Rebirth is the very antithesis of cautious design. [Issue#251, p.76]

Lords is a solid and enjoyable action RPG, but suffers a little at the hands of over-ambition. [Issue#251, p.74]

Plays like a greatest hits album for the series so far. [Issue#251, p.72]

An exhaustive and impactful world let down by predictable aesthetics and combat. [Issue#251, p.70]

It's a genuine joy to bounce, swoop, and peg it across the levels, even more so when you're rewarded with a new way of doing so. [Issue#251, p.68]

I enhances the template in all the right ways. [Issue#251, p.66]

Truly spectacular, and certainly worth buying and playing again. [Issue#251, p.64]

The best Call of Duty release since Black Ops. [Issue#251, p.62]

There's a catch to more or less every improvement Unity makes. [Issue#251, p.58]

You know those value brands that you often find in the big supermarkets? Fair Fencer F is the JRPG equivalent. With so much else around, it's not one we can recommend. [Issue#250, p.70]

This is the last year when mere iteration will cut it; we're gonna need to see something truly new soon. [Issue#250, p.68]

In many respects, Shadow of Mordor is a rip-off of other titles, but its one original idea - the Nemesis system - ensures that doesn't matter. Manipulation and subterfuge are always fun. [Issue#250, p.66]

The combat remains some of the best and most intricate Arc System Works has composed to date. [Issue#250, p.64]

The Germany of football games - intelligent, exciting, controlled, technically impressive and a world champion with a bright future. Every game feels fresh and exciting. [Issue#250, p.62]

Our time on the Moon was fun, but not nearly as much as Pandora. [Issue#250, p.60]

It's accomplished, accurate and fun, but there are a few underlying problems. Still, purely as a basketball game, there isn't anything out there that's better than this. [Issue#250, p.58]

This is undoubtedly a divisive game, with players likely to adore and hate it in equal measure. However, that's The Evil Within's strength: it's pitched perfectly at fans of the horror genre. [Issue#250, p.56]

It sounds better than it looks, but it's an accessible experience. [Issue#250, p.52]

With improved trial sequences and another excellent plot, Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair is a brilliant sequel - but it's a sequel that's definitely best played after the original. [Issue#249, p.74]

It's a good JRPG but not a great one. [Issue#249, p.72]

Experimentation is rarely encouraged. [Issue#249, p.70]

It still plays a great game of hockey but in losing game modes and features that long-term players will miss, NHL 15 on PS4 is pretty hard to recommend to fans. [Issue#249, p.68]

The vastly improved Toy Box allows for some incredible player creations. [Issue#249, p.66]

It's beautiful, but a little empty. [Issue#249, p.60]

The basics are superb, visuals gorgeous and potential enormous - while there wasn't a huge amount of content at launch, we've already seen the world improve, and that's just going to keep on happening. [Issue#249, p.52]

The permanent threat of death keeps you forced to the ground – we can’t remember the last game where we willingly snuck around so much – and it feels like the claustrophobic corridors and catwalks of the Sevastopol were built from that angle. Being crouched, looking up at everything… it really does give you that feeling that Creative Assembly wanted it all along – that ‘prey being hunted’ effect. It makes a refreshing change from the feeling of being overpowered and able to kill anything that appears.

That’s a large part of the appeal of FIFA – the fact that there are so many different ways to enjoy the game of football at its core, all of which are compelling in their own way. We’ll have to wait and see if FIFA 15 is the best football game released this year, but it sure as hell sets a high bar.

One of the worst ports we've ever played, Risen 3 is a[n] ugly, buggy mess on PS3 that, when added to the awful combat, results in a poor game. [Issue#248, p.72]

Hampered by inconsistency and a lack of depth, CounterSpy ends up being painfully average, though it does at least have some good ideas, particularly its player-controlled campaign pacing. [Issue#248, p.70]

Already one of our most-played PS4 games this year, Rogue Legacy is absolutely superb. [Issue#248, p.68]

A curious, colorful adventure that is unlike anything you've ever played before. [Issue#248, p.66]

It's crying out for a larger selection of maps and a few more top-tier game modes, but Garden Warfare remains highly entertaining all the same. [Issue#248, p.64]

A comprehensive update to one of the best games in its class, Reaper of Souls is an absolute must-play for anyone that likes loot. [Issue#248, p.62]

Cheap, ugly and terribly written, Sacred 3 is still quite fun in co-op, in a simple sort of way. [Issue#247, p.70]

A resounding failure in most respects. [Issue#247, p.68]

One of the best games on PS4 and with this affordable update, it just got even better. [Issue#247, p.66]

It's the best version available of what is arguably Playstation 3's best game and The Last Of Us remains every bit as dramatic, powerful and engaging as it was when first released. Still incredible. [Issue#247, p.59]

Unfortunately for franchise fans, it is going to leave the podium without spraying any champagne. [Issue#246, p.74]

For now, this is one for the hardcore. [Issue#246, p.68]

It's not perfect, but there aren't many multiplayer experiences on PS4 that can touch it. [Issue#246, p.64]

There’s good puzzling to be had, and some engaging stories here, but a lean towards either fictional fun or serious stories would have worked better. And while this was an interesting experiment, we //really// don’t want to see a WWII game presented the same way.

With Quantum Theory and Dark Void, Airtight has proven that it’s capable of creating interesting worlds with inventive mechanics, yet little of this is apparent in Murdered: Soul Suspect, a game that fails to develop its ideas beyond the very basics.

If you’re still playing Street Fighter IV or looking for a reason to go back to it, Ultra is an easy recommendation. If somehow you’ve gone this long without actually owning a copy, the retail release due in August comes packaged with all of the costume DLC, so it’s probably worth holding out for that.

But this is progress, all the same. Sure, Sniper Elite III is rough around the edges, but it offers just enough that it makes up for all that. It succeeds as a shooter thanks in large part to that crunchiness, yet as a sequel it is improved in clearly defined, tangible ways.

Keeps the Show legacy alive with excellent aesthetics and immersive baseball simulations. [Issue#245, p.68]

A transparent and incompetent attempt to copy the Arkham series, this is a game that excludes the unmistakable stench of a budget title while it fails spectacularly. [Issue#245, p.66]

A stunning game with a hell of a battle system. [Issue#245, p.]

Daylight is an utter mess of a game that never manages to build atmosphere or scare the player. Add in an atrocious script and voice acting and you have a game to avoid. [Issue#245, p.62]

While never truly bad, Bound by Flame is rarely much better than serviceable either. [Issue#245, p.60]

Decent solo stuff, but it's the multiplayer that steals the show. [Issue#245, p.53]

There's not a great deal to it but even so, Destiny of Spirits still manages to be an addictive social RPG. [Issue#244, p.70]

It's still a lot of fun to explore the world and engage with the battles, but Child of Light pushes its whimsy too far. [Issue#244, p.66]

While undeniably amusing, Octodad just doesn't have enough content to make it worth the asking price. [Issue#244, p.64]

It would've been much better it it had conviction and went fully role-playing Lego game. [Issue#244, p.63]

Deeper than it looks. [Issue#244, p.61]

Still a fine game of football, but starting to show its age. [Issue#244, p.56]

The New Order feels like an anomaly, a single-player led FPS with a focus on run-and-gun gameplay and no multiplayer to speak of. It’s all much more fun than we expected, with high production values (thanks, no doubt, to Bethesda), decent graphics, an interesting story and some awesome guns. Fans of Doom, Quake, and of course Wolfenstein back in the day should find plenty to enjoy here.

Buy it, learn it, love it. [Issue#243, p.70]

An inferior entry in the series to its predecessor. [Issue#243, p.68]

Looks cool, plays well and is fun for a while. [Issue#243, p.66]

A fine remaster. [Issue#243, p.64]

Pleasantly absorbing. [Issue#243, p.62]

The perfect package of platforming, abstract thinking, and retro love. [Issue#243, p.60]

This is, without a doubt, the best Dynasty Warriors game to date. [Issue#243, p.58]

A good game, but one that feels a bit emotionally bankrupt after the wonders of Infinite and the original BioShock. [Issue#243, p.56]

An excellent MMO. [Issue#243, p.54]

A fun if slightly shallow fighting game for most, JoJo’s Bizzare Adventure fans will absolutely adore All Star Battle. For that select few, this is a must have.

While the core gameplay is still excellent, stunt runs, upgradeable vehicles and connectivity with cash-hungry iOS release Trials Frontier all nudge Fusion further away from that classic, pure game of mastery where only player skill matters.

Decent towards the end but dull and unsatisfying up to that point. [Issue#242, p.72]

A decent twin-stick shooter with one outstanding feature. [Issue#242, p.70]

The best South Park game to date (not that that's saying much) and manages to hold up both in terms of RPG mechanics and comedy value. [Issue#242, p.67]

It's short - perhaps a little too short for the price - but Left Behind exhibits the same exceptional quality that made The Last of Us one of PS3's finest. [Issue#242, p.56]

Deception IV is a gloriously silly celebration of the exhibition combo, those impractical yet impressive strings of attacks fighting experts throw together in combo videos paraphrased here with bonkers chain reactions of spikes, boulders, rakes, bombs, blades and banana peels.

By focusing on getting a smaller number of key elements right, Second Son delivers an experience that oozes quality of design and execution in most of the right places. Yes, the character and story could have done with some fleshing out, but that’s less of a problem when playing as morally-questionable mutant is this much fun.

The whole game just feels a bit budget, from the way that linked executions aren’t linked at all, merely canned animations played one after the other, to the short length and ugly UI elements. It’s a spin-off, and it sure feels like one.

So yes, Ground Zeroes is a triumph: a wonderful introduction to Metal Gear Solid V that will whet people’s appetites for the main game while giving them plenty to play with as they wait. Still, the fact remains that it is far too expensive. For £20, this would be an easy recommendation, but £30 is simply too much. Still, judged as an isolated experience, Ground Zeroes is excellent. Whether you choose to wait for a reduction in price is another matter.

Otherwise, Dark Souls II is outstanding, still a world better than most games and a worthy successor to a game that was, essentially, impossible to follow.

A great example of the new wave of indie horror, Outlast isn't revolutionary or particularly terrifying, but some great jump scares and a fun, cheesy story make it well worth checking out. [Issue#241, p.72]

Playing like a mixture of Phoenix Wright, Virtue’s Last Reward and Persona, Danganronpa is a compelling and thrilling visual novel with great writing and characterisation. Anyone in the mood for a good murder mystery should get on it, quick sharp.

Frequent stealth sections stink up an otherwise outstanding sequel. Combat is so good, though, that if you can endure the sneaking, it’s still a bloody good action game.

It all feels like a brilliant framework held back by a few unsavoury elements. The hub-based world and other problems would’ve been less apparent if there was actually a decent narrative to prop the game up, but instead we’re left with a half-baked tale that feels shallow and dissatisfying by the time you reach the end. Still, there is still plenty to be happy about here, with a wealth of great gameplay flares and a strong aesthetic.

It's short for an RPG, but does offer plenty of replay value. [Issue#240, p.70]

Tiny Brains is a game that isn't so much improved by co-op as made for it. [Issue#240, p.68]

Every bit as engrossing as before, Season Two could hardly have begun in better fashion. [Issue#240, p.66]

Gloomy, tricky and endlessly punishing. [Issue#240, p.64]

It's the excellent game it always has been, with as much to get out of it as you're willing to put in. [Issue#240, p.62]

Monster Hunter still wins out in terms of depth and variety, but Omega Force manages to nail so many of the other elements that make Capcom’s game so satisfying. And since Capcom is busy sleeping with the enemy, we have no hesitation whatsoever in heralding Toukiden as the best Monster Hunter game on Vita.

As a game for XIII’s downtrodden fans, Lightning Returns is excellent. It fleshes out the interesting world, gives each of the cast a little more screen time without singling any out as more or less important (well, except Lightning) and brings an extremely stupid story to an extremely stupid conclusion in style. And the haters? They’re gonna hate, clearly. That’s kind of their thing. But this isn’t a game for them. No, it’s a reward for those bold enough to be of the apparently controversial opinion that Final Fantasy XIII wasn’t awful. And a fine reward it is too, so long as you don’t go into it expecting a traditional Final Fantasy experience.

As a cheap PSN download, this is a fairly solid addition to your fighting library. [Issue#239, p.72]

If you're into the look of the game, there's no reason not to fall in love with Tearaway. [Issue#239, p.70]

Surprisingly good fun. [Issue#239, p.68]

The best driving sim on PS4. [Issue#239, p.62]

We expect a little bit more from a next-gen game. [Issue#238, p.72]

An engaging and deeply rewarding racing game. [Issue#238, p.70]

While never truly bad, Knack's simple gameplay and dull level design make it tough to recommend. [Issue#238, p.64]

It's not bad, but Ghosts can't escape from a growing feeling of deja vu - we've definitely played this game before. [Issue#238, p.60]

As Amazing, Fantastic and Incredible as this may be, the blocks are starting to fade ever-so-slightly and if the team isn’t careful, this could be the last truly great build it gets out of them.

Battlefield 4 feels like more of a ‘true’ Battlefield game when compared to its predecessor, aping that sandbox arena fun that made 1942 such a hit. Thanks to the power of PlayStation 4, we finally have a PC Battlefield experience on a home console, and it’s pretty darn good.