Without new ideas and without rhythm, Batman Arkham Origins Blackgate does not do justice to a great saga of video games.

Some existential questions, a good storyline, nice environments and successful atmosphere, Master Reboot is a fairly easy Teen Game, which shows uneven in its implementation and design, but not to the point of staying away from it.

Warface is a good alternative to the traditional FPS: light, simple and fun, it lacks only a little more innovation to convince completely. Nevertheless, it deserves to be tried, and its biggest advantage is its price: it's totally free.

Anyone who expects Lords of Shadow 2 and would like to know more about the mythology developed by Mercury Steam has to go through this title. If the 3DS version has not already landed in your hands, you can rely on this HD port.

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is the best Assassin's Creed experience in terms of scale, freedom and gameplay. Between land and sea, the journey of Edward Kenway is really captivating.

The single player campaign of Battlefield 4 is certainly disappointing, but as everyone knows, here it's the multiplayer offering that makes the difference... and again, DICE offers the best multiplayer FPS this year.

As usual with the Football Manager series, we know where we put our money in. Partly to reward the tremendous work of a team that knows and loves football, who seek the opinions of experts to recreate the best of everything that makes the salt of football/soccer.

On top of providing more investigation perspectives, elevation gives more freedom to explore the world. That's why an airship helps Professor Layton refining his methods, while Level-5 improves the narrative through this less linear and more deeply moving journey. Thus, the Azran Legacy stands as an accomplished conclusion, not only for the trilogy, but for the series as whole, now ready to venture into new horizons.

It's always touchy when a license changes hands, but Warner Bros Montreal succeeds with Batman: Arkham Origins, the third and penultimate episode of the Batman: Arkham series started by Rocksteady. The risks were minimal, given how the Quebecois studio perfectly replicates Batman: Arkham City, one of the best games of this generation. But if reproducing perfection requires skills to propose a story, sense of rhythm and narration on the par with Arkham City was a challenge, they overcame it. Furthermore, with a nice multi-player mode and a gigantic length there's no doubt this Batman is a winner. A must have for fans and non-fans alike.

Wii Party U features a generous amount of simple and varied minigames, just - if not exactly - like its predecessor. The GamePad introduces some clever ideas through the tabletop and asymmetrical house games, but those possibilities are not implemented as well into the board games, where the Wiimote remain the main tool to interact with the TV. Therefore, this Wii U version is more an addition than a real evolution.

Defense Technica is a simple and effective Tower Defense game, without any visual and technical ambitions. It could have been more beautiful and innovative in its genre.

Rocksmith 2014 is a pretty good tool to learn how to play guitar and bass. The game features all the basics to understand the instrument and lead the guitarist to his first riff, all that with a tracklist full of classics and modern songs and a much better interface than in the first Rocksmith game.

Going East increases tenfold the lifespan of Euro Truck Simulator 2 with many new cities and new interesting tracks, but the inherent flaws in the game have not been corrected.

Quotation forthcoming.

Attractive in its original idea, How To Survive could have been more fun if it was not as lopsided: the gameplay is cagey and the game is quite repetitive. There is still a multiplayer mode, and battles are sometimes letting off steam.

No need to try to be more absurd, funnier and more disturbing than The Stanley Parable, let's just say that it's an adventure to live and relive, relive and relive again... and never get rid of this feeling of having missed something. Never.

Skylanders SWAP Force is clearly the best episode in the series. The new SWAP Force figures represent a good addition in terms of fun and gameplay, the graphics are much better than in GIANTS, and there's also a lot more variety inside every levels. The only problem is still the same though: everything is done to make you want to buy new figures again and again... and buying them will cost you a lot!

Despite Dimps' technical prowess, this portable version doesn't manage to emulate its Wii U counterpart, the extended length of the levels underlying its issues rather than developing the overall experience in a mobile way.

By taking so much inspiration from Super Mario Galaxy, Sonic Lost World could have lost its way, or its origins at least. On the contrary, it stays true to its roots, the extended control over pace letting Sonic develop a whole new set of acrobatic moves while exploring new heights. But in spite of this vertiginous evolution, this episode still bears gameplay issues inherited from the series' transition to 3D, showing that Sonic has a long way to go in order to reach the level of his old rival Mario.

Goodbye Deponia is a fantastic episode to end this point 'n click saga... Let's just hope that it is not completely finished and that we will find Rufus and Goal in new adventures soon! If you like adventure games, you definitely have to play this trilogy.

Action, RPG and strategy in small doses, technically in the 2000s, Salvation Prophecy is a bit like the skeleton of a real AAA game. Firedance Games approaches, with its own financial and human resources, everything that makes a good game, and we can't help but imagine how much it would be sexy with a lot more meat on the bones.

With Tetrobot & Co., Swing Swing Submarine focuses on pure puzzle mechanics, and doesn't mix them with platform elements like in Blocks That Matter, their previous game. The result is successful as the game is really enjoyable to play, with a more balanced difficulty that lets you progress from level to level, but still offers a lot of challenge if you want to master all of them.

Rise of the Owlverlord is a nice addition to the first Giana Sisters game. The excellent "twist" mechanics are quite the same, the difficulty is more balanced and we have 6 new levels and 1 boss for less than 5 euros/dollars.

Faith comes quickly in the heart of the matter and suggests an absolutely bright future for this new series.

Beyond is both better and worse than its illustrious predecessor Heavy Rain. It features a more varied gameplay, a better story, talented Hollywood actors and outstanding graphics... but it also lacks something: the ability to make truly decisive choices throughout the adventure. Significant changes you can make story-wise are actually concentrated at the end. However, games of this type and this quality are still too rare to deny yourself the pleasure.

Dragon's Crown is a tribute to all the best 2D beat'em all from the past. It is beautiful, deep, and is today one of the best in its class.

Pokemon X / Y is the perfect version we were dreaming about 17 years ago.

Pokemon X / Y is the perfect version we were dreaming about 17 years ago.

As usual very forgiving with the player, Just Dance 2014 is the perfect game to dance all night long with friends, on recent songs (Get Lucky, Pound The Alarm...) and other less recent (Maria from Ricky Martin, Nena , etc.). It is lively, the choreographies are very nice and the new modes are welcome. And with "Just Dance TV", you can save and share your "best" performances.

Shadow Warrior is a good shooter that stands out for its humor and fast-paced action, and that's enough to satisfy fans of FPS until something more substantial comes along.

Just like the weather, Rain arouses different feelings. Some people may consider it as a melancholic, familiar phenomenon, while other might see it as a purely magical moment. Because at the end of the road, it's just a question of interpretation, like art.

Lone Survivor is some kind of Silent Hill game in pixel art 2D, and it does a very good job frightening you all along, maybe better than other cult series AAA games today.

For Formula 1 lovers, the "Classic" mode alone justifies the purchase of this 2013 edition, as Codemasters has managed to create a second game in the heart of a simulation that was already a reference. The best F1 races of yesterday and today are transcribed in a game that breathes the passion and love for this motorsport.

The Inner World is a nice point'n click adventure game, but its illogical universe can be a problem in some puzzles.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II - Apocalypse is a halftone DLC. If we meet up with a new Zombie Mode that has its share of surprises, the new maps are not up to our expectations.

Ironclad Tactics is an excellent tactical game using playing cards. It may be a little bit too difficult, but every fan of the genre definitely have to try it.

Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness is an excellent tactical RPG for those who like old-fashion-and-damn-difficult traditional Japanese games. If you're not one of them, then you will probably hate it.

FootLOL is not really football, and it's completely stupid, but it is more subtle and strategic than it seems. You will also play it for its eccentric atmosphere and intense action. A nice accomplishment for an unusual title, a little repetitive, but original and fun.

Saibot offers an interesting first person adventure here, but Doorways is very short. The story of each psycho killer is dissolved and the puzzles are no problem. But above all, despite a fairly "nice" sordid atmosphere, we cannot say that we have been frightened while playing.

If the Inazuma Eleven formula may have to change a little bit more in the next episodes, Inazuma Eleven 3 is still the best of the series, and it is definitely a must on the 3DS.

The Image & Form team surprised everyone with this extremely addictive title. With flawless execution and a damn good gameplay, Steamworld Dig will make you dig for hours in order to develop your village and your equipment. If you love platform and farming games, this adventure in the desert is there just for you. One of the best games on 3DS eShop.

FIFA 14 is undoubtedly the best football game to date, even though it does not innovate as much as its predecessor.

Quotation forthcoming.

KOF XIII on PC is the best version of the game. All the DLC are included and the net code has been deeply improved. The real 2D versus games lovers will love it.

This free-to-play version of Tekken is a very good deal on the PSN. Of course it is free... but it also features beautiful graphics, more accessible gameplay and a lot of online gamers available to compete with.

This fourth episode is a little short, but it concludes very well a series in which the script, dialogues and atmosphere are the highest qualities.

This new PES 2014 has made efforts in its gameplay, offering freer and more realistic actions, but it disappoints on the technical side. Slowdowns in front of goal are annoying, most of the players (except the stars) are unrecognizable, the public is poorly done... In short, we are still far, far away from catching the ogre FIFA.

Foul Play is a quite nice beat 'em all with its unique aesthetic, but its gameplay lacks of depth. We would have appreciate more combos, more difficulty and more variety.

It’s difficult to go after Trials Evolution. Same game system, same goals, but a good step below his rival, Urban Trial Freestyle fails to convince either graphically on a PC. Nevertheless, the concept is fun and it is possible to have a good time if we manage to forget Red Lynx’s game.

Soul Hackers is a good old school RPG that gamers from the 90's will love, but modern gamers will probably hate its never-ending dialogues, old-fashion menus and gameplay... On which side will you be?

This console version of Farming Simulator is disappointing. The game is technically far below our expectations and it suffers from different gameplay problems. The simulation aspect is also insufficient to fascinate the fans.

This horror game is not finished, and what we get with the "Black Friday Edition" is really bad.

As time goes by, our mind tends to embellish memories of particularly fond moments. That's why we shouldn't embark twice on a journey, hoping to relive the same experience, no matter how wonderful we might remember it because it's often disappointing. However, Wind Waker HD demonstrates the opposite. Not only does its remarkable visual style appear even more vibrant in high definition, but this remake smooths unnecessary digression away, while preserving the freedom and the contemplative aspirations created by this huge world. Therefore, it sets out a truly unforgettable odyssey, both fresh and timeless.

Rayman Legends arrives on PS Vita with a little delay and without invasion's levels. Fortunately, these levels will be added soon, for free. Despite loading times a bit longer than on other platforms (but very acceptable), Rayman Legends offers a touch gameplay perfectly suited to the console. It will be appreciated by the opportunity to play with a friend with asymmetric gameplay, one using the touchscreen, the other the traditional controls. Probably the best platformer on PS Vita.

Shelter is a unique experience, even moving sometimes, but unfortunately the game is too short and the end is quite disappointing.

NHL 14 will appeal to many novices, because it features everything that makes hockey a violent, explosive and tactical sport. But as usual, the passionate gamers who buy the new episode every year will inevitably be disappointed by the lack of changes and new features.

Legend of Dungeon is a nice, hard, random and funny "rogue-like". It may be less innovative than games like Rogue Legacy, but it is still cheap and offers a nice local multiplayer mode for four players.

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F will of course particularly appeal to J-Pop fans, but it is actually a very good rhythm game for any gamer.

GTA V is in line with our expectations. It offers what we expected: a beautiful and gigantic world, hours and hours of play... but it does it better than ever. GTA V also adds the ability to switch between three different characters, which is really interesting and fun during hold-up sequences. This is a must-have, obviously.

The gameplay of Aarklash Legacy, between Baldur's Gate and Demon's Soul, is a little bit repetitive, but it is very good. The universe, characters and graphics are also interesting. But the game is really aimed at hardcore gamers, who are not afraid of "Game Over" screens.

Arma III raises the interest of the franchise and improves a many points from previous episodes ... but we're still waiting for the solo campaign to finally confirm this positive trend.

Apart from a few new features ("Owner" mode and body feints), the new Madden NFL 25 is very similar to previous episodes, it has very few surprises for its fans. EA Sports is saving time for the next-gen, and we should probably do the same.

More robust, more extensive, Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate is the most complete version of DOA5 and proves to be an excellent 3D fighting game for those who do not know DOA5 yet. However, it is difficult to recommend it to those who have purchased DOA5, unless they are incorrigible fans who feels like they have to own every episode.

This compilation is an excellent opportunity for those wishing to explore the series without missing a beat of the script, in addition to providing first titles never released in Europe. The port is of good quality and we appreciate being back in the world of Kingdom Hearts, in HD and with reworked music and various improvements to the gameplay.

Outlast is not so impressive visually, but it has a terrific atmosphere that will scare all players. It would have been better with a wide variety of gameplay situations though.

This MOBA from Monolith is a correct entry for those who would like to begin training, but some defects prevents it from getting into the closed circle of the best games of the genre.

Skullgirls is still an excellent (and superb) 2D fighting game on PC, but it also comes back with more stuff : new characters, better AI, revamped animations... All that for a small price. You have to try it if you like fighting games.

Terror is back with A Machine for Pigs. Its story is a little bit disjointed at times, but it knows how to be moving as much as unhealthy. The great sounds let us forget about the defects of this new Amnesia: the engine is getting old, the gameplay is too simplified and the game is even shorter... but fear prevails!

A nice fighting game. It is rather interesting on the gameplay side, but fans of the manga will be especially pleased to see that this adaptation is visually stunning! The game's DLC policy is abusive, though.

Disney Infinity is a Skylanders-like which adds a nice extra creative dimension through the "Toy Box". Unfortunately, we have to spend a lot of time in a not so exciting adventure mode to fill this toy box with interesting things... and of course buy a lot of figures and Power Discs in a real toy store!

Although Puppeteer was obviously built with old materials and traditional mechanics, it embodies a modern, if not timeless, platformer. Thanks to the passion and the masterful craftsmanship of Gavin Moore's team, this puppet was given a soul, both flamboyant and quirky, as such a magical performance shows.

This remake of Castle of Illusion leaves us with mixed feelings. The game suffers from poor jump mechanics (which is a shame in a platformer, right), but offers on another hand a superb atmosphere, faithful to the original but with good additions in every levels... Are you nostalgic enough to really enjoy it?

Killzone Mercenary is the game PSVita expected. Visually stunning, it also offers an excellent gameplay, a good single player campaign and an interesting multiplayer mode. One of the best games on the Sony handheld console.

Don't let the huge map of Total War Rome II intimidate you. The game is still pretty much the same (crunching numbers and crushing people) and the political system doesn't cut it. It's even easier than usual, mostly because of the absence of turns limit and a pretty passive AI in "normal" mode. Make sure you set the difficulty on the right challenge or you will bore yourself back to Italy. It's also a bit less spectacular then expected, but a real strategist doesn't mind, and Rome II's richness is breathtaking to say the least.

A success. The title has been cleverly adapted to these supports, and some changes actually bring more and ensure the comfort and enjoyment of the game. Of course, if you already played it enough on PC, there's no need to buy the console version, even if the dodging feature and the local multiplayer mode are nice additions.

If you are old enough to be nostalgic about this game, originally released in 1989 on NES and Game Boy, you'll have a lot of fun with Duck Tales Remastered. However, if you are part of the younger generation and if those old platformers' remakes do not interest you that much, then find something else, because you will find the game too short and its gameplay too classic.

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2 builds on the qualities of the first episode and removes its flaws to finally offer a massive and frenetic Dynasty Warrior's-like beat'em all... A genre that has its limits, but fans of the One Piece series will be delighted to find a new original story, 36 playable characters and many things to unlock.

With Final Fantasy XIV : A Realm Reborn, Yoshida and his team have won their bet, and offer a radically different game than Final Fantasy XIV Online. The game has some very interesting systems, starting with the evolution of your characters and Jobs. Moreover, it is a very accessible game that you can enjoy easily and quickly. A great alternative to games like World of Warcraft, with a Japanese feel that should delight the fans of the series. This time Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn deserves to be successful.

Etrian Odyssey persists in excavating the roots of an old genre, but the series finally reach the sky with Legends of the Titan, becoming the paramount first person RPG of the modern world.

Fans will tell you that you do not play to EDF for graphics or technology, but for what it is: a funny thing done seriously. We like EDF as we like a good B-movie, where you can clearly see the hidden actor under the Godzilla disguise, destroying a cardboard-made city.

Lost Planet 3 has nothing in common with its two predecessors. The single player campaign is actually quite pleasant, especially because of its story that manages to keep us in suspense. However, the game is quite uninspired and lacks depth.

Killer is Dead is a pure Suda51 game, crazy in its story, background, sequences and graphics. But despite some flashes of genius, it is actually quite classic and not so surprising.

Ninja Turtles are back from hell with their new TV show. But if the expectations for a well-crafted game were high, everything went wrong. Graphics, animations, bugs... the game reminded us of the poorest hours of the bad videogame age. Turtles fans, keep your memories from Turtles in Time on Super NES, it's clearly another dimension.

Castlevania Lords of Shadow Ultimate Edition features the original game along with the two DLCs, all that in a superb new dress. The graphics, revamped for modern day PCs, are really beautiful (except during cinematics) and the game is still very good. However, you will absolutely need a game controller to enjoy it.

Remaking a 20-year-old hit is a difficult challenge, and we must admit that in the case of "Flashback", the result is far from convincing. Not that the game is bad in all areas, there are some enjoyable moments, but each element of the game, whether it's story, gameplay, narrative, art direction or new additions are not relevant. Disappointing.

Just like Rayman Origins did one year ago, Rayman Legends just blew me away. Michel Ancel and his team did incredible work to make this game competitive against others platformers. They deliver a beautiful game, with some clever gameplay mechanics. The Wii U version uses the asymmetric gameplay very well and multiplayer is even better on this platform.

The game mechanics of the original table top game make for an odd videogame experience. But if you know the original, you will understand this take on this classic; but unfortunately, Full Control didn't really polish the game, which is full of bugs, has poor production values, and lacks content.

PayDay2 is PayDay: The heist, but matured, polished, and with more content. The shortcomings of its gameplay remain the same (mostly a redundant aspect), but it's very easy to overlook them in favor of fun, and it's clearly better served by balanced teams that can use each and every technique offered by its classes and gameplay. The end result is really nice.

With such a powerful gameplay, a plentiful of heroes and a delightful drop of derision, it's hard to imagine a more wonderful successor to Viewtiful Joe.

Probably the most comprehensive title of the series, yet one that seems to have suffered from its own ambition given the lack of polish on some of its more technical aspects. Story-wise, it's nothing of note, and the gameplay mechanics should be more seamless, but fans will enjoy a true and complete Splinter Cell experience nonetheless.

An unmissable DLC for the Dishonored fans, with added gameplay ideas, powers to enjoy, and a story ending well worth its 5 or 6 hours of play and price. But you'll definitely need to have played The Knife of Dunwall to enjoy it fully.

Sure, I wasn't always comfortable playing Saints Row IV these past few days with guests in my home. But work is work, and even though I'd talk to them about Journey and the like to explain my work as a video games critic, a serious part of me was secretly enjoying every last bit of silliness and bad taste Saints Row IV had to offer. And there's a massive amount of that in the game, which is as fun as it is completely and utterly stupid.

Games capable of forging such a connection with a player aren't legion, and those who literally transform the player himself into that very same connection, even more. Brothers manages to do both, and without ever doing too much, is able in a very short playtime to evoke the sadness of grief, the joy of the discovery of the outside world, the transmission between the generations, the coming of adulthood, and much more, all brilliantly weaved into the gameplay itself. Quite an accomplishment.

A true game, with a base gameplay that gets more and more complex as we play, with subtle touches and ruleset changes. But it's so much more as well : a deep dive in a terrifying dystopia, brilliantly crafted, that will put your life into perspective and awaken your political consciousness with both violence and humor.

A joyful melting-pot of different gameplay elements, for a fantasy-filled, delirious version of "The Love Boat". But Dragon Commander's pacing isn't really well balanced, and real time sequences lack finesse. Play it in short bursts and if you plan on taking it online, you'd better have assiduous friends at hand.

A nice idea, and fair production values, but the global result still is too "straightforward" and brutal, lacking some real strategy elements, and being repetitive. It is funnier in multiplayer, and very affordable, still, so one may give it a look.

King Art manages to install an atmosphere and story that will capture the attention of Agatha Christie styled novels. But they will still have to make do with a less-than perfect interface, and some bugs. More importantly, one will have to trust while waiting for the second and third episodes to be released... and given the price of the lot, maybe it's best to wait for them to come out.

Crafty didn't finish its remake of Realms of Arkania. Crafty Studios still sells it on Steam. Crafty Studios deserved to be flamed.