God of War Ascension contains all the bigger than Ben Hur gameplay from the series and is another enjoyable Kratos experience. However as this game happens before many key elements of Kratos story, it does feel a little smaller in terms of scope. This is not to say that God of War Ascension is a bad game but it does feel a little limited opposed to Kratos with all his godlike powers.

With the inclusion of Zombies, Borderlands: the Zombie Island of Dr. Ned is actually not more of the same and definitely throws a curve ball into the genre and as Zombies are the in thing at the moment, it's great to send these undead back to their graves for good, just make sure you have some wet wipes available because it's going to get messy!

Although the solo modes are fun, nothing is more enjoyable than pitting your skills against real-world opponents as it turns the sometimes generic racing into a virtual racing frenzy.

In conclusion, MX vs ATV Reflex is a fun game that adds a few new twists and turns to the off road racing genre.

Oozi Earth Adventure offers an addicting platformer experience that hearkens back to the days when "scrolling parallax backgrounds" were super hip and the entire summer's agenda was to set a new high score.

In the end, Resident Evil Revelations is one of the best Resident Evil releases for the home console that offers players around 10 hours of addictive and adrenaline pumping moments in the campaign mode.

IronMonkey Studios have done a brilliant job in bringing a bite sized version of the Mass Effect story to the mobile world.

Flight Control Rocket may not enjoy the same astronomical success as Flight Control, as it is more a natural progression from the original rather than something completely different. What it does offer is some simple, addictive fun.

In conclusion, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing is a thoroughly enjoyable racing title for the DS that proves that Nintendo does not hold the monopoly on kart games.

With that said, there's not much you can really say about Sudoku the Puzzle Game Collection as it has definitely been made for fans of Sudoku or similar puzzle games. Even if you are not a fan or have never tried Sudoku before, the games tutorial is actually quite good and will teach you the basics of navigating the numbers for the various puzzles.

PES 2014 really challenges the world of video game soccer games by implementing revised gaming mechanics and some impressive use of physics. It's a shame that the game does not have full licensing rights but if you're a fan of soccer, you really need to check this game out, especially for its local and online gameplay.

Skylanders Swap Force definitely takes this franchise to the next level up that we had a ball playing. It may not be as refined as Disney Infinity (I guess it does help when you have the Disney vault of characters available) but in terms of local and online play, there's something quite enjoyable about seeing your action figures come alive in the virtual world.

The gameplay is a little basic at first, however as you play, you have access to more items and weapons, only adding to your gaming experience.

Overall Cotton Fantasy may be a short game with average playthroughs lasting about 30-40 minutes. But with 7 characters to play as and added difficulty it definitely adds a lot of replayability and if this a taste of what the Cotton franchise will continue as then fans of this series have every right to be excited to see what comes next.

A fine example of a remaster done right , DmC is a fast paced action game that offers a wealth of customisation options to appease even the most ardent critic of the game.

Great entry point to a rich RTS...if you can master it.

Pokémon X/Y offers the same core experience, only better and sleeker than before. Loads of new features, quicker progression, and an emphasis on connectivity all help lift it above its predecessors.

Pokémon X/Y offers the same core experience, only better and sleeker than before. Loads of new features, quicker progression, and an emphasis on connectivity all help lift it above its predecessors.

Kinectimals is a Kinect game made right and even though it has been designed for children, the developers have added enough Kinect content to impress even adults.

Doom Eternal does its legacy proud. Unabashedly difficult, frantic, and single player-centric, it knows what it is…and does it well.

Final words? Ghostbusters the video game definitely recreates the franchise perfectly and everything from the story to music and characters makes you feel like you are part of this supernatural world.

If going under the depths of the ocean and experiencing a buried treasure is your kind of thing, then Dave The Diver delivers the goods.

Slave Zero X is a terrific beat ”em-up game with fast-paced combats and loads of enemies to butcher and slay. The simple but challenging gameplay of the game works perfectly, however, there could have been more platforming in the game as well. Lastly, the story is good enough and well-written for such a title but a few good ambient tracks would have been wonderful as well.

Overall it’s a decent little game, not bad for the price and there’s a decent chance your young ones will enjoy it… it’s not a terrible pick up and play for us older gamers too… but it’s definitely more geared towards the younger crowd.

RIGS Mechanized Combat League is a really fun game on the PlayStation VR that offers a very sturdy gaming engine set in the world of virtual reality. So whether you’re playing single-player or online, there’s plenty of enjoyment to be found in this title and all in all, it just works well.

For Honor is an entertaining game on the PlayStation 4 and after the 4GB initial patch which addresses a few issues, you’re ready to be transported back to the violent time of Knights, Vikings and Samurai. Sure, the story in the single-player campaign is a little contrived at times but it’s a great introduction to the game and more importantly the controls. Given that, the combat mechanics of For Honor is quite sturdy and can be very brutal at times, particularly in multiplayer but the amount of grinding and use of both in-game and real-world currency may deter some people.

For newcomers to the series, Darksiders II provides a satisfying gaming experience on the Nintendo Wii U. With fun gameplay and lots of challenges to be found along the way, the only thing holding back the title is the frame rate and loading times that can sometimes be an issue. However most of these can be forgiven, especially when you are finding new weapons and powers as you search the land for a way to vindicate your brother.

Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk is definitely a game for lovers of well made Japanese RPG games. Combat is fun, exploration is exciting and interactions with NPC's work well, although sometimes it can be a little lengthy. The multiple endings is a huge treat to the gamers but you definitely need to watch the clock and do some micromanagement if you want a happy ending.

All things said and done Star Wars Battlefront II is still worth playing and yes buying. It is a rich universe and a ever expanding one. However I simply think they tried to achieve too much all at once. I would love to see more of Iden Versio and even more focus on a solid single player campaign. This has been achieved in the past and I’m sure can been done perfectly in the future. The strength of Star Wars has always been in its story, and I know that gamers would fork out their cash for one epic play of such a tale.

Disney Infinity successfully takes the Skylanders premise to a whole new level and seriously improves the gameplay. More importantly, players can actually relate better to the characters due to the big name Disney names that grace this title. Right from the get go, players will find themselves entertained but just be warned that if you're a collector, this game may get expensive. Recommended!

Disney illusion Island is an absolute success and a worthy addition to your gaming library.

Days Gone offers fun open-world exploration and survival-horror gameplay elevated by a compelling post apocalypse narrative and top-notch presentation.

Although not as tightly refined as some other 2D platformers, like Puppeteer, for instance, Little Big Planet 3 offers up tons of fun for those willing to seek it and, with the promised patches on their way and a creative community that’s growing by the day, hopefully it won’t be long before this is the ultimate Little Big Planet experience.

Overall, this is a fun game but obviously targeted at players looking for a more casual puzzle experience that can be played at their own pace. Definitely a good game for when you’ve got a limited amount of time to kill but don’t want to commit to anything time consuming.

It may not have next-gen graphics or a fantastic plot but it does play well, even after 16-years and once I started playing, I had to finish this game... one more time, in the 21st century.

Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered is an old AAA title from the PlayStation 1 era with such strong core design elements that just a facelift using HD textures and refined character models turns it into a decent modern indie title. It is a must-play for those who take video game history seriously and want to understand the evolution of this young art form throughout its history.

Portal Knights is a spiritual successor to Minecraft that thankfully works well and creates an enjoyable experience on the Nintendo Switch.

Although King’s Quest Chapter 2 – Rubble Without A Cause is lacking the wonder of the first episode, it did have some nice moments such as old King Graham and his grandchildren plus some very nice graphics as he explores the labyrinth of the Goblins.

If you played last year's WWE '12, there are probably enough tweaks to purchase this new version of WWE (13). However as a gamer, I would probably recommend this title to those WWE fans who have missed the last few years because it definitely makes this game more enjoyable if you have been out of the loop.

In the end, Mad Max is a great addition to the open-world action adventure genre that is as slick and memorable as the Hollywood blockbuster film, Mad Max Fury Road.

With no visual upgrades, additional areas or missions, the main purpose behind this release seems to be keeping the franchise in the public eye until the announced sequel drops, but if you’ve never played Dishonored before then definitely try to pick this up.

Although not quite the return to greatness that many fans were hoping for, this reboot of the Modern Warfare series manages to hold its own against the glut of online shooters currently available and offers enough tweaks and revisions to the core gameplay to justify dipping into yet another annual instalment.

Arkanoid meets roguelite in the best of ways, Ball x Pit is a punishing, addictive, and an exceptionally well done title.

Gran Turismo 7 is a gorgeous celebration of all things driving. It’s splendid presentation and 400 + car homage to the world’s favorite vehicles is a car lover’s dream. What it isn’t, however, is a true ‘real driving simulator.’ While easily a step up from GT Sport in offerings and presentation, those looking for an exhilarating gameplay experience will likely be disappointed.

Overall Warhammer 40K Shootas, Blood and Teef is a very enjoyable romp, if you want a good solid game to get someone into the series I don’t think you can go wrong with suggesting this title.

Suffice to say, if you love the series you’ve already picked this up anyway, and if you’re on the fence or have spent considerable time away from the franchise, as I had, then rest assured that not only is the entry barrier fairly forgiving for newcomers but the game also offers up enough challenge for veterans and, above all, is immensely fun, and this is coming from someone who doesn’t really get FPS games.

My only gripe is the absolute bare bones quality of this release; sure, you get two pretty awesome, albeit relatively short, titles for a bargain basement price, but it would have been nice to have had a few extra bones thrown in for fans to gnaw on… Hell, I’d have even accepted the inclusion of the cheesy as Chester Cheetah’s balls ‘Bayonetta’ anime but, alas, there’s nothing of the sort. Still, this bundle is a pretty easy recommend for fans of Japanese action games and is a good way for fans of PlatinumGames’ more recent work to get a little bit of insight into the early days of the studio.

If you’re a fan of 2D retro platformers that test both your mental acuity and your thumb dexterity, then Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse should be right up your alley.

The Amazing Spider-Man is a thrill ride of a game that stands on its own webs. Solid fun, not an earth shattering game changer, but one hell of a fun ride.

Although not as impenetrable to newcomers as earlier entries, F1 2017 in some ways falls victim to the curse of annual releases; with such a rigid release schedule in place the opportunity to meaningfully expand upon last year’s effort is reduced and often the best you get is possibly a new mechanic and a whole heap of fine-tuning of established mechanics. With F12017, its big new trick is the in-depth career mode and extensive level of customisation that comes with it and the rest is just a refinement upon the (Admittedly fun) foundation of previous games.

In conclusion, MAG is a well made online game that throws a few twists into the online franchise with the inclusion of battlefield commanders. The gameplay is sturdy and the graphics impressive.

As the sum of its parts, FIFA 22 is the best FIFA in years…and plays a strong game of football on the PS5. The decision to go more sim-heavy is long overdue, with finally a befitting pace and defensive posture to the beautiful game. Online contests – even with exploits via microtransaction supercharged players – are much more balanced. There’s so much to do both online and offline, it’s an easy recommendation for both casual and committed football fanatics.

A nice step-up from WWE 2K22 and with oodles of gameplay options, WWE 2K23 is the best modern console wrestling title to date.

If you're already a fan of the original Grandia II, give this newer, sparkly version a go! If you're a newcomer, give it a shot as it doesn't disappoint.

EA Canada successfully create a realistic fighter with UFC that is definitely nextgen gaming!

Overall Bartlow’s is an interesting take on the Twin Stick Shooter genre and one that would be interesting to see how it develops in the future.

At the end of the day, Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce is taking the franchise in the right direction and it's good to see Koei get out of their comfort zone.

At the end of the day, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a very good game that features action, adventure and fighting all under the auspice of Wolverine.

Assassin's Creed Mirage is the game that old school fans of the series have been waiting for. By taking the action back to its roots, Ubisoft has crafted one of the most exciting entries in the long running stealth series for the best part of a decade.

Another strong outing, but only a small upgrade from MLB The Show 21.

Penarium on XBox One is a devilishly fun arcade game that pays homage to the titles of yesteryear with a true modern and at times difficult twist.

Must-play for fans and newcomers looking for an in-depth fighting game with shamelessly over-the-top violence, time-travelling shenanigans, and creative ways to beat foes to a bloody pulp.

Although a bit light on main missions, the amount of new content on offer here makes The Tengu’s Disciple a must for anyone who enjoyed the base game. The new weapon is a blast to use and the new difficulty ensures that those players who had capped out all of their gear and explored all regions fully will now have an incentive to play through not just the new content but also previous missions as well. Hopefully Team Ninja continue to support Nioh 2 with more content that is as high a quality as this is, and, going off of their past record, I feel confident in saying that I think that they will knock it out of the park… Let’s just hope that the wait is nowhere near as long between releases this time. Nioh 2 is already one of the best games of the year and this first DLC pack just serves to cement it in that position.

Shovel Knight perfectly encapsulates what is so great about playing modern-retro games inspired by the 8-bit era of the 1980s and early 90’s without being derivative or trapped in the past.

Overall Hellbound meets expectations as a retro style 90’s Shooter. Whilst it does not innovate as much as some people would like, this game has enough about it to be worth the pickup.

Hitman: The Complete First Season is the perfect re-introduction to the third-person stealth franchise, bringing back sandbox game design and player choice to the forefront with six expertly hand-crafted missions with hundreds of opportunities and ways to approach killing targets, and a ton of side content in the form of Escalation contracts and the Sarajevo Six (effectively “What If?” scenarios and missions).

While the simplistic gameplay, and the endless hordes of enemies might be exhausting and even repetitive to some, the Serious Sam Collection is still a well-functioning blast to playthrough and a must-have, especially for fans of the genre.

Crash Bandicoot 4 – It’s About Time is one of the best platformers of this console generation, a gorgeous title and must buy for fans of the series. It does, however, feature extremely high difficulty hampered by not-perfect controls.

Project Spark allows you to unleash the gaming creator inside you.

With a slate of content planned for the future and constant revisions to ensure that the playing field is as balanced as possible, The Division looks like it’s going to have the legs to retain its player base for the foreseeable future, assuming that Massive sort out the balancing issues in the Dark Zone, of course.

Diablo III Is a solid sword and sorcery dungeon crawling adventure. Just push the direction you want to go and then hack 'n' slash... how simple and fun.

The Crackpet Show is a fun game with unique ideas. It is a great choice if you want to take a break from serious games, whether you play solo or with friends. It has a charming comedy to it, and the world of the game matches the gameplay mechanics perfectly. While the game lacks enough charm to get you to play it for countless hours and the aesthetic design of levels could be better, it is still a good experience.

In the end, The Sims Medieval is definitely one of the best releases of this series in a long time and the tweaked gameplay and new direction of the game will not only be pleasing to existing fans but also newcomers to the series who will easily be able to pick up the game and start playing.

A surprisingly strong return to the squared circle, stellar presentation, a new gameplay engine, and robust modes make WWE 2K22 the best 2K in a long time.

Assassin's Creed Unity boasts an amazing new gaming engine that unfortunately suffers from some graphical issues. Nonetheless, it's still a fun experience.

Apart from some minor repetitive issues throughout the game including endgame content, of which I haven’t managed to explore it all. It seems that Ubisoft has learned a number of important lessens from the first game, I can’t say enough how pleased I am that ALL year one content is free for all players, this is the kind of stuff more developers should be implementing for the longevity of their games.

Samurai Shodown on Xbox Series X is one for the fans or for those who enjoy games such as The King of Fighters or Metal Slug. While it doesn’t offer next-gen glory on the XSX (e.g. all those bells and whistles of next-gen gaming), it does offer speed and gameplay that runs as 120 FPS that enhances the gameplay of this classic. For newcomers, controls are easy, however the gameplay might be a little tougher to master but nonetheless, it’s a fun game and one that I’m sure fans will revisit many times.

dvance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp confidently brings two extremely solid strategy games to a modern audience.

The only short comings of the game are the lack of situational music and ambient background noise. This didn’t dampen my spirits too much however as the core gameplay and story had me too immersed to miss it very much. Just that the experience would have been complete with just a little more icing on the cake. Greak is a fairly affordable game on Steam also, so if you’re in the market for a game like Ori without the price tag before sales. Pickup Greak, it’s a wonderfully cute game perfect for winding down after work or ignoring the stresses of Covid lockdowns.

F.E.A.R. 3 offers some great replay value from not only giving the player an incentive to complete the game a second time around with the enigmatic Paxton Fettel but some very entertaining score based multiplayer fun. It may not be the most graphical game of the year but it does pack a punch where it counts with gameplay.

In the end, SEGA have created a very cool arcade game based on the Alien universe and this side-scrolling title with elements of Metroid works very well on the DS.

At the end of the day, Sports Champions is a must have release game for the PlayStation Move that captures the potential of this new control system perfectly for the PlayStation 3.

It is a solid step in the right direction. It has actions, it has suspense, and it has solid experiences that bring awe as the bullets are flying. The graphic anomalies take a bit away, but you cannot help but root for this game, and the definite heart felt honor it seems to want to present to the men and women in the military.

At the end, NBA Live 10 is a decent basketball arcade simulation that only slightly offers the world of sport sims something new. This current version is more about online features, however the increased speed and maneuvers of the gameplay does take this franchise to the next level.

In the end Dead Island as noted has a few rough spots, but the bombastic game experiences bring this one home.

If your kids loved the original Skylanders game, than they will love this new incarnation of the series as Giants adds new characters, abilities and worlds to this franchise. With almost flawless gameplay, a great control system and some really decent looking action figures, there's very little to complain about this game.

Overall, Puzzle Dimension is a simple, yet fun and addicting game that most people will enjoy. It suffers from a few rare and minor camera issues, the lack of any form of online, and the inability to make custom levels.

Battlefield 3 Close Quarters does its job well. Expanding on an already excellent game and bringing a different flavor to it. The expanding of the Battlefield and situations keep things fresh and interesting and things look like they can only get better with even more expansions coming down the pike.

It's a fun game from start to finish that has tons of racing replay value!

All in all, it's still a fun experience and definitely the best racer on this console at moment!

MotoHeroz HD is a fun, often infuriating game. It has enough gameplay elements to make it a fun, worthwhile experience when you only have a few minutes to while away on a game that you can just jump right into - MotoHeroz HD does this nicely.

It is surprisingly relaxing and enjoyable for such a simple game. Lightopus at only a few dollars, is well worth a try.

The experience that this game provides has been long overdue, and I praise it for doing such a terrific job.

Overwatch is a rare case of a Switch port that works well mechanically, but is hard to justify a purchase. If you plan on playing on console, you’d best stick to PS4 or Xbox. Portable play is desirable, but it’s not always practical when you consider the internet requirement. This port is for a specific audience of Nintendo fans who’ve never played Overwatch and want to know what the big deal is. On the other hand, you can also consider this an all-in-one version of Overwatch. You get console play, handheld play, and motion controls that provide the accuracy of a PC. The value of this port rests on your own personal needs.

Overall if you’ve enjoyed the Might and Magic Heroes games before then you won’t be disappointed, if you’ve only tried Kings Bounty before then I’d suggest jumping into Heroes VII it will seem familiar but also a little more “real” in style.

World of Final Fantasy embraces weirdness and silliness to further itself from its more serious counterparts, while simultaneously revisiting the franchise’s classic roots to create something special.

The Mage’s Tale may very well be the most ambitious Oculus Rift title to date. Despite its handful of quirks, it’s a legitimate dungeon crawler embracing a VR body…versus the other way around. The game is fun, clever, and surprisingly quite polished. Moreover, it’s one of the few Rift Experiences with legitimate game length, also a wonderful example on how to use the Touch controllers to near-perfection. What minor quirks are there (in puzzle difficulty, environmental interaction, potion making system) do not seriously hamper overall experience.

We really enjoyed Bubble Bobble 4 Friends on the Nintendo Switch and like the 1986 original, it is definitely a far superior game if played with others. As a result, it ramps up the fun factor as gamers with their friends and family are once again returned to the loveable characters of Bub and Bob with its tweaked gameplay and equally cute graphics. It’s the perfect 2019 reimagining of an arcade classic and is also fun to play solo as well!