An extremely solid action thriller that Activision probably should be more loud and proud about.

Guitar Hero 5 still rocks the set and is a must buy for those getting a tad bored with World Tour.

As was the case with so many games from the Golden Era, the pros in Pirate’s Curse far outweigh the cons. If the Super Nintendo has a special place in your heart, like it does in mine, this is a game you’ll want to waste no time in picking up. Even if you’re of the misguided opinion that other generations are better (hint: you’re wrong), if you like platforming, pirates, genies, or just good games in general, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is worth your attention.

Rain is a moving yet quiescent exploration of a very real emotion. It manages an unsettling but tranquil tale that wants you to confront your own fears of being alone. It does so with story and gameplay in unison, though it could have told us a lot more by saying a little less.

I forgot how happy I could get while angry.

Another worthy release in a successful series. They've stuck to a tried and true formula: beloved characters, fun, variety and a fast pace, which is easy to play for the whole family.

Visually this is one of the best games on the PlayStation Portable - easily comparable to PlayStation 2 quality from the cut scenes to the in game models; and it plays well too.

And yes, it is another Sims iteration, but at the same time this one feels clean and fresh. The emotional interactions are really interesting, and the combination of these with different Sims' personality traits and aspirations can make for some great unpredictability. Despite what’s been left out, The Sims 4 feels like it’s heading in the right direction.

This is by far the best free to play MMO out there at the moment. Its well polished, with good sound effects, well detailed tanks and terrain and regular updates and maps.

If you're looking for something with an edge that's able to say "look at me, I'm different" and pull it off, look no further. Zeno clash is a winner and comes with a shiny NZGamer.com recommendation.

It's surprising how much you are driven to obtain 100% of the secrets or achievements - no more so than the younger players, who will happily explore areas again and again just to get that elusive gold brick.

When you take into account that Payday is an indie game and the promise of potentially more levels down the lines as downloadable content, there is very little reason to not pick this game up.

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

A true successor to the Puzzle Quest throne and the new puzzle game RPG champion.

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.

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.

Innovative in terms of gameplay and most importantly, is pushing the boundaries of what we can expect on the “kiddie-friendly” console in terms of adult subject matter.

Offers more content than you are bound to find in most games and is one of the best value / fun for your money games to come out this year.

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.

Smooth controls, gorgeous visuals, and memorable online combat prove that this game is still dressed to impress. Recommended for fans of Halo and Vanquish.

It's fantastic, and filled with excitement. "Fantastic" that such a good title has been part of the initial release, and the "excitement" comes from seeing the obvious graphical potential inside the machine, waiting to be exploited by future developers.

At first glance this game may seem tilted at a younger audience, with its cutesy-style graphics, but don’t let this exterior fool you, as your brain will come close to melting point with some of the levels.

No Going Back is a fitting end to the second season of The Walking Dead. It's well written, expertly paced, and comes to a conclusion that is surprising, distressing, and pays a clever homage to Season One...But therein lies the rub: Season Two is good, and great at times, but it never reaches the lofty heights of its predecessor.

A seriously impressive game. It’s a little on the short side, and has a few little quirks all its own, but there’s no question that Guerilla Cambridge have delivered the goods. I still can’t quite believe the technical feats it accomplishes, to be perfectly honest.

Strangely, what holds this title together is not its gameplay, but its place. As a stealth-action game it has its flaws. But sometimes experience wins out over action. Dunwall is full of death, disease, and dishonour. Just being there is enough.

Project CARS 2 is not for everybody, yet at the same time, it also kind of is. Primarily it wants to be a racing simulator – a goal it certainly attains – while at the same time being approachable enough for the less enthusiastic. The game’s ambition as a serious racer, and it’s desire for you to meet that challenge, nevertheless come across stronger than its acceptance of low level players. You can play Project CARS 2 on the most lenient settings possible, yet you’d also be missing out on the more authentic driving experience the designers chiefly had in mind.

It’s definitely better than the sum of its parts, yet it’s hard to state exactly why it’s fun and refreshing to play. Consequently, it makes it rather hard to review it and to recommend it, as it’s definitely going to be a love-hate affair for many.

It’s pretty clear Ubisoft has taken an inward look following mediocre offerings in the recent past – and not just among the AC franchise – and made an attempt to correct them. That is commendable in its own right, but even more so for how much better Syndicate is as a result.