The most impressive and useful feature of DOA is the ability to counter an advance by another fighter. Bear in mind that countering requires precise timing and practice is the only way to perfect this art. I am still learning.

It would've been nice to have trickier combat or more real RPG bits and bobs, but as an interactive South Park title, this hits pretty much every mark. The Stick of Truth is puerile, authentic, and constantly hilarious.

A bare-bones port can't sully one of the outstanding titles of this generation.

It might not be what Devil May Cry fans have been praying for, but it's a damn good game in its own right. It's like that, and that's the way it is.

A fast, flashy, exhilarating fighter that largely manages to combine aesthetic wizardry with technical gameplay. High-level SFIV players are unlikely to be won over but everyone else should be suitably impressed.

There are a few bugs that should have been ironed out pre-release but nothing significant enough to take away from the core gameplay. This hack-n-slash is a must have for any RPG lover.

A solid and enjoyable opening entry into a series that, thus far, is impossible to judge. The Wolf Among Us perhaps hews a little too closely to the first arc of the comic it's based on, but it does an admirable job of translating that world to a new medium.

The best episode so far and easily the most emotional, personal and affecting.

BattleBlock Theater’s second opening night (this time on PC,) is just as crude, unhinged and delightful as its first. Come for the platforming, stay for the absurdity.

A beautifully crafted game that more than lives up to the expectations that arise with any Castlevania release. This is an epic, stylish and enormously entertaining adventure that deserves to be played by anybody with a passing interest in the genre or the series. Applause is in order.

Submission system issues aside, UFC Undisputed 3 is a great recreation of an incredibly complex sport. Compared to a TV broadcast, fights can still feel slightly mechanical but perhaps that's a symptom of videogames in general rather than the design of this particular one. If you like the UFC, this one's a no-brainer.

The Football Manager formula is as complex and addictive as ever, but a compulsion to keep playing shouldn’t be mistaken for revelatory advances. 2014 is a marginal improvement for the series, but retains several of its shortcomings.

The Imperial Guard wasn’t the most obvious choice for Assault, but it seems to fit in just right. There’s enough to love about their style of play for beginners and veterans alike.

For the most part, I'm deeply impressed. In terms of sheer gameplay mechanics SWTOR is a WoW-alike, yes, but it's a highly polished WoW-alike, and that does make a difference.

Crysis 2 is an exciting, slick, entertaining experience that puts most recent FPS releases to shame. It may not be the ground breaking experience some were hoping for but it manages to move the series forward enough to just about satisfy any Nano Suit cravings.

Virtua Tennis isn’t quite the killer app for the PSP but it earns itself the honor of being one of the first definitive sports title for Sony’s handheld.

A highly polished and generally entertaining romp, but it's missing a vital spark to bring everything together.

Brain-achingly clever and hypnotically fascinating, SpaceChem is a must for any puzzle aficionado or anyone with a passing interest in programming.

One of the most innovative things about this game is the fact that you can now take your custom maps online and swap them with other players.

After plenty of hype, I'm pleased to say Street Fighter X Tekken delivers spectacularly. Capcom continue to evolve the fighting genre by installing original gameplay mechanics, all of which welcome newcomers and series aficionados alike.

Wacky characters, inspired design and engrossing gameplay make Beyond Good & Evil HD as relevant today as it was eight years ago. Do yourself a favour and grab a copy.

There are certainly a few things that could be improved, but they are minimal when you consider the overall quality of the experience that surrounds them. Gentlemen, start your engines!

It could so easily have gone very, very wrong, but if this episode is any indication then Tales from the Borderlands might wind up being one of their better series.

Fantastic. Probably the finest tennis game ever made - combining flair and accessibility with a level of depth that the competition has come nowhere near matching. Thanks to Top Spin 4, tennis games are relevant again. Very relevant.

Still, as a complete package it in no way lives up to the expectation. Only one of its three core elements (single player, co-op and multiplayer) is worth your time, the other two feeling as though they've been added merely to increase the number of potential bullet points on the back of the box. Depending on which elements you're interested in Battlefield 3 will either be your game of the year, or your letdown of… well, the year.

It's not easy to identify with specific characters as a result, meaning (despite their historical origins) they can feel throwaway because they don't stick around long enough to grab your attention and tickle your curiosity. That's not to say they're poorly written, there are just too many to make things feel cohesive. I guess what I'm trying to say is that sequences in Assassin's Creed 3 tend to feel like episodes of a TV show, rather scenes from a movie.

Outland is fast, it's fluid, it's unbelievably gorgeous, and it's got some of the finest level and boss design I've seen in a long time. If you fondly remember the days of sitting down in front of your NES or Mega Drive or Amiga with a new platformer, or if you recall Flashback, Strider, Castlevania, Metroid, Ninja Gaiden, or anything else I've name-dropped in this review, you shouldn't hesitate to pick this up immediately.

The series' domination of the management genre is not in question, but there are still areas where it could step up its game.

On the one hand I am greatly disappointed that Factions seems to just be ‘more of the same’ in a different setting with even less missions, yet on the other hand it has reignited my interest in the series and I am once again playing Guild Wars as often as I was once before.

A visual feast that's a joy to play in multiplayer but fails to impress to the same degree in single player. Its campaign is competent and technically impressive but ultimately forgettable. Get it for the multiplayer.

The best the series has ever been at welcoming newcomers, but veterans might find the improvements lack impact.

If you're a fan of Formula 1 and/or F1 2010 then this is a must buy, the new features and improvements making it more than worth your time, money and effort. Anyone not so ingrained in the sport will struggle to see the upside of spending another £40, however. No matter what though, this is a better game than last year and (once again) the bar of expectation has been raised going into F1 2012.

An extremely solid gaming experience that should appeal to the old fans whilst proving easily accessible to the new fans like myself.

Like its winsome protagonist, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is fixated on pursuing the riches of high-seas piracy and seems reluctant to be drawn into convoluted Templar plots. The most self-aware Assassin’s Creed title to date, and one that makes the most of some aging mechanics.

It is always risky to take something popular and approachable and change it up. That alone is well worth the price of admission. Factor in the enjoyable single player campaign and excellent art design, and I think you certainly have a game worth your hard earned cash.

A tense and engaging spaceship command roguelike, FTL's only real flaw is that it doesn't differ enough after multiple playthroughs.

Uncompromising in design and steeped in car loving snobbery, GT5 is a petrol head's dream. For gamers it's good, for car enthusiasts it's quite brilliant.

Grim Fandango represents the pinnacle of 90s adventure games and is arguably the finest videogame noir created to date. This remastered edition stays largely faithful to the source material, preserving it in digital form with some worthwhile extras and tasteful improvements.

A few bugs and a lackluster hero creation mode, however, don’t change the fact that Battle for Middle-earth II is a great real-time strategy game that is worth adding to your collection.

If the style doesn't put you off, buy this. Now.

Great class skill customisation options, the rift element, the game play mechanics, all these make RIFT one of the best fantasy MMOs on the market. Play it.

Whether you rent it, borrow it, buy it or visit a friend that owns it, you should play Child of Eden.

For wrestling fans this is an absolutely essential purchase, even if you do own a copy of a predecessor.

Without question one of the finest racing games available today. Fantastic.

Another brilliant package, once again. A very serious contender for sports game of the year.

Solid enough, yes, but nowhere near as awe-inspiring as the original. To be fair, it could easily be summarised as an expansion pack for "Sands of Time," with new missions and costumes to unlock, and that’s not a bad thing, either.

Make no mistake: this is a competent, well-oiled machine of a game. There are no bloopers, no major glitches, and no howling errors of judgement.

Despite incongruous story points and sometimes clunky camera work, Silent Storm deserves the support of all right-thinking strategy fans. With its turn-based combat and destructible scenery it signals something fresh in the stale mound of World War Two games.

Visually engaging and packing enough variety to see you through to the end and beyond. Proof that, in right hands, classic side-scrolling shooters are far from dead.

Like its PSP ancestor before it, Lumines is once again a must-have title for a Sony handheld. Simple, yet full of depth and a still a pleasure.

With frequent updates, it is obvious that they are trying to get this title as far to the front of the pack as possible. Only time will tell just how “massive” this MMORPG game will become.

It's a title that will appeal to the adventurer, the explorer and the builder; not to mention those who appreciate a substantial amount of player freedom. If you happen to be all of those things, Terraria is a lightly tarnished treasure.

The best Madden of this generation and the only one to have made genuine progress. Some new features still need work, but at least there finally are some new features.

If it wasn't for that second act, Resistance 3 would be looking at a higher score. However, given its duration and the disappointment it heaps upon you, it's that middle third that prevent it from living up to the potential it clearly possesses. It's certainly worth playing but, equally, it's certainly not a classic.

The nature of the title means repetition (both in the reuse of assets from the original and the game's mechanics getting a little over-familiar) will burn players out eventually, and for OMD veterans this may be accentuated by the short gap between releases.

£12 for this level of perfectly-crafted entertainment is an absolute steal.

When it comes down to it, Infamous 2 is not the game we were hoping it would be. It starts off fun but, due to a lack of personality, originality and complexity, soon feels tiresome and repetitive.

Accessible but sophisticated, whacky yet charming. Best Tekken of this generation.

Even with the disappointing sound aspect, it has improved on its previous faults and included enough extra to warrant a purchase.

I must admit they proved that there were changes that needed to be made as this is clearly the best Tribes game out there.

Arguably the best of this year's crop of Summer of Arcade games. Dust is a visually stunning love letter to gaming's past and a great Metroidvania game in its own right, and you shouldn't hesitate to pick it up.

From the first moment to the last (and the final boss fight really has to be seen to be believed) Ms. Splosion Man urges you to succeed by dangling forthcoming treasures in front of your nose, while at the same time trying to kick your legs out from under you. It's a vicious mistress, but one with rich rewards.

There simply will not be enough variety in this package to keep many players interested. For others, the difficulty level will prove frustrating.

Crown of the Ivory King’s snow-swept ramparts are an exemplary example of intricate, looping level design. This third and final release wraps up the most consistent set of DLC I’ve played since Fallout: New Vegas.

Part of the fun of TOCA is unlocking the new tracks and vehicles and to do that you need to win, no matter which mode you're playing in, after all, you want to get to the good stuff and both game modes offer this variety.

If you're a fan of Formula 1 and/or F1 2010 then this is a must buy, the new features and improvements making it more than worth your time, money and effort. Anyone not so ingrained in the sport will struggle to see the upside of spending another £40, however. No matter what though, this is a better game than last year and (once again) the bar of expectation has been raised going into F1 2012.

In short, Minecraft 360 is a slightly older, self-contained version of Minecraft. It has a deftly handled new user-interface and control scheme, a guided version of the crafting system, a handy tutorial and split-screen co-op; none of which the PC release can offer.

I still haven't got the multiplayer working, but the single-player is good enough to be worth the asking price by itself.

Any game that lets you play as an obese woman with metallic skin, purple Mohawk, pink thong, no top and a love for streaking and slapping guys around the face with a giant purple dildo bat is okay in my book. If intelligence is cyclical then Saints Row The Third is so dumb that it's smart.

The combat is generally tight, while the visuals and overall sound should keep the non-hardcore gamers glued to their monitors.

Very well conceived and produced. I am not sure if any but the most die-hard naval sim fans will be able to truly appreciate what they have at their fingertips when playing.

An aggressive, untamed racer that delights in depicting carnage as viscerally as possible. Pitched somewhere between 'arcade' and 'sim', Unleashed may lack a clear identity but it certainly doesn't lack excitement and, as a result, is an ultimately rewarding experience.

A unique, compelling experience that will reward your sense of adventure if you indulge its charms.

Fans will overlook the average graphics, slow down and terrible draw rate, but other gamers with frown upon this as well as the lack of an online mode. Having said that, the cop chases add a huge fun factor to the game.

Racing fans looking for something a little different, whether you have the original or not, should check this out, it's fast, furious and fun, essential ingredients for a racing game.

While the gameplay is far from perfect, Dragon Age II is an absolute must for anyone interested in the world, the lore and a good story - but anyone hoping for something that feels and plays like Origins might want to adjust their expectations accordingly.

Superb faction design and twists on 4x genre conventions, combined with rather passive AI (even at higher difficulties,) mean Endless Legend is a strategy title that falls frustratingly short of being sublime.

The way New Vegas' story plays out is incredibly immersive, providing a real sense that you're playing a key part in shaping the future of the world. It's not a million miles away from Fallout 3 but it's big, crazy and very entertaining and that's all that really matters.

Telltale's profanity-laced murder investigation continues to balance the fantastic and the horrific with aplomb, and this episode provides some of the strongest character moments thus far.

In short, Crusader Kings II is a majestic feudal sandbox, the greatest generator of hilarious medieval soap opera ever created and Paradox Interactive's best title to date.

Considering Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary is being sold at a reduced price, I really can't see any reason not to take the plunge given how well the gameplay still holds up and the tender way in which it's been repackaged. Whether you're a veteran looking to experience the original magic for a second time or a newcomer wondering what all the fuss is about, this is an excellent package.

A superbly written adventure that ticks most of the important cyberpunk boxes, and throws in a lot of solid puzzling to boot.

FIFA 15 still plays decent football, but with the same (increasingly inexcusable) bugs and instabilities of the past few seasons.

Golden Realms provides plenty of hours of entertainment, but feature-wise there’s still some room to be filled in this Halfling’s stomach.

An excellent example of storytelling, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is a journey well worth taking.

Although I have tried to avoid saying it, Joint Operation: Typhoon Rising beats "BF1942", period.

Suitably self-contained and demonstrating some of the best level design in Dark Souls 2, Crown of the Sunken King suggests that FromSoft’s DLC team may well be up to the daunting task of creating three essential add-ons.

Instead of playing on former glory, EA have done an exceptional job of ensuring the series continues to evolve. New accessories, cleverly designed mountain ranges and an addictive multiplayer mode make this an attractive investment.

What Metro lacks in pitch-perfect game mechanics, it makes up for with an atmosphere that you can taste.

For all intents and purposes, Catherine makes a mockery of the term video 'game' and what most people associate with the term. Yes, Catherine is a game, but it's also so much more than that. By placing you so elegantly into Vincent's world, and doing so in a way that makes you feel as though you are Vincent as opposed to 'just' playing as him, Catherine manages a level of intrigue so rare in the boxed console game space.

Whimsical, witty, and beautiful: this is a sumptuous adventure with all of Double Fine's usual care and attention lovingly lavished throughout.

Another day, another PC launch riddled with bugs and issues. Battlefield 4 is a perfectly decent game with a crashing client, crashing servers, and a whole host of issues that cause lag, disconnections, graphic and sound glitches, and plenty more. When they get fixed it's easily worth a purchase; right now, it's a frustrating experience.

This is the antithesis of thought and strategy. It is a carnival ride, an action movie and an all-you-can-eat-burger bar. This is the quintessential twitch game.

The AI is top notch on both the opponent’s team as well as providing support for your own side, the overall atmosphere of each game is immersing and the gameplay reeks of realism.

Torchlight is a brilliantly crafted RPG that has survived the PC-to-360 porting process incredibly well. The usual awkward console-RPG menu systems are present and correct but the game's charm, depth and sense of fun more than make up for any such issues.

An episode of grim, despicable moments and further fascinating tests of Clementine’s morality, but one which persists with some of the weaker aspects of this second season.

A solid and surprising well-written shooter that should easily please fans of the genre. It doesn't do too much more than that, but that's not really a complaint.

A stealth-horror game designed, with precision, to make pretty much every single activity and objective as uncomfortable and tense as possible.