Akane is one tough little hack and slasher where death comes easily to everyone involved. However, it's so badly lacking in variation that ultimately we can't see most players sticking with it for long.

So, yeah, Rainbow Cotton isn’t going to win you over if you didn’t like the original and we’re not sure it’ll earn many fans from younger audiences, despite the cheery presentation and cutscenes, but if you’re looking for the definitive version of the game, this is certainly it.

Lovish's compact levels and responsive controls certainly scratch an itch. Whilst the 8-bit aesthetics aren't new, the execution is well done. The pace is kept up really well and the variety is strong. It's a shame the lives don't manifest into an actual failure state but there's enough danger in the levels to consider already. The story shows some heart, although it is thin. Despite that, it's a game full of ideas and ingenuity.

If this was the first EDF game, we'd likely be falling over ourselves to praise it but EDF5 exists and does everything this does but better. Yuke's have done a solid job with it but EDF is Sandlot's baby and they are who you should go to for your alien insect slaying fun.

Snake Pass is a fascinating take on the 3D platforming genre. It features conventional progression and collectables with a non-conventional control scheme that seeks to test your mettle and dexterity. The game takes a step away from Indie-brand self-reference and expositional stories to present a unique gaming experience that feels incredibly rewarding to master. We can only hope for more, as this tale of Noodle and Doodle is heaped with oodles of charm.

Ganryu 2 takes the original arcade game and boosts every aspect of it and while that means you get some lovely visuals, great variation and slick gameplay it also comes with the kind of difficulty that was fine back in the '90s when coin-op manufacturers were only interested in taking your cash but seems needlessly harsh in 2022.

Dakar Desert Rally is an improvement for the series but it still wallows in some of the same problems. Visually, it's stunning with some wonderful views and spectacular weather effects. Unfortunately, the career mode really limits what players can do and drip-feeds content at a relatively slow pace. There's a real lack of modes and the racing is hampered by some poor AI. I never really felt confident with the handling model but at least navigation seems more straight-forward.

Skyworld is a fun strategy game for PSVR with tactical battles. The mechanics are too oversimplified to leave a lasting impression but the UI manipulation will hopefully inspire other VR developers to think outside the box.

Kitaria Fables offers some fun exploration and combat in the quest for materials and better equipment. The quest distribution is slow enough to needlessly prolong the game whilst the farming is a necessary chore if you want to make money. There's a cute game here for those who like to take their time, especially if they have a friend for the couch co-op, but the busy work and slow pace may put off some.

Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated is a great example of how to do a remaster. A great graphical upgrade and addition of a new multiplayer mode make this a welcome, if unexpected addition to the realm of remasters. Rather this than another Crash Bandicoot anyway.

Maneater mixes ferocious combat, addictive exploration and great humour into a perfectly-sized open world where you play as a murderous shark. It's the game we never knew that we needed.

Bloober Team have made some important strides with Layers of Fear 2. Visually, there is a sharper, clearer look on display. Pacing is improved with scares not being laid on so thick and heavy. It does seem to lack some atmospheric qualities but the chase sequences do offer the player something to beware. Failure can hamper the flow and the storytelling is a little heavy-handed. For the most part, Layers of Fear 2 is a good effort.

A fantastic sequel that improves on its predecessor significantly and the real world crash locations only serve to enhance its appeal.

Fatal Frame / Project Zero - Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a fair update of a 2008 Wii game that does a solid job bringing it to a new audience. Sure, it's not a brand-new main series entry, but it's good. Just don't try and run in the game, it's more of an exaggerated shuffle.

I know not to expect the world from a yearly sports title but NBA 2K21 feels like a backward step. As good as the passing and defence remains, the shooting has an unreliability the series just hasn't delivered before. Practice makes better but it doesn't seem to make perfect. The rest of the package remains fairly sound with great presentation and a swathe of modes to digest. Unfortunately, my time on the court felt compromised whenever I approached the net.

A fantastic sci-fi adventure game from Germany. Very good and definitely worth playing.

If you can get past the fiddly controls, the underwhelming first level and the occasional progress-stopping glitches, Killing Floor: Incursion is an occasionally funny, often scary and generally fun VR shooter.

Zool comes with plenty of limitations just because of its 16-bit roots but this is a respectful port that tweaks the original experience in positive ways.

Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception is a visual novel first and foremost, with some strategy RPG battles scattered throughout. The story is pretty slow going, with the battles few and far between, but the characters are very likeable and contribute to some amusing scenes. One for fans of the genre.

Spelunker HD Deluxe brings an awful lot to the table. Using the blueprint of an old favourite, Tozai Games have delivered dozens of levels with some modern visuals. It does look smarter and a little sharper but the old challenge remains. It controls reasonably well but the memory-heavy nature of the levels will put some players off. With few options available to tweak difficulty or add lives, you're left with an authentic, if divisive experience. Multiplayer does allow you to bring friends along for the ride too.

Déraciné is a slow build with little in the way of VR gimmicks or challenge but come its conclusion I was satisfied with how the tale played out.

Rally Arcade Classics presents a solid handling model coupled with some bite-sized action that can feel rewarding. The chase to complete the tour mode can devolve into a grind and it's a pity there aren't more rally locations. It definitely has issues that hamper the flow, for example the not-so-quick restarts. Despite this, it's compelling enough to bring me back. The vehicles offer a decent selection whilst trying their best to stay within the arcade confines. It mostly succeeds but the star-based structure can lead to some repetition.

Yooka-Laylee is a fun retro styled 3D platformer with the buckets of wit and charm that made Rareware games so much fun to play, but along for the ride is a somewhat combative camera system that occasionally gets in the way. If you can overcome this then Yooka-Laylee is an excellent trip down memory lane for fans of Banjo-Kazooie and similar titles.

NBA Playgrounds is fun, frantic and friendly. The scoring system can seem a little unbalanced and there are some curious omissions that stick out in an otherwise well-realised product. It’s thin on modes and online multiplayer seems somewhat half-baked but it feels fundamentally enjoyable. There’s a nice sense of progression as you acquire new cards and improve existing ones. If you fancy a new jam, this will provide.

Tonally, BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW doesn't quite land. I'm always wary about bullying storylines and they can pull punches that make the abuse seem a little hokey. Anne is not the most reliable narrator so it can be hard to trust her words. The social media aspect is decently attempted but the inclusion of a real influencer can make the ending feel very contradictory. It's a visually stunning game but it lacks a cohesion from chapter to chapter and the chase scenes can lead to some early frustration.

Song of Horror does a great job of bringing back that classic survival horror feel. Certain mechanics that made sense when the game was episodic make less sense in this full release but it's still an enjoyable nod to a now less than common genre.

The Wizards offers a slight change of pace from the wave based shooters PSVR is flooded with. You're still taking out waves of enemies as they run towards you but this time you're using gestures to conjure spells and it works very well. It's quite short and even then the constant battles do become repetitive but the spell upgrades do give a decent incentive to replay levels.

GORN was an early game on the VR scene and it shows. This is a simple, short game which can feel great when it works but can also frustrate when things don't act as you'd expect.