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inFAMOUS: First Light is never going to set the world alight, but if you've been gagging for more of Sucker Punch's superhero series, then it will fill that hole until a full sequel charges onto store shelves. Fetch's fast-paced take on the neon power set makes her an entertaining protagonist to play as – especially in the frantic Battle Arenas. In many ways, this represents the brand stripped back to its very basics – and you'll need to decide whether that's enough for you.
All in all, whether you're new to the franchise or not, the abandoned underground has never looked this inviting.
Despite its seemingly vanilla exterior, CounterSpy is a remarkably ambitious title. It makes an admirable attempt at creating a new kind of 2D stealth game, but unfortunately the results just aren't particularly compelling. While its presentation is dapper and divine, its gameplay is clunky, and the whole experience gets tiresome very quickly.
Diablo III: Reaper of Souls - Ultimate Evil Edition still has flaws – a boneheaded narrative, minor framerate hiccups, and an inventory system that lacks the elegance of its PC counterpart – but these small niggles fail to dent what is an otherwise exceptional experience. It's a bit mindless, yes, but collecting loot and slaying enemies is seldom as sweet as it is here. Quite simply, this is an excellent action RPG.
Through the three or so hours that it takes to complete Hohokum, you'll almost certainly fall in love with its impeccable art direction and genius audio pairing. Sadly, in the gameplay realm, this wriggle-'em-up doesn't really have enough direction to make it truly engaging. The title's at its best when you meander through its oversaturated scenes without purpose, but that means that it's not recommended for everyone.
Surgeon Simulator: Anniversary Edition's concept will almost certainly be lost on a few, but if you play with a combination of patience and trial and error, then you'll often yield positive results. The clunky controls are unforgivable, but its humorous attitude towards surgery is endearing, creating an experience that's as weird as it is funny. This isn't a game for perfectionists looking for a true simulation of a busy A&E department: it's more like a training ground for psychopaths looking to learn the ropes, shave a few eyebrows, and play with lasers.
VooFoo can chalk this down as another successful adaptation, as Pure Pool proves to be an enjoyable and astoundingly well presented interpretation of arguably the greatest pub pastime. The tutorials and help sections should get newcomers up to speed, while the 'Pro' difficulty will definitely test veterans. There are a few difficulty issues which prevent it from hitting a perfect break, but the stripped back interface and immersive atmosphere mean that it certainly won't be snookering you tonight.
As this is an indie title closely aligned with Sony's PlayStation Plus programme, Road Not Taken has its work cut out right from the very start of its arduous journey. Taken on its own merits, however, it offers an enjoyable ride for the five to ten hours that it lasts. Niggling performance issues aside, it's hard not to enjoy being the star of your very own fairy tale world – even if that fictional realm has a particularly odd approach to infant safety.
The Last of Us Remastered was unlikely to be anything less than sublime, and that's the expected outcome that we've arrived at here. While its PS3 precursor prevents it from possessing the level of next-gen gloss that its native PS4 contemporaries contain, this is still a mighty fine looking title, and its framerate and resolution improvements only serve to solidify that. Of course, the onboard add-on packs and smattering of superfluous extras ensure that this is the definitive edition of an already outstanding affair – but, unsurprisingly, it's the touching tale at the heart of the package that once again sets it apart from its peers.
Rogue Legacy's greatest strength is that you'll always want just one more try. Whether it's the fast paced platforming action, well realised RPG mechanics, or simply the desire to see what crazy things you can uncover in the castle, there's plenty of reason to keep your armour polished and ready to go. Frustrating gameplay niggles aside, this is an indie release that executes a tried and tested formula well, while also building upon it with some enjoyable, fresh systems.
The Swapper is an indie puzzle platformer with a gameplay hook which is cleverly married to a grand operatic narrative. Its strange visuals and atmospheric soundtrack augment this vision, creating a wholly unique and cohesive experience. While some of its later puzzles are a bit too fiddly for their own good, and the overall pacing sometimes feels a little off kilter, this is still a space voyage that comes highly recommended.
Another World is a short game, but it has replay value after you survive its strange retro world, and earn the perk of hindsight for a speed run.
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty is everything that you could hope for from a remake: old issues have been resolved, the levels now flow much more naturally, and the world has never looked better. It does run into a few niggling problems along the way, but this is the beginning of a brand new Oddworld – and that's a prospect that becomes increasingly exciting with every Mudokon mutilated.
If you've never played Drinkbox Studios' delicious platformer before, then this is the best place to start. And, while we'd never recommend double-dipping a nacho in real life, we certainly encourage it with this super-charged adventure.
Crimsonland is exactly one video game: a perfectly competent twin-stick shooter, and nothing else. Unfortunately, the title's quests feel a bit half-baked, and the whole thing could do with a facelift. However, with an addictive survival mode, a proliferation of interesting perks, and a host of guns to collect, those in the market for some mindless action are likely to find a lot to like here.
Killzone: Shadow Fall - Intercept's focus lies firmly on the franchise's fantastic gunplay, and it's all the better for it. Requiring a good amount of coordination and teamwork, the expansion won't suit everyone, but victory tastes all the sweeter because of its often intense difficulty. The DLC is let down by a dwindling online user base, but get a group of friends together, and the reasonably priced add-on will almost always hit the mark.
MouseCraft is an excellent addition to the puzzle genre, which successfully draws upon the strengths of several classics, while differentiating itself at the same time. A unique take on the 'rat in a maze' concept, this is entertaining on all three of Sony's systems, and while it's not exactly a visual showpiece, it's charming enough to make you smile like when you're saying the word 'cheese'. In short, this is a fun little timewaster that you're likely to enjoy more than you anticipate – even if you're lactose intolerant.
With a career mode that's well executed and a presentation style that's almost without fault, EA Sports UFC comes out swinging on Sony's newest console. Sadly, the title's complicated controls make this a difficult title to pick up and play, but with the groundwork well laid, this new challenger hints at plenty of promise for the future.
Fans should know that they won't have to scour the seven seas to find the treasures that One Piece: Unlimited World Red has buried beneath its somewhat rough exterior. Alas, even if you're not an honorary member of the Straw Hats, Luffy's latest outing proves to be an accessible, well rounded, and enjoyable action RPG – although we daresay that the title's tried and tested gameplay structure would better suit the handheld version of the release.
Resogun's still sensational at its core, and the Heroes expansion serves as a resplendent reminder of that. Survival strips the release's formula back to its very basics, prompting a punchier take on the title's score-based gameplay. Demolition, on the other hand, is a more considered addition, which fuses the best of pinball with Angry Birds and wraps it in a glistening intergalactic shell. Regardless of which you prefer, both options come highly recommended – and considering that you can play the entire affair as Buzz Lightyear these days, there's never been a better time to rekindle your addiction to PS4's best game.