I honestly did not really mind that the game closed without fully explaining itself; the problem was that as the credits rolled my mind harked back to earlier points in the game, trying to give those supposedly standout moments a second thought, and realising none of them really stood out firmly in my mind.

To say the least, Assassin’s Creed II is a disappointment – not because it’s bad, but because we were promised so much more. Everything Ubisoft claimed they were changing has stayed the same, and what little new touches they’ve included fail to impact in the long run.

All I can say is Clandestine needs polishing. It has some creases to iron out and whilst I recommend it to co-op lovers, that recommendation does come with a few disheartening caveats.

Operation Arrowhead certainly features a large assortment of content, both offline and online, that rewards its fans, but for those who prefer their shooters to require little thinking and itchy trigger fingers, you may want to pass this one up.

Compromised on a technical level, Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus is not as polished of a port as it deserved to be (and probably could have been if the publisher was not so adamant about shipping the game in time for the Vita's launch). Some solace is taken in the fact that, at the very least, we finally have a workable version of a 3D Ninja Gaiden game running in the palm of our hands, but it still leaves you feeling let down by the whole sloppy affair.

The beautiful presentation cannot hide some of the game’s irksome issues with its occasional wooden delivery and trip-ups within its script. Root Letter isn’t a visual novel that matches up with some of the quality imports that have come from Japan, but if you have exhausted all of those options, then Root Letter makes for an enjoyable alternative to spend a weekend with its intriguing story of friendship and love.

In the end, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate is a far more competent entry than the much maligned Unity, but it does not entirely restore faith in the aging franchise.

Ultimately, Slender: The Arrival retains the same experience as the previous versions, though it lacks the visual polish of the PC original.

Burgertime World Tour is not a very bad game but it is really only for you if you're in for the nostalgia of having been able to play the original Burgertime in arcades or even on an NES at home. I personally am a huge fan when it comes to games being re-released that I remember loving as a kid but this game fell short of my expectations.

I still don’t understand how Lara can use her guns underwater or why she insists on kicking priceless vase’s, but niggles aside Tomb Raider Underworld is actually pretty fun in places. It’s just a shame that this so called update was is so horrendously out of date in comparison to something like Uncharted which trounces Underworld at every turn.

Story Mode – Episode 1 hits or misses with its characters and presents a relatively anemic plot for later episodes to build on; less immediately captivating than its predecessors, yes, but Telltale has set out to find the perfect blend of action and heart – they haven’t found it yet – but in later episodes they just might.

Overall my suggestion would be, stick the game’s suggestions (hints) on high, enjoy it as a constant stream of brain-dead semi funny entertainment, in a universe you are probably familiar with, and get as much stress-free enjoyment from what admittedly, feels like a pretty polished episodic game.

When it comes to video games, it is more than just a way to learn, it also has to have other elements to make it a good game. This is where Never Alone: Arctic Collection falls short; there are issues with controls and glitches that make this more irritating than it should be. I like what Upper One Games are doing here, but Never Alone is a great informative piece mixed with an imperfect video game hampered by mediocre controls and awkward glitches. Should this stop you from playing? No, but just be wary that this journey through the Alaskan winter might not be as cool as one anticipates.

In the end, it comes down to how well you can slug through the shallow and unchallenging tactics and the annoyingly drawn out battles to experience such fan-service love, its huge list of references, and its desire to bring a title for video game fans of things Japanese.

If this year’s features are expanded on for the next game, brilliant, and all that, but in order to really take things to the next level, perhaps completely reworking the gameplay would be the best thing to add into next year’s release.

Fate/Extra is an intriguing game that features a brilliant story, solid characters and good art, but when it comes to the RPG aspects it's all a little uninspiring, and at times tedious and boring, with too much repetition in gameplay and design. If you like to play RPGs for the story and aren't worried about a basic battle system based around luck, then by all means check Fate/Extra out, you'll certainly get a well worth kick from its story, just don't expect to be blown away by its gameplay.

Overall, Agents of Mayhem is incredible fun, but having played Volition’s other games, this title seems to be lacking a certain panache that their others games had in spades. The potty humour is there, and is funny in places, but it’s far removed from the hilarious stuff seen in Saints Row. Even the weapons leave much to be desired after experiencing the insane arsenal seen in Saints Row. There are some unique play styles and weapons included, but these feel a little too PG13 for an 18-rated game.

Nevertheless I have to give BetaDwarf props for trying something different here by mixing up an original blend of genres and for creating something innovative. And although I’m afraid I’m going to have to recommend the original Forced over Showdown any day, I really hope that this team keeps striving to create new and interesting concepts because that is sadly something pretty hard to come by nowadays.

Unless there’s a nausea-based update I’m not sure I’d ever go back to play Detached again and it’s definitely not making it into my impress first time VR-users catalogue. In fact, it has instead become my go-to example for how VR standards must be respected and how ignoring them can potentially ruin what might have been an otherwise fantastic experience. I’m not sure I can put it any better than that; great game but unplayable.

Putting aside the bizarre lack of content, and the fact that each time you play you feel like your setting up a “quick match” on most other games, and the fact you achieve relatively nothing of worth when you win.

In the end, htoL#NiQ is a beautiful and encouraged experiment marred by a frustrating difficulty and clunky controls (even if intentionally clunky). It will require a bit of patience and several hundred deaths, but those willing to commit themselves will appreciate the game’s haunting beauty the most.

The action is repetitive and dull, even with the extra visual trappings and character variety. The main hook is the lengthy story, but only a select group of hardcore fans who have been following the plot since the PSP days will be able to truly appreciate the metaphysical terminology and boisterous soliloquies from the various historical figures reincarnated as sword-swinging waifus and husbandos.

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.

Joining the roguelite genre is no easy thing to do, since the field is packed with high quality titles as is, and sadly, Katana Kami isn’t quite on par with the best in the business. That is not to say this game is bad, it supplies a decent attempt at the genre with some unique features of its own. Playing in short sessions works best for most fun with its with fast action that incorporates some decent combat mechanics and out of dungeon concepts that aren’t sadly capitalised to their fullest, nor can the randomised dungeon design keep the repetitiveness away from eventually creeping in. So in the end, there are some shortcomings – I still cannot get over the lack of supporting 1440p resolution – but Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story does about a enough to warrant been a fair entry in the genre.

Purely from a gameplay standpoint this is one of the most consistently well designed adventure games I've played, and tackling its scenarios was a delight, but while nearly any other video game genre gets away with its particular narrative vices, story and characters are such crucial aspects of this one. Poor characterisation and a too familiar storyline is ultimately enough to render Resonance a mechanically impressive adventure game that sorely lacks personality.

Simply put, MegaTagmension Blanc+Neptune vs Zombies is a contradictory case of being too fast-paced to practice with its mechanics, and too long before the missions reach a comfortable length.

Perhaps the worst thing you can say about Lego Indy is that it is not as instantly likeable as the Lego Star Wars games, and that it’s more of a relationship you’ll have to work at instead of being the love at first sight Travellers Tales' previous efforts were.

In any case, if you don’t mind the sexual nature of the motivation mini-games and are looking for a JRPG that makes for a fun play in short burst and is a little different, then taking a peek at Criminal Girls: Invite Only might offer you a fairly enjoyable, if flawed, time.

Very much a ‘love it’ or ‘hate it’ game. At best it’s an entertaining and strangely compelling shooter with simple but fun gameplay. At worst it’s repetitive and fiddly with no real draw.

Even these best intentions cannot hide the fact the game never consistently hits the epic feeling most will feel it should.

Archangel has a few rough dents in its mechanical chassis, but still performs a whole lot better than most of the VR dreck that has plagued Sony’s budding VR hardware. At this point, beggars can’t be choosers, and a decent experience is far more preferable than another stomach-turning train wreck. Though not every idea may be properly thought through, there is still a lot of love and care put into the game, which may not make it entirely deserving of a full-price purchase, but still worth a weekend with after a price drop or two.

Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2 has all the building blocks of a solid and fast-paced JRPG, but a few extra caveats players must be mindful of, specifically the sporadic difficulty, the extra grinding and the extra emphasis on Moe.

In the end, White Day: A Labyrinth Named School does not quite live up to its legend as a hard to find, harder to run niche horror game, but there are a lot of nostalgic touches to appreciate for longtime fans of horror games. Consequently, those fans may be the ones who will be able to tolerate the game’s archaic shortcomings the most.

Worms: Battle Islands is fun, but it's not long before it's relegated to the odd party game and the occasional commute.

I can clearly say I had fun with Onechanbara Z2: Chaos, because in the end, it just manages to bring shameless adult fun with a slap of fan service, but even though I liked my short time with the game, it clearly needs work on its issues to bring a Onechanbara game that is more than just a mediocre game with deep, stylish combat to butter up the overall package.

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.

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.

Bringing something from the past to the present can feel refreshing when its entire heritage is lost in the current version of the genre, and even though this version isn’t as polished, as good-looking or as smooth-running as the PC version, it’s still a blast to the past.

You can see glimpses of what could have been, but it is spoilt by some bad choices and a sloppy ending.

Whether or not Global Agenda is worth paying a monthly fee for entirely depends on the player, along with Hi-Rez Studios' commitment to pump out enough updates that justify the fees. There's nothing fundamentally wrong with the game, but there's nothing particularly outstanding about it either.

A highly playable version of Metal Slug on the DS, and regardless of the steps back to suit the hardware, the end result is not all that bad. You can’t help but wish for more, although for any game to be truly special on its eight iteration is a very big ask.

It’s still by no means a masterpiece. (As soon as you include imagery of people defecating on each other for pleasure the word ‘masterpiece’ must, of course, be immediately discarded), but it is a vastly improved experience over the original. Not only have there been significant upgrades made to the gameplay, it also delves much deeper into every aspect of the story: from the land of ecstasy, ‘Lusst’ghaa, its inhabitants, history, and eventual downfall; to the different cults, their leaders, beliefs and motivations.

RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business is more of the brutal, authentic RoboCop power fantasy fans loved when it comes to its intense combat. Gunplay is as meaty and over-the-top as before for the series, with the iconic Auto 9 still stealing the show. However, the expansion comes with some uneven pacing and technical issues that weren’t present in the original. It’s one for fans of the first game’s action but be prepared for a few rough edges in its current state.

The only real “achievement” of EndWar is its voice command system.

Trash Goblin has the basics of a cosy experience, offering a casual, low-stakes loop with charming characters and accessible mechanics. It’s pleasant, undemanding, and occasionally fun, but it rarely stretches beyond those foundations. The lack of failing mechanics keeps things relaxing but also dulls any sense of progression or challenge. As the systems begin to fade and repetition sets in, even the new patch content struggles to reignite that initial enthusiasm, it begins to lose its appeal. There’s enjoyment here, for sure, especially in short bursts, but it’s the kind of game you put down once the novelty wears off or the story wraps up. A fun little distraction, but not a noteworthy one.

Harking back to Elika for a second, I have to admit she is a fantastic addition to the series, and as gimmicks go she is significantly better than The Sands of Time.

If you’re not bothered about kicking a thirty-plus minute run to the curb because you didn’t quite manage to piece together anything strong enough, or about dawdling around a bit in an attempt to grind for whatever may be needed to build a dream weapon, you might really enjoy Noita. It’s not exactly my cup of tea but I think I may have been taking it a little too seriously – sometimes it’s just fun to embrace the madness and see how far you can take it.

It’s overly simple and lacks the diversity for extended play.

The end result is, that not through lack of effort, Forza 5 turns out to be the first true regression the series has seen since its inception.

Apart from some shiny new graphics, and a some multiplayer game modes it is exactly the same game as all those years ago.

It won’t blow your socks off mechanically, but people looking to just pick a car and drive in an exotic location without any complications will find fun here, it’s just a huge shame that Driveclub could have done with more work before being released in its the current state.

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.

An acceptable update in terms of presentation, but regretfully somewhat lacking in the new gameplay features the move to a new generation should demand. Regretfully, it is far from the spectacular game many hoped it would be when it was first announced. It grasps on too tightly to what came before, refusing to give gamers the freedom other games in this generation have offered.

Rock ‘N Racing Off Road is best suited to an enthusiast of the sport who is more likely to have the determination and patience required to complete the game.

It's not good enough, frankly. The fun zombie-bashing can't sustain itself, and the plot, characters and setting aren't good or memorable enough to justify wading through the 20 odd hours it'll take to finish.

It’s a real shame that the two halves of gameplay, the action and the puzzling/exploration, differ so greatly in quality or this would be an easy recommendation to any 90s nostalgia-hunters. Instead there’s a clear divide and the fun often comes crashing to a halt, constraining the player to slowly back up and work a row of dawdling dummies with a pipe for five minutes to conserve resources. To make it worse there are actually two extra modes, a classic wave-based survival challenge with a shop between each round and a procedurally generated labyrinth, that both rely on this exact approach to play: aggro the mass of dopes and painstakingly beat them to death with a melee weapon in order to save any important armaments for the real problems. I still say it’s worth giving a shot if you’re into this style of retro horror, more so because of how exceptionally cheap it is, as long as you’re aware of the few clumsy design choices that all too often get in the way of the experience.

Even though it was developed with the benefit of over twenty years of hindsight, it's a game that ignores fundamental lessons of the brawler genre. Excellent presentation doesn't change the fact that Double Dragon Neon just isn't very satisfying to play.

Crucially, if you stand back and think of what the series could be evolving into with current hardware then you can’t help but look at DW6 as a disappointment.

Cris Tales claims to be a “love letter to classic JRGs” and it has all the elements that make up a great JRPG by bringing back things we’ve missed about the older classics but it hasn’t quite executed them as well as I’d hoped. The combat was easily the best part of Cris Tales but this was unfortunately ruined by loading screens/times; I hope they can get this fixed ASAP so the game can receive more credit. This is one of the few, maybe only, games I’ve played where my experience was ruined by a mix of technical issues.

Like many of the other VR experiences in this launch, Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live is an impressive technical showcase that opens the imagination for future VR games, but is currently bereft of meaningful content or replay value.

With the lack of tight controls, an honest challenge and the addition of a generic plot and characters we’re left with a totally average action platforming game that promised the world.

I would still recommend Yomawari: Night Alone to any horror fans simply on the basis of it being unique, but if that’s not what you’re looking for and nothing short of a terror-inducing masterpiece will do, I’m afraid it’s back to Silent Hill 2. Until we do get that next genre-defining horror gem, Yomawari is a nice distraction that will hopefully be worked on to bring us something even more sinister and satisfying in the future.

The Lost Shapes is a simple concept that is hampered by poor execution. Whilst the Survival Mode makes for both a relaxing and tactical experience, Shape Mode is let down by poorly implemented scoring and design choices. Sadly, Magic Chess isn't the bewitching experience it could have been.

Unless you are a die-hard on-rails shooter fan it's quite hard to recommend Yar's Revenge over some of the much more loved classics on Xbox Live, like the brilliant REZ. Yar's Revenge is the exact opposite of Mizugichi's masterpiece as it lacks the memorable moments and set pieces. This re-imagining of a classic isn't what it could have been.

Its potential is crushed by the frustrating match ups with ghost AI and it’s back track laden puzzles through a roughly 5 hour long campaign consisting of only a handful of environments that, through the fault of only it’s spectacular art style, all look identical.

Maneater starts as an enjoyable, silly concept, making it fun for a couple of hours. It is a title that reminds me of the show, the Deadliest Catch, but as the game goes on, the missions start to become repetitive, and the underwater colour palette makes me wish I had shark vision. One thing for sure, though, is Maneater could have had potential to be bloody great time if given the change to expand on its potential to be the Jaws of the gaming world, but sadly, it falls short of that. Still, one thing it does good is that it puts a top to my desire to go swimming in the sea for a while.

Ultimately, Krater is a somewhat enjoyable action-RPG with some neat ideas and great personality. Sadly, personality doesn't mean it's a great game and some of the design choices make it hard for me to easily recommend this title to anyone who has yet to play any of the other brilliant action-RPGs on the market.

Berserk and the Band of the Hawk is cast away into the depths of the eclipse as a gory average Warriors game with a captivating mature theme, but lacking substance to keep people motivated to playing past a single completion of the story.

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.

The convoluted tutorial will put off the majority of gamers, and the unstable game will put off the series and genre stalwarts. I am sorry, but this time it seems the developers are the ones that should lose their planet.

Some gamers might enjoy this for what it is: a simple hack and slash game, with some annoying design flaws, and frustrating boss fights that will test your patience.

I am a patient guy but the extreme repetitiveness will annoy even the most enthusiastic puzzle fans.

It’s not like Steam is starved for the genre, so this game is not worth picking up.

I will say that I have spent enough time on this game to encompass my two playthroughs of Mass Effect, or both of the Knights of the Old Republic titles. And I can honestly say that, in comparison, I didn’t enjoy one minute of it. Good-day.

To sum up, then, this is an interesting game in the same way that Earth Defence Force is interesting. It’s full of silly faults, but if you look past them it’s fairly competent.

While it’s still a way off being a title to remember, it’s a massive improvement on KoD and shows promise for the franchise that appears to be on the up, addressing key areas like the difficulty.

Despite being impressed by its visuals and attention to detail, I hadn’t first realized how short and lacking in substance it was, and I always begrudge video games like that being released in the first place.

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

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.

Tryst is a title that could have done with some more time in development.

Fans of Tomb Raider and Prince of Persia will doubtlessly find the occasional thrill in I Am Alive's platforming elements, but its shortcomings are nevertheless increasingly glaring. A myriad of baffling design decisions result in a game that can't seem to get out of its own way. There is absolutely nothing wrong with making a punishing game and rewarding the player for mastering its unforgiving gameplay systems. But you're not wrestling with systems here – you're wrestling with their integrity.

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.

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.

It’s a shame that Daylight has turned out to be fairly average, because the title has the atmosphere, the creepily produced audio, some promising ideas, and initial jump scares, but the overall package is brought down by issues with gameplay, its focus on random design, clichéd story and unoptimised performance.

All in all, Hyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed was a decent distraction on handhelds, but a harder sell on PC when compared to the number of alternatives available, both from its own franchise and the Musou genre in general.

The premise nicely informs the sturdy-if-unspectacular gameplay framework, Malachi Rector is a well realised and fascinating character and the story is smart, but those sound fundamentals are in constant battle against jittery Sims-esque character models, wildly inconsistent art and a slew of mild technical issues.

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.

In short, Lethal VR is a basic game concept that does exactly as advertised. It’s a quick arcade-style target range game with a lot of neat objectives and weapons to play around with. It’s just a shame that more time could not be given to the controls in order to better accommodate the PSVR’s hardware, as precision and comfort are absolutely instrumental for games like this. We’ve come far in the last few years, yet it seems target-based gaming has not evolved much since the Nintendo Wii’s remote-waggling days.

It seems that the developers forgot the vibe of Test Drive Unlimited. Instead, the proposition they bring is a game that falls short of its rivals. Maybe a few months of support, patches and content will enhance what is currently a fairly average racing experience.

But if you’re more discerning about your games and don’t give a crap about the film then you really should be looking elsewhere.

Some gamers might enjoy this for what it is: a simple hack and slash game, with some annoying design flaws, and frustrating boss fights that will test your patience.

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.

The Glaive works well and is rather satisfying to use but this is offset by the old school use of ammo crates and parts of levels being sealing off, making it as linear as they come.

Gerrrms is a budget released party game that fits its price tag making it ideal for a title that can be picked up, played a while and then probably only ever brought out at family occasions. The lack of content and online play does hurt its overall longevity, since seeing everything Gerrrms has to offer is done within the first hour and its simplicity means there is nothing to learn. Still, it is fitting of its price, as Gerrrms is an enjoyable and simple game for when the family is around and they require entertainment for half an hour before moving onto the next thing. Sometimes video games can just be a stop gap to entertain for a short while and then be forgotten down the line without needing to be the deepest, complex experience.

The Legend of Legacy’s sub-par battle system really diminishes what is otherwise a decent experience.

At best, the fact that the game is not afraid to tackle such a broad range of genres is a good sign the developers are confident enough to branch out, and endeavour to create something truly different. However, to be successful they really need to stop being so random and haphazard, and attempt to refine their ideas into something worthwhile - particularly at a time when there are so many high quality games available elsewhere.

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

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.