Eiconic has set a solid template for Total Recoil, with ample content and generally enjoyable gameplay. However, it's the flaws and foibles inherited from its smartphone roots that spoil the potential of its upgrade system. Therefore, enhancing weapons, killstreaks, and equipment feels too expensive using the in-game currency, so you may find it a chore to toil and grind through repeated wave attacks.

Tokyo Jungle Mobile gnaws down the PS3 release to its core bones, streamlining the concept to fit the philosophy of a mobile phone game without betraying the ideals of the source material. It's not quite as proficient as the console release, but the changes serve the series well and results in an enticing little action game that's fun to paw at on the road.

A stunning amount of content and a plethora of improved mechanics ensure that Dynasty Warriors 8 takes its rightful place as the ruling lord of Koei's flagship series, despite suffering from some minor recurring issues and poor presentation in places. This is the definitive Dynasty Warriors title, even if it continues to roam the battlefield the only way that it knows how.

Fans of the character Deadpool are certain to find a lot to like here. Sadly, the repetitive combat casts a shadow over the game's humorous treats, which are the real highlight of the package. There's a definite joy to be found in this adaptation – just be prepared to cut through many of layers of mediocrity in order to find it.

Strength of the Sword 3 is a tough game. You’ll flit frequently from God-sent knight to obscenity-hurling peasant, and it won’t always be your fault. It’s certainly an impressive effort from a two-man team, and by no means an average game, but it fails to step away from the pervading notion that it's little more than a series of challenging boss fights.

Pinball Heroes: Complete is a good conversion of a satisfactory game.

Arcania: The Complete Tale tries hard to offer an enthralling adventure, but falls significantly short of the mark. The game is plagued by an array of graphical, sound, and gameplay glitches, serving up something of a technical mess. If you can see past the issues, there are some minor redeeming qualities here, but with better RPGs available, it's not really worth the effort.

With the vastly improved controls and portable-friendly nature of the game, one could argue that the Vita version of Hotline Miami is the definitive offering.

There’s definitely some promise buried deep beneath Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two’s surface drudgery, but this needless PlayStation Vita port fails to uncover it any better than its PS3 counterpart. In fact, the underwhelming adventure actually fares worse on Sony’s pocketable platform, delivering a framerate that flirts with single digits and some pretty inconsequential touch screen features.

If you missed out on this clever take on the zombie apocalypse the first time around, then OMG HD Zombies is a must buy. The fresh undead types and overhauled visuals will offer something new for seasoned slayers, while the sheer satisfaction of the core gameplay loop will delight newcomers. The leaderboards could have been better implemented, but don't let that put you off this hearty helping of guts and gore.

Iron Galaxy has polished both titles to a contemporary shine. In simple terms, Chronicles of Mystara is the best of the best.

It's just a shame the genre-defining original is such a frustrating title to play on Vita, the second is so impenetrably hard, and the third a little unfocused.

However, through a fondness for the side-scrolling beat-'em-up genre, Southend Interactive has concocted a fun arcade PSN snack, which is even tastier in local and online three-player co-op.

Fuse is a boring game that just so happens to be tolerable with friends. Aside from some idiotic AI, there's nothing necessarily wrong with the shooter – but it fails to ever do anything to justify its existence. If you have a group of buddies willing to commit to the experience, then you may find a glimmer of fun here. Otherwise, expect one long, dreary slog.

For many, Race Driver: GRID redefined the racing genre, and while GRID 2 hits many of the same beats as its predecessor, it never feels like it's trying to make the same impact. Instead, this is a fairly conservative effort that dismisses simulation driving in favour of adrenaline fuelled racing, resulting in an experience that, while fun to play, is a little safe. In the end, the loss of ‘Race Driver’ in the title says it all – this is a good arcade racer, but in a market already saturated with similar titles, it struggles to find a place upon the grid.

The HD Adventures of Rotating Octopus Character isn’t a bad game by any stretch of the imagination. Its quirky name, visuals, and music are a joy to behold, but that was already the case with the original. The standard option can be incredibly frustrating, but the challenge mode does at least take some strides to redeem it. However, there are plenty of Vita games that are far more deserving of your attention.

An assured, touching, and engrossing adventure, The Last of Us represents a watershed moment for the medium. The unlikely bond that blossoms between the title’s two lead characters is both heartrending and poignantly paced – but the release delivers much more than captivating cinematics. This is a meaty slice of survival action that masterfully depicts the horrors of life in a post-pandemic setting.

Fortunately, for all of the game's faults, its futuristic setting is rich and compelling, meaning that while the game won't linger in your memory forever, you definitely won't be forgetting it in a hurry.

Velocity Ultra has found a perfect home on Vita: it plays even better due to the extra inputs, and it's exactly the sort of game that you can whip out for a couple of minutes on a bus or an hour at home. It's a strong display of FuturLab's mastery of the PlayStation download domain – this absolutely belongs on your system.

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger successfully puts the franchise back on track. At a purely mechanical level, the title may feel familiar to other first-person shooters – but its unique setting and novel storytelling methods give it the jolt of originality that it requires.

Complemented by a beautiful watercolour and cel-shaded art style, and cloaked in an aura of innocence, this is an enjoyable adventure, but it's let down by some occassionally mundane gameplay, frame rate issues, and voice dub faults.

There are some neat moments on offer, and the Raid mode is a surprisingly enjoyable addition, but it’s a largely forgetful title, lost in a sea of much more memorable adventures.

Terraria certainly won’t be appreciated by everyone. It requires a lot of time, effort, and patience if you’re to coax everything out of the experience. For those willing, there’s more than enough enjoyable, diverse content here to keep you busy for hours on end, and it can be even more fun with friends – just be prepared to wrap your head around the incredibly awkward user interface first.

Star Trek: The Video Game shows signs of promise, and even manages to deliver a serviceable plot – but buried beneath its palatable dialogue is a calamitous third-person shooter that makes a mockery out of its source material. Fans of the franchise may be able to see past the bugs, but will despise the emphasis on action, while everyone else will be best served elsewhere.

The ideal accompaniment to a short spell on the throne, Men’s Room Mayhem is bursting with charm – but its poor progression system and novelty-driven gameplay means that it ultimately pees on the potty seat. The title definitely scrubs up well, and there’s an unusual allure to its overarching concept – just don’t expect this water closet excursion to come up smelling entirely of roses.

Metro: Last Light really benefits from the fictional source material that serves as its inspiration. The game's world is so fantastically detailed and meticulously crafted that you really feel like you're a part of it – and the psychological horror elements put recent Resident Evil games to shame. The AI issues are inexcusable and the plot could certainly be improved, but this is still one stop that you really shouldn’t miss.

Sporting satisfyingly deep, yet accessible fighting mechanics and a diverse range of gameplay modes, it’s hard to fault Arc System Works' intense entry into the Persona franchise. Persona 4 Arena is a focused and polished brawler that will appeal to both fans of the series and fighting aficionados alike, and has proven to be well worth the wait for European gamers.

Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery: Episode One - A Bump in the Night sets the scene on an enjoyable world, and introduces some entertaining puzzles in the process. The stiff challenge is well balanced with lots of hints, though the difficulty does feel a little at odds with the child-friendly aesthetic. Nevertheless, the presentation is exquisite throughout, and we're already looking forward to the next instalment in this charming series.