An entertaining and surprisingly effective new story mode heads up an otherwise modest refresh for Codemasters' official series.
Some standard Nintendo limitations get in the way, but this is still an invaluable education in some of the fundamentals of game creation.
Ultimate Showdown reinforces all that, and even if it's not quite the ultimate release of Virtua Fighter 5 it's a delight to get lost in the rhythms of what remains an all-time great, and a timeless one at that. For old diehards like myself Virtua Fighter 5 sits alongside OutRun 2 as the very best of Sega, and for all the missed opportunities here - the less than perfect netcode, the lack of periphery frills or much by way of new content - the chance to play it alongside a new audience is more than worthwhile. Maybe it's not quite the grand return the series deserves, but it's a game that still deserves to be played.
A 2D run and gunner that's as in your face as an 80s Troma classic, Huntdown matches its excess with brilliant detail.
Enjoyably traditional, if a little tatty in places, this is a shooting game that still stands apart from all others.
Surreal, enigmatic and often sloppily executed, Balan Wonderworld is a 90s throwback that might be too period correct for some.
With smart additions that move the series forward, this is the most accessible, deepest and simply very best Monster Hunter to date.
Fast, slick but with a few too many flaws, Pacer is nevertheless a fine futuristic racer.
Square Enix's line of retro JRPGs continues with an all-new world and tale for Bravely Default, though some of the old problems persist.
3D World's feast of all things Mario is joined by a fittingly experimental, hugely enjoyable - if slightly scrappy - expansion.
Zelda gets the Dynasty Warriors treatment once more, folding in inspiration from Breath of the Wild for the best musou spin-off yet.
There's friction between the original and this lavish remake, but this is a scintillating launch title that shows off the PS5's strengths.
A standalone expansion for 2018's excellent original, with enhanced action and an irresistible new lead.
Sony leans into its PlayStation past in this frequently innovative, supremely charming old-school 3D platformer.
A new studio in charge sees Dirt retain some of its old swagger in a fun, frequently beautiful but occasionally hollow arcade racer.
There's real magic at the heart of this brilliantly faithful AR take on Mario Kart, but a fair few caveats abound.
Like a playable poster for an iconic rally event, funselektor's top-down racer is a blast.
Two of Nintendo's finest, and one of its most interesting, come together in a compilation that isn't worthy of their greatness.
An enjoyable and detailed racer successfully invokes the spirit of the 90s arcade, even if it doesn't quite have a spark of its own.
Taking a healthy dose of inspiration from Ridge Racer Type 4, Inertial Drift is a unique arcade racer with an exquisite core mechanic.