Dan Naylor
The Gran Turismo of motorbikes.
Two great shooters for the price of one.
Great story can't cover for poor gameplay.
A mediocre eight-year-old game judged by modern standards.
Great party game to play with non-gamers.
Deep but confusing strategy layered over classic Dynasty Warriors.
Two of the finest RTS titles ever developed get a makeover courtesy of Gearbox
Great story with more of the same open-world. Visit Kyrat and you won't regret it.
Like opening up a bag of Haribo to find a lone Murray mint.
DriveClub is a racer that entertains despite its shortcomings, but suffers from an identity crisis
An involving racer that struggles to offer a solid challenge.
Futuridium EP Deluxe is a cracking little arcade game, best for playing a set of levels when you have a moment rather than a long gaming session, and while later levels can be a bit frustrating, playing it in small bites makes it much more enjoyable.
Kickbeat is a fairly generic rhythm-action title, hampered by loose core gameplay – something that really needed to be solid when there is so little in the way of content. It's hard to recommend it when there are better examples of the genre out there.
I'm sure fans will need no convincing to pick this up, but as someone new to Musou battle games I found this an excellent entry point. Getting a rhythm going as you charge across the battlefield can be quite hypnotic, and while it is easy for anyone to pick up and play, mastering it will take much, much longer.
Surgeon Simulator: Anniversary Edition is a one trick pony, and once you've played through the first operation enough times to complete it you'll have stopped laughing. The controls err on frustrating far too often, and while deliberately clumsy, the entire system is too inconsistent to provide much fun.
Pure Pool's greatest trick is its immediacy. Once the table is in front of you, you can just play over and over and over with no wait. With a variety of game modes to try out and the online suite there's plenty to keep you entertained, but while it may be a near-perfect simulation of pool, it doesn't come close to playing the real thing. People buy Gran Turismo because they're never going to be a racing driver or own a Ferrari. You can go down the local and pay 50p for a game of pool with your mates. Just saying.
It's a massive shame that so few people are playing Intercept so soon after release – and that the number is only going to go down – because Intercept is excellent, a diamond finally cut from the rough potential of Killzone Shadow Fall. Fragile systems that must be balanced during relentless assaults, clever enemies and perfectly built maps combine to make it the best mode in the game.
If One Piece is a series you follow, my words aren't going to impact your choice to buy this. But if, like me, you're new to the series, Unlimited World Red is surprisingly enjoyable. It's all silly and over the top, full of daft enemies and exaggerated characters, and it positively screams "I am a game! Have fun with me!" Sometimes, though, that's exactly what you want.
If you're in the market for a little puzzler for your Wii U, Pullblox is for you. The amount of content straight out of the box, as well as the potential for thousands of player made levels, means you'll get value for money. The simplicity of the concept also means that anyone can pick it up and play, although later levels may get a bit too much for younger children.
Worms: Battlegrounds is a solid game. I've had great fun playing it with my friends, and it's definitely one I'll return to after reviewing, which doesn't always happen. But it is a Worms game, which means that nothing much is new, and nothing in particular is worth shouting about. If you don't like the series this won't convert you, but if you do, well, you already know what you're getting.