The game playfully prods at the ridiculousness that is superhero culture, but it does so in a respectful and knowing way. [Issue#142, p.106]

Infinity Ward has really struggled to push the Call of Duty formula forward in any meaningful or significant ways. [Issue#142, p.96]

It is no masterpiece, but Battlefield 4 is a good starting point for the genre moving into the next generation. And boy, is it pretty. [Issue#142, p.94]

Lococycle is initially very enjoyable due to its marriage of different elements from popular genres, but the ideas unfortunately soon run dry. [Issue#142, p.93]

Simply a bit boring. [Issue#142, p.92]

Zoo Tycoon will have a very narrow appeal beyond families. [Issue#142, p.90]

The previous title in this series is still to many the most complete racing simulator ever made, but Forza 5 exceeds it in several ways - not enough to displace it, but enough to fully merit its place on the Forza podium. [Issue#142, p.84]

Nothing more than forgettable. [Issue#142, p.79]

It is fundamentally not an innovative package, and hopefully Polyphony Digital will decide to make a few significant steps towards the future next time. But this is an enthusiast’s dream and very much the game that series vets have always wanted it to be. A slightly rusty old banger perhaps, but also the most reliable motor in town.

As a classic RPG with some of the best writing and purest example of D&D mechanics in a videogame you really need to play this, but as a ‘remake’ this needs more work to be worthy of the same praise as its older brother.

If this is what Square Enix can do when they outsource the Final Fantasy property (even spiritually) we hope to see the core series go down this route, too; it’s a damn sight better than the numbered entries’ recent efforts.

Killzone: Shadow Fall is so full of influences, struggling to balance so many different ideas across the eight or so hours of single-player that it fails to settle cohesively. Even worse, nothing here feels particularly new. Killzone: Shadow Fall is an immensely enjoyable shooter but one busy distracting itself from being anything more.

There’s plenty of depth to the mechanics here for those that want to sink their teeth into a new fighting system, and there are some informed nods back to the franchise’s roots, but if you were intending to buy an Xbox One on the promise of playing this until you could afford another launch game, chances are you’ll get bored of it by the end of launch week.

A Link Between Worlds is a remake and a sequel, then – both a tribute to a classic and a worthy successor in its own right. For all the changes, it’s still recognisably Zelda, and a legend this powerful can comfortably bear another retelling.

It’s easy to see a new franchise in Ryse; one that could potentially rival God Of War if it maintains the momentum of the latter half of the campaign. However, the gameplay is so rote and uninspired that it merely hints at a more robust and rewarding experience that it fails to deliver. Ultimately, it makes for a few hours of passing entertainment, but it’s certainly not one for the history books.

The true triumph for Media Molecule is that none of the ‘extra-curricular’ controls or feel forced or unnecessary. On the contrary, each and every one feels natural and works just as you would expect to it should.

Capcom Vancouver has therefore given the Xbox One something that PS4 does not have right now: a strong triple-A exclusive. Dead Rising 3 dares you to dream about high the bar can be set for the open world game during this generation on a technical and creative level, even with its obvious flaws in mission design. Not bad for a launch title.

Super Mario 3D World might not be a “game changer” like Super Mario 64, but it’ll always be remembered as the one that let the cats out.

To be honest, we spent the majority of our time just cruising around the county, drooling over the views and picking off random racers that happened across our patrols.

None of this is entirely new. [Issue#141, p.122]

It is so mortally by-the-numbers that you'll genuinely believe you've already played the game before. [Issue#141, p.120]

The appeal lies in the customisation options and the complex online battle system. [Issue#141, p.120]

The controls occasionally feel clunky. [Issue#141, p.117]

Absolutely Capcom at its best. [Issue#141, p.115]

The new game is stuck in the same artless quandary as far too many annual series updates. [Issue#141, p.113]

Outside of the new animations, it's hard to see where NBA 2K14 has really advanced ahead of last year's outing. [Issue#141, p.112]

There is a steep learning curve within Soul Hackers. [Issue#141, p.111]

Playable, yes, but nothing new. [Issue#141, p.110]

The combat ideas are awfully implemented. [Issue#141, p.108]

Bizarre inconsistencies. [Issue#141, p.106]

Rocksteady’s heritage lives on in Batman: Arkham Origins and for that alone it’s worth playing; it still empowers in all the same ways Asylum and City had done before it. But if you had hoped for more in a fashion similar to the evolution that Arkham City brought to Arkham Asylum’s core then you will be sadly disappointed. Still, a strong imitation, one that will tide us over until the Man Of Steel inevitably gets here.

It’s an affectionately crafted homage to the first game, retroactively building on the grim story and Ayn Rand-ian themes, galvanising them with a fresh perspective whilst simultaneously tying Rapture more wholly into the Columbian narrative. It’s intelligent, indulgent and nostalgic in equal measure, left dangling on a transfixing narrative hook. It’s everything we love about BioShock, condensed.

An energetic new protagonist, a focus on piracy and pillaging, excellent naval combat and a huge, beautiful open world make Black Flag an easy game to recommend, and a decent way to kick off the next generation.

A lazy attempt at translating farming tasks to trivial gameplay. [Issue#140, p.119]

With such base-level functional inadequacies, this retro rehash comes labelled predictably with a 'for fans only' tag. [Issue#140, p.117]

There's really nothing else like this on Sony's handheld right now. [Issue#140, p.116]

It's hard to recommend something so limited. [Issue#140, p.114]

It won't ever be a classic, but Outlast does enough to be an important inclusion in your collection all the same. [Issue#140, p.113]

That lack of consistency is sadly pervasive. [Issue#140, p.112]

This is a sandbox first, and that's what you should base your buying decision on. [Issue#140, p.110]

It doesn't strike a perfect balance between engaging gameplay and a compelling story but for a pig's tale it's still satisfyingly twisted. [Issue#140, p.108]

Not quite as well-rounded overall as last year. [Issue#140, p.106]

There's nothing significant to complain about really. [Issue#140, p.104]

Lost Planet 3's mere existence? It's a mystery. [Issue#140, p.102]

As its own beast though, it's simply okay. [Issue#140, p.98]

The faction system is a major disappointment. [Issue#140, p.92]

It’s a nice curio to have on the disk, we suppose, but any fans picking up Kingdom Hearts 1.5 will almost certainly be after a high-end version of the original rather than these frivolous extras. As Square Enix takes what will probably be a decade to release Kingdom Hearts III, this expensive-feeling re-release and a matching 2.5 for the sequel will be a more than adequate stopgap.

The only time the game takes advantage of the 3DS features is in the social aspects: with a couple of SpotPass, StreetPass and 3DS link options available, the game slightly redeems its lazy porting.

The core formula has had slow refinements enacted upon it for generations, but X/Y feel like a triumphant return to the central philosophy that made Red/Blue great – these are games about exploration, and getting in touch with that childish joy of the undiscovered. A game that prompts that in both adults and children can be considered nothing other than a success.

The core formula has had slow refinements enacted upon it for generations, but X/Y feel like a triumphant return to the central philosophy that made Red/Blue great – these are games about exploration, and getting in touch with that childish joy of the undiscovered. A game that prompts that in both adults and children can be considered nothing other than a success.

Not all videogames should be like Beyond Two Souls. But be thankful that some are. Another flawed but essential tale from a man who genuinely cares and a publisher that believes in the power of videogames.

So if you’ve played it before, you should leap on the opportunity to revisit The Wind Waker in all of its newfound visual glory. And if this is your first time tackling the hazardous waters of the Great Sea, feel free to view the below score as a horrendous insult.

Overall, Farming Simulator does not feel like a simulator – if the point of the game is to offer a realistic experience of what it’s like to run a farm, the game fails: people never fatigue (your staff will work straight through the 24-clock if left unattended), livestock produce is harvested by AI automatically and there’s a few game-breaking exploits that completely undermine the game.

Without the option to deviate from the game’s strict and straight path at any point, and with mechanics repeated to the point of exhaustion, Rain certainly shows there’s room for artistically vibrant properties in games, but that aesthetic shouldn’t detract from a focus on engaging, consistent gameplay.

Highly recommended. [Issue#139, p.120]

When it comes down to flat-out value for money? The 3DS store has plenty of other games to hold your attention. [Issue#139, p.120]

As it stands, it's just another indie game lost in the noise. [Issue#139, p.119]

Highly entertaining, in its own unique way. [Issue#139, p.117]

That it does all this without feeling at all compromised in the name of accessibility is testament to its design. [Issue#139, p.117]

Cheap on every level. [Issue#139, p.116]

It's simple work. [Issue#139, p.116]

It's a shame the buggy controls make fighting through it a chore. [Issue#139, p.115]

Hasn't soured our memories of the original completely. [Issue#139, p.114]

The most assured kid-aimed title to hit the market this generation. [Issue#139, p.112]

It'll only disappoint if you're expecting something on PS3 scale. [Issue#139, p.109]

The switch to consoles has weakened the presentation of the game. [Issue#139, p.108]

Challenging and dynamic. [Issue#139, p.107]

A carefree explosion of ideas both tasteful and vulgar. [Issue#139, p.104]

Wasted potential. [Issue#139, p.98]

For a game that focuses on the presumably brisk and stressful art of armed robbery, Payday 2 involves one heck of a lot of waiting around. [Issue#139, p.96]

Here's hoping that when the Wii U picks up steam, The Wonderful 101 is still around. [Issue#139, p.94]

Most will likely find it a fairly inoffensive time-consumer. But it is a new low for the series. [Issue#139, p.90]

Volition needs to plan its next steps carefully, or run the risk of losing the fan base it has worked so hard to claw away from those that didn't quite click with GTA IV. [Issue#139, p.86]

FIFA 14 is probably the least revolutionary football game in some years – a near carbon copy of its predecessor that makes tiny adjustments in key areas, the likes of which many players might not even notice.

Sam Houser compared the making of Rockstar’s epic to the troubled production of Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, and in some ways the same result has been met: a product that represents the peak of the blockbuster triple-A form, that realises grand ambition without visible compromise.

A gorgeous looking game. We’ve said it before, but it’s one of the few games where the promotional imagery doesn’t do it justice.

If you can find a steady stream of people to play against, you'll discover Gun Monkeys to be tremendous, if rather basic, fun. [Issue#138, p.116]

Entertaining it most certainly is, but WayForward should really be pushing a little bit harder than this. [Issue#138, p.116]

It's just a shame the combat side of Capsized is hampered by something the developers can do little about. [Issue#138, p.115]

As a straight-up FPS, Deus Ex: The Fall is an unequivocal failure. But as a stealth think-'em-up, it's a triumph of good first-person game design on a format that is, historically speaking, stubbornly ill-suited to similar fare. [Issue#138, p.114]

Quite easily one of the best Dynasty Warriors games for a long time. [Issue#138, p.112]

There's a creeping sense that [the game] cares less about the player, and more the clinking in their coffers. [Issue#138, p.111]

Outside of a few key moments when things get changed up, gameplay is only ever average at best. [Issue#138, p.108]

An unremarkable game, but enjoyable in its own quiet way. [Issue#138, p.106]

Intoxicating stuff. [Issue#138, p.102]

The most refined take on the genre yet. [Issue#138, p.98]

Gone Home is the kind of work that will impress people who write off the medium because of the prevalence of guns in commercial titles. Its potential wider significance aside, however, the Greenbriars’ story is unforgettable.

There’s a slight monotony to the enemy design after some time, but each complaint we try to construct feels all but meaningless in the face of how pure and satisfying an experience Rogue Legacy manages to be.

Well below the standards we've come to expect from Nintendo's inventive, silly franchise. [Issue#137, p.123]

Simply said, Sorcery! is a wonderful release that should light a fire in the heart of any fan of an era long-gone; this is a welcome addition to any iOS library. [Issue#137, p.123]

Brimming with intelligent game design. [Issue#137, p.121]

Outside of its many and varied technical problems, State of Decay is still one of the most accomplished Xbox Live Arcade game to date. [Issue#137, p.121]

Unique. [Issue#137, p.120]

Merely an expensive luxury. [Issue#137, p.119]

Brothers is exactly the length you want it to be, showing just enough of its hand when it comes to the tale of these two siblings for it to live long in the memory. [Issue#137, p.118]

It's a lean game. [Issue#137, p.117]

There's the hollow shell of a game. [Issue#137, p.116]

Feels like it is in desperate need of a decade of evolution, to move out of the shadow of its peers. [Issue#137, p.114]