BubblegumImp

Bloodborne features all the hallmarks of From Software's best games. A wonderfully designed world, which rewards the player's investment. One of the most atmospheric orchestral scores of any title in the new gen. And a level of difficulty which will punish and push each player to improve and learn the game's systems inside out. Bloodborne mixes things up with the Regain system and an emphasis on more aggressive combat than the Souls titles. This gives Bloodborne its own identity. A dizzyingly brutal ballet of blood, gore and death, which rewards the persistent with an experience which few other titles can match. The single point has been deducted for terrible load times and a frame-rate which dips on occasion. Both of these issues can be fixed with a patch and don't detract from the fact that this is an excellent title, and the first real reason to purchase a PS4. Essential.

No online DRM and auction house. This is the version which should have been released a year ago. It's clear that D3 will never be the game its predecessor was, but it remains a solid and entertaining ride for the 12 hours or so it takes to complete it on the most basic of difficulty levels. Whether you choose to replay it... really depends on the individual.

Just writing to say that I don't understand why Metacritic insists on including reviews from Quarter to Three. There's different opinions... and then there's issuing a low score just to garner page views. Tom Chick definitely falls into the latter.

Spec Ops: The Line is a loose adaptation of Conrad's Heart of Darkness. It starts off like any other shooter: guns ablazing. But, somewhere between the second and third chapter it comes into its own. A thinking man's shooter with a well-acted and introspective script, it's is only let down by conventional shooter tropes. Linearity and waves of enemies serve to break the sense of immersion so expertly crafted by the engaging plot. Ultimately, this is a fun and unique experience in a sea of MWs and BFs. Give it a shot... and you might find one of the more memorable shooters in recent memory.

This is exactly what the genre needed. It toes the line between being respectful to the conventions of the genre, whilst tweaking said conventions to create a game which feels undeniably modern. From an engaging plot with a unique setting (the corpses of two titans!) to the exciting battle mechanics which combine real-time combat and turn-based strategy... Xenoblade is a blast to play. About the only knock on this game is the technical aspects of the visuals. Limited by the Wii's horsepower, this is to be expected. Thankfully, inspired art direction serves to mask these flaws. If you own a Wii... you need to play Xenoblade Chronicles.

To say that Mass Effect 3's ending is polarising would be a great understatement. You either love it or hate it. That said, the ending does not render the rest of the journey null and void. The 30-odd hours it'll take your Shepard to reach the conclusion of this game rank amongst the most memorable experiences in gaming history. Wonderfully fleshed-out characters, beautiful alien worlds and a rich universe have always been trademarks of the series... and the ending does little to diminish the fact that the Mass Effect trilogy is one of the best sci-fi properties ever created. Films such as Star Wars, Star Trek and Alien have crafted amazing worlds... but none have allowed you to create your own place in the universe quite like Bioware's trilogy.

I think Yahtzee summed it up nicely when he called this game 'baby's first Skyrim'. However, it does a disservice to Reckoning's fun hack-&-slash combat mechanics. Here's hoping there's a developer out there with the talent (and cash) to merge the expansive world of Skyrim with the engaging combat of Reckoning.

For anyone that poured hours into Black... prepare for one amazing blast to the past. The latest entry is great fun and features some gripping live-action movies too. Unfortunately, the removal of most of the characters (but not their cars) has lessened some of the series' charm.

The king of kart racers returns for another victory lap... warts and all. While retaining everything which made it such a beloved series, Kart 7 has also failed to address a number of gripes which fans of the franchise have been making for years. Lack of customisation? Check. Not enough tracks? Check. Dreaded blue shell? Check. It's all back for another fun, but flawed outing.

Revelations is a gorgeous looking game and a fine showpiece for the 3DS' graphical capabilities. It's also an excellent entry in the Resident Evil franchise and should not be overlooked or brushed-off as a watered-down port for handhelds. However, the lack of a second analogue stick made things more clumsy than it had to be. Unfortunately, I didn't have the option of picking up a circle pad pro.

In many ways, 2048 embodies the spirit of the PS original. It's a super fast near-future racer, features that cool Wipeout aesthetic design and comes loaded with an absolutely thumping soundtrack. If you're a speed junkie and can't decide between Wipeout, Ridge Racer, Asphalt or Modnation... please stop wasting your time and pick this up.

It's a very polished port **** fighting game. Any faults are completely due to the nature of the platform: a portable. I didn't buy this game as I tend to have poor experiences with fighting games on handheld devices. However, as a bundled game it offers good value and a fair bit of fun should you have access to a solid connection and friends to play it with.

It's Drake and the gang on a portable... for the most part. Needless to say, the visuals aren't quite on par with Drake's Deception and a lot of its big brother's tight pacing has been lost in the transition to a smaller screen. However, Golden Abyss finds itself sitting comfortably between the first game and the latter 2 entries on the quality chart. Not a bad accomplishment for a Vita launch title.

Escape Plan boasts a charming art style and solid gameplay which lends itself well to the nature of portable gaming: sessions in short bursts. However, I couldn't help feeling that it was a missed opportunity.

Some genres just work on handheld devices. The puzzle game is certainly one of them. Since the birth of Tetris, any self-respecting portable has boasted a selection of gems from this tried and tested genre. The Vita's predecessor featured the original Lumines, a truly awesome **** which kept you glued to the screen in the hopes of unlocking skins and music. Thankfully, the latest entry features that same addictive gameplay.

I already played through Origins on the 360, but given the choice between a fighting game for a portable (UMVC3/BlazBlue) and a port of one of the better platformers in recent memory... I went with Rayman. The visuals are slick, the music is catchy and the gameplay is just as tight and responsive as its console big brothers. One of the best titles available for Sony's shiny new handheld.

No one does pure unbridled gameplay like Nintendo. I'd rank this the second best Mario game in recent years (behind Galaxy 2 but just ahead of Galaxy). Tapping on great Mario entries from the past such as Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World and the Galaxy games, 3D Land is both a reverential treatment of classic gameplay and a wonderfully refreshing portable title. The fact that it's the strongest showcase of the system's 3D capabilities makes this an absolutely essential purchase.

Linear campaign with explosions straight out of a Michael Bay summer blockbuster? Check. Competitive multiplayer with unlocks, perks and kill streaks? Check. The game even runs on the same engine as its predecessors. So why does it deserve a positive score? The answer is simple: it's fun. Deducting points for a lack of innovation is warranted, but to ignore the fact that MW3 is a very solid game would be a disservice to yourself as a gamer. It might not wow you the way COD4 did, but this remains a very good shooter.

A Metroidvania title set in the Aliens universe is such a brilliant fit that I can't believe no one has done it before. You are sent as part of a squad to the Sulaco, the ship from the second film in the **** game also features an interesting mechanic. Your squad consists of 4 marines. When 1 dies... they're gone for good. However, you can fill out your squad with other marines scattered around the various levels. Essentially, this is a twist on the tried and true lives system. A great fictional universe, rock solid gameplay and a tension-ratcheting squad mechanic combines to make this one great game. DS owners shouldn't miss this gem.

Battlefield 3 is a tale of 2 games. On one hand, you have one of the deepest and most impressive MP experiences created. On the other, a linear SP campaign peppered with corny QTEs and dull set pieces. If you're anything like me, you relish a meaty campaign akin to Halo or the first Crysis. BF3 fails on so many levels over the course of it's cookie-cutter solo mode. Everything has been done better on other titles and it all gets monotonous very quickly.

In light of the ongoing NBA lockout and the absence of competing hoops sims, it's really fortunate that 2K12 is the greatest basketball title ever made. I've stuck with this series since the Dreamcast titles and I've never been disappointed. Feature-rich, deep and rewarding gameplay, amazing animation... the only game that can top this is next year's 2K13.

Wolfenstein, Doom, Quake... Rage. The gap between id's latest game and the classics which came before is more than just temporal. There's a noticeable difference in quality. A beautiful engine is marred by ridiculous texture pop-in. Fun gunplay is dampened by repetitive fetch quests. A refreshing (for id) new world is tainted by the fact we've played similar games like Fallout and Borderlands. For every positive, there's a negative and this is what makes Rage a letdown. It could have been great, but it'll have to settle for good.

The first two games were very good and served to shape the current generation of consoles, but the third entry in the franchise is simple a cut above everything that came before. Gameplay feels refined, responsive and more fluid than ever. Sticking to and pulling away from cover has never felt this smooth. The roadie run has had its speed ramped up. Weapons like the lancer have been fine-tuned to perfection. Add to that a feature-rich package which includes 4-player campaign co-op, competitive multiplayer (on dedicated servers!), Horde 2.0 and the new Beast mode which lets you control the Locusts (BERSERKER RUSH!) and you have one of the best games ever released on the Xbox 360. Amazing. Game.

SF3 is not the sort of game to hold your hand. It will grab you by the scruff of your neck and beat you to a pulp. And that's the way it should be. The most technical entry in the Street Fighter series retains its punishing learning curve, but adds a suite of online features for the modern fighting fan. Matchmaking, viewing galleries and video uploads to YouTube are just a handful of bells and whistles which have been added to this overlooked classic. SF3 also features a Trials mode which consists of a series of challenges such as parries and character specific combos. Though a nice touch, the mode doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of SF3's gameplay and will not prepare newcomers for the inevitable beating they will face online at the hands of more experienced SF3 veterans. The game also sports an unlockables mode called the Vault. Over the course of the game, you earn Vault Points which can be used to unlock stages, music and conceptual artwork. Nothing out of the ordinary, but a nice bit of padding to round out the package. A number of reviews have commented on the state of SF3's visuals. Personally, I think the animations more than make up for the few moments of pixel squishiness. Ultimately, the game still holds up well for a 14 year old title. SF3 isn't SF4... it's a challenging game which rewards you for your patience and effort. Great stuff.

A breath of fresh air in a gaming landscape cluttered with military shooters. Catherine is a unique and engrossing experience which features some of the highest production values I've seen in years. If you don't have any strong distaste for anime, play it now.

I never played OOT when it was first released. I never played any of the re-releases on Gamecube or the Wii Virtual Console. The 3DS release is my first experience with one of the most universally adored games from the most celebrated gaming franchise in history. And it's simply a joy to play. OOT 3D gives the aging visuals a new coat of paint , a boss challenge mode and Master Quest, an unlockable version of OOT with certain details tweaked or reversed. However, beneath the superficial changes and the inclusion of two welcome, but unspectacular additions, beats the heart **** classic which has aged extremely well. Not only has the game remained highly playable, it is one of those rare moments in gaming where the gameplay, art direction, music etc. comes together to form a truly harmonious experience. OOT 3D might be the definitive version of one of the most critically acclaimed and important games in history. That alone, makes it an essential purchase for 3DS owners and gamers everywhere.

The 2007 original fell into that category of games which requires no sequel (eg. Bioshock) and the announcement of a second game was met with considerable apprehension. Thankfully, Valve managed to prove us naysayers wrong. Portal 2 is bigger, funnier and more challenging than its predecessor. Serves us right for doubting the brilliant minds behind Half-Life and L4D.

No other fighting game on the market gives gamers as much value.Mortal Kombat features a fully fleshed-out story mode which puts every other fighting game's core single-player components to shame. Add to that the Challenge Tower (a series of difficult challenges) and a bunch of 'Tests-of' and you have the most solo friendly fighting game ever released. There's also a ton of unlockables to discover in the Krypt including alternate costumes, hidden fatalities, concept art and background stage themes. And once you're done with all that... there's online multiplayer. AMAZING.

Reach was one of the biggest and best shooters released in 2010. After more then half a year, I still find myself drawn to its multiplayer offering after flings with other shooters ( eg. Black Ops, Killzone 3, Crysis 2 etc.). Defiant offers up more of the same goodness. This time round, you get two multiplayer maps (Highlands and Condemned) and one firefight map (Unearthed). Highlands is a huge map designed for BTB and objective game types. It depicts a Spartan training facility during the Covenant invasion of Reach. Vehicles and power weapons are strewn across this monster of a map, providing lots of fun and creative ways to achieve your goals. Condemned is set in a smaller and more confined environment in space and is most suitable for CQC slayer matches. One section of the map features a low-gravity environment... a popular location for fast and furious skirmishes. Lastly, Unearthed adds a brand new FF map and includes a Rocket Hog for some vehicular mayhem! If you enjoyed Halo Reach... this is a must-buy.

There's only one question you need to ask yourself before considering this as a purchase: Do you like his music? If the answer is yes, what is available in this dance title will be more than enough to satisfy your moonwalking dreams. However, If you aren't a huge Jacko fan, there's little in this package to dissuade you from picking up the older, but more polished Dance Central.

In my opinion, this is the best launch title for the 3DS. Shadow Wars is a turn-based strategy title in the vein of Advance Wars, and like AW, it offers up some deep and satisfying gameplay. You control a squad of six ghosts. Each belongs to a certain class (eg. sniper, engineer, medic etc.) and possesses a number of stats and abilities. The fun lies in utilizing the right combination of operatives for each mission. SW also offers up a ranking system and some equipment customization options for your squad. Unfortunately, the presentation doesn't match up to the great gameplay. Characters are tiny, cutscenes are done through static talking heads and the 3D effect isn't very noticeable. I ended up playing through the game with the 3D slider off. The characters and plot leave something to be desired, but it is hardly game breaking. If you are looking for a fun and complex title to play on your 3DS... this is it.

If you're the proud owner of a shiny 3DS, this is the game to showcase what the system is capable of. SSF4: 3D Edition is easily the best looking launch title on Nintendo's new handheld. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find many differences between this port and its home console predecessors. About the only visual difference is the lack of animated backgrounds. If you've played a Street Fighter title in the past two decades, you'll be able to jump right in with no difficulty. But, Capcom has added a 'Lite' control mode for those of you out there with no prior experience with Ryu and company. 'Lite' allows players to configure and map certain special moves (Supers, Ultras etc.) to the 3DS' touchscreen. The result is a fighting game for both the hardcore and relative noobs. SSF4: 3D Edition takes what made the home console versions great and adds in a welcome dose of accessibility for fighting newbies. Great stuff.

What we have here is the Derek Zoolander of shooters. It's really, really, really good looking. But, we all expected a gorgeous game from Cryengine 3. What comes as a pleasant surprise is how well Crysis has made the transition from PC to consoles. The gameplay centers around the nanosuit, a living suit of armor which imparts superhuman abilities to the player. These abilities are tagged to 3 categories: Armor, Power and Stealth. Using each ability drains an energy meter. Players are then left to their own devices as to how they would like to use these abilities. It injects a welcome dose of strategy into the well worn FPS genre. Will you storm in with armor and tank it up? Or will you descend from above, dispensing silent death with stealth? Crysis 2 gives you the sandbox and the tools to play it YOUR way. Unfortunately, while the core gameplay is fantastic, the plot and AI has some noticeable flaws. The story can feel tacked on and incoherent amidst the insanity of constant gunfire and explosions. As for the AI, it can go from smart to jarringly stupid in the blink of an eye. Don't be surprised to see CELL soldiers walking into a wall 2 feet from where you just barged in through a door. The music and sound is amazing and does a fine job complementing the beautiful visuals. With a score which bears more than a passing resemblance to Harry Gregson Williams' work, you'll feel like a military badass in no time. The sound editing is the best in the shooter genre since Halo Reach and Medal of Honor. Amazing effects which pack a punch and place you directly into the action. As with most shooters, Crysis 2 packs a multiplayer component which has been heavily influenced by COD4. That means, you'll rank up and unlock 'perks'. The problem with most FPS is balance and Crysis 2 in its current form has some big balance issues. Jump into any quick match and be prepared to be pummeled by snipers and stealth users. Hopefully, this will be fixed in a future patch. In short, Crysis 2 is fantastic. Pick it up, and hope for a patch in the near future.

Visuals: In a word: gorgeous. From the moment you boot up the game, you'll be treated to a dazzling array of effects which swirl and engulf you. However, the facial animation and water effects look... odd. Audio: None of the weak sound effects found in Black Ops. Killzone 3 booms, thumps and explodes with a ferocity matched by few other games out there. The score is fairly cookie cutter fare and there are moments when the voice acting seems off, but it all comes together. Gameplay: Refined and tightened. The weightiness of the controls has been tweaked to provide tighter control. It might not make it as realistic as its predecessor, but it sure makes it more fun. Everything else remains largely unchanged. You can still stick to cover, essentially making this game a 1st person Gears of War. Value: The campaign is short and fairly entertaining. Although the plot isn't anything to write home about... it doesn't compare unfavorably to recent shooters such as Black Ops and Medal of Honor. Ultimately, Killzone 3's value lies in the multiplayer component and this is where it shines. Taking the good from Killzone 2 and fixing some **** flaws, Guerilla Games has crafted one of the best online shooters since Bungie's Halo Reach. It's a great time to own a PS3.

Old school for the new school. Uprising isn't without its share of annoying quirks, but it offers an entertaining challenge for gamers with fond memories of Konami's Contra series. Beneath the shiny anime exterior crafted by Arc Systems, is the heart and soul of the Contra games we love. Fast. Furious. And so difficult you'll come dangerously close to flinging your controller into the television. Uprising offers up 2 game modes. For the purists, there is the barebones Arcade mode. Preset lives and continues combine with a really tough game to ensure that most gamers won't make it through unscathed. The second is Rising mode which allows players to spend Corp points on invaluable upgrades to their health, continues and equipment. It gives the majority of gamers a chance to complete the game and gives added incentive to play through levels more than once. The biggest issue in Uprising is the poorly implemented checkpoint system. More often than not, I found myself making it through one of the insanely challenging boss battles, only to fall prey to a single bullet from one of the generic privates. Unlike most games, there isn't a checkpoint upon defeating a boss... so I end up right back at the start. This can get very frustrating and is a really stupid design flaw. All in all... a fun challenge which can result in some manner of frustration.

As one of those that could never get into the original Pac Man (read: **** at), I've never been bitten by the nostalgia bug for this franchise's more recent iterations. It's too difficult for me and my aging reflexes and I'll be the first to admit it. I've never come across an entry in this franchise that I could play for longer then a minute. That is... until DX came along. A brilliant take on the classic formula which breathes new life, accessibility and replayability into this 30 year old gaming icon. Fantastic stuff.

An awful camera and clunky controls prevent this charming platformer from fulfilling its potential. While the art direction is generally good, it seems that Junction Point has failed to meet the expectations generated from the stunning conceptual artwork. The lack of recorded dialogue is a disappointment as the sound design is, for the most part, impressive. Epic Mickey is a solid game, but I can't shake the feeling that it's incomplete.

This is a very good game... just not a great one. Galaxy 2 bears so many similarities to the 2007 title that you can't help but feel that this feels more like an expansion pack instead of a full-blown sequel. Case in point, the very first sub-boss is identical to one boss from the first Galaxy, right down to the pattern to defeat it. Ultimately, this familiarity really works against the game and holds it back from what it should have been.

After years of development, it's finally here. The visuals are sharp, the sound is punchy and the plot at the heart of the single player campaign does a fine job of setting the scene for the next installment in the planned SC2 trilogy. The multiplayer aspect of the first game remains one of the most highly competitive RTS titles in history and Blizzard saw fit to craft a sequel which measures up to the lofty standards set by its predecessor. Fast, fun and functional... the only issues stem from some minor balance issues pertaining to the weakness of the Zerg species. However, Blizzard has already released numerous patches to address this issue and looks to continue supporting SC2 for the forseeable future. Starcraft 2 is here... and it's about time!

2K11 is an incredibly deep basketball sim. It's also the only noteworthy basketball sim this year since EA chose to cancel their Live/Elite entry for 2010. But, don't let that give you the idea that you'd merely be settling. 2K11 boasts a complex control scheme which grants the gamer unparalleled control of his/her favorite team. Add to that the inclusion of the the much publicized Jordan Challenge mode and this is one of the greatest sports games ever released.

The art direction is simply astounding and rivals Little Big Planet on the PS3 for sheer mind-blowing creativity. Boasting a central mechanic built around the idea that Kirby is composed of yarn, Epic Yarn is a refreshing platformer whose only flaw is its admittedly forgiving difficulty curve.

Ghost of Sparta is a great PSP game and a fine addition to the God of War series. The developer has taken the strengths of its console brethren and injected some much needed backstory and character development for Kratos (aka the angriest dude in videogames). By providing gamers with some insight into Kratos' rage, Ready at Dawn has enhanced the series' appeal.

Other M is a fine action game. Unfortunately, gamers expect more from this revered series. The game's biggest flaws lie in its poor characterization of Samus and the inexplicable lack of an option to use the Wii's nunchuk attachment.

Popcap has released the definitive version of Plants vs. Zombies through the Xbox Arcade. Smart and addictive gameplay mechanics are paired with razor sharp wit to craft a wonderful tower defense game. A must-play title on Microsoft's downloadable service.

For the most part, Retro's take on Donkey Kong is a joy to play. Any fans of the original SNES titles will be able to jump in from the get-go. The game looks and feels like its classic predecessors and serves as a reminder of how classic game design is timeless. Unfortunately, there are some instances when the motion controls feel a little forced. This affects the experience, but in no way renders DKCR unplayable.

The latest entry in the COD franchise features one of the most memorable single player campaigns in recent memory. Ditching Modern Warfare 2's OTT theatrics, Blops tells a a grittier tale which focuses on black ops agents during the 1960s. COD's highly popular multiplayer is back and largely resembles the last few entries. New additions include wager matches and credits which players must earn to unlock new weapons, killstreaks and a host of customization options. The only real knock on this game is that some of the weapons sound very weak and flimsy.

The final Halo game from Bungie is a marked improved over their previous efforts. With an engaging campaign and an incredibly polished suite of multiplayer game modes, Bungie has created the most polished Halo title to date. Any fan of the FPS genre who owns a 360 should give this game a shot.