Ultimately, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus is a case study that just because a game can be ported to a handheld doesn’t mean it necessarily should, especially if it suffers from downgraded visuals, spotty framerate and imprecise controls. Newbie players who never played the console versions may end up less frustrated out of ignorance, but a game that originally relied on tight controls and smooth gameplay should not have to endure such drawbacks just for the sake of going portable. It may earn points as a novelty to have the game on the go, but the cost of portability is too much of a disservice for a great action game optimized for consoles.

As puzzlers go this is a pretty decent effort, good fun for a while, but it does start to feel a bit too much like hard work as you near its end. If you could have just opened up new worlds as you completed the last one then it would be better, instead of the helmet system. But it's still worth a go if you like your arcade-style puzzlers. Not to mention, it definitely won't break the bank at 800MS Points.

Strike Suit Zero also fills the void of a genre that has long been forgotten on the PC, and maybe with the interest in this game, we will see the genre flourish once again in the near future.

Burnout Crash! is quite stripped down compared to major games in the series, but considering the low price I consider it a fair trade off. This isn't exactly what I would have wanted from a new Burnout game, and I'm unlikely to be alone in that, as it does have some noticeable design flaws. But once you get over them you will find that this is a fun title, worthy of the Burnout name, and well worth the 800 MS Points asking price.

Angry Birds is no longer the ultimate time waster, it now feels like a soulless service built solely to harvest money, and is happy to screw its players in as many ways possible to get it.

It’s an ambitious, idiosyncratic game – and for me, it sits alongside gloriously broken menu-driven political strategy-thrillers of yesteryear like Sid Meier’s Covert Action and Floor 13. That said, it won’t be for everyone.

This is a series that has potential to grow and get better with each sequel, but right now, as Nintendo Pocket Football Club stands, it’s a lovely bite size entry into football management that makes the genre feel more like a charming game with personality, rather than a set of overcomplicated calculations and stats.

The overall experience may be familiar, but hasn’t grown tiresome yet to affect its scare-factor. Grab some headphones, turn off the lights, and try not to wake up anyone living in the same household with your screams of terror.

If you are new to the genre, there are more accomplished games, wherein all elements work in tandem, awaiting your attention. However, if you're an avid adventure game player with most of your life-changing and genre-defining point-and-click experiences behind you, this is a worthwhile addition to your library.

Sorcery Saga: The Curse of the Great Curry God is a title that manages to get across the understanding of a roguelike in a rather simple manner. While its concept might come across as a baby version of the genre, what lies beneath the cute visuals is a punishing game that won’t let you off easily.

I enjoyed my time with Cradle, but I dare say many will not. Its detailed, although imprecise storytelling gives many of its suitors reasons to dislike it, to not understand it, and at worst give up on it. Regardless, I believe there is something quite special at work here.

Let us be honest. If this game was released WITHOUT the license, absolutely no one would care about it.

Immortal Planet is by no means a bad game but it’s certainly not for me. It just seemed to get in the way of itself a lot – holding itself back via some particularly odd design decisions, possibly made in an attempt to emulate that ‘Soulsian’ gameplay but without enough of a core to back it up.

This is for all of you gamers and journalists who have found the series “dull”, “repetitive” or even “boring” in the past.

Despite being arguably less than what it could (and should) have been, Arrival probably is just about worth your money. In fact, playing it got me started on another run through both games, so it's done something right. It's testament to a game's strength that even a relatively lacking bit of DLC can have you going balls deep back into its world in the pursuit of alien booty. Not every game could do it, but not every game is Mass Effect.

I safely believe that Dynasty Warriors 8 is the best entry in the mainline series to have ever been conceived. All the upgrades to the combat and the new features are what were needed to keep the series going forward. It manages to smartly add new things without disrupting the core concept of the game, which is surely what people who like these games are after.

It should be noted that the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii versions offer a superior experience.

Unfortunately there is so much wrong with it that it doesn’t even manage to reach average status.

The category of old school, “maso-core” platformers is simply so crowded with more satisfying overall packages that It’s hard to recommend investing in one that is likely to leap, werewolf like, out of your consciousness as soon as you’re done.

All in all, Hyperdevotion Noire is a decent sidetrack from the standard Neptunia games, but it could have used a bit more streamlining and quality-of-life mechanics to bring it up to current SRPG titles.

In all, Golden Force was unfortunately pretty disappointing. It would already be hard for this one to stand out, even if it was heavily polished, because there’s no hook besides the strange humour of murdering cats in a bloody shower of guts and naming all of the bosses after Mexican foods. But with all the bugs and design issues piled on top it probably has very little chance. One can only hope that the team will be able to iterate and improve if there’s ever a sequel, spiritual or otherwise, much like how the Shantae series (which gives off similar vibes) has progressed.

If you've got kids who you reckon would benefit from an introduction to Japanese RPGs, there are far worse places to start. But for Christ's sake, let them use an FAQ for the indoor sections.

There is still fun to be had driving a car around smartly designed tracks, and WRC 5: FIA World Rally Championship might just do enough to occupy your time for a few days, but feeling rough around the edges, this is one game that might end up in the dust once its 2016 rivals arrive.

For the most part NASCAR 09 seems like a solid racer, and I guess it does a good job of simulating the real life product. It is rather boring though, as even if you are a petrol head at heart you can only have so much fun going around, and around and around.

In the end, Tears to Tiara II is a well put-together game that’s hard to recommend in the long run. Had the game chosen to either be a full-fledged Visual Novel with proper saving features or a more evenly-paced Strategy RPG, it would have gotten a higher recommendation.

Antigraviator has decent track design, a good sense of speed and is fun without throwing unwanted distractions into the gameplay that I feel fans of the genre will certainly find some joy to be had trying to best their fastest boost chain, even if its content isn’t stacked as other available options on PC.

There is fun to be had here for children who are particularly fond of colouring and puzzles, but if they’re that keen, you can get the real thing for a tiny fraction of the cost of this (as well as being able to look at your work later), and so there’s little reason to buy Crayola Treasure Adventures.

In the end, Trillion: God of Destruction is a surprisingly innovative RPG from a company that is normally content to release/re-release a new Neptune game every month, and further testament to the Vita’s resigned fate as an RPG lover’s dream machine.

In the end, Fairy Fencer F is a solid RPG that does not break any new ground, but trims enough of the fat for an easily digestible experience.

The premise for Bee Simulator is good, and I like the idea of doing education through video games in such a uniquely refreshing way, but the execution here has problems. When the game is not asking much from the player, then Bee Simulator ends up being somewhat fun with a great sense of scale, but the controls hamper such an important part of the game that the experience ends up being frustrating. Throw in repetitive tasks and muddy visuals and what you have is a video game that sadly does not deliver on its potential. It is hard to recommend Bee Simulator out right, especially at its asking price, but some of the younger kids might enjoy what Bee Simulator has to offer.

Much of the story is kept until the end, with the rest mostly speculation from characters as to what is really going on, forcing you to play through to get more dirt on the mystery as it builds up.

This is not the best entry in Koei Tecmo’s long running series, but a title that remains pleasantly entertaining and is a welcomed edition to the constantly growing Warriors catalogue.

What Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3 comes down to is me and my pals playing a solid and fun fighting game without any interruption. If you want that with your Dragon Ball Z game, then you should check out this HD collection.

In the end Phantasy Star Portable will only appeal to people who can play it with friends. As a single player game is feels rather mediocre as you traverse through the dreary story.

Anyone able to overlook the mundane presentation will find an intriguing title that will take time to master its mechanics, and is worth checking out for people who have had their fill of Space Hulk or are after the next digital adaptation of a challenging 90s board game.

Let us be honest. If this game was released WITHOUT the license, absolutely no one would care about it.

In the end, Robinson: The Journey is the closest thing to a full-fledged title for the PSVR, which would explain its full price tag. Unfortunately, its average length is only slightly longer than the average VR title, clocking in around five hours. Regardless of the price, there’s no denying the level of polish and immersion that Robinson succeeds at, opening the doors even wider for the kind of innovative experiences Sony’s virtual headset can offer. If the games can steadily improve from here, then it’s a sure bet that the PSVR won’t go extinct before its prime.

When all is said and done, there is enough charm on show in Spoiler Alert to make it a fun game to play.

It’s not mechanically deep or rewarding to be a classic, but Killer Is Dead remains a solid piece of entertainment that Grasshopper fans will enjoy, while the rest of the world looks in bemusement as to why someone would like this.

Strikeforce is a step in the right direction for the franchise. It’s the much needed change that the series was crying out for. It’s just shame the console version is a port of the PSP game.

After you've experienced The Run you'll sadly come to the conclusion that it isn't any good. It's a great idea compromised by poor design and handling.

Dynasty Warriors 7: Xtreme Legends is a very good expansion pack

Simply looking at the game then, Wreckateer is a one-trick pony that plays it too safe to be anything other than a bit of fun on the side.

London 2012 is a mixed bag of good and bad, just like the sports it represents. It's dull as the UK weather can be in single-player mode, with local multiplayer being the only saving grace for the game. If you're looking for some nights of local multiplayer fun then this will supply that, but no doubt you'll be done with it before the Olympics finish.

It’s by no means a classic. It’s not something you would run to your friends to recommend. It’s a game you can enjoy quietly by yourself, as you hack-and-slash your way through run after run, laughing off terrible plot moments and feeling satisfied.

F1 Race Stars had the potential to be a great kart racer; sadly, some of the gameplay tilts towards the real life sport and hinders the experience. Along with the AI, it becomes something that no kart racer should ever be – a chore to play.

This is what Painkiller: Hell & Damnation is – a fun blast to the past.

WRC 4: FIA World Rally Championship is a good, solid attempt at a rally game that feels satisfying enough to enjoy.

Overall, despite scope for improvement in future installments, EDF 4.1 is an accessible, enjoyable and unique experience to any newcomer prepared to suspend triple-A gaming logic. For veterans, it’s the the best outing yet for this beloved oddity.

In the end, a few technical shortcomings keeps Akiba’s Trip from reaching true greatness, but not from becoming a very recommended title.

At a cheap 800 Microsoft points, the game certainly merits trying. It goes without saying that as more people purchase it, the game's experience will only become better. Until then, long load times and a tough reward system ensure that it certainly caters to the niche of insanely fast-shooters, but might be unforgiving and underwhelming to other types of gamers.

In the end, Nights of Azure tries to prioritize style over substance, which should be enough to gain the attention of its target audience, but a bit more tightening up of the latter would have been preferable. Whether the grinding gameplay is enough to enjoy a saccharine sweet girl/girl romance plot will depend on the player’s tolerance, not to mention their own priorities for a game like this.

The Caligula Effect Overdose could have been so much more, I would never say no to more games bringing unique ideas to the Persona formula, but this game doesn’t deliver on that and is instead filled with repetitive and undeveloped systems. It can entertain and be fun, but I feel that The Caligula Effect Overdose truly is a game for the serious hardcore fans of the genre that like the idea of a less developed Persona title.

If you did enjoy Red Alert 3’s single player missions, then Uprising is more of the same and you’ll want to give this a look. Everyone else will be left a little underwhelmed, particularly if you believe the series has gone downhill since the 1996 original.

Maybe they should give the reins back to Camelot before they think about releasing another Mario Sports title, because Square Enix have proven they have trouble cutting the mustard.

As PC ports go, it’s pretty mundane in features, and the lack of online cooperative play hurts it, but the game, despite some of the shortcomings with its combat, is fun and charming that scratches an itch for people who like levelling up characters to take them through the difficulties, and as for what is available on the platform, you can do much worse than Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds.

If you are a One Piece fan then this is the best game to come out in the UK for the franchise and should satisfy anyone's craving for a bit of Monkey D. Luffy and his peculiar cast of friends.

Zombie Vikings is most definitely one of the best indie games I’ve played through 2015, and I would highly recommend it. It’s a vast improvement on what was a similar-looking yet exemplary game in it’s own right, and it makes me excited for what Zoink have in stall in the future.

The actual game has smooth and responsive controls, an appropriate soundtrack and a particular lean-back quality that I do enjoy, allowing me to quickly jump into a game that is pretty relaxed and simple to play. But that is just enough.

Simply put, Kholat fails to properly balance its moody aesthetics while keeping the player actively invested. It is yet another case of an experience that is beautiful to witness, but boring to actually engage in.

Tiberium Twilight is a poor game that removes the things that made the original concept so good. What’s left is a hollow shell that feels irrelevant, given the superior games in the series that came long before it.

It’s a shame that such smooth controls, great audio and classic visuals were wasted on a game that is just so outdated.

This game is a must play for any Batman fan and a must play for any Telltale fan. The story is different and refreshing but has the best of Telltale baked in with the decisions and the flowing dialogue. It was a pleasure to play and another shining example of great story telling in a game and had some of the best QTE I’ve seen in one of their games.

Initially, I was going to give FBC: Firebreak a 6, marking it as “Fair” on our scale, but patch v1.2 shifted my perspective. It addressed several of my concerns and signals a promising direction for the game’s future. As it stands, FBC: Firebreak feels like a game with potential that hasn’t fully figured itself out yet. While it’s built on a solid co-op PvE formula and benefits from Remedy’s unique universe, it lacks the variety and depth needed to keep players engaged over time. The handful of missions wear thin quickly due to repeated objectives and static structure, and even with Corrupted Items adding some unpredictability, it’s not enough to mask the thin content. The lack of no voice or text chat makes teamwork clunky. Remedy has shown they’re listening with patch v1.2, which improved pacing and progression, but unless future updates bring significantly more content and variety, I can’t see this game having long-term staying power. For now, it feels like a solid foundation that still needs more built on top of it to truly stand out in a crowded genre.

A steeping stone for the series, one that offers hope that EA can achieve better things in the future.

Insomniac took a risk with this title, but I think it has paid off. It is a fun game to play with a friend and is worthy of being called Ratchet and Clank.

This is one of the worst types of tragedies that can befall a game – to be brimming with potential and fun gameplay, only to get ruined with technical blunders.

Although fun, it doesn't have the greatest depth in the world. Nail'd is unreservedly a mindlessly fast racing game. It's the kind of game you could easily blast through in a weekend, but it is cheaper than the average game, so if you like fast arcade-style racers this is definitely worth a look.

When a game is interesting or powerful 40 hours can just fly by, but here I felt every slow minute drag on as I forced myself to continue with little payoff.

The original Force Unleashed shot for the stars, and fell short, but at least you could commend it for trying. Force Unleashed 2 feels sterile and barren in comparison, refusing to try for anything spectacular, and managing to reuse and recycle its few good ideas countless times over its short run.

Overall, I think PositronX, despite currently being very average, has the framework necessary to become something greater with some added touches and fixes. During early access the game received plenty of updates but perhaps it’s time to go back to basics and look to improve those key elements that make a successful FPS game to keep you coming back for more.

Dynasty Warriors 8: Empires feels eerily similar to Dynasty Warriors 7: Empires with all the characters from Dynasty Warriors 8, so if you played that game, then you can probably skip this unimaginative release.

Truly, Penny-Punching Princess feels more like an indie experiment than a full-fledged game and that’s totally fine. It’s fun at it’s core and the feeling of repetition can be kept at bay by playing in small bursts, making it perfect for its target consoles – the Switch and the Vita. With that said, I simply can’t recommend this title at the current price of almost a full triple-A game. I mean, there are a bunch of incredible games on the e-shop that aren’t even half the price.

If Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl came out twenty years ago it would have been a smashing success, ignoring that many of the characters within didn’t exist back then. But that’s not the case, and even though I did enjoy it for what it is, I can’t recommend it when the alternatives are so incredibly superior in its current state. I’m sure with a passionate team and a dedicated community it could do really well, but with a haemorrhaging player base and the blaring shortage of anything to keep people in the game in a world dominated by season passes and constant loot-box unlocks, I just don’t see that happening.

The core gunplay mechanic may be genre leading, but the wrapper that surrounds it continues to be irreparably broken.

Ultimately, Wii Music is the equivalent of Leonardo da Vinci saying he’ll paint the Mona Lisa for you, but then deciding to challenge himself by using a Etch A Sketch. Yes, I am sure the clever old codger could work out something, but you’re sure as hell not going to take a vacation to Paris to view the end result.

Dokapon Kingdom: Connect might lure some of those Mario Party fans across, but the game feels more aimed at finding its own small audience who love the idea of a video game that blends RPG mechanics with a board game in a decent way. If you are one of those, then get ready to embark on a long adventure filled with friendly banter and devilish competition to be the richest person in the land.

Blades of Time is a better game than X-Blades, but not by much. The game knows it has a good idea because it abuses the time feature trick a bit too much, and like a kid wanting attention, you'll just get fed up with it being in your face all the time.

Episode 1 of Missing is a nice looking FMV with decent acting, detailed set-pieces, and little else. While this is only the beginning, my interest in finding out who captured David and why is tempered by relative disinterest in the characters themselves and the events surrounding them.

I have no doubt that some people will enjoy the mindless violence and see it as an interesting take on the Dynasty Warriors formula. It makes for a quick pick up and play title because the stages are really short, lasting between 10-20 minutes a chapter. I just wish the overall game had better mechanics.

Regardless of quantity concerns (which is a valid complaint), where The Order more crucially falls apart is in regards to quality. It does not matter if a game is one or one hundred hours long, you need to enjoy playing it, and The Order fails at that most crucial of tasks. This is unforgivable, and instantly makes it impossible to recommend.

Overall, an average racing game that holds some fun but, for the money, alternatives exist on the PS3 that are far more enjoyable.

Torchlight III is not a bad game, it’s just a filler, a quick fast food lunch for action RPG fans, one to play once the better games in the genre have been beaten. I feel this game is not one for replayability – once the story is done and the end game content becomes monotonous it is time to move on to something else. This might suit people who do not want to be invested in grinding for hours upon end and simply want to slaughter plenty of familiar enemies for a few hours, but for the hardcore, this will be a disappointment.

Despite the good intentions of the developers, Arizona Sunshine is yet another PSVR game that is plagued by unoptimized controls, queasy camera movement and an overall brief and unremarkable experience that barely qualifies it as a rental, where such an option even possible. The standards have already been raised for virtual horror games thanks to Resident Evil 7, so it falls upon developers to catch up to the VR race and deliver the same kind of quality that Sony’s new hardware add-on desperately needs.

In summary, Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days is a missed opportunity.

All in all, Episode II was a definite progression from Episode I. The bite-sized series updates aren't totally where they need to be, but they're getting there. With a little more focus on speed, fluidity, and a 'back to basics' attitude, SEGA will have a winner on their hands that will be almost as cherished as their best work of art to date.

Although, the game overall was not a letdown, as I got exactly what I expected, with a story told like some crazy paradox by a character you can’t help but enjoy.

Although a competent beat ‘em up, it lacks not only the accessibility but the depth of Street Fighter IV, the classic gameplay of Mark of the Wolves or Marvel vs. Capcom 2, and the hardcore technical side of Blazblue.

Despite being arguably less than what it could (and should) have been, Arrival probably is just about worth your money. In fact, playing it got me started on another run through both games, so it's done something right. It's testament to a game's strength that even a relatively lacking bit of DLC can have you going balls deep back into its world in the pursuit of alien booty. Not every game could do it, but not every game is Mass Effect.

If you’ve got kids that grown bored of Nintendogs or simply want a virtual experience of owning a puppy then playstation Vita Pets is an awesome experience and I can’t wait to see the next steps it’ll take.

It should be noted that the idea of terrain deformation is a good one, and one that deserves to be expanded on, but this time around its implementation is significantly below par in execution. So much so, that I’d be hard-pressed to recommend the game to anyone - even as a rental.

If more time was spent to slowly explain its gameplay, or better yet simplify it so that it doesn’t conflict with players who want to experience the story, it would have proved a much stronger recommendation.

These are only minor complaints, as the game itself is very polished and delivers exactly what it promises – fast paced action with that great arcade feel. For the low price of just £3.52 ($4.99), it’s definitely worth picking up.

Reverie Knights Tactics features straightforward mechanics, which might leave mega fans of the genre wanting more depth, but overall, while Reverie Knights Tactics brings nothing new to the genre, it is a fun challenge for people who enjoy tactical games.

Jumping into a wingsuit in Skydive: Proximity Flight is fun and different at first, but after playing an hour or so, it becomes apparent that there isn’t much else going on with the game.

Right now it’s still a good time, more so with a full group of friends, but it definitely becomes mundane quickly, especially after figuring out how and when to push spawn points and prepping for fights over hurriedly trying to winch for a desperate win. Those strategies need to be constantly challenged, though, instead of feeling like a to-do list each round. The introduction of a skill ranking system would also go a long way as playing with similarly skilled groups is like a whole different game than when completely crushing a team or getting grouped with those still learning the basics. I have high hopes for Hood. I’d love nothing more than to see a steady flow of engrossing changes to help build a solid community around it but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

In summary, Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days is a missed opportunity.

When it’s all said and done, my main quarrel with all of these issues is that they are holding this super concept back from reaching anywhere near its potential and it’s just such a shame to see. Wavey The Rocket has its ups and downs, it’s crests and troughs, if you will, but it is still a good game at its core. There are just a few rough edges that need to be worked on and status quos to break free of. Instead of trying to fit this new idea into an established space, like a wavey peg into a conventionally-shaped hole, I wanted to see it go further, to think bigger!