Thunderbolt

The original Bomberman just wasn't a very good game back in 1987, and bringing it back unaltered as a "classic"; doesn't change that simple fact.

The experience is enjoyable but once the basic formula has been established it’s just a case of repeating what’s come before on an increasing scale.

For people who are alright with playing fifteen hours or so of Helm’s Deep-style carnage, Shadow of Mordor is a delight – and even for people who couldn’t care less about Lord of the Rings, the exciting combat and unique Nemesis System are more than enough to make the experience worthwhile.

Strider isn’t the lightning-in-a-bottle remake that Bionic Commando Rearmed was. That was a clever reimagining, where the updates enhanced the experience rather than detracted, and every new armament felt like a natural requirement of the combat mechanics. Here, it’s overstuffed with nary a worthy challenge in sight.

It’s a fun, introspective and occasionally exhilarating ride from one end of the solar system to the other. It’s worth the trip, even if you only want to make it just the once.

Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition is a solid collection for anyone still nostalgic for Duke’s brand of gory antics or those wanting to test their mettle against the corridor shooters of old.

While it’s not really much of a looker, and non-fans won’t find much here besides a series of fights, there’s a ton in here for fans of the series to dig into and enjoy.

There’s a spark here, though, and certainly a handful of memorable moments. There are just as many that require restraint, lest you put a controller through your TV.

Ultimately, that’s why Super Mega Baseball succeeds. It doesn’t sweat the superfluous stuff. It has great teams, good difficulty scaling, approachable gameplay and a phenomenally addictive rendition of pitching and hitting.

Hardline is the archetypal spin-off, then; the victim of a franchise treading water until the next big advancement.