The lack of game modes and other such bells and whistles might put off some people, but I think it’s pretty much moot. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone is a pure arcade experience, and to be honest, I think that’s Project DIVA at its best. The massive track list, fantastic music, clever beat maps, and sky-high difficulty ceiling make this one of the best rhythm games available. When you’ve got that, you don’t need a story mode.

The lack of game modes and other such bells and whistles might put off some people, but I think it’s pretty much moot. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone is a pure arcade experience, and to be honest, I think that’s Project DIVA at its best. The massive track list, fantastic music, clever beat maps, and sky-high difficulty ceiling make this one of the best rhythm games available. When you’ve got that, you don’t need a story mode.

There is a tonne of game here, too - the main storyline can easily get you 30 hours or more of gameplay, and then there are a multitude of side quests, post-game content, and replayability to stretch that out even further.

DJ Hero isn’t exactly a step forward, but an impressive leap sideways into a new musical genre and an innovative gameplay mechanic.

It's amazing and you should definitely check it out.

But this is one instance where, despite the glitches, I genuinely didn't care. New Vegas is just way too much fun. It's got everything in a game that I love, from a huge open world to explore, interesting characters to meet, challenging critters to fight, an awesome environment, great soundtrack and bloody mayhem.

A new direction for the series manages to lose what made the original so special.

This is a game that a lot of people can potentially enjoy; it’s a welcome return to form for Need for Speed, and worth checking out.

For all of its crude and juvenile content, it's a hell of a lot of fun - albeit shameful fun. Sometimes we tend to take videogames a bit too seriously and, although this game probably goes too far in the other direction, you can't discredit Volition for letting loose.

With all this hype, generated as a result of the repeated brilliance demonstrated by the developers themselves in the first place, we were expecting something... more. A lot of its flaws are, at the end of the day, skin deep - and they won't stop people from enjoying the rich experience that the Gran Turismo mode represents.

Ron Gilbert and his team have created a wonderful piece of nostalgia, and for a few hours, brought me back to my younger days, playing on my 386 PC. For those that have the same fond memories of games of yesteryear, like Maniac Mansion and Monkey Island, it is a must-buy. Not only will the memories flood back, you will also notice the little easter eggs the developers have slipped in. For less than $30, you get a near 20 hour experience, and in my opinion, it's worth every cent.

Sure, there is still room for improvement with Skate 3 with regards to the customisation and off-board controls, but it looks like the days of the Tony Hawk reign might be finally gone. Whoop!

But collecting stuff is what Lara Croft does. And when it looks and plays as well as this, there is a lot of enjoyment to be had.

The jump-in, jump-out aspect of multiplayer mode is great for people who like to play both solo and multiplayer. And while FPS/multiplayer extremists may find the questing a bit grindy (as one confided to me after a few days of playing), there really is a je ne sais quoi about this game that totally rules.

Minor technical problems aside, Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty is a game that recognises the limitations and shortcomings of the original. It addresses these, somehow making 17-year-old mechanics malleable, and shapes them into a mould that painlessly accepts contemporary production standards.

Likely a platform for Splash Damage to build upon in the future, this will be one aspect of a future 'Enemy Territory 3' that they'll hopefully succeed in producing.

Madden 16 offers plenty to core gamers, and now caters to those wanting to pick-up-and-play.

New Super Mario Bros. U feels lovingly crafted and is a welcome change from earlier, rushed, or unpolished games in the franchise. The platforming aspect is perfectly balanced, offering a decent challenge but never straying into the realms of frustrating or awkward.

Ultra Street Fighter, while good, doesn’t quite live up to that Ultra name. The new mechanics and balance changes will keep the game fresh for months to come, but the new characters - which are largely the reason this is a paid update and not a patch - bring next to nothing to the game.

It has taken all the boring bits of the genre, reworked them and delivered a well polished game that continues to surprise and delight.

Some new levels would have been nice (there’s no new content on offer, unfortunately) but the 40+ that are here certainly represent a solid investment and will take some time to conquer, especially if you’re a perfectionist.

The games are probably a bit too young to be considered retro or nostalgic, (Infinite is only three years old), but they do bring with them a lot of fond memories. If you’ve never played them before, the series feels fresh and new.

It won't be to everyone's taste, but if you can find a way to try it out before buying, then you may be surprised at just how much you get into it.

It might be asking for a lot of faith from gamers without a decent story tying it all together, but the good news is Season One adds up as one of the better Hitman titles in recent years. Episode two, set in Sapienza, was particularly enjoyable and there is a lot of replayable content as you try and unlock different assassination methods or uncover secret collectibles. However I wouldn’t be surprised that playing through all six chapters in one sitting loses it’s impact somewhat.

FIFA is one of the longest running game franchises, appearing almost every year for 25 years. For die-hard fans, buying every new edition is just a way of life – and with improvements across the board, they won’t be disappointed this year. However for more casual players who purchased last year’s FIFA 17, all you’ll really be missing out on is the new player rosters, strips, and a few extra nice-to-haves.

Shatter is a solid little number, with loads of features to guarantee replayability, and the sort of manic speediness that you would naturally expect from a game where you smash things into little bits for fun.

For fans of Bayonetta and those who found Gears of War a bit too slow and clunky, Vanquish is definitely going to please.

Sine Mora is a unique take on shoot 'em ups and if you're a masochist, the arcade and challenge modes are perfect for you. It's a welcome addition to the genre, and somewhat of a surprise title - especially this late in the console cycle.

It felt like a delicious goulash of past shooters like Duke Nukem, Unreal Tournament, Serious Sam and Borderlands. But I still found myself laughing shamefully, cringing sympathetically and then replaying levels over and over to unlock a new kill achievement or just to let off some steam. It's the best kind of guilty pleasure.

Overall, if you missed DmC when it arrived in 2013 and fancy a hack’n’slash game along the lines of Bayonetta or Ninja Gaiden, then this PS4 edition is certainly the best way to experience the game.

It’s an interesting, stripped down version that still has a lot of fun packed in. This comes with the proviso of playing alongside decent players, of course.

In my opinion this is the best kind of arcade game: long sequences of button mashing and shouting at your friends to “get that guy!” before trying to figure out exactly how the Boss can be beaten.

The presentation of the game is top-notch, with quirky enemies (from flying cakes to something that can only be described as an evil flying comedy nose / glasses / moustache combo), great voices (and sounds in general), and an excellent story. It's funny, and very Nintendo - without feeling at all like any kind of rehash.

For the strategy gamers who love base-building rather than raiding and for the keen traders who want to settle down and establish a port and a merchant navy, I can imagine little better: Anno strikes a very interesting balance that you won't find elsewhere, and it should provide a lot of gameplay hours.

One of the best 2D platformers with a tonne of replayability, now in a portable shell.

If you were a fan of the first Darksiders, then this is definitely a worthy sequel that you should enjoy. However, if you are new to the series I would advise reading up on the first one a little so the story isn't too confusing before you pick it up. Either way, if you enjoy a dungeon crawling adventure game with RPG elements, then I can easily recommend you grab a copy of Darksiders 2 and embrace Death, with just a few reservations.

Four great maps and a bunch of tweaked weapons and vehicles, all for the annoying price of about NZ $30. Casual fans might want to wait until this thing sees a price drop, but if you're heavily invested in your Battlefield 3 multiplayer then you'll get a lot out of these new maps.

A hardout classic platform game with cool physics, a cool character and boatloads of content (online tournaments, system link, support for up to four players, level editor and 300 levels), all for a measley 800 points.

Questionable presentation aside, Shin Megami Tensei IV is a solid game. Even with advancements in accessibility, it won’t be for everyone, but fans of JRPGs should definitely check it out.

Most importantly though, it appears that Bungie are learning how to write and present an excellent single-player story to match the multiplayer prowess of Halo.

If you're after something short term – maybe a rental – then Pure is great: it's an adrenaline shot administered by a supermodel. But after a few days, you will very likely realise just how vacuous that supermodel is (how little Pure offers in terms of longterm gaming).

PixelJunk Monsters is the definition of a game “which takes five minutes to learn, but a lifetime to master.” Its level designs are spectacular, challenging and vibrant, while its easy going controller layout allows you to jump straight in to the action and try to wade through the twenty or so levels on offer.

A must for Persona and Etrian Odyssey fans alike.

Resident Evil 5 offers some great level designs as well.

An engaging and atmospheric Lovecraftian adventure, as challenging as it is addictive. A must-play.

With simpler play calling, more online options, plenty of in-game advertising and a ton of ways to spend your hard-earned cash, the game manages to make it easier for new players to get into, while still catering to its veteran fans.

That Treyarch and Activision aren't just resting on their laurels, and are happy to inject new ideas into the experience, is something that should be rewarded by your interest. Interactivity in the way the campaign flows, in particular, is rewarding and fresh, and is something I hope we see more of.

The atmosphere in Resident Evil is second to none, and it's something that needs to make a comeback.

Final Fantasy XIII is a fantastical foray into a magical imagination. Ably supported by gorgeous visuals, the gameplay ramps up at a rate than can only be described as perfection as you fall in love with the characters in your party and the environment in which they adventure. It's not perfect in every way but the imperfections that are to be found are like dust on a diamond - there, certainly, but utterly irrelevant.

Half Dragon Quest, half Minecraft, all delightful.

Overall Transistor certainly shows how far Supergiant Games have come from Bastion - which was a great effort. Unfortunately, it’s missing some essential elements in an RPG (such as the aforementioned grinding) making a few bosses harder than they should be.

A phenomenally clever game polished to a new level of perfection by the masters at Q Entertainment.

It’s not without it’s flaws, but all is forgiven between the start and end of each round.

Although it's odd that they put more work into the enemy ships than the players’, this minimalist approach to the graphics suits the gameplay style by keeping the action smooth, the download small and audio and gameplay as the dominated features.

There is little doubt that this game is likely to be picked up by fans of the extreme sport. It is detailed, well presented and has a fighting control system that is both challenging and rewarding.

The most accurate description of American Football on a videogame console that I’ve ever seen.

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, when I first played Magic the Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014 I was expecting the same experience as last year, simply with new decks. The fact that Magic the Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014 brings a new game mode, in the shape of Sealed Play, to the table (excuse the pun) really adds to the Magic the Gathering feel.

Although it's not an original game, Just Cause 2 takes standard ideas and pushes them to the extreme. While it might be lacking in originality and flair, there is no doubt that it's fun and at times thrilling, in a violent and destructive kind of way.

Although the new features are welcome, Madden NFL 13 has nothing that will draw you in if you've tried the games before, and found them cluttered, confusing, and just plain hard to get into. But, for those who enjoy some pixelated pigskin, Madden 13 is solid, occasionally slick, and not afraid to wear some big hits in order to gain a few yards.

The above-average graphics do an adamant job of carrying you through what really matters in Resistance 3 - the gripping and harrowing story. Think of it as an interactive blend of Cormac McCarthy's The Road meets District 9. It's a must play for fans of the previous games, but a solid sci-fi shooter for those new to the Resistance franchise as well.

For console owners, Metro Redux is a chance to experience a top-quality, story-heavy, immersive shooter with the kind of visuals that high-end PC users have had the privilege of playing. It’s also great value for money when you consider the two full-story campaigns and additional DLC content included within.

Bye-Bye BoxBoy is a great little title that is well worth your time. The gameplay is simple, the puzzles built around them are clever, and the game is only let down by challenges being a tad too simple – at least until the post credit worlds, where it flips to hard. Despite this, its charming aesthetic makes it a handheld game that’s hard to put down when you’re on the go.

What they have done is modernised the look and feel of the game but by keeping the games true to the originals they have given new gamers the opportunity to experience some great platform gaming.

If you consider Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels to be the pinnacle of platforming and want something with that level of difficulty combined with similarly challenging puzzles to solve, this is the perfect game for you. It looks great and is as hard as hell - that alone should tell you whether or not you should buy it.

The Swapper is a beautiful, haunting thing. It’s rare for a game to leave you feeling emotionally numb, but also satisfied by the journey. All of The Swapper’s parts operate in concert, creating a masterful puzzle platformer that deserves to be remembered.

it’s an action-packed, casual, and thoroughly fun experience.

Although the puzzles are simplistic, and occasionally frustrating, they won't stop the hardened Castlevania fan. The impressive vistas, detailed cutscenes and huge bosses will keep players hooked.

Crisis Core has an addictive quality about it because you really need to know what happens next, and you’ll most certainly want to see the next glorious cutscene.

It’s a breath of fresh air in an incredibly stagnant genre, and even though I’m not exactly a big fan of shooters, I’m enjoying this one. That said, the Xbox 360 port does feel a bit wanting - not due to graphical reductions, which are to be expected, but due to the overall lack of polish.

An extremely well made and well thought out romp packed with loads of laughs and fun things to do.

A good sequel, but not one that ups the ante in any real way. Anyone who enjoyed the first game will most likely love the sequel, just don't expect a leap in quality like you see in some other sequels.

DiRT is one of the prettiest and most accessible racing games you’ll ever lay hands on.

I’m willing to sacrifice aesthetics for a good kick-around any day.

The real star of the game is the action, which becomes an explosion-filled thrill ride by the end that never gets old – thanks in part, no doubt, to its relatively short running time.

These tweaks along with the additional maps are more than likely bound to keep the frag counts alive in the growing WarHawk online community.

While the changes here may sound minor to someone only casually interested, those small increments (in addition to the movement overhaul) mean the world to its returning fan base. The culmination of changes in Advanced Warfare make it the freshest playing entry in the series, and the largest departure from its norm.

It’s not going to knock the socks off you, but Runic’s Torchlight may be just the title to slake your fantasy-grinding thirst, while we wait for Diablo 3 to make its way to our shores.

Easily the deepest in the series, in terms of both story and combat mechanics.

While it might not be all that suited to the quick 'pick-up and play' format, Gravity Rush's novel combination of platformer, beat 'em-up, RPG, and puzzler make this a very worthy game for the Vita.

Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire aren’t going to turn anyone who doesn’t like Pokemon into a believer, but then, that isn’t their goal. Instead, they set out to take the Pokemon that we know and love, and deliver the best version of it .

Does it offer anything amazing on a platform that's becoming increasingly weary? No. It doesn't even try. Forget the kinaesthetic Wii remotes, you could easily play this game on a jury rigged calculator.

It's definitely worth a look if you're the type who keeps their DS for long plane, train or automobile journeys, and I've no doubt that Beyonce's relaxed endorsement of the product will see it enjoy some success.

Stunning art and music design, but shallow when it comes to depth of meaning and gameplay.

An excellent game with an almost Grindhouse film aesthetic to it.

A challenging and genuinely frightening experience...As a survival horror, Alan Wake succeeds admirably, and comes highly recommended. But as a self-proclaimed "psychological action thriller", it falls short of its ambition.

It oozes atmosphere and totally delivers a believable world which you'll long to spend time in, long after the game is done. It's genuinely funny 95% of the time and feels like a solid story experience, rather than a tacked-on justification for the action.

While not every element of the game is on the same level of polish, the overall package gives you so much to do that you could conceivably be running around Bullworth for several dozen hours.

The game is addictive and a lot of fun. What the Wii U offers over and above the others is that you can play it both on the TV or solely on the gamepad.

What is particularly interesting about Colonization, as against the Civ games, is the relationships between the different factions. There isn't, for example, the same emphasis on war.

SWAP Force marks the point at which Skylanders really finds its groove; it’s still super approachable for all levels of gamer (the hard difficulty will challenge even the very best out there, believe me) and finally worthwhile for those of us that like something with a bit of meat on it.

Does what it sets out to - just don’t expect a revolution, Dance Dance or otherwise.

Ms. 'Splosion Man's gameplay provides a manic, engrossing, and dizzying experience. But its feel and its humour add so much more.

By wiping the slate clean and beginning again, Capcom have gained perspective. With Resident Evil 7, they’ve identified the core tenets of the franchise – the building blocks of terror that captivated and inspired a generation of fans and creators alike. The first-person perspective isn’t Resident Evil, but the feelings it elicits certainly are.

While Tropical Freeze is a great addition to the series, and having some new variation in singleplayer is much needed, the game really isn’t as fun without someone else playing alongside you.

If you are even remotely interested in tactical, turn-based RPGs and you have a PlayStation Portable, you simply need to buy this game.

A delightful little hack n’ slash rpg despite, or maybe because of, its flaws.

Happily, I'll recommend this game to all fans of the franchise, and to those who have yet to discover it. I can only hope plenty more classics of yore make the inter-generational

Fun, a little repetitive, but totally replayable, just wish the middle of the story was better.