when Wii launched. From time to time it shows what the new touchpad controls have to offer, but most of the time it is more reminiscent of WiiPlay. And if you don't have friends to support you in the few minigames that are actually fun, the entertainment is short lived.

Arkham City is one of the strongest games in the Wii U launch lineup, mainly thanks to the original content that's as fascinating as it was about a year ago. But this port also benefits from good implementation of the touch pad controls that seem tailor-made.

Depending on the collection of Skylander figures that you already own, the number of areas that can just be opened by your wallet will vary - and so will the fun you will have with the Giants. That aside the new adventure in the Skylanders shows improvements on almost every level. Unfortunately the use of the Wii U GamePad is quite superficial.

When it comes to content, this is the most comprehensive version of Warriors Orochi 3 – especially the Duel mode is an interesting addition. But with framerate problems as well as less detailed textures than on 360 or PS3 it is hard to wholeheartedly recommend this game.

The over-the-top humour still is omnipresent but the minigames lack the extra portion madness which made the former Rabbid games so special.

The action is explosive, the direction of the story sequences is intense at times, but still I can't really feel at home on these islands. Far Cry 3 is the ultimate open sandbox: The player can do what he wants, where he wants it, when he wants it. But the credibility of the world suffers – and with it my motivation.

The visuals would have been already outdated in the Dreamcast era, the gameplay is as monotonous as it can get. I don't think that Reggie Fils-Aime had this game in mind when he said that Microsoft and Sony need to react to Nintendo.

Are you serious, EA? On the cover it states FIFA 13, but on the disc you'll get a version that seems more like a touch- and co-op-enhanced version of FIFA 12. One that has problems with a steady framerate even offline, that is.

This is an interesting arena brawler with lots of action and Sony celebrity cast. It can get quite chaotic though.

Vita users deserve more than the half-baked conversions they get lately. This is a disgrace to the Call of Duty franchise. Both story and multiplayer feel unfinished.

A very solid and very entertaining standalone add-on with a new theatre and well proven tactical challenges.

There is no comparison to its entertaining HD-brethren. The visuals are a joke, there are less puzzles and more senseless fighting – which is not entertaining at all, thanks to the imprecise controls. But even if you don't know the other versions, this is not worth the name.

It's as good (or bad) as it always was. The motion recognition is not just faulty but can also be cheated. Nonetheless the song selection is good and with a few friends there is a lot of fun to be found. The Wii U gamepad is totally underutilized though.

Business as usual? Not really. With Middle Earth as a hub world, the intelligent puzzles as well as the proven mechanics this is the best Lego adventure in a long time.

If you know Death from another console there is no reason for you to ride with him again. But as a launch title for Wii U this as close as you will get to a game in the tradition of the Legend of Zelda-series.

Intelligent Systems wears its name with pride: The puzzles are as elegant as they are tricky. Fallblox is a small but enthralling addition to the 3DS download library.

It is rare that games showcase deep emotions. And to be honest, I didn't think that Telltale would be able to pull it off. But they delivered. I am looking forward to the second season.

Transformed is one of the best fun-racers in recent months and a classy alternative to Mario Kart, whose dominance is crumbling away. Without the frame-rate problems during split-screen races the speeding hedgehog might even have outpaced the racing plumber.

It's the multiple approaches to a problem and numerous ways to reach your target that define this experience. This fifth Hitman is the antihero's best adventure yet.

Little Inferno is a charming arcade-puzzler with an interesting approach to storytelling. But as soon as your curiosity gets worked up the game is already over. Nonetheless an interesting snack for your lunch break.

Power of Illusion could be a fantastic jump & run, the foundation for a dignified successor to Castle of Illusion (one of my all-time favorites) is there. But the constant change between digipad and stylus for the sake of redundant drawings is disappointing.

Visually this is the best version, if you have the appropriate hardware. But neither the top-notch storytelling nor the best visuals can hide the fact that in terms of gameplay the series is stagnant.

Motion recognition works well, which cannot be said for the voice recognition. And even though you'll find more than enough challenges, some design decisions slow the super heroes down, most notably the restricted mode selection.

I rather would have loved to experience a mellow action-adventure than this sequel that wants to surpass its predecessor in all areas – but fails to do so. Although there are a lot of interesting features and ideas, all of them just add small mistakes that add to the frustration.

F1 Race Stars strives to be an alternative to Mario Kart. But the weapons systems are unbalanced, the AI relies more on cheating itself to the top spot than battling it out on the track. With all the good ideas and the nice visuals Codemasters forgot to put the most important part into this fun racer: fun!

At first glance it is fascinating, but the longer you look you'll realize that augmented reality still is in its infancy. Wonderbook shows what potential lies in the fusion of camera, motion recognition and game. And in its best moments it creates something magical – but rather visually than in terms of gameplay.

That's what I call a positive surprise. With only a few exceptions the sackboy-races run smoothly. Unfortunately online there are no challenges or ladders, the focus here is put on fun racing. A big plus is the powerful editor that allows creations from anything and everything between WipEout and a top-down racer.

Kudos to Grasshopper and Digital Reality: I didn't think that a side scrolling shooter could look this marvelous. This is a well-executed take on bullet hell action with a clever integration of slow motion.

Right now military shooters share the problem of the WWII action games from about five years ago: Eventually you have seen everything and played everything, over and over, again and again. Sure, the campaign has its moments, but nonetheless Black Ops 2 would love to be Modern Warfare – and that is a five-year-old game. And so it is once again the established multiplayer with its plethora of modes and personalization option (all of which are basically known) that comes to the rescue of this run-of-the-mill shooter.

Improved controls, believable driving physics and a lot of other improvements make this the best freight vehicle simulator.

After the hectic prologue I wanted to give up, but I am happy I hung in there. Erica's supernatural abilities are the highlight of the puzzle design. It feels fresh to "summon" old evidence or victims to get new information. The start to this series is far from perfect but it definitely sparked my curiosity.

I can't blame the game for the lack of an online community - but it harms it tremendously. The core mechanics are definitely worth a look.

Compared to the similar War of the Roses you get tighter controls and more game modes, but it lacks in entertainment value.

Pid summons a bizarre scenario full of weird characters and situations. The art design is simple, but very unique, the direction is plain but mysterious.

After all the Call of Dutys, Medal of Honors and Battlefields this is… different and kind of interesting. But nonetheless I don't see enough reasons to spend more time with this steampunk sleeping pill than necessary.

At one point I seriously asked myself if Sports Interactive pushed too hard when it came to depth as well as attention to detail. But then my team scored, I saw my tactics work out and I just wanted more. This game will keep you hooked for weeks and months.

Although it shows some flaws the Halo 4 campaign is one of the best within the series. And on top of that 343 proves that their enhancements of the multiplayer formula add some depth to the dynamic firefights.

It is not just loaded with content, but puts one of the interesting eras of Sports Entertainment into the spotlight. It has its flaws, especially when it comes to the engine, but nonetheless as an old school wrestling aficionado I haven't had this much fun with a WWE game in years.

Even though Sony obviously took a good look at Wii Sports to get some inspiration for this sequel, it is fun to play, mainly thanks to the tight Move controls. But why are just six disciplines on display?

It is annoying to see how Ubisoft sacrifices the logic of an open world for the sake of a chain of missions with little challenge. Within the blink of an eye open areas become restricted, people disappear and the heroine is not allowed to change her clothes anymore – which, by the way, is a great idea to camouflage her weaknesses.

It is hard to associate this dungeon crawler with the once fearsome name it carries. This is a bland hack&slay with little variation and even less horror.

Superficial tuning, an unbalanced difficulty level: Aside from the visuals this as average an arcade racer can get.

Lunacy, anarchy, drastic violence and stealth tactics wrapped in absurd amounts of pixelblood and psychedelic electro. You can love this game. You can damn it into the deepest hell. But you can't ignore it.

This is a perfect example for what is going wrong with Vita software: Instead of delivering a full experience like on stationary systems, you'll get a hollow shell. It doesn't make sense to remove the career mode as well as more than half of the official World Championship races just to deliver them as DLC over time. It's a shame because at its core WRC3 still is a decent game.

The narrative foundation sounds terrifyingly interesting, but you'll soon find out that as a character Lucius is disappointing. You'll encounter interesting puzzles on your way, but overall this adventure lacks pace and soul.

This is not quite Need for Speed nor quite Burnout Paradise. But nonetheless this is an entertaining high gloss racer with adrenaline injection. Solo you might want to look for something else, but if you're into wild and crazy online chases you will get lost in Fairhaven.

It is short, it is unspectacular and it doesn't show the quality that other Kinect games established over time. There is nothing magical here.

Especially online I had quite some fun with this strategy that not even remotely tries to hide that it is a StarCraft clone. And to be honest – there isn't much more to it. Somewhat entertaining.

It is a very entertaining platformer but it's missing the genius of a Super Mario Galaxy or the sheer craziness of a Rayman: Origins. But what's there is definitely enough for a spot in the hall of fame of the best revivals.

The narrative mix of historical facts and fictitious involvement of the main characters is more believable than ever. The new engine has its flaws but paints beautiful vistas while presenting more detailed characters than its predecessors. But even though this is a package loaded with content, it is far from perfect and lacks connection between all the interesting ideas.

I wish that Level 5 would take some more risks and implement some new ideas. On the other hand the series' proven qualities shine through at every corner: You'll get well conceived puzzles by the bucket, a comfortable multi-tiered help system and an interesting adventure story with charming cartoon sequences.

Precipice of Darkness 3 is not only a brilliant Final Fantasy spoof, but an astonishingly well working 16Bit-RPG. The combat system with its wicked classes is well-though-out. Unfortunately the game is rather short.

The two greenskins going to war to end the human tyranny are good for some entertaining hours, but you have to have a soft spot for uncommon heroes and situations.

All the new ingredients like the team dynamics sound interesting, but are not integrated well, thus interrupting the flow. But take them away and you have hardly anything left but a slightly updated version of last years' iteration, which you can get for less than half price.

I was looking forward to this reboot. I like simple and lightning fast arcade action on wheels. But why did the developers focus so much on trial & error? With almost each and every one of the surprisingly varied missions it is not my skills that decide the outcome, but my ability to learn the level...

War of the Roses is what happens when you cross medieval weaponry with the Battlefield-franchise. It is motivating to fight for your next level up and the spoils that come with it, but nonetheless this game feels like it is released prematurely.