Leigh Forgie
The core gameplay may even leave you feeling a little nostalgic. Team 17 took a simple idea, blowing up enemy worms named after your mates with an arsenal of ridiculous weaponry, and turned it into one of the most iconic and fun memories in gaming. But that was 1995 and here we are in 2014 realising that not much has changed in nearly two decades. That goes for the series' flaws as well, turning what should be the retro fun of Worms Battlegrounds into another peculiar case of history repeating.
The fresh take on the series in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow seemed to introduce enough fresh blood to resurrect what seemed to be a dying brand. The sequel unfortunately pollutes that bloodstream with an infection caused by too many ideas and too many cut corners. As far as single-player experiences go, there's plenty of meat on the bone thanks to exciting combat and some interesting boss designs. However, any sense of resolution or redemption in Lords of Shadow 2 becomes lost amidst poor storytelling and unsurprising plot twists. If this Dracula seeks eternal rest then as much as we'd love to see him stay alive for one more adventure, perhaps it's about time a stake was put through his heart.
For those who've played the original version, the update has nothing new to offer except for a slight spit-and-polish and a few extra lacklustre missions. The multiplayer has been removed completely but to be honest, it'll probably not be missed. Strapping yourself back into the Animus for Assassin's Creed: Liberation HD feels like you're taking one step forward and two steps back, particularly so soon after the release of the brilliant Black Flag. However, you can't escape the feeling that Aveline de Grandpre is just getting warmed up and that by introducing her to a new audience, Ubisoft are giving fans clues on which direction this never-ending saga through time could be going. As the mystery of the Assassin's Creed universe grows, so does our anticipation, which is why we can't help but keep coming back for more.
Battlefield 4 puts up a worthy fight for the title of this generation's top first-person shooter. The innovative features are nice touches, but ultimately don't give us the glimpse into the future that we'd all hoped for. Instead, EA and DICE have put all their eggs in one basket with an unbalanced package that shines with its multiplayer, but flounders with its single-player.