Soul Sacrifice Delta might not have the pull of another certain monster hunting big name, but it certainly deserves the niche it’s cut for itself on the Vita.

As gamers, it’s heartening to see such serious and prevalent issues being treated with the weight they deserve in a medium more inclined to hand you a gun and point you towards the finish line; Ether One is a decent alternative to mainstream mindlessness, a thought-provoking and moving experience for those willing to commit.

Without a doubt, this first-person dungeon crawler is designed to appeal to a small, dedicated, niche group of Vita owners with a fondness for Japanese anime naughtiness and the patience of a saint. But for the majority, Demon Gaze provides too little reward for far too much hard work.

Everything about The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is rushed; nothing is irrevocably broken but the whole package encapsulates the worst of movie tie-ins.

Ultimately what you have here is a visual guidebook (which is great but not really helpful at home on your PC) overlayed with an interactive romance novel, where the protagonist has minimal input to the final outcome, unless they know where you need to go to get the girl you want.

Transistor gives players a dazzling world to explore, a customisable combat system that anyone could find pleasure in, and a story that can pull on even the toughest person’s heartstrings if engaged with.

Whether or not The Elder Scrolls Online is for you depends on what you are looking for. It is not a conversion of the single player series that many might have hoped for.

It might not be technically the best, but it’s more enjoyable than anything since Modern Warfare, or perhaps even the first time we returned to Castle Wolfenstein.

Bound By Flame had potential, its excellent crafting system and skill trees are a good basis for any RPG, but the unbalanced combat system doesn't do a good job of exploiting them.

Still, it’s decent fun whilst it lasts.

If you get lucky with the level generation and don’t abuse the mechanics then there’s enough here for a playthrough with a few shocks that will only take a couple of hours – but the risk of an utterly duff experience is too high to recommend.

For both novice and veteran the game demonstrates what an annual sports franchise should be, and standing alone the Vita version would be more than sufficient.

It targets the hardcore Japanese game fans and asks them how much. How much do they love Japan? How much are they willing to pay? The answer, inevitably, is not enough.

The Reaper of Souls expansion provides a great amount of content, changes and balancing that significantly improves and extends the original Diablo III experience.

Dead Nation isn’t a bad game, it just isn’t a good fit for the Vita.

Lego The Hobbit is better than The Lego Movie Videogame but that’s not a massive accomplishment and sadly neither are as good as Lego Marvel.

Warlock 2: The Exiled is a solid war-focused 4X strategy game with fantastic presentation.

With an opening chapter weaker than its sequels, The Sly Collection is nevertheless an ideal opportunity to become acquainted (or reacquainted) with Sly, Bentley and Murray.

If you have missed space-combat shooters, as they are a real rarity, then you could do a lot worse than SSZ: Director’s Cut. The truth is that the director’s cut hasn’t improved anything majorly from the first game, so if you have it on the PC then don’t expect some revelation here as you’ll be left wanting.

As far as role-playing games go, Destiny of Spirits may come across as sticking to the essentials. However, the GPS and social features are a nice touch, if not one we would have preferred to see in a DS Pokémon title, rather than a free-to-play Vita title.

In a Venn diagram of South Park fans and adventure RPG fans this game exists in the overlap. If you find yourself there too then this game is an absolute no-brainer.

A Crooked Mile continues the Fabletown tale in fine form, elevating it above the weaker second chapter and putting it on a par with the first.

Ultimately what RedLynx has done here is create Trials for the current generation, and brought it to more folks than ever before given the cross-platform availability.

So here we have a glorified prologue which showcases the new generation with aplomb and makes the mouth water at what Kojima Productions can do over the course of a full game.

If you like a fantasy rich turn based RPG you’d be an absolute fool not to buy Child of Light.

To sum up, Football Manager Classic 2014 is a bit like a European aggregate victory, but not on away goals – it’s nice enough in of itself, but let’s look forward to the next round.

Age of Wonders III is a must for anyone that will enjoy spending a lot of their time controlling the fights rather than just clicking auto-resolve.

The replay value is low, but it’s a nice distraction while it lasts.

If you came here expecting the dramatic tension of the Trauma Centre games, you’re in for a disappointing time.

You’ll need to have a certain mind-set and an ear for songs that might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA f is exactly the type of game that deserves localisation in the West.

It’s worth a few laughs for the odd hour or two, and possibly more if you’re the kind to tinker with ragdoll physics and game mechanics to comic effect.

It’s better than Chaos Rising but by capping off a promising mini-campaign with such disappointment, The Last Agent retrospectively tarnishes the whole wretched endeavour.

Really, for anyone that managed to be around as a gamer when these two games first came round, and, like me, are starting to feel like they’ve been round the houses a few times already themselves, the greatest element of this HD Remaster is that you can play it outside your home – it’s magic of the purest kind that gets JRPGs of this calibre running on a handheld.

It’s genuinely fun once you hit that sweet spot and shows off the PS4’s potential in a big way, it’s just a shame that it plays it very very safe throughout.

For all its flaws and the questionable attempts to modernise the Pac-Man format, you can’t fault Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures for being a run-of-the-mill, inoffensive (except for the biting) platformer.

There’s a good amount of content (around thirty to forty hours at least) to The Witch and the Hundred Knight – it’s just a shame that it never really comes together.

Its over dependence on group battles, less interesting boss designs and a slightly more forgettable world let it down, but none of this is so severe that it stops it from becoming another superb entry into one of the best series of games of all time.

For a game whose hero is only one letter short from being named after the greatest monster of the past century, Ys: Memories of Celceta doesn’t do too badly at all. Sure, the lack of vocal tracks and the balance issues conspire to stop the game from reaching its full potential, but it’s still a game that can stand proud both on the Vita and within the Ys catalogue.

Chaos Rising is probably the most fun of the three episodes so far, but their similarity in everything from structure down to animation does little to endear the player to these hastily-sketched caricatures.

Titanfall isn’t a stunning technical achievement, it isn’t a master class in storytelling however it is arguably the best evolution of online multiplayer in some time.

Despite its flaws though, Luftrausers is an entertaining blast.

Plants Vs Zombies is bright, colourful, lovely to look at and fun to play - it’s the third person shooter no-one knew they wanted and may go a little way to filling the small gap before the big triple A games start to drop.

Full Burst is not an easy game to get into, but it’s a fun, engaging and exciting experience if you’re willing to put a little effort into it. For fans of the show it’s a must-have title and while it’s not the perfect introduction to the anime, it’s perfectly possible for newcomers to have a lot of fun here too.

Rayman Legends isn’t just an HD upgrade or a game to tide you over before mechs start punching each other or beanie-hatted superpowered hipsters run amok in Seattle. It may include extra levels and a few extra costumes (taken from other Ubisoft properties) but the real value here is its inherent charm, frantic fun and a free-spirited feeling that enlivens one of the quietest periods in the life of a new console.

It’s heartening to see a crossover of a more niche mobile title onto the PC platform, especially one which brings such atmosphere and creativity to the fore.

It cannot be stressed enough that this is gaming at its most essential and the genuine emotional power that it carries is exceptional. Do yourself a favour and turn off your phone for a few hours and get lost in the best gaming relationship you’ll likely ever have. Stunning.

EDF has a fiercely loyal following, and fans are likely to be happy embracing this latest title, bugs and all. For everyone else though, EDF 2025 is the gaming equivalent of Sharktopus: a bargain basement, low-budget cheesefest of the highest order, mildly amusing for a short time, filled with awful lines, and completely forgettable.

There are certainly enjoyable features and it’s nice to have someone attempting innovation but a few things fall flat while others struggle to shine. It’s a pity not everything succeeds but hey, that’s the beauty of doing something new - you’re heading into the unknown.

There are glimpses of wonder but this is the top layer of gold only. The bulk of the game is a frustrating, irritating, random mess. In itself this is frustrating, as what could have been great struggles to be merely average.

Underwhelming is probably the best way to describe The Lego Movie Game; sticking too closely to the movie, lacking in the fun factor, having little character of its own as a result, feeling padded and most certainly rushed to coincide with the movie launch.

We may have passed the watershed for interactive storytelling of this nature some years back, but Telltale continue to refine and polish their craft to such an extent that even the misery of the narrative can’t hold us back from wanting more.

Toukiden isn’t quite up there in terms of attractive aesthetics as Monster Hunter but, on a system that’s always in need of new games, it certainly does the job.

There’s a lot of content here, with a sprawling campaign and varied multiplayer modes, but ultimately it’s not worth the slog of what amounts mostly to tedious battles and glorified fetch quests.

If you’re looking for something with that “just one more go” mentality and are willing to overlook its flaws, then grab a broom and be prepared to get swept away.

If this Dracula seeks eternal rest then as much as we’d love to see him stay alive for one more adventure, perhaps it’s about time a stake was put through his heart.

The best compliment I can give Strider is that it is a game that will succeed on its own merits and not by comparison to the original.

If a few new weapons are enough to part you with your cash then Fallen Angel is an expensive addition worth a look. If it’s content you seek, look elsewhere – this expansion is so lacking in thought that even Dead Rising’s brain-craving zombies would pass it by.

Whilst it might take a while to click, once it does, nothing can stop TxK taking over your life.

Topping off the XIII subseries with a competent capstone, Lightning Returns has some bold ideas lost amidst the glitz and glamour of Square’s schizophrenic tone-shifts.

It’s Japanese, it’s crazy, it’s fantastic and there’s the best bear character you’ll ever see in a game ever (sorry P4G Teddy!) – just be sure to enjoy the time you spend locked into Hope’s Peak.

Might & Magic X - Legacy has the potential to be a fantastic and challenging party-based RPG in the style of old games from the genre. It is more focused on exploration and combat than it is on story. There are some weak presentation issues that hold it back a little and unfortunately, intolerable performance issues that are a fatal blow.

Outside of the combat the game fails to impress in any way and often frustration at the user interface, the loading times or the embarrassingly jerky cutscenes drive the player away.

So what we have here is a future-classic, old-school indie title for individuals and like-minded folk alike.

For those who’ve played the original version, the update has nothing new to offer except for a slight spit-and-polish and a few extra lacklustre missions.

Ultimately though, Smoke and Mirrors is a short but engaging chapter, hindered by some odd decisions around the choice mechanics but bolstered by a deeper look into Bigby’s heart, for better or worse.

Like the combination weapons it proudly (and rightly) brandishes, Operation Broken Eagle seems hastily constructed but not half as entertaining.

And that, more than anything else, is the main problem with Master Reboot; it doesn’t feel finished.

It’s a great example of the kind of game that works perfectly on the move, but just couldn’t be achieved on a mobile platform.

Tomb Raider is one of the games of the last generation and now it’s that little bit prettier, and better for it.

Archangel takes several innovative steps towards making the dungeon-crawler viable for phones and tablets, including cloud saving for play on multiple devices, but ultimately it’s just a pale, pale shadow of what the likes of Diablo 3, Torchlight 2 and even the free-to-play Path Of Exile are capable of doing on the PC.

Beyblade Evolution is a game that’s difficult to recommend to anyone, even die-hard Beyblade fans. After just a couple of rounds the game already bores as the monotonous, awkward bey-battles lack any atmosphere or real challenge at all. Perhaps very young fans may appreciate the representation of setting up a physical Beyblade set-up, but even then it will more than likely get old very fast.

Don’t Starve is wonderfully unforgiving, proudly unhelpful and sometimes (“How bad could something called the Deerclops be…?”) just downright mean. And it’s all the better for it.

With this iteration you have something which although better with a steering wheel is equally playable with a Dualshock 3, a crowning achievement for the team. Gran Turismo 6 is something that will keep folk entertained for hours of in-game play over years of real-time whilst we wait for something bigger and better.

Due to the bleak landscapes, the depressing situations your characters find themselves in and the challenging tactical combat, this is a game for those who will find the challenge rewarding rather than those looking for lighter entertainment.

It's a shame, Broken Age seems to have been aimed at a more casual gamer whereas most of its backers are hardcore adventure game fans.

Fighter Within on the Xbox 360 would be a disaster reduced to a footnote, ignored and left to wither. As a launch title for the new generation it’s worse: a parasite, feeding off the goodwill and desperation of early-adopters. Avoid, avoid, avoid.

Some will see Continue?9876543210 as a success, masterfully drawing sentiment from poignant (though sometimes clumsy) words, moodily lit pixels and brooding, bubbling music. Others will find a game with simplistic mechanics and frustrating repetition. In truth, both sides have a point.

CONSORTIUM is a short adventure but with a lot of flexibility in how you can play it and with your choices and actions leading to very different stories. With fairly limited, and entirely optional combat, this is definitely a game for those looking for a good story rather than action.

Whilst the game certainly has some pitfalls and it would have been nice to see more of the Regular Show characters and personality injected, the varying styles of gameplay are entertaining and the inventive concept has to be admired.

The Novelist still remains an interesting experiment that you will find yourself getting caught up in. Playing as an outsider to the family gives you a significant amount of objectivity but also prevents you from ever really connecting.

Arguably the most damning thing you could say about Halo Spartan Assault is that it is very easy to see that this is a game ported over from a tablet (or Win 8 PC for the pedantic), microtransactions and all.

As a package, Dead Rising 3 is probably the most fully-fledged first-party title for the Xbox One.

So a very good racing game, rather than a great one.

Just Dance 2014 on the Xbox One is exactly the game you might expect it to be. There is more content than most people will likely use and as a core experience it doesn't offer much to sell non-fans on the wonder of Kinect, but if you fancy some fresh beats to dance to on your shiny new console, it works well without drastically altering a winning formula for Ubisoft.

Freedom Cry may not be particularly long or radically different from Black Flag but as a companion piece it feels important, imbuing its protagonist with a desire for retribution and justice that bleeds through the screen and inhabits your own persona. For that reason alone it deserves your attention.

The thing is, if you’re a real Broken Sword fan then you’ll already own this from your Kickstarter pledge, and you’re just here to check in to see what the port quality is like. If you’ve enjoyed Broken Sword in the past (and especially the earlier ones) then you’ll not be disappointed here, as from the intrigue through to Rolf Saxon this is a Broken Sword game through and through.

Speedball 2 HD is a purchase for those who want to rekindle the early 90s, the glory days of gaming, the Amiga, the Master System, the Atari… however the resultant fire will barely light the soul, sizzling out all too quickly.

Max The Curse of Brotherhood is a mixed bag. It looks fantastic, it can be fun, even exhilarating plus some of the puzzles are totally wicked (in a good way). Sadly though it is unable to be anymore than something reasonably priced to play on your Xbox One over Christmas if you have completed your Xbox One back catalogue from launch day.

Overall then, Omniverse 2 is unlikely to appeal to anyone other than a subset of ardent fans with exceptional staying power, who are willing to overlook its deathly dull combat, crass voicework and utterly repetitive gameplay.

The seeds of a story are there, however, and we can only hope that the writers are more confident grasping this particular nettle in future episodes.

It remains one of the most random launch titles of all time but is well worth a purchase if you are looking for something that isn’t a first person twitch fest.

Forza Motorsport 5 is quite simply car porn running at 1080p, 60fps. Visually stunning and without a rival on the next gen stage.

Conceptually it should be applauded for, on paper at least, offering something that little bit different. In delivery it’s far too often flat with a side of boredom and backfire.

Super Mario 3D World is a joy from beginning to end, and is the best game for the Wii U so far.

Knack, like its namesake, is something constructed of relics – from the basic gameplay to the poor characterisation, nearly everything feels like something from two console generations ago.

Playing through Killzone: Shadow Fall is a rollercoaster of wide-eyed splendour, tempered by the nagging realisation that it’s all window-dressing, disguising the same old experience underneath the god rays and particle effects.

This has all been done before, and it’s been done better.

Ratchet and Clank: Nexus is not a full-length gaming experience that will last you months. What it is, however, is a loving goodbye to a pair of gaming heroes.