Death Or Treat can be a fun 2D rogue-lite at first, but the gameplay becomes bland far too quickly, well before the much more polished final stage which comes too late to be the game's savior, and the charm created by its admittedly excellent visual style and animation isn't enough to keep you going, especially when that visual style is bogged down by commentary that only distracts you from the game's world.

It's FIFA, but nowhere close to FIFA 13.

It's easy to make a game that feels like Monster Hunter, but it's nearly impossible to make a game as good. After playing Army Corps of Hell for much longer than I should have, I know that SE could have definitely put a little more time into this game to make it a contender in PlayStation Vita's massive launch line-up.

Gungrave G.O.R.E. has been a long time coming; in many ways, this is the game fans of the franchise have been waiting for. It may not be the best game on the market regarding visual and audio design, but the gameplay makes up for that. What may seem like a repetitive shooter quickly becomes a frantic and strategic battle against hordes of enemies. Gungrave G.O.R.E. is a brutal game, but I would be amiss to admit that I loved almost every minute of my time with it. It's not for everybody, but those who take the time to appreciate its mechanics may find something special in this latest franchise entry.

Cyberpunk 2077's Night City is one of the best sci-fi dystopias ever showcased in games. The stories it has to tell and the characters there are to meet are engrossing and terrifying. Despite some performance issues on PS5 backwards compatibility, it is still worth playing for the excellent character and narrative work. But, if you own a PS4, do not buy Cyberpunk 2077 as it is a technical mess that barely functions.

Dark Alliance is the type of game for people looking to blow off steam with their friends. It's such an exploration ride that I just wanted to keep playing it all day long. The fun combat and loot system kept me coming back even if it is a shame the story set in the D&D universe written by a prolific writer fails to live up to its potential. It's also baffling that almost no love was given to the game on the PS5 to utilize its power or even the DualSense controller. At $40 though almost all of its flaws can be overlooked for just plain old fun.

There is the odd glimmer of something greater in Gemini: Heroes Reborn. For whatever reason, you never get to see it very often. Combat can be gleeful fun, but a forgettable, pointless story, dull characters and uninspired design work are just some of the things that work against any potential.

A roster of uncanny characters and their interactions is enough to detract from a well-trodden, predictable story. New Tales from the Borderlands is chock full of mini-games, laughs and great performances throughout. With cameos from well-known, returning characters and that distinctive art style, New Tales from the Borderlands is definitely worth playing, especially for Borderlands fans.

Despite its rough edges and myriad of issues, the heart that's present at the centre of Clive ‘N' Wrench is evident throughout, and it's safe to say that this is a labour of love and homage to a genre that enjoyed its peak around 25 years ago. And while there is praise to be had in certain respects - indeed, fans of the genre may well find some merit here - Clive ‘N' Wrench is ultimately a little too raw and unevenly cooked to be put on the pedestal alongside its famed influences.

The Last Onicru features some cool narrative choice work, putting some true impact on your choices. If you can get on board with the cheeky dialogue and peculiar main character, you should be able to overlook the lackadaisical combat.

Little Deviants has great potential as a franchise with its range of incredibly fresh and entertaining mini-games, though we can't see players spending too much in their company in this first instalment.

If you can buy into what Wanted: Dead is trying to sell, you'll have a good time. Just be ready for fragmented chunks of story, random voice work quality, and quirky concepts. Gameplay can win the day with its gorey, visceral delivery. Just be ready for an over-the-top game that takes itself seriously.

Mugen Souls Z is a fun RPG that doesn't try to be serious. As such, it leaves the storyline convoluted, messy, and boring to sit through. If you have the patience to get through it though, then the combat system, character customization and all the extra goodies more than make up for it.

Morbid: Lords of Ire brings a couple unique things to the Soulsborne genre, like how to upgrade weapons and a simplified but enjoyable combat experience. While progression on all fronts lacks the polish needed to strengthen its case, Soulsborne fans should give it a try, especially at $30.

Though still far from essential, Lost on Mars has enough humor and charm that it can paper over some of the cracks of its ho-hum Far Cry-lite experience. Fans of Far Cry 5 who still can't get enough of Ubi's mammoth open-world shooter will invariably find much to enjoy here, but others looking a fresh approach will be disappointed.

Just Die Already takes the outrageous nature of Goat Simulator and brings it to a completely new concepts and premise. But, while the experience is fun and a laugh, it is fairly shallow and physics don't hold up to other games in the genre. A funny time, but definitely nothing to go running to tell your grandparents about.

Ultimately, if you can forgive the crusty aesthetics (and I would encourage you to do so - even if there is a lot of forgiveness to be dished out), Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition will still absolutely decimate your social calendar as it thoroughly draws you into its Dungeons & Dragons setting. It's just a shame that some more care and attention wasn't lavished to give this re-release the proper love it deserves.

Theseus is a terrifyingly atmospheric adventure that is well worth experiencing for owners of PSVR.

An enjoyable if not overly ambitious take on the hack and slash genre, Sacred 3 combines humour and robust co-operative gameplay to create an enjoyable game in its own right.

Jump Force tries once again to bring characters from the most popular Shonan Jump franchises together, but once again fails to find balance with its characters and its mechanics. There is fun to be had, but when you dig deep into Jump Force it starts to show just how unpolished it truly is.

Skydance's Behemoth offers a huge amount of spectacle with the four giant creatures you'll take down over the course of your time with it, but spectacle is the majority of what's on offer. It's a shallow game with a combat system that never challenges you to evolve your tactics (even when/if it's working properly), a repetitive gameplay-loop, runtime bloating encounters and box-pushing puzzles, and a story that does nothing new with uninteresting characters. Traversing around with a grapple hook and climbing the giant beasts at least proved both consistently fun and an interesting gameplay experience in VR, and it has its fair share of visually striking moments, but that isn't enough to recommend it.

The novelty and humour soon wears off, but local co-op play is a great addition and perfectionists may get a kick out of the tough challenge of gaining perfect ‘A’ grades. Too frustrating to be considered fun, though it does get easier with practice.

A sometimes limited but deliciously offbeat affair, Oh My Godheads joins the ever expanding roster of couch based multiplayer efforts on PS4 and can easily be recommended to those who can get the mates and the corresponding number of snacks/drinks in.

Though an ambitiously modest venture, Lethal VR nonetheless hits all the right targets when it comes to fashioning a compelling arcade blaster stuffed with enough engaging score chasing activities to keep players busy for a good while.

Perception is a fun game full of unique concepts and ideas, but for a horror game it isn’t particularly frightening.

Dangerous Golf is a fun combination of sport and puzzling that has an unfortunate number of small faults to it. There’s potential for the future of developer Three Fields here, but this will just be a stepping stone to it rather than a building block.

Adr1ft just doesn’t bring enough to the table to make it a great outer space survival experience.

Boasting some superb art design and fun battle/puzzles mash-ups, Toren is a worthwhile experience let down by some shoddy combat and bugs.

Unfortunately, far too many of Hardware’s ideas are poorly executed for it to be the saviour it might have been. It doesn’t do it any favours to see it presented in such a generally unenthusiastic, haphazard fashion. With variety sorely lacking and balancing currently an issue, there’s little to suggest a long-term future for Hardware: Rivals in the heaving ball pit that is online-only gaming.

Very little of Neptunia Virtual Stars makes it a franchise entry worth playing. Simplicity here lacks the success of other entries, instead offering something clunky and dull. Consider this a Neptunia title barely meant for die-hard fans and no one else.

Much like The Great War itself, Verdun is rough, grim and wholly unforgiving. A perpetual lesson in patience and poise which decisively punishes fools but rewards frugal armchair tacticians, Verdun makes the player work in every way that a good shooter should. Emboldened by an impassioned take on one of history’s more overlooked conflicts, Verdun’s rough appearance is not enough to detract from one of the finest shooters on PS4.

With its bold, inventive take on the party game, Perfect Universe succeeds in shaking up a tired multiplayer genre whilst adding plenty of single player challenge The issue it has is that some of the nine games on offer are too complex and/or dull to work as good mini-games, and that leaves a fairly small, but decent, collection to peruse for some multiplayer shenanigans.

A decent party game that's fun with friends, 100ft Robot Golf is bonkers. It's not always fun though, with slow robots, poor VR support and short play time.

Clearly a labor of love, Ary unites puzzles, platforming and exploration into one round package. Although its technical issues are a bit off-putting at first, if you can look past them, there’s much fun to be had.

Exploration can get very boring when you're just doing the same thing over and over again, but the intriguing game world, soothing soundtrack and unfolding story ensure Submerged keeps its head just above water.

Drawn to Death is another unique title from David Jaffe and his new studio. Not only is Drawn to Death’s art style unique, but its gameplay is also solid fun. The true test for Drawn to Death will see how it stays relevant in an already crowded genre.

A highly unsatisfying and directionless tennis game, with an abysmal character creator and career mode. Steer well clear and buy AO Tennis 2, bizarrely made by the exact same team responsible for this monstrosity.

In the end, you will likely finish the game in about 7-9 hours, but still feel like you didn't play it. It is that forgettable.

What should have been a great return for the ten year old classic ends up being one of the worst remaster I've ever played, with almost no graphical updates and staggering framerate issues. A remaster should fix the issues of the original not make them worse.

Predator: Hunting Grounds has a lot of charm and respects the source material. However, it is a flawed experience, and can be frustrating to play at times. Regardless of those flaws, I can still see myself returning especially to play as the Predator.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 is a low point for series. A passable multiplayer suite can't prop up the uninspired campaign, and dreadfully dull zombies mode. The series needs to take a break from the annualised release schedule, and inject some much needed creativity into the legendary franchise.

Fast-paced action and combat is the heart of Necromunda: Hired Gun. A great variety of skills allow you to string moves together while taken on dozens of foes at once. The world of Necromunda is a horrible dystopian underbelly of the 40K universe and it shows in Hired Gun. It's just a shame that the story, and characters are so barebones that the 40K license almost feels wasted.

Table Top Tanks shines as a tech demo but falls rather flat as a game. Still, recommending PlayStation Vita's most novel experience is easy when it's priced at $1.99.

Great value puzzler with a decent plot and some twists that you just won't see coming.

Looks good with some decent boss battles, but lack of content and replay value disappoints.

Ghost Recon Breakpoint is a game crying out to be more straightforward, more-focused, but instead it’s added one more wafer thin gameplay mechanic after another, flying in the face of common sense, and now its bloated frame has exploded because it simply can not hold all that mess in and still function. A dull, frustrating misfire.

Start the Party offers a small set of mini-games designed to draw you directly into your television. While it may provide some fun for a small gathering of people, there are not enough mini-games to make you return for a second round.

While it might be backhanded praise, Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 is undoubtedly the finest entry in the series to date and while that might not mean a whole lot to the unfamiliar, Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 shares enough commonality with key elements of both Sniper Elite IV and Ghost Recon Wildlands that it stands as an easy recommendation for fans of either.

Sker Ritual has a lot of good, strong bones as a round-based horde shooter, it's very easy to be having fun while playing and to recognize the things that it does well. Despite that it still feels half-baked, due to balancing issues, sound issues, technical issues, and an overall lack of polish. But if you can see past those rough edges, and you've been a COD: Zombies fan for years, then Sker Ritual is something you shouldn't miss out on.

A poor 2D platformer that has no redeeming features; don't waste your money on this drivel.

Gangs of Sherwood is a fun sleeper title that features great combat and characters. I enjoyed playing through each hero and seeing their unique abilities at play. With great level design, plenty of secrets, and replay value, especially when playing with friends, Gangs of Sherwood may be the co-op title you're looking for this holiday season.

Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles has pleasantly survived times with this remaster. While it doesn’t alter too much from the original game it does enough to make sure it's not showing its age too much. To port a game as old as this and allow it to feel and look how nostalgia paints it in our minds is something very impressive. Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles may not rock your socks off if you don't have fond memories of the game, but if it was something you enjoyed in your youth, then it's definitely worth a punt.

It seems that this ninja should have stayed in the shadows.

Shooting in Warfighter is excellent, and the presentation is great, but it doesn't stop the game from being broken literally, and thematically.

An hilarious RPG that tries to be light-hearted, yet deep at the same time. Those who love Compile Heart style RPGs will fall in love with this sequel, but detractors will turn their nose up at it. Great for the fans but not a gateway game to bring non-fans into the fold.

A decent and atmospheric tactical shooter which finds itself marred by a raft of technical issues, Space Hulk: Deathwing isn't the high caliber Warhammer 40K FPS we thought it would be.

Over-sensitity of Move controllers can be frustrating as can the incredible efficient A.I., but overall Sports Bar VR is a fun party game when playing online.

Akiba’s Beat is a step down from its predecessor on almost every level. A bland, soulless JRPG that yearns to emulate more successful titles without any of the style, grace, or nuance.

Another competent karaoke game to add to the ever-increasing pile. Limited in original ideas and possessing a poor range of variety in musical terms, NOW That’s What I Call Sing is a rather underwhelming addition to the genre.

Albedo is one of those games that, with a few small changes, could have been quite decent. The shlocky sci-fi B-Movie vibe is a good one to utilise for an adventure game, and it’s definitely the most unique facet of Albedo, but sadly, as a game, it never quite maintains any kind of consistency to recommend it to anyone but the most patient and understanding of adventure game fans. The game’s protagonist often says ‘I see something’ without any clue as to what it is he’s referring to. That sums up Albedo all too well.

With its gorgeous hand drawn animated graphics, beautiful character designs, and fun-to-master combo system, Dusty Raging Fist is an exceedingly fun beat 'em up to play with friends or solo, and despite its small flaws it is an engaging and enjoyable experience any fan of the genre will love.

A visually attractive, if uninspiring take on the Vietnam War, Hours of Darkness feels little more than a re-skinned Far Cry 5 rather than something more ambitious.

Sword and Fairy 6 is an unfinished broken mess that should probably be avoided at all costs. What should have been a triumph for Chinese game development is instead a massively wasted opportunity.

Repetitive, endless grinding and a lack of rewards spoil what could have been a fun experience. Its presentation is nice and its VR implementation is good; otherwise, there are better culinary titles on the platform. Unless you are starving for VR food-based content, spend your hard earned cash elsewhere. There is fun to be had but it's in very small doses buried under monotonous, basic food preparation.

A dry, unchallenging game that needed a proper remake far more than an underwhelming remaster. While it is refreshing to have a game like Praetorians on PS4, it’d be a bit more refreshing if it was a good one.

The real pity here is that Liftoff: Drone Racing actually manages to nail that the handling and feeling of control which should arguably feature at the core of any such title which aims to bring a drone racing simulation to console. It's just a shame that a real lack of inspiring content and a distinctly dated visual presentation do much to tarnish the overall package.

The Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection may not be for everyone, but it does offer a decent collection of retro games across multiple old platforms. Still, the limited modern features leave this package feeling incomplete. But if your end goal is game collecting and preservation, you can't go wrong with this collection, even with its limitations.

A highly lacklustre standalone addition to both the Trials and the Blood Dragon series. Trials of the Blood Dragon is a pointless exercise that suffers from far too much awful platforming, and a very tight-fisted use of the Trials set up.

A fun and quirky RPG that infuses the leveling system with some BDSM flair. It is great for an hour here or there when wanting to relax, and the avant-garde approach to leveling has to be praised. Those who have problems with sexuality will have issues with the game.

It's a shame that Seven Deadly Sins first foray into videogames couldn't have been better. As a big fan I enjoyed the Knights of Britannia for what it is but most will find it mediocre at best.

Lackluster combat and poorly explained mechanics aside undermine the fact that Fade to Silence is an often decently crafted survival sandbox effort that neatly dovetails Lovecraftian themes into its design to often surprising effect.

While not the most original experience, Trinity: Souls of Zill O'll offers plenty of enjoyment with its addictive quests and massive combat sequences.

A throwback to the SNES era of RPGs. It is funny, refreshing and proves small budgets can succeed in a genre where big budgets reign supreme. It is a little short on depth but for the price of a movie ticket it can't be beat.

Scholar's Mate puts you in a cramped scenario filled with pursuit and hard escape room puzzles to solve. While this sounds good, this game may not be for everyone, Pacing can feel uneven, and the constant pursuit can be aggravating when trying to solve multiple puzzles. Still, there's something fun here for horror fans and puzzle lovers, especially since the game only asks for $12.99.

There will come a day where The Park is available on PS4 for peanuts, and that day is when I’d fully recommend trying its fresh, but flawed, brand of horror out. Until then, the price of admission is too high for the brevity of the ride. Especially for one that has more than a few nuts and bolts missing from it.

A perfectly average dungeon crawler with hours of gameplay to offer, Titan Quest's flaws are too numerous to properly recommend it above and beyond its genre counterparts.

Solid core gameplay let down by the lack of arena evolution and weak story mode.

Anamorphine has a lot of technical and performance problems, but the outlying narrative finds its way through, delivering a poignant, deep exploration into loss and depression. The game's performance issues can't be ignored, but Elena's story will stick with you for a long, long time.

Anthem may never get the chance to live up to its potential due to a series of unfortunate game design decisions and issues. The first IP from BioWare in over ten years displays moments of grandeur with fun and unique gameplay that unfortunately is undermined by the game's current condition.

Knack desperately wants to be the 3D platformers of old, but dull combat and a half-hearted story leave it difficult to recommend.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy Definitive Edition isn’t exactly the disaster it’s been made out to be, but it is still a frustrating, underwhelming attempt to modernize three very important games. The quality of life improvements are generally welcome, and in many places, there’s a faithful upgrading of the iconic visual style of the PS2 era titles. Unfortunately, not every change is welcome, and in the case of San Andreas, perhaps a little less of it might have done it a few favours.

The Tomorrow Children is an odd beast then, full of quirky imagery and profoundly daft moments inspired by a sense of community, but it’s not all that welcoming, which is a problem for a community-based game. Time will tell if The Tomorrow Children can gain enough of a following to make it work.

The setup for 2DARK holds intrigue, with a grim plot, and suitably creepy settings, but so much of how it actually plays out quickly diminishes the horror aspect of it. Respectable enough as a game, a failure as a horror.

If you can look past its litany of rough edges, a genuinely enjoyable suspenseful adventure thriller awaits in Black Mirror.

A sequel that does the franchise proud. Being free-to-play means no-one has a reason not to try it out. Established fans will have incentive to keep playing their PS3 during the PS4 generation, while rookies have a great platform to get their feet wet in the series.

Miyagi is annoying and the AR thing only impresses for a few hours, though Reality Fighters' surprisingly in-depth combat system and impressive array of fight styles and characters may win you over.

Ignore his Werehog alter-ego and you'll pleasantly discover that Sonic The Hedgehog is almost back on top form.

The only thing epic about Lord of the Rings: Conquest is its musical score.

Guns Up! is devilishly addictive and provides a seriously fun formula of mutually beneficial attack and defence tactics. It’s initially intimidating economy only works to give the game depth once you’ve completed the enlightening tutorial, leaving you with a constant desire to progress and improve both your settlement and your garrison of units.

A game that will appeal to fans of the Gundam anime series and Dynasty Warriors franchise only. If you haven't played DW before, then steer well clear of this.

The Legend of Korra is rife with potential that sadly goes unexplored. While combat is satisfying and the animated series is visually well represented, it lacks the tactical depth to entice hardcore action gamers and the storytelling to truly satisfy fans of the show.

There's really no way to gild this filthy lily - Overpass is an infuriating and deeply unsatisfying experience which should be given a wide berth by anyone who values their sanity.

Impressively single-minded in its aim, Knee Deep strips everything back from aesthetics to player agency to fashion a non-linear narrative adventure quite unlike any other. Fans of well-written adventures would do well to not sleep on Knee Deep.

Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z packs quite the punch, offering an interesting take on the franchise lore with an extensive character line-up and a great co-op campaign.

Earthfall is a hard pill to swallow. Almost everything it does will lead to frustration. Your money is better off spent elsewhere unless of course you constantly love to scream in your friend's ears.

Smashbox Arena is a fun PSVR title that has some great gameplay but can be short-lived.

Absolutely dated in so many ways with crusty stealth gameplay, poor visuals and uninspiring environments, yet showing glimmers of innovation that are in turn bolstered by bouts of super satisfying werewolf combat, Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood is the first proper guilty pleasure of the year.

A fun piece of fan service for those who enjoy the Hyperdimension Neptunia series, and management games. The amount of options in-game are light, but the musical score and humor make up for it.