An interesting game. It attempts to combine an increasingly niche genre with one that couldn't be more populist right now. The danger it faces is to alienate its hardcore fans without luring enough FPS players over.

For the most part Split/Second: Velocity hits the mark like a cargo ship through your windscreen. It's extreme fun and effortless to get into, like the best weekend party games should be, but may struggle over the longer term.

Street Fighter X Tekken brings it in some places and slides by in others, yet it manages to be one of the best crossover fighting games in recent memory.

Overall, if the violence doesn’t put you off, Condemned 2 is a worthy purchase. If you’re a shooter fan, and are after a visceral, disturbing experience, then this is the game for you.

Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition is as good as it could possibly get. The only problem it has is the obvious one; if you have the original release on PC, or on the last-gen consoles, it’s up to you if you want to spend $80 on an expansion pack. And is any expansion pack ever going to be worth the price of a full game? But, if you didn’t buy the original game, get this.

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.

One of the top-quality Sonic games, even if it's a bit weirder and a bit patchier. The lack of slickness ends up being a positive - this is a game that'll stick in your memory, and encourage you to keep coming back to it. Like Sonic? You'll like this one.

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.

A solid sequel with minor improvements to a successful formula.

For the most part Split/Second: Velocity hits the mark like a cargo ship through your windscreen. It's extreme fun and effortless to get into, like the best weekend party games should be, but may struggle over the longer term.

The gameplay is very much like Uncharted, only with no guns. In the future no one has guns, except the flying robots, who have some kind of energy cannons.

For the most part Split/Second: Velocity hits the mark like a cargo ship through your windscreen. It’s extreme fun and effortless to get into, like the best weekend party games should be, but may struggle over the longer term.

The game isn’t designed to be a videogame masterpiece, but it succeeds in doing what it attempted to – entertain.

For the average fan, Madden 25 on Xbox One offers little in the way of upgrades, making it hard to justify dropping another $120 for the game. On the other hand, for the hardcore Madden player (and I know there are a lot of you in New Zealand), the improved realism offered by some of the mechanical changes under the hood make this a hard game to pass up.

Combine all of the above with a plentiful array of button mashing moves and abilities, and you’ve got a heck of a lot to play with.

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.

A spirited good time.

And there you have it: three Metal Gear Solid games for your HD console, updated with care, and still with all the elements of the series you may love or despise. The lack of the original MGS is, once again, really stupid. But otherwise, if you're a fan of these games, you shouldn't hesitate in grabbing these versions if you're looking to play them again.

Rugby Challenge is not without its problems. But there is depth behind its flashy veneer. Perhaps most importantly, there doesn't seem to be anything that ruins the game by overbalancing it. It embraces different playing styles, and rewards learning the skills associated with each.

Besides a camera straight from Robot Hell, there’s a real Heart to this little indie brawler.

But without the Circle Pad Pro, it's a bit of a bumpier ride - albeit a more portable one. The four face buttons now control the camera, which is vastly inferior, and makes a lot of difference. Seriously, Nintendo can't come out with revised 3DS hardware soon enough.

An old-school side-scroller, with the occasional throw-away 3D sequence included, that makes no concessions to the trend of making games so simple you can complete them by just pressing a button occasionally.

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.

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.

Titanfall 2 is designed just well enough, and with enough layers so to not be entirely derivative. Hero simulations are so vastly abundant in this industry - so if you’re going to play one, you might as well choose from those who do it the best.

I found Deus Ex to be very entertaining overall, but the lack of consistency with the first and third person camera angles, and the poorly conceived controls, do take their toll.

This is yet another game that I have enjoyed more than other critics out there. Yes, there are bad aspects to the game, and I feel I’ve listed them all above, but the story and characters found in Lost Planet 3 are more than enough reason to pick this up.

With heaps of charm and innovation, you’ll be hard-pressed to resist the pull of Gravity Rush 2.

I daresay that this is the perfect girlfriend game; in fact, most situations have you paired as a girl/guy duo which really sets the mood. Shooting zombies is great, but shooting them with friends is even better.

A thoroughly enjoyable Kinect experience and highly recommended for the wee ones this Christmas.

So are you a diehard nut who can’t get enough Portal action? Then you’ll probably already own this one. And if you’re new to the whole thing, Still Alive is easy to recommend. But everyone else in between, you may be better off saving your pennies for the inevitable Portal 2.

Finally, and this may be inconsequential to the game, or indeed the entire Mass Effect universe, but why are there so many Australians in space?

Sadly by the time my twins are old enough, we'll probably be up to Kinect 3.7, where it will monitor your blood pressure and check for Vitamin C deficiencies while you sing the 'ABC song'. But for now, those with little ones in the household, a Kinect-equipped console, and a decent amount of safe living area by the TV, you should give Kinect Sesame Street a go and watch the fun that unfolds.

Deep and rewarding.

PixelJunk Shooter 2 is the faster, more difficult second half of the original game. But in no way is that a bad thing. There are more frustrations than the first, with a lot of levels demanding multiple replays to avoid some surprise deaths.

Both the simple controller and the easy-to-understand gameplay mean that anyone can have fun with the game.

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.

It's the only recent player in the genre and, while not bringing any monumental innovation to the genre, its high definition graphics certainly give it a bunch of new clothes.

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.

Yes, Skylanders will make your wallet cry out for mercy, and parents the world over are probably dreading their kids’ Christmas Wish Lists this year. But their latest offering, Trap Team, is more than just a money grab. It’s one of the most polished, expansive (expensive?) platformers available and is sure to entertain a wide audience, both young and old if you have the cheddar to keep up.

Functionary and solid.

A worthy experience, thanks in no small part to the sense of urgency that comes from the story being plucked straight from the world's headlines.

Ultimately, if you have NHL 10 there is no real reason to get this.

Matterfall, as with many other Housemarque games, is a flawed but fun experience. Its relatively small number of levels helps keep it light on fluff, appealing to people who want to find every collectible and maximise their score on the leaderboards. Its short length also means it isn’t an imposing task for someone looking for a change of pace.

But it can be safely said that the bare bones are here, and Bright Light Studios have provided you with all the necessary tools to get you going. Ultimately the value of this title is up to you and what you do with it.

In the end it's a great PlayStation Vita game that is a bit too simple and a touch too cute to translate perfectly to the bigger Xbox 360 console. But terrorizing a planet has never been this friendly, this upbeat, or this much fun.

Diehard fans of the franchise are going to be disappointed with the way that Gas Powered Games has dumbed down the game mechanic. But while this results in a game that is in many respects a shell of its former self, it’s still a fun and exciting title that has a compelling narrative and solid game play.

An entertaining, fast-paced execution of the Battlefield engine.

Three games for the price of one is a great buy, but be prepared for shoddy looking characters.

Unfortunately, the camera problems from NWN 2 are still here.

Good job EA, you have finally given a parachute to your declining series and now you are ready to pick yourself up from a botched landing and create a truly next-generation shooter.

Aside from the impossible submission mechanic, and the prospect of being matched up online against someone far better than you, EA Sports UFC 2 is a serious sports sim. In all its bloody, knock-down, choke-out, primal glory.

With video games being blamed for stunting imaginations in young minds, it’s refreshing to see a game that promotes a creative spark.

In terms of features and rounds, it’s business as usual.

In the end South Park: The Fractured But Whole makes me very happy, and I do think farts are funny – at least funny enough for two games.

Remembering that players won’t need Second Son to play, it’s a great opportunity for new-comers to the InFamous series to get stuck in. But those who got their fill with Deslin’s earlier adventures, you probably won’t find much new on offer here - apart from an interesting new character to get to know.

An engaging and refreshing survival horror, if that's what it truly can be called. Its got solid combat and challenging puzzles, all wrapped up in excellent atmosphere.

There are – and have been – asymmetric multiplayer games released over the years, with fairly middling results. Dead by Daylight has improved the niche by creating a product that balances simple gameplay with minimal downtime, and giving players plenty of depth to come back to again and again. It is – by far – the superior asymmetric multiplayer game to date.

If you're a big fan, of course, you can stop reading now and go buy this thing.

Ion Assault is a well presented package that is a blast for short plays. It doesn't have as much meat as some other XBLA games, but I do see myself firing it up every now and again to kill some precious minutes (and asteroids).

Lumines and Tetris may have paved the way with their falling block puzzles, but TiQal holds its own with a combination of gorgeous presentation, humorous writing and a simple yet entertaining puzzle structure. TiQal is worth your time, money and praise.

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.

Rare Replay is a fantastic “Best-of” collection, and for $40, it’s a bargain.

While it's true that the market is currently experiencing a bit of a glut in the Zombie genre, in our view the modern take of most of these games is not a patch on the old B-Movie style. So, Melon Farmers, if you want a game filled with blood and tatties, get your artichoke down to the store and grab this one.

So when it all comes down to it, what you have here is a classic Square Enix RPG that you can play wherever you are, without having to make any major compromises in your expectations. Sure, it costs more than the other icons on your iPad and, yes, its control scheme is weirdly out of place.

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

If, however, you're like me and have a whole bunch of friends who grew up with Soul Calibur, you're going to be spending all your time in Versus mode.

Personally, Pro Evo 2013 feels a bit too much like work. Videogames are meant to be fun and, while I appreciate the finesse and hardcore aptitude required to impress in Pro Evo, I can't help but think that time would be better spent on a pitch mastering the real-life sport.

While it hasn’t lit my world on fire, Reflex is solid fun.

DR3 is a fun game with awesome amounts of zombie smashing but it also has a bunch of annoying things which distract from the aforementioned smashing.

Overall though, it’s a fun new game mode. And for Killzone - it’s an interesting experience working as a squad, rather than a group of individuals. There is no question that you’ll need to work together to win the game.

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.

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.

In the end Galaga Legions provides the fast, intense and unforgiving gameplay modern shooters tend to go easy on.

As part of the PSN mini series of games, and for just $8.45, Car Jack Streets is good value for those looking for a console copy of the original GTA game, packed with plenty of urban mayhem and with a real time twist.

It’s not the best title for newcomers (who should try Path of Radiance on Gamecube or Sacred Stones on GBA if they want an easier route into the series), but veterans of Fire Emblem, or strategy games in general, should at least consider this purchase.

A great single player campaign that pays homage to the original, but the multiplayer is forgettable.

Disappointingly, there's not a hell of a lot you can do with a completed game, aside from play it yourself.

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.

White Day: A Labyrinth Named School is still a game I’d strongly encourage for anyone who enjoys a good survival horror game, and misses the days when horror was about disempowering players and using that to inspire terror. It’s still one of the scariest games on PS4. I just wish it had been able to fully capitalise on its setup – the way I’m told the original game did – to deliver a truly terrifying game from start to finish.

A great, simple shooter for all ages.

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

Strong RPG delivers on a great premise. Extensive customisation, let down by clunky menus.

The bear gameplay alone offers up around ten hours of fur-bonding adventures, packed with fun activities and even an over-arching mystery in which players can solve the Fiddler's quest.

Snipperclips is designed around having a small burst with a friend or three, although it could easily take up an entire night with the right person. The mere fact that you can play this game with someone else out of the box thanks to the Switch’s design, mixed with the fact that there’s serious enjoyment to be had, makes this purchase a must-have for Switch gamers looking for something challenging and unique.

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

The Falconers: Moonlight is an exciting, well-written visual novel with some beautiful art, and that alone should be enough to entice the genre’s usual audience. But it’s something more than that, too – it’s a game that doesn’t just use Aotearoa as some sort of exotic set dressing, but builds a whole game around it. We have so many stories to tell, and I hope that this game inspires a lot more developers to explore them.

A series of short episodes make for one good game.

A unique take on the fledgling RTS spinoff genre, most notably due to its easy-to-use creation system and score sharing. Unfortunately, that creation system is marred by glitches that cause inexplicable crashes when loading some custom levels.

If you're a first person shooter fan, and you have an iPad, and you care much more about blasting mindless aliens with a shotgun than being immersed in a riveting story, then Nova could well be for you.

With a Christmas download already set for December release, it is a happy little title, simple enough for the kids but with a nostalgic vibe and enough humour to draw in those a bit older.

It’s the length of the game that makes me say that you should wait for Tengami to be on sale before you buy it. While I had fun playing it, I wanted more and was actually surprised when I reached the end. On the flip side, this will not be a game you leave unfinished.

Ultimately, this all adds up to a disappointment for the vets. Band Hero, simply, is not for them. It is an introductory title, a gateway drug for those who are yet to experience the near-saturated market of music games.

I never thought I’d admit it, but Superchargers is one hell of an amazing time.

Beautiful re-imagining of a classic franchise, but could use a journal and cutscene skipping options.

The unique puzzle and adventure elements are challenging, while the artistic elements set them apart from any other games you have played before.

As a package, The Darkness II is an enjoyable story with an appealing visual aesthetic worthy of the R18 rating. Just be prepared for some frustrating moments and, if you enjoyed the first Darkness, you will miss the exploration and side quests - but at least you can turn on all the taps in the mansion.

This is a solid effort at porting Ninja Gaiden 2 – one of the best hack and slash titles of this generation – to a handheld. Unfortunately, it still has the poor camera and occasionally sloppy level design of the original, problems that are further compounded by the Vita’s small screen.