A minor improvement over the original, with just as many silly sci-fi shenanigans.

It's not exactly taxing on the brain, but it is strangely compelling.

Starlink is a streamlined but impressive space opera in a wide open star system, giving you the freedom to get lost in space or just warp around for the story, and on Switch it makes awesome use of the Star Fox crew. The physical toy element is a lot of fun and adds a great dose of tactile play, but if it isn't for you you're at no disadvantage for going digital.

While not PSP's best driving game, Rivals is an entertaining street racer that offers quick thrills.

Fortunately, if you are an F1 purist, you will discover a comprehensive and challenging simulation that offers long-term appeal.

The relaxed, largely goal-free nature of the game has the potential to wear thin, but personally I found the controls fun enough, the environments and music beautiful enough, the various animals smile-inducing enough that even after the three hours it took to reach the end I was happy to dive back in, ready to search for more clues and uncover what it was all about.

The brilliantly stylised comic-book visuals are extraordinary. However, many will tire of the lengthy loading times and protracted dialogue but the script includes clever pop culture references and political commentary.

Combat is instantly gratifying, reminiscent of the spectacular fight scenes in the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Simple controls let players concentrate on timing, with extravagant moves unleashed as countermeasures to clumsy enemy advances.

Entertaining and competitive brain-teasers, but the compilation would be easier to recommend at a lower price.

If you're happy to pay the fees and have no trouble socialising online, a fun alternative existence beckons.

A minor improvement over the original, with just as many silly sci-fi shenanigans.

With strong inspiration from cinematic horror classics like The Thing, The Poseidon Adventure and Alien, this stunning but gruesome tale makes the most of its industrial location, Scottish cast and 1970s setting. The chilling atmosphere can be dampened in places by the heavily scripted, linear structure, and it feels like story beats could have hit harder. But the emotional core and frequent thrills make it well worth a dip.

Patient players, prepared to persevere will be happy with Blur, but those expecting the same level of intuitiveness and accessibility as other Wii or SSX games are likely to be very frustrated.

Rollicking old-style zombie-blasting action, but with only limited thrills whether played alone or with infected buddies.

The outrageous characters, puerile sight gags and sarcastic commentary provide some chuckles but the jokes are repeated too often. Fortunately, the controls and ball physics are hard to fault.

Strict time limits seem an unfair way of extending the game's lifespan but replaying levels as quickly as possible is surprisingly enjoyable.

A simple yet satisfying family-friendly take on the Diablo-style hack-and-slash role-playing game, Minecraft Dungeons is a fun and creatove adaptation of the series' iconic blocky creatures and graphics, even if it features absolutely no mining or crafting.

Major change comes on the battlefield. With the introduction of game mechanics from Dynasty Warriors, players can now directly control troop manoeuvres.

Along with some colourful new graphics, the alien formations are faster, more elaborate and even include the odd boss monster to test the limits of your reflexes.

You'll instinctively reach for the seatbelt in this aggressive display of reckless racing.

You'll instinctively reach for the seatbelt in this aggressive display of reckless racing.

Sloppy vehicle handling, some bugs in the design of the missions and the endless travel means it doesn't hit the same high notes as GTA and others, but the mindless action is still good dumb fun.

The game is delightfully simple to learn but requires tactics and quick thinking.

But beyond the odd wild ride on the back of a beast, negotiating the levels is a tame affair. This could prove frustrating for some, as the level of difficulty is often unbalanced.

Battlestations: Midway has the potential to blossom as a multiplayer game, primarily online. With everyone free to jump between units, it can become chaotic, but that's half the fun.

An abundance of multi-player options adds depth, and 30 weapons ensure battles are exciting.

Presentation is stark and uninviting but few games are this mentally taxing.

Like the film, Scarface is brutal and often ridiculously over-the-top. It uses the GTA template effectively but may feel too familiar for Vice City veterans.

Whether it's the opportunity to recruit a mini-boss like Bugzzy after defeating him, or the puzzle rooms that test your skills like not many Kirby games before have done, Star Allies is the freshest the series has felt in years, and certainly the most fun to play with friends.

Available on both PC and Xbox, the PC version is markedly superior. The main problem with the Xbox version is that it's very difficult to make out enemies amongst the tall grass, due to the low resolution of the platform.

This flashy package makes great use of Nintendo's classic catalogue to spark nostalgia, break the games down for a new audience and make the joys of speedrunning accessible. But once you've given your best effort in the 150 or so challenges there's not a lot to do, besides local couch competitions and checking in for the weekly trials.

Deliberately lacking ambition, this is an encore that will please patient fans, but also reminds us why the point-and-click adventure is now an endangered species.

It may lack the depth of console heavyweights such as Tekken and Virtua Fighter, but the playing options are terrific, with alternate stories and multiple forms of each pugilist to unlock.

Long-term appeal is doubtful with only 11 missions available and a lack of online support for multiplayer action.

Pinball may seem like an anachronism on the high-tech PlayStation Portable, but it can offer short bursts of fun wherever you go.

Many youngsters will simply enjoy hooning around Radiator Springs, although some might get frustrated not knowing where to go next.

The core flying and shooting experience here is very well done and should satisfy existing PSVR owners looking for something fresh. But from the meh upgrades and strange unlockable suit designs (it's a first person game?) to the rote storyline and repetition, everything outside of the advanced arcadey shooting gallery sections is a bit of a letdown.

Although missions are well-designed and combat can be intense, sequences such as the battle to reclaim Stalingrad lack the scale and cinematic grandeur of the PC version.

With all the same frantic scrambling and triumphant comebacks of the 2014 game — plus more variety then ever before thanks to customisable avatars and a bevy of options to tinker with everything from weapon lineup to gravity — Nidhogg 2 is a must for any games night or multiplayer marathon.

Like a bizarre mixture of WWE Smackdown and Benny Hill, God Hand is one of the quirkiest, silliest and funniest games to come along in some time.

Dramatic battles against mythological monsters test your skills, but the occasional badly placed checkpoint can be frustrating.

Any golfer will be able to pick up and play in seconds, and the sensation of playing real golf is astonishing. Pity the software simulation is so drab.

But the game demands that players spend too much effort in the drawn-out process of base construction, which gets repetitive.

Artfully designed for a young audience, Madagascar will keep kids constantly entertained by serving up a wide variety of fun activities. The amusing movie characters and dialogue also ensure plenty of giggles.

Online competition is sorely missed.

Unfortunately, the line-up is just as likely to annoy retro fans as please them, with many of these 20 games from the late '80s offering little more than curiosity value. Some were poor-quality clones when they were originally released and today are unplayable.

The first Serious Sam was tongue-in-cheek but this sequel crosses the line into obnoxiousness.

With super-satisfying combat and an ever-growing arsenal of weapons, powers and abilities, Rage 2 is one of the best-feeling singleplayer shooters around. Its inconsistent tone, ho-hum story and uninspired open world missions keep if from achieving true greatness, but it never stops being a whole lot of fun in the moment.

It's a brief ride and the action can become repetitive, but the sharp humour keeps you smiling.

Interesting co-operative strategies and deep customisation sets this mascot racer apart, but it's not without its share of potholes.

Despite the game's terrific combat, Sudeki is sadly let down by a plodding story, clumsy dialogue and forgettable characters.

Amped 3 is a big success. The physics are realistic, the controls are excellent (and a challenge to master) and the sprawling snowfields provide many hours of fun. No matter what your skill level, there's a lot of fun to be had here.

Raw and emotional, though let down by some annoying or wonky design issues, Sea of Solitude is a worthwhile and beautiful journey through loneliness and regret.

Lacking any innovation, the best this game offers has already been done.

Here's a game to sort the men from the boys. Just try not to grind your teeth away.

Life Stories is very successful in widening the Sims audience even further. Just remember that experienced Sims players should look elsewhere, as they will romp through the challenges with ease and sorely miss the depth of customisation options and add-on packs of The Sims 2.

The handling is remarkable, and the fact the tracks are littered with obstacles that bounce and crash realistically makes it all the more fun. Throw in excellent damage modelling and it's plain to see that this game has nailed the core mechanics of an addictive racer perfectly.

The action can be hard to follow, but fans will appreciate the realism.

Total Overdose may be another unashamed clone, but its amusing Mexican underworld storyline and crazy acrobatic moves make it a load of irresistible fun.

Far from perfect but Dark Messiah has entertaining fantasy action. Dispatching foes in imaginative ways is the highlight.

The biggest grumble is that, once you have constructed a basic park, there is often nothing to do except sit back and wait for more money to roll in. Your zookeepers and maintenance staff take care of the park, and there is rarely a calamity that needs your attention.

A fun football simulation for newcomers and the best FIFA of recent years. Even so, competitor "Pro Evolution" still has the virtual World Cup firmly in its grasp.

Adapting one of Hollywood's masterpieces was brave, but it's a pity the game designers lacked the courage of their convictions, choosing to shoehorn Grand Theft Auto into the mafia setting.

The quality is uneven and there are no multiplayer tournament modes, but youngsters and Sega devotees will have great fun, particularly with the music games.

Fun for a few minutes, but destined to be substituted for something superior.

This joyful 21st century reintroduction for the Battletoads might be a bit too beholden to the difficult brawling action of the past, but it's also stylish, creative and funny in ways that so few 2020 games can match.

As beautiful as some moments in Fe are, and as vast and disorienting the forest seems, beneath it all is a very linear and basic game with ordinary platforming and a competent but forgettable story. Worst of all, it just doesn't seem like it has a whole lot to say. It gives all the signals of a game with an emotional story and a powerful message, but in the end it just doesn't communicate one.

This tense, strategic driving simulation is hampered only by the sport itself. All the tracks are oval and essentially the same.

There are a couple of perplexing flaws in the design, such as the inability to go prone or jump over low walls and fences, but suspend your disbelief and you'll be gripped.

Frantic battles with thieving rodents conclude each level but soon become repetitive and don't add much to the package. Nor do the small collection of simple multi-player mini-games, which include food gobbling contests and a shooting gallery.

The biggest problem is the excessive waiting between contests. Watching characters roll dice and trudge around the board is also tedious.

A decent start to what will inevitably be a games series.

Total Overdose may be another unashamed clone, but its amusing Mexican underworld storyline and crazy acrobatic moves make it a load of irresistible fun.

Rather than focus on what it does well, Days Gone does everything. Despite some great tech and compelling core ideas, especially when it comes to its battles against massive enemy hordes, a dull and repetitive open world structure makes Days Gone a chore.

Adults will breeze through the game in a few hours, but youngsters should be content replaying the adventure many times.

Player intelligence is improved, with more backline support reacting to the play. But defenders often leave holes and lack urgency near the line.

My Time at Portia is a slow game, to the point that digging around in the mines or waiting for bronze plates to smelt can be mind-numbing. But in a way its builds are kind of like knitting; repetitive and slow but visibly building towards a satisfying, tangible product. Plus, there's enough surprise in the living world, the creepy mines and dungeons and the wide fields to keep things from getting too stale for too long.

Total Overdose may be another unashamed clone, but its amusing Mexican underworld storyline and crazy acrobatic moves make it a load of irresistible fun.

The 3D view tends to slow the pace of the game as you struggle to find your targets, resulting in play that's not as frantic as it should be. But aside from this frustration, Worms still has a magic touch.

It's great that fielding is interactive but you'll become frustrated with how often the wicketkeeper drops simple catches because your timing is marginally off.

The handling is remarkable, and the fact the tracks are littered with obstacles that bounce and crash realistically makes it all the more fun. Throw in excellent damage modelling and it's plain to see that this game has nailed the core mechanics of an addictive racer perfectly.

Many youngsters will simply enjoy hooning around Radiator Springs, although some might get frustrated not knowing where to go next.

Many youngsters will simply enjoy hooning around Radiator Springs, although some might get frustrated not knowing where to go next.

If Farpoint was a standard shooter it wouldn't be all that interesting. The weapon selection is pretty light, it's fairly brief compared to other shooter campaigns and there's nothing unique about the sci-fi setting. But the thoughtful VR design paired with the awesome gunplay provided by the PSVR Aim controller makes it well worth experiencing.

The overall presentation has a polished televised look, but unfortunately it still doesn't have race commentators, just the roar of 21 angry engines.

Mission objectives are not always clear and some youngsters might get lost or frustrated at the lengthy travelling between missions, but there is always something fun to see or do.

The strategy play can sometimes feel mechanical, but budding tacticians will undoubtedly love it.

What initially seemed a rather mundane movie/ game tie-in, is actually quite fun, and will captivate kids with its simple gameplay and colourful graphics.

But beyond the odd wild ride on the back of a beast, negotiating the levels is a tame affair. This could prove frustrating for some, as the level of difficulty is often unbalanced.

A psychological thriller with an impressively ambitious gimmick and some old-school leanings, The Medium crafts a gripping narrative with loads of atmosphere in an experience that’s unmissable for genre fans, even if frustrating design occasionally undermines the tension.

Where Rogue Trooper rescues itself from mediocrity, however, is in the way it utilises Gunnar, Helm and Bagman. They all perk up with humorous quips and helpful advice, while the futuristic gadgetry is inventive.

What was to be one of PS2's flagship online titles is now an embarrassment for Sony.

More variety in the dozen multi-levelled chapters would have been welcome.

Where Rogue Trooper rescues itself from mediocrity, however, is in the way it utilises Gunnar, Helm and Bagman. They all perk up with humorous quips and helpful advice, while the futuristic gadgetry is inventive.

Great games never really die, they just get reanimated.

Available on both PC and Xbox, the PC version is markedly superior. The main problem with the Xbox version is that it's very difficult to make out enemies amongst the tall grass, due to the low resolution of the platform.

It feels uncanny and exhilarating performing high-speed leaps.

As long as you don't fall asleep at the wheel, Chrome Hounds offers a smattering of explosive action.