Quibbles aside, The Old Blood works: shorter, more tonally cohesive, and better than its forbear, it's also – for most of its five of so hour running time – a better distillation of MachineGames' goals than that which preceded it.

If you’re willing to devote a weekend to its mood of windbitten despondency (it’s only fifteen or so hours long), you will not emerge from Mortal Shell unrewarded.

Newcomers might find things a little too complex, but PC gamers who have experience with these types of games should be rewarded for their efforts.

Bar the jarring Action Camera, there's not a lot wrong with Hell's Highway. Rather, there's a lot good with it. It's an intelligent game made by adults for adults.

No-one seems to have quite figured out how to do these correctly, but Gunslinger's combo of using the sticks to position the draw hand and focus your target – as well as waiting for the right time to shoot – is pretty good. Much like the game as a whole then.

That the game feels overly familiar is undoubtedly a good thing.

Compared to some other PSN titles it doesn't offer the same replay value, but it more than makes up for this in production values and overall quality.

FIFA 23 is the best feeling football game currently on the market, the gameplay is much better this time around than it was in FIFA 22. It's just a shame the lack of attention to the single player game modes, and Pro Clubs, lets the rest of the game down.

It’s in the art direction of the Definitive Edition, led by Petr Motejzik, that you catch the developers’ obsessions: their love of long-coated ne’er do wells; of chrome shining through the wet; and of crime fiction, free of the emotional collateral and ruin of real crime.

It’s nice that the developers get to play around a little through these map packs and let off some steam, and as they stand, these maps and the Mob of the Dead mode are engaging deviations from the jingoism and machismo, but is it not also a shame that developers are reduced to using map packs to go a bit hog wild, rather than hedging their bets on something new?

The lack of Crash mode is a big disappointment and makes the World Tour feel a little samey. If you're after more Burnout on the PSP then this is well worth adding to your collection, but on the PS2 Burnout Revenge is by far the better option.

As a game to please fans Introversion probably has another hit on its hands, but Multiwinia is unlikely to broaden its fanbase too considerably.

Bar the jarring Action Camera, there's not a lot wrong with Hell's Highway. Rather, there's a lot good with it. It's an intelligent game made by adults for adults.

It will still be far too difficult for most, but the game is one of the developer's most accessible titles to date, and while its jagged 2D art and unpopular genre will never grant it more than an extremely niche audience, the few who are interested will be more than satisfied with both the game and Rising Star's commendable publishing efforts.

There's plenty of things to like in LEGO Star Wars III, though some of them might be buried a little too deep for younger players.

Those that have finished Human Revolution will simply be grateful for more Deus Ex, but taken out of the context of the main game, with its hub worlds, huge cast of characters and grandiose conspiracy, it doesn't offer enough to be considered an essential add-on.

It constantly rips you out of the experience, whether that be from frustration at the mechanics or outright bugginess. You'll want to forgive it its flaws because it does Victorian London so well, something you just can't get elsewhere. But leave it a few minutes and it reveals itself to be as utterly flawed as its forebears, a beautiful facade on a rotting core.

While Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam is in many ways a retread of what's come before, it's exactly what anyone could ask for from the series while also being open enough to win over those who play it for the first time.

As positively nostalgic as all of this is, it's not surprising to find that Sonic Generations' emulation of past greats extends to its duration. Despite the fact that there are nine main stages per Sonic, seven bosses and ten side-missions per Zone, it will take an experienced fan just a few hours to blast through to the main ending.

Zuma doesn't quite pop off the screen and infest itself into you brain like PopCap's bigger hits, but there's some entertaining, though slightly gentle, puzzles to be had within its therapeutic confines.

With a bit more ingenuity in the puzzles, more made of the time travel and a little more graphical "oomph", Raven and Activision could have had a real gem on their hands. It's still well worth a look though.

One of the finest examples of bringing the essence of arcade gaming to modern consoles and a game no adrenaline junkie should pass up.

If you crave for more humour in games and are looking for drama and tension without having to dabble in drawn out RPGs or nerve-wracking twitch games, then Justice for All might just be for you.

While it's not as imaginative, challenging or as well designed as New Super Mario Bros., still the best platformer on the console, it's a solid addition to the DS' impressive library of platform games.

It's not the finished article by any means, and through updates Zipper may realise its potential. It needs more game modes, tweaks to the spawn system, better controls, and it needs to make everything a lot clearer for those who find clans and massive action intimidating. If it does this, MAG will gain a foothold and thrive.

We don't think the PSP Remote Play functionality makes it worth while, but we reckon the harmony duet mode just about swings it. Oh, and the trippy background music. So, get this if you like SingStar Vol.2's track selection and you're effortlessly popular. Don't if you don't or you're not. Simple as that.

Indeed, if, like me, you have a weakness for the zombie-hued, and for the sway and flail of first-person platforming, then Dying Light 2 is easy to recommend.

I had a great time with The Pitt, and it single-handedly reinvigorated my interest in Bethesda's masterpiece. It's what DLC should be: good value, interesting, exciting and a concentration of what is best about the game it's expanding upon.

Neo Cab is a captivating exploration of a cyberpunk city, not including the pretty visuals and ambient synth soundtrack. However, its satellite stories gripped me and the core narrative feels like a detour.

It gets the basics right and backs up its tight gameplay mechanics with tidy visuals and portable-friendly loading times - something that a few of the higher profile launch games can't claim. The dev team certainly played it safe, but going for PAR isn't a bad thing.

Sims 3 for console is the first time the franchise has been presented as a near-match to its PC counterpart.

The tutorials do their best to bring you up to speed on all the gameplay concepts, but you'll need to invest a fair amount of time to get the hang of it all. Played competitively there are few games as intense as this, making the lack of unique game modes more than bearable.

As addictive as the perk goals are, it's the bread-and-butter sabotage that proves to be the real distraction.

The non-twin-stick controls won't be for everyone, but once you've got to grips with the system Doublesix has created there's no end of fun to be found here. With enough depth to keep you coming back for weeks, if not months down the line, high score junkies won't be disappointed.

A spellbinding journey with catchy tunes, beautiful visuals and enough rhythm set-pieces to strike a chord while we twiddle our thumbs and wait for the next Layton and Phoenix Wright games. It hits a few bum notes along the way, but this performance is worth a round of applause.

While it may not be the refined, leisurely paced kill-'em-up many eager landlubbers might have signed up for, The Ship does quickly prove itself a subtly addictive, relentless nail biter that will only get better as those already aboard learn to rule the bloody waves. Notch this one up as another killer for Steam.

A good start.

Star Fox Command is by no means a complete mess, but there's just nothing that compelling about it. Tellingly, I just couldn't help thinking that I'd rather be playing a conversion of the N64 game and forgetting about all this strategy nonsense.

Far Cry Primal is a great spin-off for the Far Cry franchise, but it doesn't do anything drastically new.

Some monstrously lovely set pieces are let down by a bit too much padding, some broken mechanics, and an overwrought story.

The elementary combat system is entertaining, but ultimately overshadowed by a hopelessly contrived plot. Mr Scratch's presence could have been something special, and it's regrettable that his performance is throwaway. As with the rest of the game, a lack of cohesion and clear thought from Remedy ensures American Nightmare feels like a missed opportunity.

This isn't to Spider-Man what Arkham Asylum was to the Caped Crusader, but nonetheless it perseveres as a consistent, rugged and undeniably enjoyable romp through some bright colours, excellent set pieces and laugh out loud lines.

Rise of the Ronin is a competent open-world game that suffers from too much bloat. While there are story pacing problems and too many meaningless interactions, Rise of the Ronin is the best iteration of Nioh’s systems translated into an open-world game.

This puzzle-platformer’s puzzles and platforming might be merely alright – and the music is a proper irritant – but Pikuniku is full of so much cheer and loveliness elsewhere. It’s bursting with character in a story that’s equal parts silly and uplifting.

It’s a game of MacGuffins, so to speak—what you’re doing and why you’re doing it is inessential to the joys and the juice on offer.

A solid, fun and at times entrancing shooter that stands head and shoulders above most titles on the service in the graphics department.

It's a game that comes across more as GH with a different musical focus, rather than as a new IP in its own right. Band Hero is far from being a bad game, but somewhere along the line it seems the new franchise's focus became a little confused.

It's a simple port of a console game and as such is best played on a console.

I’m glad to see a return to the franchise that doesn’t involve a free-to-play model, but as far as multiplayer shooters go this feels like a nice change of pace, rather than a long-term alternative.

Stylish aesthetic and cinematic flair still keep the overall experience enjoyable, but my initial spark of love for the series has largely disappeared. After a shoddy narrative decision revealed within the first 15 minutes of Episode 2, my trust in the series has diminished.

While there's no denying that the core platforming is pleasant and the visuals are a cut above the majority of iOS games, Crescent Moon's charming little game lacks the creativity its presentation suggests is going to be bursting from every seam. Fun while it lasts, but a little too safe to be considered one of the genre's best on iOS.

It is great to see a well-loved series return to its best, but occasional NPC glitches, the stuttering frame rate and lack of online play are unforgivable on such a powerhouse of a console.

The high-energy fun of Victor Vran means it really is a romp, if one that occasionally stutters. While the slightly repetitive nature grates, you can easily see a few hours dissolving into Victor Vran before your very eyes. Like a vampire in sunlight.

The combat can be slightly uninvolving at times, and the exploration side of proceedings serves little more than to connect one battle to the next, but the experience as a whole is surprisingly enjoyable.

Once you get over the fact that playing EndWar makes you look and sound like a bit of a twat, you start to have quite a lot of geek-fuelled fun ordering your army about the battlefield, but we can't help but feel that EndWar is more proof of concept technical showcase than fully fleshed out triple-A title.

What I didn’t expect from the new Call of Duty was downtime, and the suggestion, at least in the first half, that guns, while great for going in blazing, can provide just as potent a thrill when holstered.

Evolve should have been great. It isn't. Worse still is that its core idea feels as if it has been undermined by over-complication and, more disappointingly, the worst practices of modern publishing.

Pacific is very much the son of its forebear. If you're prepared to push through its choppier moments, you'll find a rich and highly enjoyable game that should keep you occupied for months.

Overlord is an entertaining game that should keep you smiling for its duration, but certain control complexities and a distinct lack of evil keep it from being a truly great next-gen adventure.

The lack of Crash mode is a big disappointment and makes the World Tour feel a little samey. If you're after more Burnout on the PSP then this is well worth adding to your collection, but on the PS2 Burnout Revenge is by far the better option.

Performance issues are a huge let down, and it feels more Dragon Age than Mass Effect. But if you like open world exploration with fast paced gun fighting, and a hero story like an OTT Hollywood action movie, you'll probably like Andromeda.

It's a brief, slow paced, quintessentially British experience that won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it's compelling nonetheless, and Telltale has absolutely nailed the atmosphere and feeling of the TV shows on which it's based.

As a spin-off from the Zelda franchise Hyrule Warriors does the job. It’s fun, pays decent fan service, and uses the Dynasty Warriors template well.

There's absolutely no getting away from the fact that Stuntman: Ignition is often an infuriating game, but that doesn't automatically make it a bad one. At times it feels as rigid as an old-fashioned school cane, but perseverance will reveal a highly rewarding experience.

There's plenty of things to like in LEGO Star Wars III, though some of them might be buried a little too deep for younger players.

Firewatch feels like a natural and smart evolution of the adventure game, offering choices without as many constraints, but at the same time expertly funneling players down a path.

It may not win any awards for the best looking or sounding game but it's great pure fun, and is instantly accessible to pretty much anyone.

You don't need to be in the company of non-gamers to enjoy Scene It? We played a rather heated game in the office that proved to be as hard fought as the console war, with as much competition as a session on Gears of War 2.

Although by no means a perfect RPG, Suikoden V is an enjoyable game, but more so for connoisseurs of the series or RPG fans. Those new to the genre might wish to go for something which is more accessible and moves at a faster pace.

As an example of the kind of control Move is going to allow in future titles, Sports Champions is easily the best of the launch line-up, but compared to the obvious competition (Wii Sports Resort) it's lacking content.

A visually stunning, epic adventure that continues Crystal Dynamics' excellent run. We reckon it's the best completely original Tomb Raider (Anniversary was, of course, a remake) we've had in years, and is only let down by the odd control quirk and camera issue.

We had a blast playing the game here in the office, with almost everyone gathering to watch. But it is an inferior fighting game, no matter how oddly compelling it is to see two sets of fictional characters clash in such improbable circumstances.

The beauty of Dear Esther is that it raises questions about content rather than mechanics.

The fact that it's free (supposing you bought the original game new) makes it well worth a play, just don't go expecting any plot revelations or answers to the game's more fundamental questions.

It just doesn't have the scope to match Rockstar's efforts though, and the driving sections aren't thrilling enough to get the pulse really racing.

It's hard to see Unravel ending up as anything worse than a thoroughly enjoyable, lovely game. I'm hoping it strives for and achieves more by the time the yarn has run out.

Despite some effort to make Reflex more than just another MX vs ATV game, it's ended up feeling very similar to what's gone before it.

The only serious criticisms I have are the brutal loading times, which seriously detract from the pick up and play appeal of the game, and the fact that we're going to need to buy numerous collections to get all the great Capcom oldies.

When I recall my time with Amazing Alex I can only really remember throwing a couple of tennis balls down a pipe. And that's not really that amazing, is it?

The rating would be much higher if the game wasn't being held back by the prevailing bugs. The sky is the limit for FC once EA iron out the creases.

A well-rounded spectacle that serves up something for most wrestling fans.

Those who dare stay with it for a substantial chunk of time will also be pleased that as you climb your way up the ladder, things do knuckle down a tad.

A thoroughly decent blast.

It's just that while being a competent and perfectly enjoyable pick'n'mix of some of the best games of the last 10 years, Yakuza doesn't excel at any aspect it borrows. It isn't greater than the sum of its parts.

There's just nothing else quite like it. NiGHTS HD doesn't transition as elegantly into 2012 as it deserves, then, but it's clear this 16-year-old cult classic still knows how to soar.

Your prize for completing each of the 36 levels may initially seem underwhelming as you are awarded up to three stars depending on your rice-juggling skills, but really, the true satisfaction comes from watching Baby Nom Nom’s face light up at the sheer amount of rice he/she has scored for his/her next meal.

Even with a number of sloppy audio problems and an overall game that feels strikingly similar to Top Spin on the Xbox, it's still hugely addictive.

By far the best hockey game on the market, but with the near identical current-gen versions already at bargain bin prices, it's hard to justify forking over the extra cash for moderately improved graphics and a goalie system that still needs tweaking.

Afterburner Climax is a great, and reasonably priced way to play the arcade game in the comfort of your own home, but it's a remarkably simple game that will leave some people wanting a lot more.

Rebellion has wrought a breezy shooter, angled it towards multiplayer, and burnished it with wit, but its minute-to-minute action is repetitive and feels imprecise.

As an action game spin-off from the highly tactical Advance Wars series, Battalion Wars II does its job, but a number of issues with the depth of the command system and the ability to rely on brute force over tactics let the game down.

It's also a far smarter game in terms of presentation, with Triumph able to bring the game world into the modern era very successfully.

Just about as good as the series is going to get on the PlayStation 2. If you want a game that the entire family can enjoy no matter their prior exposure to video games, The Mega Quiz will be perfect.

Mario Tennis Aces is a good tennis game let down by an Adventure Mode that often feels as though it's cheating you.

In many ways, Dragon's Dogma is comparable to that other recent Japanese take on the Western RPG, Dark Souls. Both are defiantly obstinate, both offer physical, tangible combat, and both try out clever ways of interacting online. And both, of course, are definitely a matter of taste. Where Dark Souls divides people through design choices, though, Dragon's Dogma's will likely divide through design flaws.

Sticker Star's lavish tapestry of neat touches keeps you pushing forwards in spite of the wonky puzzling and boring combat, and its vibrant, buoyant world marries so well with the script's deliciously wry take on Mario's classic tropes. It's just a real shame that the rest of the game feels paper thin.

Online races with six players were smooth and relatively lag-free, and the downloadable time trial ghost cars come in very handy when trying to better your previous lap records. It's the kind of feature set that hardcore SEGA Rally fans will appreciate, but casuals might be left wondering why more isn't on offer.

As the mission wears on, its conceit gathers cobwebs, but do we always need to be blown away?