Time Recoil is a mess.

Gal Metal not only offers a hilarious interactive manga story,but also an original approach to the rhythm game genre that shakes things up enough to set itself apart from pretty much everything else.

State of Mind offers a very good, "hard" sci-fi tale that deals with the theme of futurism, and, most importantly, consciousness. Some flaws do exist, like the many dull plot sections, and the simplistic, unimpressive puzzle-solving, but, as a whole, this will please most fans of narrative-driven adventure titles.

With refined combat, a far tighter script, and an infinitely more likable cast, Torna - The Golden Country manages to address almost all of Xenoblade Chronicles 2's core problems without ever straying too far from its source.

While new additions such as classes and barricades are nice to have, at six to eight hours long, it is a bit on the short side for the asking price. The physical release of the Banner Saga Trilogy offers greater value for money.

Those who'd like to try a sadistically challenging boss battler, and one that actually gets even more so after the final encounter, will have an enjoyably painful time with this, despite its many, many flaws, and the strokes that it will possibly induce. Of course, Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption is not recommended to just anyone, and certainly not for those in search for a SoulsBourne fix, as this a totally different kind of deal - and that's what makes it so good.

As a port of the original, Katamari Damacy REROLL is definitely a great way for people to try this bundle of rolling wackiness for the first time. Just note that it can get very repetitive very soon, and that it clearly comes from that awkward phase where 3D games weren't that refined.

FAR: Lone Sails is an emotive trip through a dying, yet beautiful world. It's a journey that doesn't last for long, and whose low replay value makes it hard to come back to it... and yet it's also one that's hard to let go once you start it. Fans of such games are definitely advised to give it a go - oh, and don't wait for a discount because its worthy of its price tag as it is.

SNK 40th Anniversary Collection is not full of flawless gems that everyone will love, and it suffers a bit in terms of variety. Strictly viewed for what it is, however, which is part retro videogame anthology, part history lesson, it is one of the finest one in the market, making this the definite product for those who want to try the titles on offer.

While Megaquarium is fun and challenging at times, it tends to become a little repetitive after a while. A few more different challenges would help, while at other points it would have been nice to see an overview panel to make it easier to organise things. The gameplay can easily get messy, which is a shame considering the idea and the colourful setup. Nevertheless, the game is enjoyable and relaxing, and a player may well find themselves playing for hours.

For what it is, Circle Empires is actually pretty fun. The experience is streamlined, fast, and enjoyable. The lack of any depth is what ultimately kills the game and stops it from becoming anything greater. It is fun for a few romps, or enough to beat the "campaign" of sorts, but there is not enough meat to encourage longer than a few hours' play, maximum. Those few are fun but, after that, the magic at hand quickly wears away.

In many ways, it's not Checkmate's fault that it's not that enjoyable. The blame certainly goes to the previous chapters of The Council, which failed in being engrossing enough for anyone to care for what happens next. That being said, this doesn't get a free pass, as it doesn't fix any of its problems.

Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass is a fantastic RPG that has every right to stand right next to the classics that inspired it, and especially the SNES gem known as Earthbound. It's funny, weirdly heart-warming and melancholic at the same time, and, believe it or not, very spooky. Apart from those who resent turn-based battles, or don't have the patience to do some heavy grinding, most are definitely advised to try this out.

Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth is a very difficult game to score. Its high price-tag and emphasis on staying faithful to the original - poor translations included - suggest it's a must for fans of the original game and series. Everyone else will likely find the compressed and invasive sound effects and the jarring, often nonsensical text prompts, a little too much, but those who stick with it are likely to find a solid, deep action RPG with a unique setting and story to accompany it.

At $99.99, this is a hefty sum for the only way to get Persona 4 Dancing on PS4, but considering the entire package as a whole, the three rhythm games do provide a good deal of content...even if the entire track selection and remixes aren't top tier. There is some good stuff here if you can deal with the poorly-designed gameplay interface, but only the most enthusiastic of Persona fans will want to fork out for this collection.

Disappointingly, The Fall Part 2: Unbound fixes none of its predecessor's issues while chipping away at its greatest strength: the narrative. It fails to follow up on the first part's themes and plot in a cohesive or gripping manner, instead meandering with new characters and concepts that accomplish far less than those introduced in the original. Taking into account that it's far longer with an inconsistent pace all around, The Fall Part 2: Unbound feels like an enormous misstep after a flawed, but worthwhile, first third of a trilogy.

The first installment in a planned trilogy, The Fall does a respectable job at feeling complete while setting up upcoming entries. Although shorter than most adventures, the length does work in its benefit, as the slow pacing would likely overstay its welcome in a longer journey. Worth noting, the pacing is by no means perfect, with the ending coming off feeling especially rushed, but the rest of the experience makes good use of a slow, methodical approach. Atmospheric and appropriately lonely, with enough narrative weight to think on, this makes for some enjoyable point-and-click fun.

At best, this is just a very gimmicky adventure game. Each level having its own thing is a bit refreshing from always having to pixel-hunt for objects, tying simplistic stats into the mix adds some planning, and the way this title forces players to commit to their actions is nice. Sadly, as the journey reaches its half-way point, the story unravels in a very unsatisfying manner. Characters are built up and don't get the proper pay-off, while some disappear entirely.

A game out of time; it's wonderful for fans of the series to actually get their hands on this title that almost ended up on the trash pile with the death of THQ, but Darksiders III is so riddled with issues that they just can't be ignored. It feels like a game that was developed many years ago and then put on a shelf, finally now to be released. It feels worse than both previous entries and, worse, it feels more dated than the originals. It's so sad to see this franchise that held so much promise fall so far, and worse it seems unlikely to recover, either.

Football Manager 2019 is a fantastic entry in the series and anyone that hasn't picked up the game in a few years will be blown away by the structural changes to the way it works. The training system allows so much more flexibility in management, whilst drawing on real world examples of how teams are coached in the modern age. In addition, the tactical system overhaul makes creating a specific style for teams to play in much easier. The all-round performance is great, with the UI sensibly remaining as clean and user-friendly as it has been for a number of years now. There are a few minor things that could be polished up, but this is a great buy and sure to have a whole new group of football fanatics addicted.

Short but sweet perfectly sums up Luigi's haunted quest. Very little has changed in the transition from GameCube to 3DS, except for slightly inferior visuals and way worse controls...unless using the Circle Pad Pro. With the added benefit of the attachment, Luigi's Mansion plays exceptionally well, and is an enjoyable, if easy, romp through the spooky mansion that really kicked off Luigi's gaming career.

Even in its current state, Battlefield V succeeds in delivering that familiar, core experience in spite of missing some content, and while the thought of an incomplete game might deter some from pulling the trigger on a purchase, those eager to enlist will still find plenty to keep them occupied. Sure, it can occasionally be a bit rough around the edges, but this doesn't stop those epic 'wow' moments from coming thick and fast. Gorgeous visuals; incredible sound design; unprecedented levels of destruction - DICE is firmly focused on long-term player engagement here and its decision to scrap the Season Pass altogether is definitely a refreshing step in the right direction. Well played, guys.

Overall, Playgrounds 2 is lacklustre and feels too much like a mobile game franchise. It takes advantage of its audience and never offers enough satisfaction in return for the money, or the grind sessions. Ultimately, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is a bad game, and certainly no spiritual successor. Stick with NBA 2K19 or NBA Jam itself.

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!, as well as its almost identical counterpart, succeeds brilliantly at bridging the worlds of Pokémon Go and the mainline entries, combining evolved, simplified or even revised mechanics from both worlds into what is, make no mistake, a spin-off from the main franchise and not an actual new mainline game. Changes may not be to every old time fan's taste but diving in with expectations kept in check, everyone may find in there a lot to be enjoyed, both for fans of Pokémon Go or the modern games... or even fans of both who will best be able to appreciate it.

They don't all come out a perfect ten, but WWE 2K19 has improved on its predecessor. Even if the changes are somewhat small, they do make a difference. Unfortunately, to fully enjoy MyCareer and CAW, a lot of content has to be unlocked via randomised loot-boxes or sheer dedication to earning in-game currency. Aside from over gate-keeping the unlockables, WWE 2K19 has a lot of content under its hood, which should keep any wrestling fan entertained for quite some time.

Trailblazers successfully sets itself apart from others in the same genre, especially as the Nintendo Switch marketplace is full of crazy racing games. While it is evident that the soundtrack and art style are somewhat borrowed, they have been churned into a product that is new, refreshing and unique, blazing itself a trail all of its own.

Since the title doesn't even attempt to hide its shortcomings, it feels like its creators are perhaps aware that parents might not read up on the title's shortcomings before purchasing it for their child, safe in the knowledge that it's a recognisable brand. That, if true, is something to really take issue with. Thankfully, the world is full of people with a conscience, who will deter folk from this monstrosity and tell them to go play Mario Kart instead.

It's difficult to sing the praises of the core gameplay as much as last year. That's especially the case as the AI isn't as sensible as it was previously, with too many reckless challenges and questionable keeper decisions. PES 2019 underperforms, despite its quality.