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.