Gamestyle

Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor isn't an earth shattering, game changing title. But it does do enough to move the genre on a bit.

Futuridium EP Deluxe may take a little longer to click than the likes of Resogun, but once it does it's an absolute joy to play.

Castlestorm is a decent enough game that's a little unsure about what it wants to be. It's not exceptional enough to demand your time or money above the billion other games vying for your attention, but nowhere near being awful as to want  to stomp into paste and fire into the sun, never to darken your door again.

That's not to say Natural Doctrine is great, because it doesn't naturally move you forward and at times it can be frustrating, with some areas being a bit too much trial and error with some poor check-pointing, making retries annoying. But at the same time those who become good enough to avoid death on a regular basis, will have a cracking time.

And that's the lasting impression you're left with. That while there is a solid football game underneath, the game is so riddled with bugs that it's hard to recommend the game in its current state. And if the demo is anything to go by then Pro Evolution Soccer looks to finally be ready to challenge for the crown once again.

Anomaly 2 then is a game well worth having if you've always wanted to see a tower defence game from the opposite side of the battle. Unfortunately the single player while entertaining won't last forever, and the ghost town multiplayer means there's very little reason to return once finished.

Overall The Golf Club isn't for everyone and does have a few faults, with many finding it difficult to get to grips with, as it does do away with hand holding. But for those will to put the time and effort in, you have a fantastic golf simulator that does away with bells and whistles to offer up a pure golfing experience.

That being said, for fans of the genre, it is a game well worth getting stuck in to. The positives just about outweigh the issues that the game suffers and it does offer a fun challenge overall. Hopefully we see a sequel that irons out the frustrating aspects.

As a base for what may come after, Destiny is a great starting point. It's clear Bungie aim to improve the experience and what they have here is a fine starting point that will hopefully evolve over time. Just don't expect it to revolutionise the genre the same way Halo did.

Futurlab made a bold claim that Velocity 2X is the game of the year 2014… They are not wrong.

Criticisms aside, it's hard not to recommend Strider for those craving another Shadow Complex-like adventure. It's a highly enjoyable remake that with a bit more polish and interesting combat could've been something even more special.

This is a SRPG that isn’t for everyone and whilst it isn’t totally inaccessible for newcomers, it is clearly a game designed for fans of the genre and more specifically the series itself.  But that’s no bad thing as for anyone willing to put in the time and effort there is a very rewarding experience on offer.

The Last Tinker: City of Colors isn't a game that will immediately grab your attention and is unlikely to change any opinions on the genre, but what you do have is a well put together middle of the road game that can be enjoyed by anyone with even a passing interest in platformers. Especially welcoming for those introducing children into gaming.

Surgeon Simulator is far from being a must own, it isn't going to appeal to everyone, but for those who fancy something that doesn't take itself seriously and just wants you to have a laugh, then this is an ideal pick up.

A successful combination of both Layton and Wright. Maybe a little lengthy for its own good, with a story that could have ended a couple of hours earlier, it is nevertheless a great celebration of both series.

Road Not Taken is a game that deserves a place in your collection as despite taking cues from two popular genres, there is nothing like it on consoles. It is a game that will take over your time, but one that you can also just pick up and play between other games. Spry Fox have a spectacular hit on their hands.

Pure Pool isn't perfect, there are a few minor niggles, such as a lack of a replay option for when you hit that perfect shot, or get extremely fluky. It would also be nice to see some of the other pool variation included, because as it is, it feels very bare in that regard. However, as an actual simulation of pool, VooFoo studios can be very proud of what they have created. They are the current kings of the pool hall.

Diablo III was always decent with the basic mechanics, but it did have many issues that veterans of the series didn't like, but the Ultimate Evil Edition has ironed those issues out and produced one of the best co-operative games you can ever hope to play.

The Swapper is a wonderful example of what a puzzle platformer should be and has set a very high bar for others that will follow. It is available across all three Sony platforms and that is welcome too, as it is a game that is very hard to put down once you get into it.

If you have played Abe's Oddyssey and loved it, then you'll love what has been achieved here, it is a game you loved and then so much more. If you are going to be experiencing the game for the very first time, then boy, are you in for a treat.