So while the core game remains as entertaining as ever, what we've got here is essentially a fun little multiplayer-focused game which EA has burdened with a cache of tiresome, superfluous and unnecessary bonus modes, the overall focus designed around squeezing out a full-blown retail release.

A seductive art style, hazy synth sounds, and some well-designed puzzles give The Gardens Between a pleasant mood, but it doesn’t stay in the mind long after the credits.

Carrion abounds with the thrills of being the monster, then, but, less common and more cosy, with the kick of being in a monster movie—of slithering in celebration over the tropes of the genre. The good news is that, for a while, it works.

This isn't the sequel we've been yearning for all these years. It's a fancy looking homage; a game that regurgitates old levels with shiny new visuals. Sonic 4 does a fantastic job of recreating the retro Sonic experience that defined many a childhood, but ironically this could be considered its biggest shortcoming.

It is short, basic and ferociously hard, and these are just some of the reasons it is assured a place in the schmup hall of fame.

Ivy the Kiwi's simplicity is both a blessing and a curse.

Batman Arkham VR is an essential, unforgettable VR experience, and a compelling argument that VR really can make a difference to the gaming landscape. But it ends just as it starts to get going and, depending on where you stand on value for money, that £16 entry fee may Harley seem worth it.

It's not often that I get excited about handheld games, particularly handheld action games, but Chili Con Carnage has completely blown me away and changed my view on what Sony's handheld is capable of...As an action packed shooter it's far and away the best the PSP has to offer.

It's a fairly simple adventure with equally basic RPG combat, but that's exactly why it works.

In a post-Minecraft industry there's clearly enough scope for a game to relish in providing you with the tools and letting you enjoy them at your own pace without the trapping of dreary context, which is clearly the kind of thing Radical wants to make, and its rigid adherence to a traditional open-world format is a shame because it simply makes the game boring.

A short, calm exploration of a beautiful island, where the conversations are like talking to real people. As an introduction to the larger world of Eastshade it's great, but Leaving Lyndow doesn't quite manage to stand on its own feet as a separate game.

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.

An improvement over the original, but these improvements are marginal, and it still has a lot of the same issues that occurred in the first game.

Technically accomplished and mechanically sound. But unfortunately that's not enough in a world of Dead Spaces and Gears of Wars. Aside from marvelling at the odd collapsing building, there's little here to hold your attention for more than a few hours. It's not a bad game by any stretch of the imagination; it's just an entirely forgettable one.

Series fans will love it – indeed, series fans would probably love it if a Capcom came to their house and punched their mothers – but Episode 2 not only provides a motivation to pick up Ep 3, it also neatly brings overarching backstory into play.

Medal of Honor's balancing act combines two developers and game engines. Lofty ambitions on both fronts are ultimately let down by very little desire to redefine the game's range or bring out the best from each engine's particular set of talents, but it's undeniable that both single and multiplayer have their individual merits.

If you enjoy rich worlds, interesting stories and endearing characters, however, I implore you: don't let this pass you by.

Despite the game's many other successes, everyone else should approach this with caution.

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.

Hopefully next time Rios and Salem will be a little less wise-cracking, take things a little more seriously and come complete with levels and gameplay scenarios that match the clever aggro system.

The Thaumaturge shows plenty of promise, but lets itself down somewhat by failing to play to its strengths. Warsaw and its history and culture is a joy to experience when the game properly engages with it, but an insistent focus on a comparatively dull main story ultimately detracts from this for a fun yet frustrating experience.

Awesome Level Max includes some excellent action that is worth the price tag if you're itching for some more Trials Fusion, but sadly the Awesome Adventure isn't nearly as expansive nor as interesting as I'd have liked.

Last Hope International is the definitive Star Ocean 4 experience, and as far as I'm concerned, the best next-gen RPG money can buy.

There's a lot to do in Just Cause 3, it's just that doing it all isn't really that much fun. In fact it's probably a better game in retrospect than it is when you're playing it: freed from the controls and other issues, you'll remember it fondly. You'll also likely want to get back to it: there's a moreish, Ubisoft-style vibe here that encourages repeated playing. Those of you that wanted Just Cause 2 Part 2 will love what's on offer, but it all feels lesser than the sum of its parts.

Total War Pharaoh is a fun game, but one that lacks ambition. It squanders its potential with meagre gameplay, story, soundtrack, and performance, and fails to add anything of note to the Total War series, or leave an impression of its identity.

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.

It's funny, challenging, and easily worth replaying a few times; there are only two endings this time around, but you're unlikely to see everything the Phenotrans lab has to offer in a single outing.

The standard tilting-world stages are fun, although they'd arguably work better with a standard GameCube controller, but the mini-games only really serve as something else to put on the back of the box.