All I'm saying is that is does kind of feel a bit like Nintendo are resting on their laurels. All the effort has gone into developing a classic Super Mario Bros. game on a new system, with new controls and new visuals. It can't help but be good because it's SMB.

Forza 6 is the typical exceptional quality we’ve come to expect over the past decade. The racing is smooth and can be tailored to suit anybody’s skill level, and the tracks are designed with meticulous attention to detail.

Levels are fun to play, with a good variety of play mechanics and ever escalating challenge that keeps you pushing for a ridiculously large improvement in your skillbase, only to find an even harder chunk of gameplay around the corner.

It is a solid, well presented title with a hell of a lot going for it.

If you have a 3DS, Fire Emblem Fates is a must-buy; if you don’t, it’s yet another reason, on top of so many others, to get one. Just be sure you do your research, and stick to Birthright unless you’re absolutely ready for the challenge Conquest has to offer.

Someone needs to make the arcade machine version of this.

Like any good platformer, Tearaway is full to the brim with secrets and collectibles

Everyone should try this game, even if you hate cars or football.

With any luck, with your purchase of Zack & Wiki we can show Capcom and the rest of the gaming industry that gamers are ready to be challenged, that gamers are open to something new, and that we would welcome a sequel, or something similar – the Wii needs it.

One of the modes that baseball fans will love is the ability to play any match-up from the season with live updated player stats and rosters.

A list of each small nuance would make for a pretty boring review, so as superficial as it is we've given away as little of the story and the temple-to-temple action as possible. Much of the joy is discovering it all for yourself.

Moving through the levels is fairly straightforward.

Trade and economic growth are explored in a simple and deeply engaging way.

This is Diablo 3’s best shot at a fun end-game that can last.

Absolutely nails the core gameplay.

So, is Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 better than FIFA 16? If you want an easily accessible game where you can mash the tackle button without fear of being sent off, or tap the shoot button to fire in a bicycle kick from outside the penalty area, and if you don’t care about having all the big name clubs, strips, and squads, you might decide that yes, PES 2016 is better than FIFA 16. Otherwise, no, it’s not.

Rayman Origins is so obviously a labour of love for its developers, and it shows in the artistry, in the care and attention to every detail, and in the feeling of uplifting whimsy that permeates the game.

If you're looking for the very best Pokémon game yet, you'll find it in Black or White. The changes they've made tweak the formula in good ways and the all-new world in which the all-new Pokémon live in is worth exploring...If, however, you're hoping for a significant revamp that addresses the myriad of fiddly quirks the series has collected over its 15 years or simply brings the title inline with other modern RPGs, you'll be (yet again) disappointed.

The best part about Wolfenstein II however, is a combination of the story and the cast. This game is truly BJ’s story. He’s coming up to 50, having spent most of his life fighting, and he wants nothing more than to stop – except he’s such a stand up guy that he can’t. He’s incredibly likeable, and incredibly easy to root for. It’s constantly touching. with a range of funny, quirky and believable characters just trying their best in a harsh world. Most of your bad guys seem to be a little bit over the top, and while well written, come across as caricatures. Then again, they are literal Nazis.

If you’ve played any side-scrolling games, chances are you’ve incidentally played this one. Odin Sphere is undoubtedly fun, but its 40-hour quest etches too long to repel the armies of repetition. It’s charm and aesthetic character are the real arrows for its quiver - the crux to get your attention and to keep it.

It contains enough content to warrant an actual off-the-shelf product, so it’s really encouraging to see it so cheap.

A worthy continuation to the original Company of Heroes and is every bit as enjoyable.

A great game done better. The graphics are improved, the gameplay remains intact, and some quality content has been added into the mix. If only every port to the PC were like this.

If you’re returning to Dark Souls II, you’ll either come away pleased that you’re on the same page as the designers, or annoyed by the seemingly perfunctory remix of enemy and item placement. On the other hand, brand new players may find Scholar of the First Sin to be an ideal, more guided tour of the world of Drangleic.

Resistance 2 is gutsier, it’s gorier, and it’s much, much bigger.

Flower is magical. There really isn't another word to describe it. It's fresh, it's new, it's fun and it has a whole lot of heart. Don't pass on the opportunity to pick it up.

Yes, it’s disappointing to see so many bugs, but at the end of the day you’re here for the dopamine reaction that hits when you see those legendary drops, and there are absolutely no issues with that part of the game whatsoever.

The system seller Nintendo fans have been waiting for.

If you can deal with the fact that you can't play it with your friends, there's no reason to hesitate.

In the end this latest little offering from developer Q-Games (little in terms of file size - good, and story length - not so good) probably should have been called PixelJunk Puzzler. But, it has a great control system, enough enemies to shoot, and the concept of mixing the lava and water, ice and gas is inventive and fresh.

It looks stunning, plays nicely and has enough gadgets and hardware to keep Ratchet and Clank, together or on their own, hitting those platforms for a while yet.

If LeBron’s your guy you’ll love 2K’s latest release. While there’s not a lot new, aside from the compulsory King James worship, the game is a fitting end to the current console cycle.

The same loveable Fallout formula far outweighs bugs and directionless new systems.

As it stands now, I can’t recommend Tales from the Borderlands highly enough. It’s a masterpiece of the same calibre as The Walking Dead, it’s one of the best games I’ve played all year (also, one of the best games I’ve played ever), and it might just be Telltale’s magnum opus.

For all the game industry’s current obsession with open worlds and open-ended narratives, the Uncharted games stand as a shining example of the possibility for linear stories to be infinitely re-playable. They don’t need anything more.

Its historical setting, attention to detail, and engrossing combat mechanic make it a worthy addition the Total War series. Fans of the series (especially fans on Creative Assembly's foray into bullets and bombs) should definitely think about picking this up.

F1 2017 is an impressive game. It not only retains the feel and flavour of Formula One racing, it makes it all accessible. No doubt there is a touch of arcade racing about it. The heavy rain, fighting lens flare, and swapping paint. Although, the likes of Lewis Hamilton have made swapping paint a more common event than it has been in the past. With the upgrade system and large collection of classic cars, it’s even overcome the problem that every car – in past games – felt essentially the same. Even if it hasn’t won the Constructors’ Championship, in almost every way F1 2017 has driven to an impressive win.

Going in, there was a real fear that Cuphead was going to be style over substance. You’ll likely feel the same as you punish yourself over and over through the first few stages. That feeling disappears once you start reading the enemies’ tells, and get a good understanding of when specials should be used. Eventually you come to understand what you’re about to partake in, and in the moments of quiet as the enemy gets knocked into its next phase, you’ll stare at the backgrounds, or the over the top animations, and you’ll wonder why a game like this hasn’t been made before. A good bullet-hell game doesn’t need amazing graphics to hook you into its gameplay, but it’s certainly nice to have one that makes every frame look gorgeously unique.

Valkyria Chronicles is an excellent game and it gets better the more attention you pay and the deeper you go.

There's not much new here. But if you have a decent PC and have a desire to check this one out, you can rest easy in the knowledge that it's a pretty decent conversion.

Saints Row IV combines irreverence, comedic genius, and fantastic characterisation with one of the most bizarre and ridiculous storylines you’ll see all year. As a total experience, its got the goods.

With the new (improved) control system and slight increase in visual quality, it would be safe to say that Wii U owners are getting the best experience out of Most Wanted - even if it is six months behind.

Whether you’re a Final Fantasy veteran, or someone who wasn’t even born yet when FFX first came out, you should waste no time in picking these up.

The only question you need to ask yourself is: do I need another addiction?

You won't find an experience quite like this on the iPad (or anywhere, for that matter), and I for one hope we see more games that offer something just a little bit different.

Played through quickly, Patapon is an eight hour game which - when played correctly - can be as long as 15 to 20.

The living, breathing world of Sunset Valley, the town that comes pre-packaged with the game, is a fascinating one.

Unfortunately, it is also evident that 2K Sports bit off more than they can chew, by trying to make the MyCareer mode more compelling with the introduction of Spike Lee’s story.

Titanfall is just so full of things. The world is beautiful and detailed, the maps are detailed and confusing, the giant robots have plenty of places to hide. Take your time to drink it all in as the bullets zing around and into you.

Tomb Raider earns its score for daring to go big and then executing on that goal with considerable aplomb in every important area. It looks great, plays well, and is fun from beginning to end. Even more than that, it does all of those things with more skill and finesse than almost any other game before it.

The mixture of over-the-top action, outrageously powerful weapons and cinematic presentation ensures that the non-stop thrill-ride action keeps the adrenaline flowing throughout.

Just playing through the game won't keep you occupied for a huge amount of time, but trying for top times and tinkering with the level editor will keep more dedicated players busy for absolutely ages.

Radiant Silvergun is a triumph and arguably one of the best (if not the best) game of its type available - on any platform.

Heart of the Swarm is a solid expansion that builds on and refines the Starcraft experience. As a stand-alone game, its campaign is oddly paced, it's got unnecessary bells and whistles, and it lacks strategic complexity. But whatever grumbles gamers might have, Blizzard’s devotion to good storytelling and character development still makes the experience worthwhile.

It's this frustration that turns Crysis 2 from a raging river into a swollen lake. Everything it does well, it does really well. As an overall experience it looks great, feels great and tells a great yarn. Its bells all whistle and its trinkets all sparkle. But this dazzling array of graphical and technical wizardry hides the fact that water has quietly seeped into this title's few cracks. Some of the core gameplay mechanics that you'd expect a tier one developer like Crytek to knock out of the park, are instead a little rusted over.

Brothers is a wonderful piece of storytelling and a fantastic puzzle game that’ll make you want to hug a loved one. Highly recommended.

Like most years, NHL 12 is a mixture of gameplay tweaks, roster updates, and surface polish. Although this year isn't a major upgrade, the changes that have been made make NHL 12 the closest thing to playing professional hockey this side of sharpening up your skates, moving to Canada, and signing up with the Halifax Mooseheads.

While Street Fighter 3: Online Edition is the least beginner-friendly of the series, that's precisely why it's favoured among the series' biggest fans. The parrying, super moves and timing make this a challenging and surprisingly addictive game.

New quality-of-life features elevate the game’s strongest elements, while visual and audio improvements make it more palatable. If you missed Final Fantasy XII the first time, don’t sleep on this.

If you appreciate hilarity and good puzzles, check this out now!

Tomb Raider is a mature experience featuring a young, strong woman who - armed with grit, determination, and intelligence - rescues not only her friends but herself as well. Surely there’s a lesson in that for the rest of us.

AC4 looks beautiful, and just feels more polished, cohesive, and comprehensive than the last title did.

Very similar to its predecessor, but it now comes with a proper two-player mode, an improved Break it Down mode, and lots of other small improvements. If you enjoyed the first game, you will certainly enjoy this one.

Bastion is a fun and engrossing ride, and I highly recommend grabbing the demo to see if it's your kind of thing. Allow the soothing (well, gravelly) voice of the narrator to wash over you, and go find out just what happened to this destroyed, understated, beautiful world.

As long as you know the basics, you’re set to build whatever you can think up, be it a castle with a moat, or a roller-coaster, although at the moment, you might have to shrink it down a size.

It’s fascinating that for all of the 3D, more technologically advanced Sonic games that we’ve seen over the years, this retro approach is still the best in over a decade. It’s mainly thanks to the development team being able to channel the essence of what made Sonic so successful in the first place. The decision by Sega to engage with independent studios Headcannon and PagodaWest Games after their passionate work in the Sonic fan community was a stroke of genius. It’s not perfect and it’s not ground-breaking in the slightest, but it’s still great to see Sonic back in good form after so many years of neglect.

Joe Danger is great fun wrapped around a retro sound track and some clean cartoon graphics. He's a likeable little motorhead with a goofy grin and, as with all daredevils, a rather unhealthy obsession with fame and a charming little death wish.

Its refreshing take on platform-based gaming, humour, variety, challenge and polish are instantly - and enduringly - impressive. Not only is this one of the best games on the Vita, it's one of the best games of the year - period.

But the truth is, Rockstar know their onions. They understand the importance of a gritty story, concise controls, cinematic visuals, balls-out action, and genuinely fun (albeit not 100% balanced) multiplayer. But above all, they carry with them a sense of style across all of their presentation. Max Payne 3 is yet another fine example of their prowess.

A fantastic setting, realistic controls, and insane graphics make EA Skate a definite must-have.

Unfortunately the potential for a compelling story to vault Lara Croft back into legendary status did not materialise, and what you get instead is a pulpy action-adventure with a straightforward, MacGuffin-chasing story in the same vein as the reboot, right down to the cadence. The world Crystal Dynamics created here, though, is packed and has more to explore, more action to witness, and loads more tombs to find. So switch your brain off during cut-scenes, and save that mental workout for the tombs and for the path least taken.

It’s hard to find earlier entries in the series now, but if you can hunt one down, your money will be better spent there. However, if you’re itching for some more Advance Wars and don’t care about presentation – or indeed find the darker, moodier presentation a positive change – then you could do a lot worse than Advance Wars: Dark Conflict.

If you’ve ever wanted to visit Europe, soak up the history and culture in Italy, or bask in the sun on a beach in southern France, then it may not be the game for you. Also, if all you want is a serious racer with the Top Gear guys telling you what to do, then stay well clear. However, if you’d rather bounce maniacally in a Dotcomesqe euro-rave or rip up a hillside of vineyards in a re-conned VW van, then Forza Horizon 2 may be just your thing.

FIFA 14 on the PS3 is brilliant. However, I can't help but feel that there is more coming to those looking at buying the next-gen consoles.

SteamWorld Heist is a fascinating game; a strategy RPG through and through, but with a central hook that sets it apart and makes it worth a look even for people with little interest in the genre. It’s not a good game, “for an indie studio” - it’s just a great game, and one that anyone with a 3DS should look into.

This content takes the game to whole new level of interest and challenge. I thought the game was great as it was, but these additions add so much more and further extend my enjoyment of what is a classic game.

Great story content, dearth of endgame.

In terms of playability, it's challenging (and often blisteringly hard), a la development studio Harmonix's other monster hits: Rock Band and Guitar Hero.

Taken as a whole, Shatter combines well-thought-out gameplay with a highly polished and immersive aesthetic. Only a particular type of person need apply, perhaps, but if you’re into Geometry Wars or other score-based titles, Shatter should keep you satisfied.

PS4 power and updates have made a great game, even better.

The pride in the Nintendo legacy is apparent in every single aspect of this title; the attention to detail, and sheen of professionalism is everywhere. It’s a triumph - visually one of the best handheld titles ever seen, and in terms of capturing your emotions, Luigi has you on board from the first sequence. You want to guide him to victory (and safety!) because he is just so darn sweet.

Those who have their turntable controllers gathering dust in the cupboard will also be pleased to hear that Activision have hardly changed the peripherals and they will work perfectly with the sequel.

Politics aside, Blizzard have done what they do best: produced a great online multiplayer game.

For a free title, knocked together by a small team, it's stunning just how much it blows the opposition away. They have taken what was wrong with the genre and fixed it; what was right, they have made even better.

Madden 10 is still, in almost every way, a quality title. It’s a game packed with detail, drama and fun. So don’t be surprised if it’s around for another twenty years.

Forza 7 is the best looking and most comprehensive entry to date. It drives like a dream, and with the stable and well populated multiplayer, DLC car packs, as well as ongoing custom events from Turn 10, you’ve got a game where you can collect the cars you like, paint them, customise them, look at them, and race them for months to come.

If you like fighting games, Persona, or - better yet - both, you’ll be well served by Persona 4 Arena. It’s familiar yet unique, and has enough stuff that’s all its own to warrant its existence.

Most gamers can expect over 80 hours of gametime, fantastic characters and voice-acting and some of the best graphics seen on a Nintendo handheld. Whether you buy this for your home console or your New 3DS, it’s one of the better JRPGs to have launched in the last few years.

If you have a 3DS, Fire Emblem Fates is a must-buy; if you don’t, it’s yet another reason, on top of so many others, to get one. Just be sure you do your research, and stick to Birthright unless you’re absolutely ready for the challenge Conquest has to offer.

Quite simply the definitive version of Twilight Princess.

It's not the most amazing thing ever by any stretch of the imagination but if you like the idea of a suped-up Snake, with a bunch of modes, and don't want to lower yourself to lugging a dated mobile phone around with you, it's hard to beat.

If you’re up for a challenge, MH Generations is an incredibly rewarding and satisfying experience.

All of the narrative and story-driven dialogue is beautifully pitched throughout, making the plot meld seamlessly with the gameplay.

Ultimately there's less micro-management in Cities: Skylines than in SimCity, but it in no way feels like something cut-down or "cloney." No, Cities: Skylines is its own game - an impressive feat considering the lineage of the genre.

Extreme weather variables add substance to the racing.

Metroid: Samus Returns is a welcome addition to the 3DS library. Whether this stands alone as Nintendo honouring a part of the franchise that didn’t get its time to shine, or if this is their way to set the scene before a full-blown Super Metroid remake, I hope they do it again. There are a lot of Nintendo classics that have been lost to time, and Metroid: Samus Returns proves that a new coat of paint, and the modernising of mechanics can go a long way in revitalising a franchise.

The best Dragon Quest game gets bigger, but deserves a better port than this.

Exploring Ni No Kuni is a wonderful, magical experience.