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.
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.
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.
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.
As the definitive version of Drinkbox Studios 2013 breakout smash, Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition builds upon the success of the original with extra content, tweaked gameplay, stunning next-gen visuals and a brilliant new boss battle.
Codemasters are back on form with Grid Autosport, an intelligent, beautifully designed, visually stunning racing sim that seeks to rectify many of the complaints and problems from last year's Grid 2.
4A Games deliver the definitive version of two often overlooked gems with Metro Redux. Worthy of the remaster title, both games look incredible on PlayStation 4, giving those who might have missed these post-apocalyptic shooters the first time around the chance to enjoy them in spectacular HD, all for a budget price.
F1 2014 feels stripped back compared to last year's entry to the point where certain popular features have been removed. However, is there still enough content here to tide Formula One fans over until the series' makes its debut on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One?
Telltale Games bring their trademark style of adventure gaming to the chaotic wastes of Pandora in Tales for the Borderlands, a surprisingly refreshing take on the world made popular by Gearbox Software's first-person, role-playing series
Telltale Games' The Wolf Among Us is the same masterclass in storytelling on PlayStation 4 as we'd seen before on last-gen consoles. However, the transition has only made some glitches and errors even more noticeable
Dragon Ball Xenoverse brings some great new additions to the role-playing, beat 'em up hybrid but even a journey into the future can't shake of those flaws that consistently plague the series
Atlas Mugged looses some of the spark and flair that made the gameplay from Tales From The Borderlands first episode so exciting, but manages to keep the laughs coming
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD may not live up to the epic story-telling traditions that made other games in the series so popular, but thanks to surprisingly refreshing gameplay, this high-definition remake of a four year old PSP game is an all too worthy entry into the franchise
Titan Souls earns its rightful place as one of the toughest games of all-time and while some will immediately fall for the elegant yet simple design and alluring fantasy world, others may be turned off by its unrelenting difficulty
A Frankenstein's monster of a platform game, Schrodinger's Cat and the Lost Quark is very much alive with colour and personality, but feels rather soulless in the gameplay department
Missing features and lack of variety may be a let down, but Paperbound is fun, four-player fighter with plenty of heart and a desire to bring back sofa-centered local multiplayer.
Not content on being best episode in the series so far, Catch A Ride is one of Telltale Games' finest works to date
For die hard motorsport fans, F1 2015 is certainly the champion. For everyone else, it's one race you'll struggle to finish
Despite some solid gameplay, Onechanbara's journey through titilation and horror becomes lost in translation
With only one episode left to go, Escape Plan Bravo offers a well-deserved but still enjoyable break in the action