While the procedurally-generated campaign does leave much to be desired in the way of level and mission design, the core gameplay loop is solid and the missions themselves emphasise the action more than anything else, keeping consecutive playthroughs engaging. Controlling the plane is easy to pick up and hard to master, but it all pays off due to just how satisfying the gameplay is. Rogue Aces is a by-the-books arcade experience that offers a fresh take on dogfighting.

Break Arts II is a deceptively complex racing game that is sure to create a dedicated and hardcore fan-base. Complex construction mechanics allow for the creation of machines that can be wholly unique to their builder. A high skill ceiling serves as a fine complement for the construction, as all the time spent in the garage will pay off as that machine navigates the small sampling of challenging tracks. While the combat interactions can feel unsatisfying at times, mastering those elements with the others provides players with a worthy challenge.

With attention to detail within every nook and cranny, watching how their two stories diverge and converge at integral moments of the game is a fascinating experience that needs to be played through twice. Playing as both Leo and Vince will offer two unique story paths, as they both have different roles in solving puzzles, while narrative-forks provide a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure element to the story.

The most impressive thing about this is its pleasantly corny, '80s-esque name, because, besides the fact that Raging Justice is a brawler of below average quality, it makes the mistake of being way too much in love with its source material, and doesn't stray one bit from it.

As bizarre as the idea of Grim Reapers, turn-based battles and Scrabble-like wordplay all together sounds, Letter Quest Remastered really makes it work, and enjoyably so. The harsh difficulty hikes in later story missions can be jarring for the wallet-grinding they then necessitate, and there isn't a great deal of diversity in enemy design and environment, but once the addictive nature of word building gets its hooks in, prying them off isn't easy.

From beginning to end, Dark Rose Valkyrie feels as if it has every flaw of the JRPG genre combined into one package. The characters are stereotypical instead of memorable, the story sort of… sits there, and the battles are slow, and depend more on grinding than tactical thinking. Apart from all this, Compile Heart's creation is audio-visually unimpressive, a technical mess, and feels as if it hasn't spent the right amount of time in the oven.

Earth Wars is not particularly creative or brilliant, but it works entirely within its limited means to deliver a comfortable, enjoyable experience. Every minute is spent engaged in fast-paced combat, and there's just enough to keep players occupied until something else catches their interest.

Warmind seems to indicate that Bungie is serious about getting Destiny 2 back on track, although a lot of that could be the result of better updates between expansions, rather than any real excellence from the expansion itself. Still, Warmind is a significantly better expansion than last year's Curse of Osiris and brings back a little of the mystery that made uncovering secrets in the original title so compelling. The Destiny 2 experience might still be a little off, but this is a pretty good place to jump back into the action.

With several secrets to uncover in each stage and a risk versus reward checkpoint system, FOX n FORESTS comes off a creative action platformer with a strong identity of its own.

The vast, beautiful world delivered through complex geometry and loads of lighting effects is truly compelling and the relaxed pace of the exploration is nicely complemented by the quirkiness of the dialogue. Character models are a bit on the weak side but this just adds to the quirkiness of the in-game universe.

Not only will Episode 2: Hide and Seek not turn the heads of those who didn't like the first part of The Council, but it will probably disappoint the ones that did, as it takes a couple of steps backward. The journey through the realm of mystery thrillers it offers remains a somewhat engrossing one, but it surely needs to think a lot about its next step if it is to succeed.

Along with being the definitive way to play Strange Journey, Redux stands out as one of the best games in the Shin Megami Tensei franchise all around.

It might have taken a couple tries to get the formula right, but Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition is exemplary. Much can be said about the absurd amount of content, but what really takes this game to the next level are the various refinements. The item card shop alone makes a world of difference for dedicated adventurers. There's also the enhanced frame-rate, which lends a better sense of control and situational awareness to the player. They are better equipped to notice those subtle changes in enemy behaviour, or realise when a massive attack is coming.

Although Saturday Morning RPG certainly captures the feelings of playing a Saturday morning cartoon, that quality may very well be its downfall. The episodic format, coupled with the fairly involved battle system, make for a breath of fresh air in the early game, but they quickly become repetitive and rather dull, much like a typical '80s cartoon.

There is plenty here for newcomers of the series to enjoy, as well, as long as they don't care about minor things like character introductions. Along the way, they will encounter some fun and often self-referential humour and some challenging puzzles in a colourful and sugary sweet package.

This is a 12-year-old's (and beyond) sexual fantasy, and a pretty safe one at that - and that's fine. Unfortunately, the game attached to it all is a bore, as Gal*Gun 2 is nothing more than a mediocre, on-rails - sort of - shooter of no importance.

The concept is definitely unique and it is the kind of title that is perfect for VR when it comes to encouraging manageable, time efficient sessions of strategic fun. The physics are great, with the act of throwing the grenades a real treat, albeit the animation quality of the NPCs is not the best ever seen. However, it is a shame that technical issues involving the performance and bugs mar what could be a really great experience. A bit of further development and tweaking, as well as adding some additional levels, would improve things immensely.

Casual gamers are going to find a lot to love in Attack on Titan 2 (A.O.T. 2). The controls perfectly suit the action, and make Titan-slaying or just swinging around quite fun. There's also plenty of satisfaction to be had in the pursuit of better gear and special skills. However, those out there who want to get the most out of their purchase are going to have a lot of work to do.

Light Fall is a very competent 2D platformer with a fairly low barrier for kids to enjoy. This could be a good gateway game for the likes of N++ or Super Meat Boy, since the checkpoints are plentiful and it is generally not a punishing title. The visuals are not going to win any awards but they are not offensive or too derivative; merely adequate. Light Fall is a great one for those who are not quite ready to take on Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, but are growing out of Kirby Star Allies.

Forgotton Anne is a charming little adventure, with an interesting, and good-looking, hand painted world that's fun to live on for the eight or so hours that this will last. Unfortunately, the story never really manages to become as emotional and engrossing as it thinks it is, and the rest of the experience, the actual jumping and puzzle-solving, feels more like useless baggage.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a lesson in sequel creation. Instead of making some slight alterations, or simply changing the setting, this smooths all the rough edges of the first game, while keeping the plot, writing, and role-playing aspect in top form. While not without flaws, and although the seafaring business is not equally awesome as the rest of the experience, this is, without a single doubt one of the best Dungeons & Dragons-inspired RPGs of the year.

Highly recommended to anyone with a passing interest in beat 'em ups, but there is no denying that there is mild disappointment at the absence of new gameplay content, rendering it a hard sell to those that have beaten the game before. Don't like beat' em ups, though? Better off to pass, as the tedium does have a tendency to rear its ugly head before long, and that isn't something even Dragon's Crown can evolve the genre from.

In short, Last Encounter has a neat concept, but fails to follow through with it. A good challenge is the lifeblood of a videogame, especially when it comes to roguelikes. If the level of difficulty is incapable of matching and growing with the player's skill and arsenal, then there's no purpose in continuing to play. Before long, what should be a thrilling run deep into enemy territory becomes nothing more than a thirty-minute spectacle of light and sound.

Anyone who enjoyed Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth: Book One is going to enjoy Book Two. Outside of continuing the drama, the unusual gameplay mix of open-ended questing and mini-games make this series stand out from typical modern adventure titles. Book Two has a very old-school approach to this genre and isn't afraid to experiment and not hand-hold all the time.

The Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 01: Variety Kit is just what it says on the tin - one that serves up a variety of unique and interactive toys to build. Through a brilliant interface and robust card shapes, the kit offers hours of DIY building fun - with an interactive pay-off. The mini-games are somewhat short, leaning more towards concept pieces, but with the Labo Garage included, it creates limitless possibilities to explore and invoke a little mischief, too!

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is a real delight to play, holding its appeal even several years after its original Wii U release. Switch owners have already been treated to a fantastic rendition of the Kirby series, and now the more veteran of gamers out there can get some platforming goodness with the higher difficulty and variety offered in Retro Studios' effort.

The real star is the fluid combat, realistic visuals, and the rousing set-pieces. It is unclear how far the PlayStation 4's architecture is being pushed, but it wouldn't be surprising if God of War is pushing it to its absolute limit because there is never a moment when it does not look stunning. There is a so much to like that the weaker aspects get drowned out and easily ignored and pulling that off is no easy feat.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole is an excellent RPG that adds a hefty amount of mechanical depth to improve upon The Stick of Truth. Admittedly, some of the gaming commentary is less effective if the player has experience with the previous instalment. However, there are still plenty of surprises and enough side-splitting moments to make it a must-buy for any fans of South Park, especially if seasoned gamers, too.