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Velocity 2X is a sequel that takes the original idea and expands on it. Unlike a lot of follow-ups, though, it has added a whole new way to play the game. The greatest triumph is in how the spacecraft gameplay and platforming sections feel similar in parts, while also retaining some individuality. It's disappointing that a number of factors cause Velocity 2X to experience a little turbulence, because generally, it's a great flight.
It is as intense a game as I have played in recent times and I did get close to smashing a few things in frustration – it is as unforgiving as they come. A fast paced, pick-up-and-play, run-and-gun dungeon crawler that may impress the hardcore – if it doesn't drive them insane.
The defensive improvements make playing defense fun for the first time in quite a while. The improved tackling offers more challenge and choice while the guessing of the snap gives you something to work at when pass rushing. No longer does it feel like you are waiting for an offensive mistake, it actually feels like you can make an impact defensively. The tightening up of other systems on the pitch make Madden 15 perhaps the most simulation like entry in the series, it's still not perfect but it's very close. Overall, Madden NFL 15 is a great game. There are a few niggling issues (such as the still slightly dodgy physics), but the impact they have on the game is tiny.
It feels odd to say it, but I actually prefer First Light to Second Son. The shorter run-time and more direct story could have reduced the feeling of freedom, but instead it benefits almost every area of the game. As a standalone product, its low price and superb gameplay means that it's definitely recommended.
It started nervously, almost scared of what it was, but at the end of season two, you'll go to whomever you hold dear, and you'll squeeze them just that little bit harder than usual. They'll ask you why, and you won't answer. There's a little girl to be saved.
Even if you played the original releases, Metro Redux is still an attractive proposition. The improvements to 2033 are substantial, while the more minor tweaks to Last Light simply refine a fantastic experience. In one package, these games together offer a huge amount of gameplay and one of the most arresting game-worlds you'll ever see in a shooter. If, on the other hand, you've never delved into Glukhovsky's subterranean nightmare, Redux is more than worth the asking price.
Arguably a better fit for the Vita than the larger consoles, the cross-save function negates any need for favouritism and allows you to continue your fight against tyranny wherever you are. Humorous and well-designed, Counterspy is certainly worth investigating if you like your espionage in short, fast-paced chunks.
Not all of the acting is perfect, admittedly, and the audio presentation won't be to everyone's tastes, but when it works Cloud Chamber is an absorbing, massive, occasionally unsettling, but absolutely compelling experiment in community narrative investigation. It will require dedication and perseverance to enjoy fully, but don't ignore it, Cloud Chamber is the most innovative slice of interactive storytelling in years.
The Golf Club promises a lot but falls down on its implementation. Golf fans will find a lot to like here, though, with the Designer and the solid gameplay providing an expansive experience. Unfortunately, last-gen visuals and a series of frustrating issues make this a hard game to recommend to all but the golf obsessed.
Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls – Ultimate Evil Edition is the game Diablo fans deserve. Granted, there are still areas to improve – Adventure Mode, for example, still feels a little like an experiment rather than the finished article – but this is as close to perfect as we've yet been. Still the undisputed King of the Action RPG lootathon, Diablo 3: RoS adds so many tiny little bonuses alongside the major changes that you can't help but admire Blizzard's dedication and perseverance.
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.
Wooden Sen'Sey isn't the worst title in the world – it just exists in a time when we expect a bit more from our platformers, particularly when you are shelling out the thick end of a tenner. Again, I tip my traditional pointy straw hat in the direction of another tiny developer who have done some good work here – and I hope that they continue to develop for a console they clearly have a solid grasp of – but things really need to be a bit tighter next time.
If the physics engine is feeling kind then Super Toy Cars can be a lot of fun, especially in the evade races. However, most of the time you will find yourself being unfairly treated due to bad hit detection and general glitches. The career mode doesn't offer much in the way of playtime so chances are if you are going to play for more than a few hours it will be in split-screen with others. Online multiplayer would have made Super Toy Cars a lot more attractive but at least the track editor is solid, if a little confusing.
Back to Bed is an acceptable puzzle game with outstanding presentation. The gameplay simply leans too heavily on illusions to offer a top tier puzzle experience, but it's worth investigating simply for the dreamy combination of M.C.Escher, Salvidore Dahli and Monty Python. It puts my Rocky Horror styled nightmares to shame with ease, and is an artistic vision that will stick with you for a long while after you've cleared its short campaign.
The best game on PlayStation 3 is now the best game on PlayStation 4. Despite some decent titles on Sony's new machine, you can't deny the quality of Naughty Dog's masterpiece. Even the staunchest of advocates that want original experiences on their new console will struggle to find much wrong with The Last of Us. Truly magical.
Unrest doesn't offer much more than playing as characters, having conversations and dictating where their lives are going. It might offer a diversion for a while if you're a fan of character-driven RPGs, but it's unlikely to entice newcomers to the genre.
Ice Cream Surfer tells the story of a maniacal vegetable hell bent on destroying the sugary world of the flying gelato-influenced heroes, but just as fast food and candy treats are light on essential nutrients and likely to do you more harm than good, this is a game that is probably best left on the shelf, with other far more healthy options available to the discerning shooter fan.
A game that does well as a single-player RPG, and does well as a vast, exploration-based semi-open-world adventure, but excels at neither. Better than many of the RPGs in its ancestry, it nonetheless suffers from frustrating NPC engagement and lacks the intelligent storyline required to make it a classic of the genre.
If anyone knows how to bring a classic onto modern stage, it's Just Add Water. Not just an excellent port of a great title, but a solid game in its own right, Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty is fully able to proudly rub shoulders with any puzzle-platformer released in the last ten years.
But this is still a game that revels in a party environment. Alone, there's little to keep you coming back for too long, but after a few drinks, or with the family, Wii Sports continues to provide a good time. But please wear the straps when swinging the Wiimote; trust me, I've seen the damage first-hand.