The simple gameplay of Battle of Polytopia is actually a pretty fun breakdown of the genre - the problem is ultimately its simplicity is its undoing. Despite what it says or looks like, every starting race is nearly the exact same, which is a huge missed opportunity to diversify them. Battles late-game are very dry. For some casual players it is a fun romp, but anyone looking for depth or longevity won't find it here.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is, well, fine. It will provide a good few hours of harmless fun and raise more than a few smiles in the nostalgia sector of the cortex as Reptar beats on April O'Neil. Underneath that initial sheen however is nothing of real interest. Thankfully, support seems to be very much active and maybe the initial issues will be focused on to provide a more well-rounded, in-depth experience. For now, though, the shadow of its inspiration looms heavy and ensures that this will not be challenging for any place in the top tier of party'esque fighters for some time.

Men of War II is a solid RTS marred by clunky controls and complicated gameplay, but its worst offense is requiring an internet connection, even for single-player modes. Without that requirement (which, again, is currently meant to change sometime post-launch) and with just a little polish to the controls, UI, or both, this could be a must-have for RTS/WW2 buffs. Fans of the series will probably have an easier time diving in, while new players are likely to find themselves completely lost without going through the tutorials. On the whole, the game feels solid, looks good, sounds good, and has a lot of potential, and its flaws aren't so bad they can't be polished out.

Poker Club is good for anyone interested in a very realistic looking poker sim with a big emphasis on tournament play. What you see is what you get, but it is much slower and more flashy than one might expect. The customisation options are impressive, but the beauty only goes skin deep.

Ubisoft's stab at claiming some of the market share from Level-5's immensely popular series could have been a positive one, yet instead whilst still enjoyable it proves to be a lacklustre alternative.

Outlast 2 does not quite reach even the average moments of the first game. However, what saves this is Red Barrels' talented artists and voice actors.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp has a lot going for it and does a lot right. It has some elements that looks really promising and can take the whole franchise in exciting new directions in the future. However, a lot of the soul of the franchise has been removed by becoming too punctual and predictable. The player knows exactly everything that is going to happen at exactly every time of the day.

If Kite had been released in the early '90s it would be one of the biggest hits of the time. This is 2018, however, and nostalgia, while a strong marketing tool, is not enough. Sure, the action is fast and relentless, and it's a pleasure to use the many weapons at hand to wreak some havoc. Unfortunately, it all becomes repetitive too soon, even if you take the grinding for upgrades out of the picture.

With some decent level design and a good few challenging tasks at hand, Bike Rider DX2: Galaxy is still a moderately fun way to kill a few spare minutes.

The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest on Nintendo Switch is a meticulously built yet curiously lifeless micro-metroidvania, where, despite the controls being super-sharp and its pixel art vibrant, the adventure feels boxed in. Repetitive rooms, shallow exploration, and a brief runtime make it resemble a neat demo instead of the real deal. As for its constant meta commentary, it’s very amusing for about 30 minutes, but ultimately drains the world of its potential to immerse.

The Vagrant is by no means a perfect 2D hack 'n' slashing action-adventure/RPG-lite. There are far better alternatives out there - alternatives that are much more challenging than this walk in the park, by the way. It's still a very solid game, however. One that, while repetitive, and definitely not brimming with content, still manages to remain enjoyable for the eight hours it will last, with a pretty interesting plot keeping you company, even if the writing, pacing, and presentation is rough around the edges. In the end, The Vagrant's biggest strength is that it's a Vanillaware-esque game on a budget, so fans of Kamitani's work should play this super-cheap indie right away.

The comic setting works great, and the story is an interesting take on the overused dystopian and Orwellian future. Liberated snatches attention with its premise and the neo-noir aesthetic, but ultimately ends up feeling unfinished. The dialogue choices and the puzzles feel tacked on and undeveloped. The style looks great in stills, but in action it's messy. It feels like this so close to being something truly special, it just needed a bit more time.

A brief couple of minutes' long test is what Blasting Agent takes to convince the player whether or not it's worth playing for much longer than that. It offers some robust and snappy gameplay on the one hand, but, on the other one, it just doesn't seem to perform at its very best on the Nintendo 3DS. In such a competitive scenario - where solid alternatives don't seem to run low - it's hard to recommend to anyone else than those action-shooting maniacs who want them all in their collection.

Battlantis may not be the most memorable of the slew of '80s arcade hits, but it does well to honour its Space Invaders influence with something that feels both fresh and familiar. Hamster has produced an experience that feels very much like the arcade cabs of old, with a sprinkling of modern quality of life changes. Fixed-shooter fans will certainly find a home with the Arcade Archives 2 re-release of Battlantis!

For a game as adorable and as silly as Bonkies, it can be quite challenging. Younger players may have a bit of a learning curve before they can enjoy it, and the single player is not worth anyone's time. Nevertheless, for players who love playing chaotic, funny and difficult teamwork titles (think Overcooked and Moving Out), Bonkies is the space chimp party game that will leave players smiling or shouting, having a good time either way.

Even as a simple update with 150 brand new puzzles, Picross e3 is always going to be a guaranteed great purchase at under £5 for both those who are already addicted to this simple but testing series, and to people that have never tried a Picross game before.

On paper it sounds more interesting than it truly is As far as DLC goes, Hearts of Iron IV: Waking the Tiger is merely sufficient as it gives a variety of Asian countries to play. Like previous DLC, many of these countries are practically unplayable from a balance perspective, but ones like China provide a unique take. This expansion will do little for those who did not like the base game, but those in love with the game will like this.

It takes two hours or so to complete this, and it's a fun little experience, filled with some smart puzzles interspersed with the odd stinker with little logical sense, but nothing to get particularly stuck or hung up on in the entire play-through. A few "Oh really?!" moments exist as well, as the solution becomes apparent.

There are no answers in this short spooky story. None. You might think there are, but there aren't. Paratopic is all atmosphere, and zero plot. Things are happening, but it's hard and maybe even impossible to make sense of it all. The good news is that when the atmosphere isn't just good, but fantastic, and as a result the adventure is very immersive despite its lack of a coherent narrative. A solid recommendation whenever the price is low enough, and in the mood for something enjoyably unsettling and mysterious, yet without much meat on its bones.

There's no question It Takes Two is a well-crafted game. There's no debate it is somewhat fresh in its execution and should be applauded for following its own unique vision. Heck, no one would argue it's not fun. Its shortcomings, however, do make one wonder if others got a little drunk on the novelty of it all. Instead, while it offers a somewhat refreshing take on the platforming genre this is mostly by virtue of being an exclusively co-op experience. It could have benefited from more refined characters, as well as better online support on Nintendo Switch. Really, where It Takes Two is going to be best suited is on a couch with a partner playing together.

An interesting world full of cool ideas sadly hampered by its story and gameplay pacing. Encodya has a great variety of content and puzzles to baffle and test players of all skill levels that make the game worth the price of admission. If point and click adventures are of interest, then this title should be on a wish list as it presents a unique experience and story that would have benefitted from a little bit more feedback and a patch.

This review is of the PlayStation 4 version of Romancing SaGa 2, and this is something of a negative in the grand scheme. This new remaster is hitting almost every possible platform and this may not be the best option. While the upgraded graphics look a great deal better, they really don't require an HD TV and it feels like this would fit better on Nintendo Switch or Vita. Despite that, there is a great and original experience here, one that hardcore old school RPG fans may have completely missed out on. It may not be for everyone but this is a perfect opportunity to try a classic and unique Japanese experience.

Poorly written, with a horrendous story to gameplay ratio, it's hard not to see Hundred Knight 2 as more visual novel/button masher than action RPG. It's a shame considering the combat can be genuinely great at times.

AeternoBlade offers decent combat, platforming and puzzles that involve its time manipulation mechanic. Unfortunately, it is lacking polish, and several cheap segments later in the game can lead to unnecessary frustration.

Gato Roboto is a bite-sized trek that's sufficiently programmed for the right amount of enjoyment. With enough charm to last a Sunday afternoon, Kiki's escapade is sure to leave behind a pleasant memory or three. Just be sure to keep expectations in check. It's unlikely that hardcore gamers will get the fierce action and stress-inducing scenarios that they crave, while the casual crowd might be a little put off by the short play-time and lack of extra content. Still, there is a bit of depth to uncover. Skilfully navigating the research facility is a reward in itself. All in all, whoever decides to pick this title is bound to get their money's worth, and that's reason enough to check it out.

This is a silly story with goofy characters that had some effort to flesh out their lives to make people care about them and the world. While it may not take much to hit bedrock with this shallow game, it does have heart, which is more than what most games have.

While an enjoyable, and visually pleasing experience, this just doesn't manage to be the great racing game that it could be. Thankfully, it's not a "fanservice above everything" kind of deal, but, truth be told, the main source of fun in Kandagawa Jet Girls does seem to be the girls, rather than the gameplay. Sure it's not bad, but it's also not as good as expected from something that had the potential to be a clone of Mario Kart, with sexy anime cuties rather than chubby plumbers, talking mushrooms, and wimpy dinosaurs.

Lost Judgment is a bittersweet event. The story aims for a mature tone but is too often a macabre, morbid misfire that strays too far from the balance between silly and serious that the series is famed for. It's not a poorly developed title, though; the outrageously brilliant combat and sandbox distractions are clear evidence of that. It just struggles to tell the sort of meaningful, believable and sensitively weighted story that players have come to expect from this talented team.