That's Xillia 2's biggest problem: It's run time is bloated and the decisions the game presents you with are just illusions.

Samba de Amigo: Party Central is a flashy, entertaining game. The different modes are fun, and the Joy-Con work well as pretend-maracas. Alas, the mediocre music selection keeps my enthusiasm at bay.

It´s good to see that there is more potential left for a good Spider-Man game than the last downers let you to believe. The Amazing Spider-Man is a package of an open world to frolic around in and linear missions to keep it together. It is a decent game that makes it painful to think about what it could have been if the developer would have had more time to polish it. There are a lot of hints to the possibilities, but the movie is out now. One wonders, if its producer also had just three-quarters of a year to work with.

Rather a beautiful short-story than a novel of a game, this is an adventure with a lot of character.

Sand Land offers a unique adventure, a beautiful self-contained story and an exemplary adaptation of Akira Toriyama's manga. Minor inconsistencies and some lengthy stretches only slightly spoil the captivating overall atmosphere.

Can I recommend Asura´s Wrath? Sure! If you are looking for the wildest, most enjoyable, pseudo-Buddhist super-anime, want to fight a good number of cool boss-battles and be entertained, than this is fantastic. But if you´re looking for an "actual" game, think that cut-scenes are the worst possible way to tell a story and demand complex mechanics and combos, you should look elsewhere. It´s all nice enough, slightly above the average, but cannot keep up for a second with what makes Asura´s Wrath so unique and awesome.

Even without the massive technical problems, this would be a generic world with generic characters and antagonists.

If you don't need a deep fighting engine to enjoy killing the same monster hundreds of times, Toukiden might be a valid alternative to Monster Hunter.

As a puzzler, Puddle is a fine gaming–snack with great accessibility. Well worth the small price of admission.

Might & Magic X presents a chance to re-ignite the love of this kind of game as if they hadn't been gone for the last two decades.

A few more months in development might have made a considerable difference. Still, this will probably make quite a splash when it arrives on consoles. On PC, though, TESO doesn't do enough to differentiate itself from the competition.

The first look at Unit 13 might have been daunting, but now I don´t want to miss the game on my memory card. The elegance that's missing in the presentation can be found in the puristic, unpretentious flow of the game's design.

Nano Assault Neo is worth the asking price, so long as you don't have any other of the HD-consoles. Its twin-stick brethren on other platforms are just a tiny bit better. This kind of game needs to be immaculately balanced, precise to a fault and it needs to challenge you over and over again. Nano Assault seems to know its trade, but its not quite where the other big names of this genre are.

Let yourself be drawn into Corpse Party and you will find japanese horror in its purest form. A haunting, cruel and tragic ghost story for the connoisseur. Only rarely pixels this large haven been this disturbing.

Even though it has its qualities, ultimately, the just above-average DriveClub isn't worthy of the team that kick-started racing games on the PS3 so spectacularly.

Escape Plan is hardly a world-shattering nor an especially touching puzzler, if that's what you expected. But it still is an acceptable getaway to calmer waters, somewhere beyond Vitas flashy and action-heavy launch line-up.

The problem is, the last game did everything much better. I don't think I have ever played a sequel that made me wonder more if the people behind it were fully sure why they did it. In a way, it's no small feat and a testimony to Mercury Steam's considerable talent that they still managed to make this an enjoyable experience.

A small but charming pixel adventure built around an entertaining fishing minigame - a bit short on the parody that made Epic NPC Man yet full of charming characters from the series.

Great DLC with largely the same quality as last years’ best game, featuring great attention to detail and some stunning environments. Its only major flaw is that Machine Games somehow had to fit it into the Great Circle.

I've never felt such an urge to try out different types of weapons as in Blades of Fire. If a game manages to lure someone as stoically pig-headed as me out of their sword-and-shield-comfort zone, it definitely did something right. Which brings us back to the beginning: I didn't know what Blade of Fire was until very recently, and I can’t be the only one. Pretty sure that’s about to change drastically.

Solid multiplayer fun for short and entertaining matches, but with only one game mode, the long-term appeal currently leaves something to be desired.

Playing this with a friend, you might get a solid evening's enjoyment out of JoJo's ludicrous special moves. But that's about it. As a fighting game, this doesn't present any contest to any of the established competitors.

If you pass on this one, you're not missing all that much, least of all new ideas for this series to follow up on in the future. Still, credit where credit is due: this well-written additional episode would have been a clear standout in last year's Batman game.

Turns out, I like Atlas Fallen quite a bit. There's love and good ideas on display that deserve to be seen. Throughout long stretches, this is a wonderfully flexible hack-and-slash with neat bells and whistles. It's just that a few of the basics are somewhat lacking.

If you have played the first two episodes of this DLC and want to know how the story ends, this is not a total waste. Get it over with 'Tyranny', remember for its nice core idea and its two actually quite good first episodes and not for the weak ending 'The Redemption' so listlessly provides.

Seemingly small decisions can have such far reaching consequences, that it's impossible to dislike Dead State.

You can make anything into LEGO, but you shouldn't always: a relatively grown-up open-world game doesn't make a good mini-level co-op kids' game. Mediocre combat, little iconic lore, there's not much here to get you through the worst version of Horizon.

On almost every turn, The Cave stumbles over its own feet and its desire to be different from the rest - a wish that most certainly came true, only proving that you should sometimes be careful what you wish for. Ironically, that's exactly the lesson The Cave wants to teach you. In the end, this is a nice, but ultimately too ponderous, puzzle game with a whole lot of nothing in between its sometimes funny, sometimes clever stronger moments.

It's hardly really all that "new" and we've seen way better conversions of a compelling concept to the PS Vita. But nevertheless, this cross between Pikmin and world-building strategy is a good fit for the system. Not because of its scale, the game easily fills many enjoyable evening sessions, but just because its such a pleasant companion.

In the end, it is a charming, refreshing look at a Move-world, that could have been. But presumably - maybe out of fear of its own target audience - it refrains from realizing its potential and lets you go a little bit enchanted, but also decidedly unsatisfied.

The bottom line is that Go Mecha Ball is an arcade snack that you won't spend dozens of hours playing, but which fits perfectly into short breaks when you just want to have a quick game. For this purpose, the imaginative mix of pinball and two-stick shooter is actually really good. It's just a shame that it lacks an equally strong level design and more options for experimenting with different play styles.

2D experts might not find quite enough challenge with Hell Yeah! and there's not the most replay value to be found here. Still, the game is absolutely great looking and lots highly enjoyable, just because of its overall level of insanity and its funny antics.

The 10-Euro-asking-price is really not that much and even with its downsides, Jet Set Radio is still one of the most unique concepts.

Thing is, my considerable enjoyment of this remake would probably still be the same if they had put much less of an effort into this. So, should I commend them for putting everything they had into this love letter to a really, really good, if imperfect platformer, or complain that they didn't use the budget to port 20 different Capcom classics in a more humble, functional manner? Maybe both, but probably a bit more of the former.

Reveil is an atmospheric horror tale with memorable moments, whose strengths are successful puzzles and a visually and playfully vivid setting. Unfortunately, the ending fails to bring the emotional story to a convincing conclusion.

As it is, I appreciate Claws of Awaji for the eerily beautiful atmosphere, the Bou staff, and the boss fight against Nowaki. Without the technical issues, this DLC could have been the highlight of the entire game for me.

The fascination for this game must come from the bizarre, exaggerated humor. It´s really good at that and uses it well to keep you motivated. Gameplay-wise, there is not much here, that you will remember after a while.

If you can muster the will and the motivation, Fitness Boxing 3 can help you burn calories (...) It's definitely fun.

Outdated visuals meet a demanding old-school edge: Code Vein 2 is far more engaging than many of its slick, overpolished contemporaries. Those willing to look past the layer of visual dust will discover a Soulslike action RPG with surprising depth.

Had Square Montreal shifted its focus from the story chapters towards the more open-ended city, and granted players more sandbox-y freedom, this could have been quite a milestone for the genre. In merely aping the strengths and, unfortunately, the bad habits of its competitors, though, it becomes just another, if quite well polished, stealth game on the market.

Portal's influence is on evidence at every turn, but Magrunner still retains quite a bit of individuality, enough at least, to not come off as another clone. Still, the certain something is missing from this, which I found mainly to be down to the game not playing the horror card more decisively.

And yet I spent quite a bit of time with this, because when things are going well, Knights in Tight Spaces feels just as satisfying as its cool predecessor ... I just hope developer Ground Shatter will streamline the concept a little to ensure quicker battles, speed up the start a little and make the game a little less restrictive on the meta level.

Granted, gameplay-wise it's just more of the same in different drapes, and it is kind of short as well. But yet again, Irrational manages to surprise you in a manner that's worth the entry fee alone. But you can't shake the feeling that, ultimately, this DLC will be judged by how its second episode will fill in the gaps that this episode's narrative so tantalizingly leaves.

Beyond: Two Souls is an interesting experience I don't regret making. But still, there are too many problems to forgive – structurally, story-wise and in character. Even people who didn't mind the issues with Cage's earlier games, Fahrenheit and Heavy Rain, will have a hard time turning a blind eye to Beyond's shortcomings.

It‘s a solid expansion pack that somehow got inflated to full-game dimensions. Resistance is anything but essential, and it brings the series‘ qualities and (age-related) faults into sharp focus.

It's a nice idea for sure, but Mercenary King's parts just don't come together in a satisfying way.

They say familiarity breeds contempt. In the case of The Sims 4, that's certainly true for quite a portion of the audience that'll decide to sit this one out. The rest still believes familiarity to be a prestage to attachment and, sometimes, even love. Which camp do you sit in?

Almost everything Unity does better than its predecessors comes with a caveat we wouldn't have to talk about today if Ubisoft had shown more will to renovate the basics. Still, you get what it says on the box, thanks to a solid multiplayer even a bit more. This year, that's good enough for me. But I'd be lying if I said I was still excited about what this new generation holds for Assassin's Creed.

This is, essentially, this generation's Beyond Good & Evil. A charismatic, engaging and refreshingly peculiar game that's among the most beautiful of recent years.

It feels great to blast though the hordes of zombies and monsters and especially the big guns will leave you with a wicked smile. If you haven't played it on the Wii, own a Move and are not averse to the one-sided gameplay, it´s an easy buy.

EA Sports UFC is more talent than real contender. 2012's Undisputed 3 still looks great, gives the new kid a bloody nose in the octagon and is only a fraction of the newer games' price. Posthumously the THQ game still lives up to its name.

I’m glad to have finally played Mask of the Lunar Eclipse as it’s a fine sample of classic survival horror following the style and motifs made popular by the Ring movies. Game mechanics are clearly outdated though, both regarding exploration as well as combat, and fighting the apparitions is more of a matter of landing satisfying combo hits than it has to do with overcoming spine-chilling terror.

It's an attractive game, then, and easy to pick up, but also a tad too static and shallow in its tactics. You're not making the biggest mistake of your life if you give this a chance. But at the same time, you could just as well finally try and finish XCOM in 'Ironman' mode.

Styx: Master of Shadows may not be as pretty as the last Thief, but as a stealth game it comes in ahead of the former master. Bigger levels, more options to traverse them, more powerful tools to use and Styx himself is just a better character. Too bad that jumping often results in trial and error due to some flawed mechanics.

Don't let the minimalistic visuals fool you, as a strategy game, Panzer Tactics HD knows every trick in the book.

If you're looking for a good game for young and old alike, this will keep you entertained for quite a while.

The Serpent's Curse just feels rushed. The well-researched plot takes its sweet time to truly get going and when it does, it's already over again. So, taken by itself, this first episode feels pretty average. It's up to the second half to pull the chestnuts out of the fire.

It gives me no pleasure to dismantle a game that many people fondly grew up on. But in case of the ToeJam & Earl collection none of the two titles has aged particularly well.

The physics of driving a bike are as great as ever and optionally being made accessible to less involved players through Arcade Mode. The engaging career, however, is hampered down by its basic presentation while the game is also lacking content - some of which to be added later.

If such an arcade-cabinet had existed near my home 20 years ago, my parents would still be paying off the debts I would have accumulated by feeding it quarters. Even if you take into account the shortcomings, The Simpsons Arcade is along Turtles in Time as one of the best Beat 'em ups out there.

Sure, the combat is a bit more static than it should be in this day and age and the paper-thin story is as simple as the characters are free from the burdens of personality. But still, the atmosphere of this idealized Caribbean with all of the Bruckheimer-Disney-innuendos always manages to drag you back in. Hardly a contender against Witcher 2 or Skyrim, Risen 2 still manages to cater to its own niche with ease.

Overall, Daima does a lot right. The main story and fights in particular are well staged and always fun, with the mass battles standing out in a particularly positive way. The game also scores points for its sense of progression. The experience only falls apart when you stop focusing on the main story or battles and start looking for entertainment outside of them.

Audiovisually enchanting adventure on a submerged spaceship with likeable characters, which is not entirely convincing in terms of narrative and has little depth in terms of gameplay.

Crass horror fare by way of fast, gripping stealth action. The Outlast Trials especially shines co-op.

Little Nightmares 3 remains an audiovisually impressive dark fairy tale — rich in atmosphere but lacking in innovation. The co-op mode adds real value, yet it can’t disguise that the series is treading water in terms of gameplay.

Its fresh looks and swashbuckling attitude ultimately don't change the fact that this is a game better enjoyed in small dosages. I love endless combo series as much as the next guy, but Foul Play's fighting engine and general run of play are a tad bit too simple to merit longer sessions. That said, this is one hell of a likeable game, if this sort of brawler floats your boat.

Even though Lightning Returns can seem a bit unfinished at times, it has by far the biggest heart of all the games in this trilogy.

You are better off to tolerate the cracks in the façade of this game and use them to dig deeper into it. Then, I Am Alive will have the desired impact. We need more broken, bleak and bitter games like this.

Planes for tanks, not much else has changed. Enjoy hundreds of lovingly recreated planes, just don't expect a simulation or the plethora of features of its time-tested precursor and you'll find this to be a worthwhile package with a fair business model.

For such a monster of a game, some quibbles and problems are understandable. Still, it's about time EA started taking care of long known problems before integrating new (if really interesting and reasonable) features. If FIFA Manager is going to become a thoroughly recommendable product again, something really needs to happen.

Entertaining sneaking with an inventive mechanic whose true potential is never fully explored.

If the technical mediocrity and a short campaign don't shock you, you will find quite a bit to like in Thunder Wolves. In any case, I did. It is a really solid little shoot 'em up with a firm grip on its mechanics. 'Fire and forget' in the truest sense of the word, then.

Short play-time and ill-advised stealth sections aside, you should give the at times hilarious Octodad a chance. You could start with trying out the older free iteration that's available on Young Horses' website. I wouldn't be surprised to see people with a fancy for anarchic humor fork out the full 14 Euros for the proper version, after enjoying this taster.

Heartworm is a likeable homage to Silent Hill in particular. As a game, however, this declaration of love remains far too superficial.

Clearly, for some this won't be enough – they might find the experience too familiar. Some might even take offense to the fact that Namco Bandai divided something by six, which was once truly unique. … I, too, had taken issue with the recycling factor of it all. But if you decide to give it a chance, the games' disarming charms will have you hooked halfway through the introduction. At that point you'll be able to laugh again at the balance between heart and insanity the developers so effortlessly strike.

I don´t know if this botched port can at least in some ways be fixed by patches and it seems, that the PS3 got it even worse. Be that as it may, the way Konami presents these classics is neither a favor to itself nor the franchise.

This is by no means a bad game, quite the contrary. When it comes to movie tie-ins, The LEGO Movie Videogame is one of the better ones. Compared to other recent LEGO games, though, it still feels like a considerable step back.

At first, the fights are exciting and fresh, only to grind you down in endless repetition in overlong and boring levels.

Puzzlingly, it seems there are more than enough people whose standards for entertainment are low enough that companies can make a lot of money with products like The Simpsons: Tapped Out. The problem is, that this takes away resources for the development of 'real games'. Economically, it might be a sound strategy, but it's also one that could conceivably prompt me to quit this job some day.

But that doesn't mean that Bearded Ladies' latest doesn't deserve a look, if this kind of game is usually to your taste. Especially if - for you - percentages are simply part of the turn-based tactics experience, if you like to plan your turns meticulously, and you love to save and load your games a lot, while exploring every nook and cranny of a game world, Miasma Chronicles might be your Eldorado.

Whoever had any doubt that these collections are some kind of spring cleaning at Sega, will find three games here whose common history beyond the Sega-Logo is hardly recognizable.

Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams never ceases to impress. But it's not only pretty. Instead it's a very thoughtfully arranged, challenging platformer that six months after its initial release holds up just as well. This currently is, quite frankly, the jump and run of choice.

It sure took its sweet time, but in the end, Blackguards managed to really enthrall me. If the Hamburg-based developer continues in this manner, The Dark Eye fans have a lot to look forward to.

For a few bucks less, Ninja Theory should just have ditched this lackluster mini-campaign and instead have thrown Vergil into Dante's adventure and the Bloody Palace as a playable character. As it stands, I can only really recommend Vergil's Downfall to people who desperately want to burn a couple of hours time and /or types who revel into mastering a new character. So yeah, you should probably give this a miss, as long as Capcom doesn't make Vergil an option for the main story.

If you only know the 'Tycoon'-moniker from those railroading games and expect to find something with complex mechanics and systems to mull over, this is not the game for you. It's a light-hearted and a bit shallow simulation for the whole family. And as such, it succeeds.

Not for one second, the game's controls feel right, and the botched level structure does not help. Only dedicated Cobra fans need this one and they should get a physical copy. That way it looks good on the shelf, and they don’t have to actually play it.

No matter if you're a fan of the series, delighted about the new possibilities or if you've never heard of EDF. It's almost impossible to not have a massive blast with this.

The new fighting game in the universe created by Masashi Kishimoto offers the biggest fan package to date with a decent amount of content and some new approaches. However, if you take a closer look, you quickly realise that Connections focuses on quantity rather than quality.

On the outside, charming time travel with some nice ideas, but also a lot of boredom and some frustrating moments.

What remains is a solid new edition. Is that enough to fork out 40 bucks? As already mentioned, this is still a long way from a real "Master Crafted Edition" for me. It looks prettier, yes, it also plays better than the original on the Xbox 360, but overall it could have been even better.

It's still a very engaging (couch) co-op experience, until routine sets in and you have to throw in something else for a bit. Still, the good news is, Gauntlet's saga is not quite over yet.

Come for the hilariously stupid premise, stay for the constant surprises.

This nice trip down memory lane to the golden days of Yu-Gi-Oh! includes 16 games ranging from Game Boy to GBA. They are a fun companion to kill time, also the new collection provides some nice extra options but won't ignite the same type pf hype that was surrounding Yu-Gi-Oh! back in the days.

It's a good looking and quite sturdily built gift horse, for sure. But like so many AC iterations and DLCs before it, it's first and foremost interested in propagating its own kind, not evolving it.

Fable has always been a diamond in the rough. There's as much entertainment to be found here as there are frustrations - nothing about that has changed in the past decade.

Don´t be fooled by its colourful and shiny looks. Fortune Street is definitely not one of those cheap swing-the-mote partygame-collections. (...) A challenging virtual boardgame.

Exoprimal is a relaxed cooperative PvE action that generates a lot of momentum through indirect competition with an opposing team. Especially when you coordinate with up to four friends, it's surprisingly entertaining - much more entertaining than the pictures and videos with thousands of dinosaurs in front of rather functional backdrops would suggest.

Although struggling with some disappointing shortcomings JDM: Japanese Drift Master lets you drift swiftly through a fictional, yet painstakingly detailed area of Japan like no other racing game does.