I realize this seems a bit harsh and others aren't saying the same kinds of things, but they are strolling through poppy fields. In this shortage of JRPGs we are letting anything go, and this game needs serious help rather than free passes. Give it a go only if you really need your Tales on the go.

The production values are sky-high, the multiplayer will keep you coming back again and again, and above all else, this is Call of Duty with a twist. It retains its core the fans adore while offering a shifting paradigm that gives us a fresh perspective. It doesn’t work equally well in campaign and multiplayer and there are minor mechanical stumbling blocks, but the concept is sound.

It needed a bit more time to cook and perhaps more testing, as the game isn’t perfectly stable and those mechanics needed some tweaking. That all being said, I will heartily recommend it to those who love extremely dark auras, and gamers who like a more balanced – albeit less polished – fantasy adventure.

I’ve got no problem with breezy little games designed to give us a breather from those huge open-world extravaganzas that are starting to dominate. I do, however, have a problem with any game that comes across as slipshod and unrefined.

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is fun. Perhaps that’s the simplest and best way to describe it. No, the story isn’t as enticing as I would’ve liked, the Cryo freeze feature doesn’t really enhance the experience, and the zero-grav idea has its drawbacks. But when all is said and done, this is Borderlands.

The Evil Within is an example of a great idea that lacks execution. There are scares a-plenty and very often, the fear factor is sky-high. The pacing and variety we see in this adventure are worthy of praise as well, and I appreciate how the atmosphere continually drags you into the experience. But with a decidedly outdated feel, difficulty that too often feels cheap rather than fair, old-fashioned AI and a sub-par camera, one can’t help but be moderately disappointed.

Alien: Isolation desperately tries to give us something fearsome and memorable. But the inconsistent approach leads to periods of tedium thankfully interrupted by flashes of unmitigated terror. If you can revel in the highs and forge through the lows, you should emerge satisfied. If, on the other hand, you’re more sensitive to design, control and mechanical issues, you’ll be a bit harsher on the game.

Driveclub isn't exactly a triumph but it's a polished, very entertaining game that delivers an adrenaline-filled good time.

A game that delivers the fantasy goods in spades. The ultra-anal Tolkien lovers might take issue with Talion and how the game is presented, and the AI and frame-rate issues are clear. That being said, this remains a wildly immersive, engaging adventure with an excellent combination of action and platforming elements.

Natural Doctrine fails in its ambitious attempt to deliver a wonderfully unique, deep, and rewarding turn-based strategy adventure. The foundation is solid but what’s built atop that foundation is a crazy assortment of great individual pieces, but none of them really fit together.

Run Like Hell doesn’t really fly on the Vita. It just feels too much like a mobile game, you know? There’s not a huge amount of content and what’s there is so basic that you start to lose interest after the first half-hour.

If you just accept that it was always going to be about multiplayer shooting, and the rest might be underdeveloped gravy; you’ll probably have tons of fun. And if you look to the future and see what Bungie has created – a very solid foundation – you should be excited by what the team will deliver in the coming months and years.

Fairy Fencer F is a big step forward for Compile Heart but not quite the realization of what these kinds of games are capable of in terms of quality.

The story isn’t as well-written or engaging as the plot of the first game, there are superficial characters tossed in for no reason, and the cutting-and-pasting of previously visited locales isn’t doing us any favors. If you can accept all these drawbacks and indulge in the awesome battle mechanic, well, good for you.

Velocity 2X is the perfect example of simplicity with kick. The beautiful visuals and silky smooth animations never skip a beat, the music and overall artistry gives the game a singular appeal, the wonderful flow keeps us completely engaged, and for the most part, the game never skips a beat.

Better than last year’s production; it features better cosmetic and aesthetic features, it often feels more streamlined and accessible, and the upgrades on the defensive side of the ball are huge. It’s finally fun to play on defense! Sadly, the game still gets bogged down by a balancing issue, as the defense is simply overpowered.

CounterSpy is a nicely designed and presented game with a lot of appeal. You’ll have a lot of fun sneaking through these challenging military installations, and you’ll appreciate the character customization and relative depth.

A must for fans of the anime and could very well appeal to any Vita player looking for an Eastern styled action RPG. It's not trying to be much more than a “beat the level, the boss, then advance” game but then that's probably what its fans are looking for.

It has just about everything you could want, from an excellent presentation and supremely solid technical presentation to hours upon hours of blissful looting. The rewards are frequent and much appreciated, the pacing is outstanding, and there’s a surprising amount of variety.

A very solid shooter with a lot of variety and charm. It offers players of all ages a dynamic, entertaining experience that encourages practice and experimentation.

The Last Tinker: City of Colors is like the nicest kid in school. He’s not the best athlete or student; he’s just nice and because of that, you want to like him. To some extent, you do. But he still isn’t picked first in gym and he doesn’t ace all his tests.

Hohokum can feel like a chore at times but for the most part, this is an original, inspired piece of interactive art.

Metrico isn't a bad game. On the one hand, you're immediately captivated by the unique gameplay. On the other, the interface keeps hindering your progression and immersion.

It’s tough and sometimes even unforgiving, and I should add that it’s not entirely stable. I came across several bugs in the game and it crashed on me twice, so that should be mentioned. However, the procedurally generated puzzles and areas really boost the replay potential, and the overall charm and originality can’t be ignored or understated.

Saying The Last Of Us: Remastered is an absolute triumph seems redundant. I said it when the original released last year, after all. And yeah, it's basically the same game with a glossier coating and a few additions. But consider: What have we seen in the last 15 months or so that even comes close? Seriously?

Red has its flaws. The story doesn’t really impress, the combat can be tricky, the locations could’ve been much more interesting, and you can’t fight against a friend. It’s also not the most technically accomplished title you’ll ever play. At the same time, what it offers is a solid fun factor, which you can enjoy even if you’re not a fan of the series.

My main lament, and it goes for most games of this type, is that once the action starts you never feel like a giant robot mobile suit, just a normal sized character.