The Skinny's Reviews
On the whole Watch Dogs is undoubtedly worth a play. It may have its faults but Ubisoft have kicked off a new series that not only delivers promise but a tremendousamount of choice as to how you want to approach your game.
While some Souls purists may grumble that the easing of the series' legendary obfuscation strips away some of the sense of accomplishment that lies at the heart its unique appeal, From Software have managed to strike the right balance with Dark Souls 2, allowing more players to get the most out of the game without compromising on the fiendish difficulty that has become its hallmark.
Titan Attacks! is pure service to Space Invaders fans but feels lacking when put up against other reimagined retro titles such as Space Invaders Infinity. For everyone else though, if you strip away the minor gameplay tweaks and admittedly beautiful HD pixel visuals, you're left with a game which ultimately appears a little too antiquated once the nostalgia has worn away.
All in, Van Helsing II will likely please its core audience as much as its predecessor. There are oodles of branching power trees and character classes to customise and the ties with the first game will make purchasing this a no-brainer for those already accustomed to Neocore's wares.
With the Wii U struggling sales-wise, and in danger of becoming a footnote of this current generation, a new Mario Kart is exactly the game Nintendo needed, and the fact it's perhaps the best iteration since the original doesn't hurt either.
Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse has some excellent voice acting, peerless artwork and some thoroughly enjoyable puzzles, that just about compensates for a story that occasionally feels rushed or unfocused.
True aficionados would do well to leave alone but it's something unlikely to worry the developers here. Child of Light is RPG-lite indeed, but in the burgeoning world of videogame genres, there's plenty of room for that too.
Titanfall, depending on which platform you choose, is both a valedictory send-off and a supremely satisfying re-birth.
For all the negatives there's a game in there that's so much fun to play and a blast when you can get a few friends together. If you can look past Mercenary Kings' flaws you're in for a great time – just bring your patience along for the ride.
Arkham Origins Blackgate seems to have borrowed too heavily from its predecessors and whilst imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, it can also leave you looking pretty undistinguished.
It's perhaps unfair to compare and lambast Thief against games that the series itself has spawned. Yet ten years in obsolesence is a long time in the gaming world, especially one bustling with the likes of Splinter Cell, Deus Ex and even Assassin's Creed. Long-term fans may gain more enjoyment from this revival, but in the main, Thief seems unlikely to steal many hearts.
In short, if you haven't played Resident Evil 4 before then play it now, on any format and on any TV display. The ambition and execution will outshine any hardware limitations like few other games.
This is a fantastic game, but for anyone who previously played it on last year's consoles, this version could go amiss. For everyone else with a next gen console wanting to take it for a spin whilst waiting for some true next-gen games, Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition will thoroughly entertain and leave you an instant fan of this re-booted series.
One minute into the game itself will tell you that there's nothing conventional about Year Walk and this grand step up to a loftier platform is entirely befitting a game of this calibre.
Wolf makes no bones of its format and continues to give a genuinely diverging storyline that will leave you wondering about every line you utter and every punch you throw.