Joe Pring
If you're looking for a new dungeon crawler to play, Adventure Time isn't what you're looking for. Even fans of the TV series should be wary of dropping cash on this below average game.
A great looking game with an excellent soundtrack, hampered by basic gameplay and a very short duration. Genre fans may enjoy it, but there's nothing particularly exceptional about Gomo.
Whilst it has some excellent exploration and puzzle segments, Deadfall Adventures is marred by its mediocre combat, frequent bugs and a story that struggles to keep the player engaged.
The combination of repetitive gameplay, pacing and story issues in relation to the Earth/Cybertron dynamic and the absence of almost any new ideas will result in Rise of the Dark Spark finding itself being forgotten in the not too distant future. In the vocally distorted words of Bumblebee… "[Sad bleeps]". Sad Bleeps indeed.
For all of its variation in gameplay, War Thunder just never really feels very engaging. The extremely tactical nature that makes its closest relative so addictive just doesn't exist, and while that's not the only way to make a war sim entertaining, Gaijin haven't offered a suitable alternative.
Mario’s detours from platforming have always been hit and miss, and Island Tour, sadly, hasn’t reached the top of that scale. It’s an enjoyable experience, let down by limited multiplayer options and a general lack of replayability.
Devastation is another average map pack addition to Ghosts, helped to keep its head above water by an entertaining new Extinction map. Don't expect anything other than more of the same here.
A game of two halves, Lightning Returns isn't a brilliant end to the XIII trilogy that you may have hoped for, but it's enjoyable. Just try to ignore the coma-inducing story.
Lords of Shadow 2 may not surpass its predecessors' surprise rise to AAA status, but MercurySteam's last foray into the series still provides a fitting, if sometimes flawed end to the trilogy.
Liberation was a great handheld title and its transition to console is well worth a look if you're a fan of the series and don't own a Vita. The game certainly has its flaws though; the average story and dull dialogue may quite rightly turn you away.
Van Helsing II isn't a huge improvement over its predecessor, but it's certainly starting to show increasing signs of becoming an excellent RPG. Unfortunately, the game is still hindered by some combat issues and a bland story, but the basics are there, we just have to hope the Neocore continue to improve on their IP.
Time trials, speed potting and high score challenges all sit alongside the game's main career mode, and while they're all perfectly serviceable game types, it's Pure Pool's multiplayer that really stops the repetitive nature of the game from sticking its claws in.
Some of Full Bore's puzzles will evoke the same dumbfounded look that the Portal games give - and the same kind of satisfaction when you figure them out. Definitely give this one a go if you're a fan of the genre.
Infinity Ward's first map pack for Ghosts is a largely by-the-numbers update to its multiplayer. There's nothing here you haven't seen before, but for fans, the extra content should help to extend the replay value of an increasingly repetitive franchise.
Watch_Dogs may not be the benchmark experience for sandbox gaming that Grand Theft Auto V was, but it's still an enjoyable experience in its own right. Compelling side missions, refined combat and some unique hacking elements make this a must for fans of the genre, but if you're looking for a grand, city-spanning story to get stuck into, this won't be a game that will hold your interest beyond a few hours.
If you're a Souls fan itching for something to fill the gap while waiting for Bloodborne next year then you won't be disappointed with LotF. For everyone else who isn't familiar with the Souls series, it's highly recommended that you try that series first.
As far as isometric games go, EKO Software's title is one of the better ones out there. Sure, it may be slightly shallow in certain departments, but what it lacks, it more than makes up for in an excellent co-op mode and an enticing amount of replay value. Definitely one to try out.
This is the definitive version of Forza. A great racing sim and even better Xbox One title, it's only letdowns are some niggling legacy issues from past games in the series.
A satisfying return to the city that started it all. It's a strong piece of DLC with some niggling issues that will hopefully be ironed out when the second part rolls around.
Fortunately, Pre-Sequel is largely more of the same with a few new extras. With the return of the True Vault Hunter Mode from previous games, the first thing you'll want to do after sitting (or skipping) through the credits will be to do it all over again - the biggest sign I can give you that Pre-Sequel is more than just a cut-and-paste copy of past games.