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]