Before playing FighterZ, I knew absolutely nothing about the Dragon Ball series. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed the story so I can only imagine how fans of the franchise will react to the visual beauty and over-the-top mayhem. While the controls are easy to get to grips with, it still provides a tough challenge. In particular, the frustrations I had progressing in the Arcade Mode are a prime example of how difficult mastering FighterZ is. So, with that said, ending this review with a quote from Atari founder Nolan Bushnell seems fitting: “All the best games are easy to learn and difficult to master”. A famous videogaming motto that for me, sums up Dragon Ball FighterZ perfectly.

The tale of a young country boy touched by destiny going on to save the world is not unfamiliar; Lost Sphear is an homage, dressed almost entirely in the well-worn threads of its forebears. Many of the tropes and conventions of the classic Japanese roleplaying game are on full display here, almost as gleamingly obvious as the game’s omnipresent moon; nary a moment passes, from beginning to end, without a sense of the uncanny. When these influences work, Lost Sphear builds on a legacy carved from genre giants; it feels warm and familiar, predictable in a comforting way. But the haphazard stitching together of its predecessors is its own downfall; when the patchwork unravels, Lost Sphear reveals its starving soul.

If you’re looking for a unique take on the shooter genre or just want to pretend you’re an inter-dimensional John Wayne for a few hours, then Cold Iron is an easy recommend and offers up far more variety than its simple premise would initially lead you to believe.

Your mileage may vary if you come into the game expecting another blast-em-up like Rush of Blood but, if you take The Inpatient on its own merits, it’s an intriguing peek into what the future may hold for the quality of VR titles and stands as one of the most immersive experiences I’ve had with the technology yet.

The Dark Knight is working with partners more in this series than we might be used to… but it works well and shows that even the strongest character occasionally needs help from others. I can see heartache on the horizon and a potential avoidance of that heartache… but with Telltale I don’t want to count my penguin eggs before they’re hatched, so I will just wait, impatiently, for the next episode and I will hope that I’ve made the right choices up to that point and that my final choices don’t hurt the ones I love. So for those, like me, who are now caught up in the story… just remember the next episode will be via the same Bat channel and keep an eye for the Bat symbol for release date.

This timeless fantasy is as emotionally compelling as it was all those years ago. A stunning adventure that still has plenty to offer.

If you’ve been around gaming long enough then you remember with a lot of fondness the old adventure games. You can go as far back as pure text adventures or you can go to what was arguably the heyday with Sierra and then Lucasarts. The Red Strings Club harks back to those games visually with it’s pixel-art style… but much as us gamers have grown up… the subject matter has too. While those formerly mentioned game companies would frequently scatter more mature content throughout via little jokes and such, The Red Strings Club is fully immersed in mature themes and it’s a great way to experience that nostalgia in the modern age.

If you’re not particularly physically active or dislike playing one on one matches against real life opponents, then it’s probably wise to give SPARC a miss, as the single player options are admittedly lacking. For everybody else though, I’d recommend strapping on a shield and diving into the fray, as the community, mechanics and gameplay are all top tier and have the potential to suck in even those who are notoriously adverse to organised sports… I’m living proof of that.

Really for the price it’s a good amount of game. The developers are tackling the bugs and recently released a patch to tackle many of them. It’s an impressive and at times awe inspiring achievement and well worth a look.

I would say wait for a special as I think it’s a little steep in the price department for only one hour of play… but if they do indeed add more to it in the future then that price is going to start seeming more and more reasonable. If nothing else this shows what the future of VR education can be, it’s done in a compelling and fun way that is sure to add a bit of knowledge to the average user… even if only osmotically. A great experience and I look forward to what they bring out next!

A charming concept marred by a lack of replayability, Shooty Fruity is definitely worth a look for discerning VR shooter enthusiasts but it may be worth waiting for a sale, particularly with so many lengthier titles making their way to the format.

I Fell From Grace has one of the most unique and interesting narratives I’ve seen in any game this year. The unsettling story tells a compelling and mysterious tale with flawed characters navigating some truly strange events. The traditional adventure game mechanics are serviceable and keeps the narrative flowing, yet the lack of a quest log or general sense of objective means you’ll get more enjoyment out of this one playing with a guide until you become familiar with the various set pieces. Definitely worth picking up if you’re a fan of weird stories or traditional adventure games.

The final episode of Life is Strange: Before the Storm solidifies its well-deserved place as one of the best prequel entries to a popular gaming franchise ever. It captures the original series aesthetic and narrative tone while successfully introducing its own new and unique story elements that enhance rather than subtract from the original game’s established setting. Its shorter episode count did feel like the reason for many storylines falling by the wayside in favour of Chloe, but its great writing throughout and emotional ending brings a satisfying conclusion to the overall LiS saga – though there is still one more bonus episode coming in 2018 for owners of the Deluxe Edition to look forward to.

Megaton Rainfall gives you the entire planet to take care of and, while it can be an overwhelming responsibility at times, it’s one that I find myself stepping up to time and time again.

Sony’s more esoteric puzzle and rhythm-based games are a bit of an acquired taste, with the pervading cheeriness and garish graphics serving as a turn off for some, but if you dig on these kind of games then LocoRoco 2 offers up a nice evolution upon the formula of the first title.

The controls can be a bit tricky to master but that’s also to be expected from a reasonably new technology (at least for home use). But what you do get is a massive world that you can just roam around in, you get to play with your good ol’ pal Dog Meat. I’ve spent longer in Fallout 4 VR than any other VR experience before and my play times themselves are far longer than any other playtime (averaging about 3 hours at a time). I am arguably a Fallout apologist so keep that in mind, but if like me you love the Fallout World (and previously only got to experience it in a “forced” VR experience via software hacks) then I think you are going to be more than happy with the experience… now if you’ll excuse me I need to go and hunt a Death Claw.

I’m a pretty big fan of RTS and certainly a big fan of RPG’s, I love being able to dig into a character and forge them the way I would like. Spellforce 3 does a good job of mashing those two genres together and the result is a pretty decent campaign that should have you entertained for quite some time. A little bit of this and a little bit of that, in just the right doses and you get a great game that stands above the sum of it’s parts.

Conclusively the game is fun and addictive when running smoothly, I can find myself wasting many hours on relatively even level combat knowing that everyone starting out, starts as barren and defenseless as I. A stable frame rate would to wonders to improve the quality of gameplay as many gamers I know share my opinion of smooth gameplay is better than high end graphics, at the moment though, PUBG on Xbox One isn’t providing either. [Early Access Score = 62]

It’s a little on the short side, which is reflected in the budget price, but the sheer joy that you’ll feel when clearing out a room full of beasts intent on feasting on your entrails more than makes this an easy recommend for me.

These graphical issues are profoundly disappointing because I think Rime is a great game, but the Switch version is a technical mess with no signs of future improvement. The gameplay is fun and relaxing, the soundtrack is phenomenal and when it’s running on anything other than the Switch – the visual design is gorgeous. You could play Rime on the Switch, but I strongly recommend getting it on a different platform to save yourself the headache.

With so little actual new content on display here and a story that ends up being little more than a fart in the wind in terms of the Destiny mythology, there’s little to recommend here even for players desperate for reasons to jump back into the game.

Floor kids is the type of game you just don’t want to put down. Every aspect of the game, from the fantastic animation and art design to the incredibly catchy dance tracks, has a gorgeous undeniable charm that is immediately affecting. It’s a shame that the single-player content is so thin and there’s no incentive for players to go back and ace their favourite songs, as most players will simply breeze through the game in an hour or so. For me though, Floor Kids has earned a permanent place on my Switch memory card, because you never know when the urge to bust a move might strike.

Big Rigging through a small town with a big reputation. So pull your air horn and ease on down the road, though maybe wait for a sale because it’s a little pricey for what it is.

Fishing in VR is actually pretty damn fun, even more so when you add magic crossbows and fish borne straight from the bowels of hell into the equation.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope is an ambitious but flawed game. Exploring planets can be thrilling, but spending time with some of the characters will wear on the nerves. The combat can at times be deep and strategic, but it happens so frequently that the pleasurable aspects of it are often dulled. The graphical remaster looks great, but the presentation of cut scenes and the voice acting are bargain basement, especially compared to something like Persona 5. For those interested in Star Ocean as a franchise, the discount on this remaster could make it worth your while. For people looking for a great JRPG though, 2017 has seen a slew of great current and remastered games to make Star Ocean: The Last Hope essential.

The repetition and painfully irritable audio had me moving onto my next title that much quicker. If I were to give a few pointers to the team in the hopes to reclaim my attention, I would say a bigger diversity in mission types and more content, perhaps, no, definitely a better sound team on hand for the future. I don’t normally give bad reviews, normally I can find a little something to keep me going, sadly however not this time. It was a shame too, I’ve been so looking forward to the potential new Road Rash, maybe I just need to try more of the game but it’s just not winning me over.

It’s got a few issues, mainly the voice overs in the early couple episodes, and a few of the decisions feeling a bit like filler, but this game succeeded in what it set out to do: Be a fun, funny action-filled adventure through space. If you love the comics, films or TV show, this is worth checking out. It’s all the characters you love portrayed very well and you’re in for a blast.

The Nintendo Switch version of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a technical marvel. How Bethesda managed to cram such a huge, intricate game world onto a tiny little game cartridge blows my mind. Yet what impresses me most is just how well Skyrim works on the Nintendo Switch, both in terms of graphics and gameplay. The Switch version runs well and looks comparable to the console versions, but the inherent pick-up-and-play nature of the Switch perfectly suits the distractible, open-world gameplay of Skyrim. The tacked on motion-controls and Amiibo support is disappointing, yet easy to ignore, as is the texture pop-in and typical Bethesda-game scripting issues. It may be showing its age a bit, but if for some reason you are yet to play Skyrim, or you’re simply looking to replay one of the best RPG’s of all time, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on Switch is a great package.