This is another strong narrative release for Dontnot Entertainment, it’s just a shame that it is in a genre that has to be more than that, so Vampyr, while I can recommend, just don’t expect it to hit the superb heights of action RPG classics of the last few years.

M2 has done a solid job bringing this collection together with great emulation across the titles available. It is a real shame that no extras were thrown in to celebrate the history of Darius – a lack of of a gallery is truly shocking. There is also the argument to be made with it missing some games in this collection. Still, what is here is a nice, if expensive, collection of good shmups made for replayability for a niche selection of fans, the curious newcomers or people wanting a trip down memory lane of their childhood video game playing.

Grammar and graphical issues aside, Detention is still a game that is easily digestible, but will still leave a lingering aftertaste once its tragic tale reaches its course. The bar for storytelling in videogames continues to be set higher with every new title, be it Indie or Triple A, and the horror genre continues to innovate in new and exciting ways.

The stripped-down mechanics lead to more pick-up-and-play sessions without feeling overwhelmed by too many rules to follow, and the cast of characters are entertaining enough just to witness in action even if you have no idea about their respective origins.

At the very least, the game's main theme is one of the most catchy heard in years, that has to be worth a few plaudits. [JPN Import]

The Typing of the Dead: Overkill is similar to those outlandish B-movie films that people deep down enjoyed simply for the fact that they are stupid. This game takes a basic premise and runs with it. As it turns out, it’s still a lot of fun, even after experiencing the first The Typing of the Dead.

If you end up buying The Last Guy you’ll probably end up liking it to some extent, and if you can try and pace yourself, and don’t rush through the game, you’ll enjoy it even more.

The story is told and then it ends, but it makes you feel like there should be more, leaving not a craving for another entry but slight disappointment that your curiosity isn’t fully satiated.

AI Limit delivers a solid but somewhat uneven Soulslike experience, offering engaging combat driven by its attack-focused Sync Rate system and versatile frame abilities. At £29.50, it is an affordable entry into the genre, blending a gritty, anime-inspired sci-fi aesthetic with cryptic world-building. SenseGames’ debut succeeds in capturing the rewarding challenge of Soulslike combat, with solid boss fights (Hunter of Bladers is one of the better ones) pushing players to master mechanics. However, late-game areas can recycle enemy styles. Cramped spaces leading to unavoidable deaths and some collision issues also introduce frustration, occasionally disrupting the flow of the game. Despite those flaws, the lack of a stamina bar and its aggressive combat focus make AI Limit more accessible than traditional Soulslike entries. My 25-hour journey through Arrisa’s mud-soaked world was mostly enjoyable, even if some aspects did not feel as polished. It may not redefine the genre as a whole, but neat mechanical changes offer a worthwhile alternative for fans waiting on the next big hit in the genre.

Give the developers some money for their hard work. It’s just kind of sad that such a great game makes you feel like such a mug for actually paying for it.

Confounding puzzles aside, “Fright of the Bumblebees” functions nicely as an adventure game for just about any audience or age group. The humor is varied, the gameplay is accessible, and the challenge is substantial without being frustrating.

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.

The lack of an idiots' guide tutorial is not a great selling point, but plough through this confusing opening (on free campaign) and you will gradually learn and lose a surprising amount of time to what is a relatively unique and intellectually-solid title.

This is a solid upgrade for fans, while offering people who enjoy something similar, maybe through the latest Animal Crossing game, to come to Rune Factory 4 with the same mindset of a pick up and play experience, but be met with rewards for all their hard work.

It’s clear this game is aimed at the Games Workshop crowd, and those who understand what Blood Bowl is are the ones that will gain the most pleasure from the game. Others will have to fight through the game’s resistance to stop newbies from playing.

I think fans of the genre will really appreciate what Live A Live is trying to accomplish with its storytelling variety, even if the battles can become grindy towards the end of the game.

It’s not a great RPG – it’s too easy for starters – but I feel Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars is good enough that I can recommend this B-tier social linking, dungeon crawler to the diehard JRPG fans looking for a unique twist on the genre for their Vita.

It's not quite the ultimate Green Day experience that you might have hoped for, but there is nothing else out there in the videogame world that supports the American Trio as much as this.

In the end, Deception IV has a few kinks in its mechanics, but not enough to explode in your face.

Soul Bubbles is undoubtedly an interesting game, but I have to admit it was hard to express and portray the appeal of the game in words.

If you are looking for a charming and damn right silly plot, and you don’t mind paying a little more for your puzzle action to have it on the Switch, then I feel you will certainly find a lot to like with Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido and its captivating bizarre world of sushi eating puzzle combat.

It's not up to Mario Kart standards, but for a family get together it's an entertaining alternative that sits well with all ages.

Selecting whether you play as the depressed emo girl or the teenage slut might add some replayability, but only if you enjoy the game’s generally sluggish and strange presentation. If it sounds like your cup of tea, you need only shell out ten dollars to walk The Path.

A great concept with rewarding moments of gameplay that is only slightly hampered by a handful of little things, as well as the omission of other things. A little more enemy variety, a little less level wandering and a tightening up of other aspects would have made this game a real rock concert for the ages. But it’s still an entertaining effort that was worth the trip to the back alley….or a friend’s garage, or wherever it is people go to listen to concerts these days.

If you liked the first game, you'll probably like this more as it is better than the original. For newcomers, if you like to cause mayhem and bloody violence, by all means give Prototype 2 a shot. Just don't expect to remember much apart from devouring people and raining blood, the good stuff about the game.

The biggest chunk of praise needs to go to Swordfish, though, who have managed to take what – on paper, at least – is an awful idea and turn it into a decent shooter, even in a very crowded market.

It’s a shame that the console version of Darkest Dungeon couldn’t have been a bit smarter with its controller layout, because the rest of the game shines in brilliant darkness as it did on PC; the 2D artwork is a great mix of hard lines and grotesque imagery, quite similar to Hellboy and other comics by Mike Mignola. The persistent narration is delightfully campy with its dreary delivery and macabre musings, and the fear of death (or insanity) makes every duel feel like a tense brush with death. And players will die, again and again and again. But like a certain other difficult series centered around darkness and sun bros, Darkest Dungeon’s maddening tendrils will manipulate even the most frustrated folks to try again…but consider sticking to the PC version to avoid the added frustration of fumbling around with the controls.

An essential play for any fan of George Lucas’ creation. Unfortunately, the gameplay feels a tad repetitive, un-ambitious and never quite lives up to the superb storytelling.