Ace Banana is a fun VR game that is best played in short bursts. The motion tracking drift outside of the archery sections are hard to ignore, especially when this issue hasn’t cropped up in other VR games I’ve played using the same set-up, but the archery itself is accurate.

NBA 2K25 is both a great and a frustrating experience. Beneath the layers of VC and the slow grind is a very good basketball game. The presentation is top notch and MyGM is the best mode to play to get the full NBA experience. MyCareer can be fun and it is a shame it is so bogged down where players have to choose to grind very slowly to improve, or to spend quite a bit of additional money to improve their players.

Destiny is far from a perfect game, with flaws quite clearly apparent in the storytelling and the repetitive formula, but it’s also a game that can quite easily keep you coming back for more time and again, especially if you play with friends.

Irony Curtain: From Matryoshka With Love is a good point and click adventure game with sense of humour and some challenging puzzles. The Switch version does have some technical issues and there's a little bugginess, but Irony Curtain is a fun little send-up of spy thrillers.

Princess Peach: Showtime! is a good game, but It will not be for everyone and those with decent gaming experience won’t find a challenge here... but that isn’t the point. This foray with Peach into acting scratches that itch of a game that is just a fun little time within minimal stress or worry – something we all need right now. Peach's adventure isn't anything groundbreaking, but the commitment to its theming and spades of the classic Nintendo charm make it worth sticking with until the curtain call.

An evergreen classic.

There’s so much that I like about 11–11 Memories Retold; the wonderful story, exceptional vocal performances and, for the most part, a beautiful and refreshingly unique art style. These elements all delight, yet they are let down by some poor minigames and underdeveloped gameplay mechanics. Despite these issues though, I was compelled to see this story to its conclusion, thanks to some smart plotting and a narrative that zips along like the very best page-turning novel.

Neptunia Virtual Stars is a great new direction for the series. It's weird and unexpected, but it's a breath of fresh-air compared to the familiar territory the last few games have been treading. There's a massive amount of love for vtuber culture in this game and it helps lift up the fun and refreshing story. It's a shame that the combat couldn't reach the same highs as the rest of the game, but while it's a major wrinkle, it doesn't ruin the entire experience. Any hardcore vtuber fan needs to play this game, and some clunky combat won't change that.

I like playing Curved Space, but I found it most enjoyable when played in fairly short bursts. The ideas and the gameplay are both good, but the level design runs counter to the fast-paced gameplay when you simply can't find an enemy. The music slaps though, so that's a nice touch if you do find yourself enamoured with the strange mix of impossible spaces and bug shooting.

It’s a shame that some of the new gameplay elements don’t quite fit together, but on the whole, Season Two is off to a solid start that will likely hook those who enjoyed the original.

Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince is a lovely return for the series' 2.5D puzzle platforming. It tinkers with and broadens the gameplay options to be more welcoming, and levels can feel a little stretched out at times, but grab a couple of friends and stick it on Classic mode, and this will delight fans of those first two games.

Lost Words: Beyond the Page tells a tender, emotional tale, but you’ll find yourself wading through the fantastical and mechanical elements of its secondary one in order to reach its conclusion.

Gazzlers is a fun-filled arcade blast that gives VR fans the perfect opportunity to switch their brain off. It’s not the kind of thing you’ll want to play in one long sitting – few VR games are during a rather summer-like October – but returning to it day in, day out, is the perfect way to get your daily endorphin hit. [Tested on Meta Quest 3]

If the jumping was tightened up a bit, and the difficulty spikes not so big then this could have been one of the best platformers of recent memory.

The work that has gone into bringing Another Code: Two Memories and its sequel to Switch is impressive, giving us a pair of enthralling adventures to follow. The DAS is an excellent little gadget, and the characters and overall story are excellently written and charming, but the short length of this collection and lack of activities outside the investigating result in a somewhat one-note affair. Another Code: Recollection is a decent little package, but you might be left wanting if you have played the original releases.

There’s a lot to like about Surviving the Aftermath and I became genuinely invested in the continued existence of my survivors, fighting and struggling with all I had to get them through the many hardships of living in a post-apocalyptic world. It’s unfortunate that I was constantly forced to return to exploring the turn based world map, rather than having fun building stuff. Also, if you do decide to pick up Surviving the Aftermath, it's probably best to go for the PC version to avoid the contradictory brain-melting console controls.

Dying Light 2 expands and refines a formula Techland has been peddling since its breakout success with Dead Island. This sequel learns a lot from modern open world video games, its massive, zombie-infested sandbox rarely feeling empty, especially as you breeze through city blocks with a Mirror's Edge-like finesse. However, Dying Light 2 inherits the same problems - a dull story, tiresome combat, and character progression that’s a tad too sluggish.

If I could grade Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duels in Magic Terms, I’d give it a Sideboard B. If you love Yu-Gi-Oh, this is probably the pinnacle of the game’s experience, with modern flourishes and easy access to a huge repository of cards. However, if you’re not a hardcore fan and just fancy dipping your toes in the water, this game is probably not for you — by all means give it a chance, but don’t be surprised if you find its complexities impossible to overcome.

Neva is almost brilliant. This is a finely crafted game let down by too much empty time-wasting, untapped potential in its puzzling, and a rather onerous desire to make people cry.

Frame-rate aside, Sigma 2 Plus is still one of the PlayStation Vita’s more recommendable titles. The story is nonsensical and there are a couple of minor issues orbiting the game’s presentation but it still plays well, and features a fair amount of content both in and out of the single player campaign. With that said, fans of the series should approach Plus with caution, unless they are desperate for their Ninja Gaiden fix whilst on the go.

As a building project, Labo displays a sense of ingenuity that few things do, and as an introduction to design and engineering it’s clear, fun, and solid. It’s a shame then that the game itself is a little too simplistic, though allowing kids to stomp around a city smashing things may not wear out too quickly in practice.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated is a solid remake that perhaps stays a little too true to the original. The updated visuals bring the game more inline with the original cartoon series, but some dated game design holds the port back from being truly exceptional.

Lost Wing is a hugely enjoyable and exciting arcade mash-up of endless runner, roguelite, Wipeout and Tron. There's a bit too much grinding for content and the nauseating screen-rotating anomalies, but these are sufficiently offset by thrills of the rest of the game and a budget price point. It's a game that managed to make me both punch the air and slap my face in despair on a regular basis; how many video games can you say that about?

Nintendo continues to revive what some might call their lost generation of games. Pikmin 3 Deluxe is yet another Wii U transplant though one that slots seamlessly into Switch’s first party line-up. Although unwieldy and slow to start, Nintendo’s charming inventiveness has produced an intriguing, if not excellent, entry in the strategy genre.

Murder By Numbers puts a narrative-heavy spin on the Picross experience and accompanies it with enough difficulty setting that even a mathematically challenged fool like me to get engrossed in the grid-filling action for hours on end. Unfortunately, so much of the story is tainted by unlikeable characters and a constant barrage of eye-rolling references that take away from the otherwise unique style of the world. I was still engaged enough with the mystery and addictive soundtrack to see the game through, but the number of times I had to pause the game and walk away after reading another miserable 90s reference soured the experience.

Stellar Blade is a pretty enjoyable game to swing your hairband sword at, so long as you don't mind the obvious sexualisation. There's a few rough areas, but nothing to spoil things overall and there’s plenty of interesting story to uncover as you fight your way through giant monsters with circular saws for heads and weird tentacles for legs.

The Gunk is an entertaining adventure with a message about pollution and industrialisation. with a likeable protagonist. The pacing is a little drawn out toward the end of the six to seven hour journey, but there's a great visual style and an enjoyable game to experience.

EverSiege: Untold Ages strips away the ultra competitive aspects of a MOBA to create a solo or co-op game that feels nostalgic in a lot of ways. There's an awful lot to do here and loads of progression to unlock, which is always satisfying. I do hope they find a way to make the multiplayer feel more satisfying to share, and will be keeping an eye out for updates post-launch.

Unfortunately they’ve been over ambitious and so in taking in as much as they can, they’ve lost out on what really matters - detail, interesting missions and polish. You feel like you’ve seen everything within the first 4 hours and so finishing the games begins to feel like a chore.

A solid racing game. It fails to inspire or innovate, but anyone looking for a decent racing game on PSP will find something here. Its biggest issue though, however, is that both Gran Turismo and MotorStorm Arctic Edge offer up a better standard racing game (whether you’re looking for realism or thrills and spills) on PSP.

Despite a handful of issues issues, Tools Up! is a co-op game that does the impossible and actually makes DIY fun! It might even inspire you to do some real-life DIY. Nah, who am I kidding? That extractor fan is going to stay well and truly un-extracted.

The Complex is a well crafted interactive movie with a story that will initially hook you. As you lead Amy's decision making through the story, some moments can feel a bit out there or character motivations unclear, but it's a satisfying experience overall and it will scratch that sci-fi thriller itch.

Maid of Sker is a great addition to the survival horror genre and offers a wonderfully intimate and local threat that takes its influences from Welsh folktales. Eschewing the combat and weaponry of many entries into the genre, its gameplay loop of sneaking and hiding proves compelling and successfully manages to keep you feeling in danger at all times. When you add in some excellent sound design and atmosphere you have a Victorian horror that deserves a rousing reception. There may not be a welcome in these valleys but this is one vacation that genre fans should have no reservations about taking.

At its heart, Stikbold’s a fairly simple game of hitting people with balls, but it has a bunch of fun and silly ideas alongside that which turn it into a manic little party game to while away a few hours.

ScourgeBringer has a mostly enjoyable flow to it and some great visuals, if you can see them in the chaos. However, it’s joining the cavalcade of roguelites around at the moment, and brings little new to the table, outside of some often burdensome bullet hell elements. If you’ve got an itch for recurring death and frustration, this will definitely satisfy for a time, but there are far better examples of the genre out there.

Steel Rats is an undeniably daring experiment; fusing gameplay mechanics, varied visuals and control inputs that have no right to go together. The game should be an absolute mess, but it deftly weaves these disparate elements together and what we are left with is a thrilling and refreshing stunt=based shoot ’em up.

Snow Bros. Wonderland is a delightful wintry adventure, with bags of old-school charm that will spark joy in your arcade-going inner child.

Dark Future: Blood Red States is a quirky video game adaptation of this niche Games Workshop board game, and Auroch Digital have done a great job of preserving that feel in a real time form. Its bitesized campaigns keep the dystopian road warrior gameplay going, and there's a real charm that manages to shine through, even if there's probably a few too many rough edges and limits to the design.

This is hands down the best Attack on Titan game you’ll find anywhere, though that in itself doesn’t make it a must-have. Whether or not it clicks depends entirely on whether you can get to grips with the finicky combat, and how easily you deal with doing the same thing over and over.

When the cogs start turning, Nobunaga’s Ambition becomes this intriguing spectacle as clans employ a variety of strategies in order to adapt, survive, and expand. Although far from perfect, this is likely the best grand strategy title you’ll find on a home console.

If you’re looking to move beyond the most obvious of the Nintendo Switch’s launch line-up, you could do far worse than to invest in the Joy-Con and Snipperclips bundle. It captures the essence of the likes of Overcooked!, but with a clear emphasis on using shapes to solve the physics puzzles. Yes, there is a limited amount of content and that hampers the appeal somewhat, but it’s a great icebreaker at house parties.

Whispers of a Machine is an approachable point and click adventure. The story is pretty interesting and the main character, as well as few side characters, are well-crafted too. It falls shy of the best examples of the genre, but Whispers of a Machine isn't far off the mark from being considered great.

It’s perhaps stepping on Super Bomberman R’s toes at a fraction of the price, but Flip Wars scratches that multiplayer itch and is an absolute blast to play locally. There are currently some kinks to iron out, particularly with online matchmaking to fully use all the player slots, but with updates a possibility it’s certainly one to keep an eye on to see how things develop.

Uncovering the threads that connect the residents of Harbor Prime is a fascinating look into a flawed future, if you are willing to hack for it.

GRID is an enjoyable racing game for those who want to enjoy some close racing without worrying about camber angles. The market needs games like this to provide light and shade. I was hoping this new GRID would be a fresh start, but it's a last night's takeaway re-heated. I enjoy leftovers – cold pizza is one of life's great pleasures – but that doesn’t make the perfect racing game when the rest of the world has moved on.

Mega Man Legacy Collection feels incomplete. It doesn’t feature any of the games that launched after the heyday of the NES era and even then brings them to modern systems with performance warts and all. Yet somehow with the six games it does bring to the table, it provides enough for fans to indulge in with challenges and archive artwork, while also bringing in new players with conveniences such as the save system.

Syndicate comes off as another Assassin’s Creed game with a handful of improvements. London is beautiful if a bit laborious to travel around, and the missions are repetitive, but this doesn’t make Syndicate bad by any stretch of the imagination. It’s still a good game, it just hasn’t made a significant step up over the previous instalment.

The simplicity of Star Hammer works both in its favour and against it. It is a very easy game to pick up and will appeal to players, like myself, who have little experience or interest in the genre but strategy fans may well be put off by how basic the title is.

War Tech Fighters is raw, unadulterated robot action. The flashy combat and easy to master controls make it a blast to dive in and play. The design aesthetic and narrative are lacking massively, which makes it hard to stick with the game for a long time, but if all you're looking for is some simple robot blasting action, War Tech Fighters will be right up your alley.

This is by far and away the best MXGP game to date, and the result of developer Milestone finally getting to grips with the Unreal Engine — despite the recently disappointing MotoGP 18. MXGP Pro still lacks technical polish and misses the magical ‘wow’ moments that the best racing games feature, but this is now a great platform that they can build upon for the future. The difficulty curve will not be for everyone, but MXGP Pro is all the better for it.

Sure, there’s no damage modeling, the crash physics are nonsense and the graphics won’t bother Polyphony - but this isn’t the point: GTI Club+ rewards continuous play with a perfectly pitched learning curve: your laps will get quicker every time until you’re in that Wipeout-esque zone, chicaning between traffic and drifting around corners without even thinking.

If you really, really have to play an RTS on console then you could do a lot worse than Ancestors Legacy. Well thought out controls, appealing visuals, and a solid multiplayer make for a reliable RTS experience. You might never feel compelled to reach the conclusion of the samey single-player campaign but you will delight in just having one more go at flanking your pal's Teutonic Knights with your Hurscarl Warriors.

Through the stylishly muted visuals and the trappings of a Communist state on the brink of collapse, Black The Fall challenges you to escape its series of perilous puzzles in a bid for freedom from oppression. Though it will live in the shadows of its critically acclaimed peers and has a few rough edges, Black The Fall is a great addition to the puzzle platformer genre.

Grandia HD Collection is a wonderful entry point into a criminally under-discussed JRPG series. Both games are absolute classics, featuring wonderful characters, inventive gameplay and really astounding writing. Die-hard fans might take issue with the updated nature of the sprites in Grandia 1. Every player out there, meanwhile, is likely to be turned off by the constant performance issues of Grandia 2. This isn't a perfect release, but the pros still far outweigh the cons when it comes to having an accessible way to play these old-school gems.

Aarik and The Ruined Kingdom is a well crafted and great looking puzzle game that entertains for its 2-3 hour playtime. It is let down by various bugs, like sounds playing unprompted, and the issue of placing objects being more cumbersome than it needs to be. However, for less than £7 it is worth a playthrough if you enjoy perspective shifting puzzle games.

Narcos: Rise of the Cartels is a decently executed turn-based strategy title. Sure, sometimes it's a bit too easy, but when the enemy moves efficiently it become a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Just be warned that you'll grow attached to your squadmates, and hate if you lose them. This is for you, Ruiz!

Sword of the Necromancer is a fun roguelike, with a unique enemy revival system that sets it apart from other titles in the genre. Unfortunately, a lacklustre combat system and unoriginal story mean that it doesn't quite match up to the absolute best roguelikes out there.

I loved Atelier Firis. It features my favourite group of characters in an Atelier game, while the vast, open world environments add something unique over the rest of the series, with a huge amount of options and quests to explore. Unfortunately, it isn’t until you pass the time restricted first half of the game after dozens of hours of playtime that you’ll truly be able to appreciate any of this. Combining timed quests with free exploration is an interesting idea, but its flawed execution ruins leads to some awkward pacing. Atelier fans and curious newcomers will still have an amazing time, as long as you don’t let the intimidating timer put a damper on what should be a magical experience.

What it all boils down to is how likely it will be that you will return to the game to beat your high scores, as the main modes won't see you much past the two and a half to three hour mark.

Classified: France ’44 does so much right; historical authentic tactical combat, tense decision-making, and a minimal amount of stealth. Naff Stereotype-driven characters and technical issues aside, this is a confident and assured debut from Absolutely Games.

For around £6.29 or your regional equivalent, Kirby’s Blowout Blast is a surprisingly packed game for the price. Sure it won’t take long to blitz through the five worlds that first time, but the real appeal is in trying to get as high a score as possible and achieve those ranks. If you’re just looking for a short game that’s fun with a slightly novel concept for the platform, then Kirby’s Blowout Blast is certainly a better proposition than the free-to-play Team Kirby Clash Deluxe.

Honkai: Star Rail isn't a groundbreaking experience or a massive new open-world action game, but it's still full of promise and potential as a polished, pretty, and easy-to-master RPG experience.

The overall experience of Dark Auction is quite the contradiction, just like its genre-breaking story. There are moments of superb 2D-driven visual novel-style dialogue, conflicting with dull, clunky and unnecessary 3D exploration. Overall, I’d say the former still trumps the latter, and when you experience the next shocking over-the-top theatrical plot revelation during an auction, Dark Auction proves well worth the effort.

If you’re looking for a compelling and atmospheric take on the zombie genre that’s more Walking Dead than Left 4 Dead, State of Decay 2 is an imperfect but enjoyable sequel to the superior original. The gameplay loop of scavenging, crafting and killing can begin to wear thin, but the human element is capable of pulling you back in. Tackling the world with others in tow may decimate the game’s carefully constructed atmosphere, but those multiplayer shenanigans will probably be wild enough to distract from the host of technical issues that simply refuse to die.

Skybolt Zack is exactly the kind of game that benefits from playing the same stage over and over again. Learning the patterns and routes for each will eventually have you zipping through, but it’s going to take plenty of tenacity to get to that level.

Nobody Saves the World is a funny, inventive, but repetitive action RPG. It's fun to explore the class customisation, but that comes after repeatedly grinding dungeons to level up new forms. You'll have to ensure you really enjoy silly jokes and cooking up custom classes, which are definitely the game's biggest strength.

Blimp: The Flying Adventures is certainly an interesting title. Those who enjoy this type of 'against the clock' game will most definitely find something to like here, and combining that with a lovely hand drawn art style, and the intricacies of the Blimp makes this worth a look.

Mugen Souls is the very definition of a 'good' game. Whilst it'll never blow you away, and there are certainly a number of issues, there's also plenty to do and a varied cast of characters to escort you on this bizarre adventure. If you're after an RPG that isn't quite the norm, then Mugen Souls is worth a look.

Though the campaign may only take a few hours to beat, there's plenty of content resting within the multiplayer component. Casual RTS fans will appreciate the no-nonsense gameplay, and Move control scheme (which is much more comfortable and efficient than a DS3), though there is also something here for the more hardcore fans of the genre.

It's cool, confident and well made, and occasional clipping snag aside it's a clever little game, but it's as minimal it looks and probably the single most niche PSN game available right now.

If you like classic point & click adventure games, then Demetrios is worth a play.

The game is a visually nice one, though levels do repeat. The only real problem is the sensitivity of the touch pad on PS4, and then it plays better on Vita. It’s a game that is enjoyable in short bursts compared to a long slog, and it provides a fun distraction.

There is so much to love about Battle Chasers’s take on the JRPG. Its strategic elements, well-crafted characters (although the attempts at self-referential humour with Red Monika’s physique are not always successful), brilliantly judged battle system, and satisfying crafting all combine with a good, albeit not groundbreaking, fantasy narrative. Sadly it’s plagued by frequent crashes which impact the score at launch, but this game is otherwise easy to recommend for fans of the genre.

Unboxed: Newbie’s Adventure will be a pleasant surprise for many 3D platforming fans. Although fairly unassuming, it offers a simplistic, lighthearted approach to the genre with hours of fun to be had.

Games like Disgaea 4 are what the Vita was built for.

With superb retro visuals, OTT combat, and four player co-op, Scott Pilgrim EX is a suitable love letter to the brilliance of the original graphic novels. Sure, there’s some issues that will spoil you and your pals’ fun on occasion, but overall Scott and his friends – and enemies – are well worth your time.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot displays unparalleled care and respect for the iconic story arcs it adapts. The original music is there, original Dragon Ball characters return, and pivotal moments are gorgeously animated. If these were stories being presented in video game format for the first time, it would be a mind-blowing experience. Unfortunately, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot doesn't push the envelope enough to warrant sitting through the Cell Saga for the umpteenth time and seeing Frieza get obliterated yet again. If you've played a Dragon Ball Z game before, you've basically played this one.

Unruly Heroes is a solid game, a good game, a fun game, it just isn’t a brilliant game. All of the components are fun, the visual style is lovely, the characters are easy to use and the puzzles don’t make you want to throw your Switch at the cat. Those are all good qualities, but it just lacks that little bit extra that would turn it into a great game, a must-play. You aren’t going to walk away with a new appreciation of life or Journey to the West, just a feeling of “Yeah, that was a laugh.”

Gorn is exactly what it looks like; it's silly, over the top, and hilarious. This isn't a serious melee combat game, but if you're after comic ultra-violence, then this is the best option on PSVR. With a little more content, some gameplay beyond battling waves of enemies, and a touch more polish, this would be an easy recommendation, but it's still worth a shot if you want a bit of a giggle.

PGA 2K21 gives a damn fine game of golf. It controls solidly and there's a good learning curve as you get to grips with the more advanced types of shot. Despite that, I can’t help but be a little disappointed with the feel of the overall experience. What should have been a hole in one return of a licensed golf series feels like it's only just managing to hit par.

A good, fun shooter that excels in multiplayer but fails to reach the heights it could have.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse doesn't set out to reinvent the franchise or radicalize what it means to be a Fatal Frame game, but with updated visuals and modernised controls, it does a great job of making an entry in the series from 2008 effortlessly feel like a modern, current-gen debut. The slow and sometimes repetitive pacing of the game will not be for everyone, and some long-winded animations and awkward loading-waits only serve to make that pacing even more of a slog, but if you have the patience for that, you're in for a solid Japanese horror experience that will keep you guessing until the credits roll.

Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is a blast with friends, but returning fans may find that not enough has changed to warrant a return visit.

If you're looking for a darts game for when you're on the move, or even just a darts game to play at home now and then, look no further, this provides enough entertainment at a great price.

Thank Goodness You're Here! is essentially and interactive saucy postcard from the 1980's which has clearly been made with a lot of a love and great attention to detail. Sadly the gameplay is also from the 1980's, you just run, jump and punch, but the many jokes and asides keep you thoroughly entertained while you do so.

Affogato manages to create a rich and flavorful blend of visual novel, tower defense, and social RPG. It may be lacking in side-activities, but what's there is special, and definitely worth digging into if you're looking for something new.

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is an entertaining game, at least for the majority of its play time.

Rush of Blood isn’t particularly scary, unless you’re deathly afraid of some of the many different creatures and monsters that come your way, but it still makes for an entertaining few hours. Were it not on VR, this might easily be discarded and overlooked, but that simple fact makes it stand out.

In an industry still obsessed with lifelike visuals, gratuitous violence, and tear-jerking stories, Wattam is a welcome remedy. Though short-lived and bizarre is its design, it has a joyous cleansing effect that will have you grinning ear to ear.

Admittedly, it can be hit and miss when paired up with AI players through matchmaking, but as with so many games, it can be pure gold when played with friends.

A game that I urge you to experience. It’s not perfect, but in a way that fits entirely with its own outlook, and its effectiveness as a story is both thought-provoking and surprising. Pre-conceptions aside, it is certainly an intriguing and unique title that explores elements of philosophy and life often left untouched by gaming.

Although PLUS is a competent port of Dead Or Alive 5, it doesn’t add quite enough to warrant a re-purchase.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros. sadly falls flat on its face at the final hurdle, but is a light-hearted and hugely enjoyable romp up until that point. There are great nods to both Mario & Luigi RPG and Paper Mario franchises, and the three protagonists make a great team in this 3DS RPG. Questionable decisions around the use of Amiibo and the mini-game side-quests can’t be ignored, but the charm of Paper Jam Bros. can’t be understated.

Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition brings back a mixture if beautiful visuals and fast-paced first-person gameplay that we’re rarely treated to. The Duke Nukem add on also works surprisingly well too, with Duke’s dialogue working well alongside Bulletstorm’s blend of phallic jokes and crass humour, even if he does look out of place in the game’s cutscenes. It’s a decent remaster that could have been improved further with an updated control scheme, but whether with Grayson or Duke, this is still some of the best FPS gameplay in recent times.

Penned by TV’s own George Poles, this charming sequence of interspersed brainteasers, point-to-go navigation and child-like exposition never really threatens to wow, but still manages to keep you hooked until the end, if only to find out where that admittedly brief storyline is heading.

Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time truly feels like a blast from the past. Instead of playing into modern action game trends, the game revisits the style and feel of old-school action games with great success. There are a few frustrating elements that come from that dated design style and hamper the experience, as well as an ultimately unnecessary weapon-durability system. Still, for fans of the original cartoon, this is a trip down memory lane well worth taking.

With very little to compete against it on the PS3, Overkill is the best on-rails shooter for the platform. The shooting itself is easy to master and rewarding, even more so when coupled with a partner, but the overall lack of original content will still put off a few potential customers.

It’s hard to replicate Portal’s success, and in the process of following a very similar narrative to that which can be found at Aperture, Magnetic: Cage Closed loses its way on more than one occasion. Thankfully, the magnet gun is fun to use, and most of the puzzles are smartly crafted with a great sense of accomplishment, pacing and difficulty.