Final Fantasy VII REMAKE is a spectacular game that soars and falls in equal measure. There is a lot to love here, but frustrations and disappointments mar the experience. A solid central story is undermined by needless padding. Exceptional combat loses its edge at times due to unfortunate design choices, and gorgeous visuals are muddied with some appalling technical shortcomings.

Those not yet completely jaded by zombie movies and games will find Dead Nation a very agreeable game, especially those looking for a reasonably challenging top-down shooter.

Rad isn’t really dramatically reinventing any wheels, but it’s the perfect wee game to have sitting on your HD for some casual fun. You can bust out a run in its delightfully weird world in an hour or so and have a slightly different experience each time. It may not inspire the sort of rabid devotion of something like Spelunky, but it’s a great gaming snack between meals.

A solid game with fantastic sound and visuals. However, unpolished aspects of gameplay will cause frustration. Ultimately, Force Unleashed is unlikely to be remembered for anything other than its excellent story.

Fans of the original game seeking more of the same will not be disappointed, however overall the game lacks the underlying menace of the original. There's a good first person shooter to be had, but it lacks the fire and innovation of the original.

However, Toy Soldiers: Cold War easily shrugs off these complaints and will force a grin onto the mug of even the most sceptical player for the duration of its campaign. There is not a lot of offer beyond that, but for twenty bucks it'll fulfil your hankering for both action and '80s nostalgia with winking enthusiasm.

Payday 2's singleplayer isn't worth consideration, but a few bugbears aside, its multiplayer is a tense, frequently exhilarating experience. Its challenging levels are best approached with crime-minded friends, and randomised elements (along with the promise of five DLC packs) will keep players in the game well after that one final score.

The blurb on the back of the Virtua Tennis 2009 cover states “The World’s No.1 Tennis Series Returns” – but the big question is: Does it return with anything new? The answer is no, nothing worth making a song and dance about anyway.

Midway’s first foray into the ring proves that they have what it takes to mix it with the big boys of wrestling simulations, but they do fall just short of a 3-count.

Liars and Cheats is the third downloadable content pack for Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption. The pack contains a variety of new features to expand the Free Roam multiplayer world including player vs. player poker and liar's dice. The pack also adds a new multiplayer game mode called Stronghold and introduces horse racing.

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D does a lot of things well - it's a challenging platformer that understands what made the original Donkey Kong games tick and updates it for a new generation. The problem is that it doesn't go far beyond the boundaries set by the originals, and some of the fresh additions don't fare well in this port.

Days Gone is an ambitious new IP that borrows heavily from its influences. It still maintains its own identity and features some genuinely fun gameplay. It's unfortunately held back by countless technical issues, but if you're willing to tolerate these, the moment to moment gameplay is enjoyable. While there's nothing revolutionary about the game, it's worth a go if you're a zombie fan.

The game’s familiar format means instant gratification, and the option to download new tracks is a major draw card for us… plus it’s excellent value for money and damn good fun, to boot.

Easily the most substantial of the early titles and one that is sure to enthral young players as well as the young at heart.

Daemon X Machina does enough to satisfy those wanting solid mech combat. Good looking effects and blisteringly fast paced combat, coupled with tight controls makes this one a must-play for fans of the genre. Despite nailing the mech side of things, the game boasts one of the most unlikable roster of characters I've encountered in years. Despite the forgettable story, the game managed to hold my interest for the duration; I just couldn't tell you what it was about...

Ultimately however, Epic Mickey proves to be a challenging and engaging experience. It is loving homage to an entertainment empire that has stood the test of time.

Media Molecule's shift to the third-person has resulted in a mixed bag - the eye-popping visual style and the story's characteristic earnestness are tempered by clumsy platforming and thematic overcomplication. Tearaway is a very good platformer, but greatness is just out of reach.

Tripwire Interactives Killing Floor is what you would expect of a polished mod, but doesn't exceed expectations as a retail game. It's good, but unfortunately far from perfect. A nice addition to the survival-horror genre though, and it has an attractively cheap price tag.

Mages of Mystralia is an incredible little indie title that offers surprisingly deep gameplay mechanics, that offer some nice replay-ability to a campaign that keeps it short and simple.

Wanted: Weapons of Fate is a relatively well compiled shooter, but misses out on top marks by simply being too short.

The developers at Relentless Software have put a huge effort into ensuring the franchise gets a worthy portable version. It isn't going to set the world on fire, but as far as hand-held quiz shows go, this has to be at the top of the list.

Look past certain design flaws - and certain mechanical issues – however, and you'll find a highly enjoyable, highly addictive golf game that's accessible to all types of player, from the kid in the back seat during a car ride to the most dedicated gamer.

However, Brink is unified by its art direction, its smooth presentation and a fine user interface. Even if the maps lack some visual variety, their structure is incredibly difficult to fault. Players who can look past the hyperbole and ignore the fat will find underneath a sleek, highly refined multiplayer shooter long on balance and tactical gameplay.

Addictive.

My Friend Pedro is a stylish side-scrolling shooter with tight core gameplay. Its Shootouts are tirelessly cool to look at, and the action remains entertaining throughout the four or so hours it'll take to get through. Unfortunately, the excellent gameplay is hindered by a drab, uninspired art style. Those looking for a story should keep looking, but if you just want a fun romp filled with bullet-ballet, Pedro more than delivers on the action front.

Minor flaws aside, The Sims 3 is a decent port of the PC version and extremely playable on the Xbox.

The Cave clings to some genre tropes that we could do without in 2013, but the game is redeemed by its wicked sense of humour and wonderful presentation. A must for puzzle fans.

Although it fails to provide any real competition to the bigger action titles out there, Wolverine is fast, fun, and definitely angled at fans of the comics. It might not have the longevity required to be considered epic, but if you can ignore the repetitive nature of the combat you'll have a blast.