Gareth Gallagher
Insert caption here because I really can't be bothered.
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. There has been a lot of love thrown into this game by the developers, but more importantly they have also infused their vision of what the original game could always have been. It's exemplary work and while not perfect you really couldn't ask for a better Strider game. If you hear a strange rhythmic noise, don't worry, it's just me at the back of the room starting a slow clap.
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. If you don't care about story, odd pacing and at times frustrating checkpointing then you might get along quite well with SSZ. It's a brief, fun and at times utterly beautiful space-combat game, and you get to be a mech...in space...with a lot of rockets. If you just felt something warm inside then give it a punt, but you'll need to balance your love of galactic warfare with a heavy dose of forgiveness.
It's early in the fight for EA and they are a bit bruised and bloodied up after this round but they are wearing the opponent down and in the next round they could very well take the title.
Madden makes its proper next-gen appearance. Is it all good, or does it fall short?
The best thing to say about The Evil Within is that it is a good survival game with some decent mechanics, the worst thing I can say is that it is a poor horror game that doesn't live up to its design or the talent of the director. I'm not angry, I'm just very disappointed I'm not scared.
The goal has been simple for Konami; make the beautiful game beautiful to play. On that score alone PES wins hands down and the gauntlet has truly been thrown down for next year's derby clash. It seems that those big signings haven't guaranteed FIFA the title.
As a gamer you owe it to yourself to experience Shadow of Mordor if not for anything else other than the Nemesis system because playing a single-player game never made you feel less alone.
If you are wanting to blow off some cobwebs and find an enjoyable, and reasonably deep, experience then again it is hard to not recommend this. If games like Guitar Hero were the equivalent of giving a man a fish and him eating for a day, then Rocksmith 2014 is very much teaching that man to fish.
From the jaws of defeat to glorious victory is an ever-swinging pendulum in Evolve; a constant back and forth filled with blood, teeth and bullets.
It's still fast, violent, addictive and complemented by one of the finest gaming soundtracks available, so in many ways Hotline Miami has never been better. At times it's brilliant and at others it's disjointed but thankfully the Hotline Miami magic still exists in the wonderful collaboration of bullets, beats and bodies.
Some people say the devil is in the detail, but the attention the developers have paid to the detail here is absolutely and utterly heavenly.
As it stands Axiom Verge is highly recommended, it is a game that knows its source material, has the ability to authentically replicate its inspiration but interesting enough to add its own spin. If you want to relive the days of staying up late, making notes on maps and feeling like you are reconnecting with gaming of your childhood then Axiom Verge will not disappoint.
N++ is a gem, a deliciously evil little treat wrapped in moreish gameplay that most developers can only dream of, eliciting cheers and screams in equal measure.
Zombi defies the Wii U gamepad's supposed limitations and reanimates into its own impressive beast.
Fantastic looking brawler made by a team that understands the source material and the fans.
Fun for a while but by the time the difficulty curve really kicks in you'll be bored to death.
PES 2017 is without a doubt the best on-the-pitch football you will play, and perhaps the best in recent memory.
This holiday season, if you want to forget about the world, join up with a few friends and fight monsters in an absolute bloodbath then look no further.
It's a truly wonderful trick that Yakuza 0 plays, and rather than work out how it does it, just sit back and let this videogaming alchemy entertain you.