Zorua

Mario Kart 8 is easily the best Wii U game out there. A fantastic combination of fun racing but challenging courses, the Mario Kart series has always been popular with a certain breed of gamers. Mario Kart 8 is easily the best out of all the entries in the series, with stunning HD graphics, fun and interesting new items and characters, and challenging courses creating a fantastic hybrid of genres for the Wii U title. First off, character selection. Everyone's favourite veterans return, with the likes of Mario, Luigi, Peach, Donkey Kong, Bowser and many more taking to the track once again, though there are some characters that perhaps should've been included but were ultimately left out. A whole range of new characters such as the Koopalings and Baby Rosalina also add new characters for you to race with, though some characters *cough cough Pink Gold Peach* are quite bizarre and in my opinion don't deserve a spot over the likes of Diddy Kong or Bowser Jr. Nintendo have also introduced a whole new range of items, which include the Super Horn, Piranha Plant and Boomerang, as well as Coins returning from Mario Kart 7. As is traditional with the Mario Kart series, a whole new host of courses are introduced, which also incorporate the new anti-gravity feature, which allows for a F-Zero-like experience. There are also a whole new range of Retro courses from previous Mario Kart games which give you a blast to the past to the likes of Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Kart DS. Overall, Mario Kart 8 is a highly fun game that only gets better when playing online or with friends. Two lots of DLC have also been released, which add characters, karts, and courses, and although I would've liked to seen maybe Diddy Kong or Bowser Jr. in one of this packs, there could still be more. The only criticism I have with this game is the Battle Mode, with Battle Mode instead being played on regular courses, which massively nerfs it. Apart from that, the game is one of the best I've played, and I'd recommend to buy a Wii U just to play it.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is hands down my favourite MMORPG. A reboot of the unsuccessful Final Fantasy XIV, A Realm Reborn fixes all of the things that were bad from the original, and adds new on creating a massive and immersive open-world, and powerful narrative, as well as lots of customisation, side-quests and freedom. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn has you create your character first. You can choose from several templates, such as the feline-like Miqo'te, the minute Lalafell, the giant Roegadyn, the human Hyur or the elf Elezen. You then have to select a world to play in, however this can be quite tricky as most of the worlds are full. Finally you'll have to select a class such as Gladiator, Archer, etc. Each one will give you a 'home' city: either the rich desert city of Ul'dah, the lush forest city of Gridania or the seaside city of Limsa Lominsa. Classes can also be upgraded by levelling up a different class, allowing for more combinations. There are also secondary classes such as Botanist, Miner, etc. which allow you to gain XP and rare items, as well as something to do in your spare time. I won't go into the narrative too much, but along the way you'll have to fight demons, monster tribes and work with strangers, performing your duty to clear dungeons. While the start of the main story will be different depending on your city, the narrative will eventually merge together as all the cities combine to face an ultimate threat. In conclusion, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is a fantastic MMORPG that allows for great online play, whether it be clearing dungeons with strangers or messing around with them using funny emotes. The amount of customisation is something we don't usually get in a Final Fantasy game, with literally dozens of different armour and weapons available. Square Enix also continually update the game with new characters and classes to allow for more freedom and build on its already strong narrative, particularly with the Heavensward expansion, which feels like a whole different game in itself. However, and I probably should've mentioned this earlier, the game does require a subscription, which you can choose to update monthly or yearly - whilst not overly pricey it can get annoying when you get to a really exciting part in the game and then run out of spare change. Just two words: BUY IT.

Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games is another installment of the popular Mario & Sonic series to represent the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. The series features a nearly identical cast of characters with some different ways of playing events cleverly using the GamePad and Wii Remote together, though if you don't have a Wii Remote (MotionPlus required) or don't play co-op with friends it can get quite boring after while. The game features a varied selection of winter events, including skiing, snowboarding, bobsleighing and curling. The game can be played with a variety of characters, 10 from Team Mario, and 10 from Team Sonic. These include the mascot characters Mario and Sonic, as well as supporting characters like Luigi, Tails and Knuckles, and famous antagonists such as Bowser, Bowser Jr., and Dr. Eggman. These characters are all classified into four different categories: All-Around types, Speed types, Power types and Skill types. Finally, the player can also choose Miis from their console to use, with weight and height being taken into consideration to decide the classification of the character. The player can also fully customise their Mii, giving them gear and accessories, often referencing the Mario and Sonic games themselves and sometimes even some third-party games like The Legend of Zelda and Super Monkey Ball. In conclusion, the game does have a wide variety of events available, but they can only fully be taken advantage of with a Wii Remote (MotionPlus required) and playing co-op with friends or family, else it'll get boring pretty quick. The character selection seems decent, though the lack of a story mode like the handheld version fail to tie them together. Online capabilities seem good as you can play with anyone around the globe, and the series has so much potential entering its next installment, Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, scheduled for release this year for the 3DS and Wii U. Using some of the ideas from this game, Nintendo need to add some sort of story mode for consoles, though the character selection has been massively improved. Additionally, some copies of the game could come bundled with a Wii Remote with MotionPlus so it's easier to play co-op and fully play the events. Overall, a great game, and not too pricey too.

Rugby World Cup 2015 is another less-than-mediocre rugby game which seems almost identical to another poor game, Rugby 15. Centred around the biggest sporting event of the year, the Rugby World Cup in England, developer HB Studios seem to have learned nothing from the many criticisms angled at their previous title, Rugby 15 (and again, sorry if some of the terminology is wrong as I'm not really a rugby expert). The set plays are again so tedious, with the analogue sticks being slightly easier to control but still extremely difficult. One thing that has been reduced a little bit is the speed of the players, no longer being like a cheetah on ecstasy, but still being quite unrealistic. The developers have also seem to have tweaked some other things slightly such as feats of strength (sorry) being much easier to win, and jumpy throw-ins (sorry again) also being easier. However, the game doesn't seem to have improved too much. Overall, the game is slightly better than its predecessor, with set plays and throw-ins being slightly easier and player speed being reduced, as well as a structured tournament mode. To be honest though, this game is still nothing to write home about and like Rugby 15, do not buy this game, and certainly not at full retail price.

Rugby 15 is an aspiring rugby game with so much potential but so little quality. My uncle bought this game, and after playing two or three games we immediately threw it on the back row of your game shelf, where it still is gathering dust as you read this. I've never really enjoyed rugby, and this game certainly doesn't inspire me to either (sorry if some of the terminology is wrong, I'm not really a rugby expert) The set plays tedious, with the analogue sticks being used to perform penalties - however if you don't flick it right (which is extremely difficult), than you'll fail embarrasingly and failing to get the ball off the ground. Additionally, as soon as a player gets the ball they run like Usain Bolt on steroids, which is entirely unrealistic. Set plays such as thrown-ins and feats of strength (sorry) are also extremely difficult to beat against the CPU, let alone real players with actual brains. Overall, the game is a sad attempt at an actual rugby title, with set plays being tedious, player runs being unrealistic and duels against even the easiest CPU being extremely difficult. Rugby fans are just going to have to wait for an actual annual rugby game that is worth of any credit, and can live up to the success of titles such as Fifa and NBA. One message: DO NOT BUY THIS GAME.

LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, despite not reaching the heights of LEGO predecessor LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, is still a great game. Gone is the popular open world, but introduced now is an array of planets from all across the DC universe and perhaps the biggest selection of characters we've ever seen in a LEGO game. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham starts off with perhaps some slow levels involving the Batcave and Justice League HQ. But after enduring that boring start, a whole array of areas become available, including a different portion of the Batcave and the Hall of Justice. After progressing even further, planets from the Green Lantern series become available, all of which possess unique terrains and exclusive characters which you'll have to hunt for. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham's level designs are extremely detailed, with iconic locations combined with fun aspects exclusive to the LEGO Batman games such as changing between different costumes creating unique and fun levels. However, as previously mentioned, the first three levels or so are extremely slow and are not enjoyable whatsoever, but rather being a chore to reach the end and find all the collectibles. Speaking of collectibles, LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham has them in abundance, with traditional items like gold bricks and minikits being replaced by fun collectible hunts which range from finding laundry to fighting dragons, being given to Batman wannabe Bat-Mite. Additionally, character tokens which unlock more characters to purchase can be found in certain levels and tricky situations where you have to rescue Adam West allowing you to unlock the legendary Batman voice actor. The game is great, and while it may not be as great as its predecessor LEGO Marvel Super Heroes and no expansive open world being one of its criticisms, the character selection, intricate level design, iconic locations and much more contributing to this game's quality.

Deadpool is one of my favourite comic book characters of all time, so when I heard that the game was being remastered for PS4, I bought it straight away. And I love the game. Deadpool is centred around, you guessed it, Deadpool, with High Moon doing a great job of illustrating his hilarious personality and constant breaking of the fourth wall, with Deadpool constantly disobeying the script. During the story, Deadpool has to rescue Chance White from the malicious Mr. Sinister, teaming up with old friends like Cable, and even some of the X-Men like Wolverine. Deadpool is equipped with katanas and guns, all of which can be upgraded with Deadpool Points (DP), in-game currency found everywhere in the game. The levels in Deadpool have also had so much detail put into them, being chock full of exploration, and making sure you search every nook and cranny before advancing. However, the games does have some downsides. The length of game is just too short - the game is so good and hilarious that when you reach the end, and you realise how short it is, you probably get angry because you paid full price for it. On the other hand, the graphics seem decent, and while there are occasional freezes, still a good remaster, which is in my opinion just as good as the Xbox 360 and PS3 version. However, I probably wouldn't pay full price for the game.

Game & Wario is a decent game for the Wii U which sadly doesn't have too much to brag about. I've always been a fan of the fun and maddening WarioWare series, in which you have to complete microgames in a certain time limit to advance with the stories of different characters, all of which have been cleverly and carefully crafted. This game has some aspects of its successful predecessors, but in my opinion is more of a less successful spin-off. Game & Wario brings back the familiar characters from Diamond City, such as Mona, Dr. Crygor, Ashley & Red, 9-Volt, 18-Volt, Wario himself and my personal favourite Orbulon, and puts them onto the powerful Wii U system. However rather than give the characters an individual story like previous installments, it gives you a two-minute cutscene, and dives you right into the action. Most of the microgames are pretty fun, and I do warm to some of them, but after a while they start to get repetitive. Take 9-Volt's microgames for example, where you have to dive back under the covers while your mother enters the room, and then resume playing your Game Boy, before surrendering to fatigue - it's fun at first, but slowly starts to get repetitive and boring. There are other microgames two, such as Wario's, where you fire arrows at a swarm of robots, and soon it just gets boring swiping at the GamePad. The game is pretty addictive, however, with the wide range of collectibles making it necessary to replay those boring games like Arrow (Wario's microgame) again and again. It's something I dislike, but it makes it all the more sweeter when you're rewarded with a fun, gimmicky prize from the chicken capsule machine. The game is quite fun, and overall I do enjoy it. However, some microgames soon get repetitive and tedious. The game has a grand range of collectibles which are often quite fun to play with and make you chuckle, and there is a lot of interactivity with the GamePad. It's also a nice HD rendering of the Diamond City we know and love. However, I wouldn't class it as a WarioWare game but merely as a spin-off, as it doesn't follow the WarioWare formula whatsoever and is nothing like its predecessors.

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is easily one of the best games I've ever played, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes was the first game I played on my PlayStation 4 console. A change of pace from other LEGO titles, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is set in the Manhattan district of New York, with one of the best open worlds I've ever seen. TT Games did a fantastic job creating an open-world environment, with real-life locations such as Central Park and the Statue of Liberty transitioned into the colourful LEGO world, as well as iconic locations from the comics such as Stark Tower, the X-Mansion and the SHIELD Helicarrier all being available to visit. The city is also full of NPCs' with general dialogue, and most importantly vehicles, with the player being able to drive cars, cruise on speedboats and fly in helicopters and airplanes. But enough about the expansive open-world, the levels TT Games have implemented into the games are carefully crafted and a lot of care and creativity has clearly gone into them. The levels take you to iconic locations such as The Raft prison and Dr. Doom's castle. There are also a range of bonus missions, set in locations such as banks and gyms, which unlock certain characters for purchase when completed. In fact, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes has a myriad of characters from the Marvel universe, often classified into two categories: regular characters, which can perform normal tasks such as drive vehicles, and heavy characters, which can't fit through most doors, spawn in small gaps or drive vehicles, but can perform brute tasks like lifting heavy objects and tearing down buildings. It will take several hours to unlock every character in the game - some are unlocked via story or can be found on the streets, whereas some other characters require you to perform often difficult tasks or races, and even then cost a fortune *cough cough, Silver Surfer*, and one character in particular, Deadpool, requires to spend millions of studs - which are in-game currency - to unlock all red bricks - basically perks which enhance various aspects of your game - and even then complete a series of difficult missions. But it's all worth it in the end just to see a completed grid of characters. The game also has a couple of DLC packs, adding more characters to the mix: these include a DLC pack centred around characters from the Thor universe and a pack of obscure Marvel characters you've probably never heard of - for example, A-Bomb. Overall, the game is a fantastic play and definitely one of the best out there. The best thing is, it's not even that expensive! I couldn't find anything to criticise in this game, and I'm sure I've already gone into enough detail about what I like about it! I give it a 10/10 and definitely encourage you to buy a copy and try for yourself, and I can't wait until I can get the 'sequel' LEGO Marvel's Avengers, which looks like an even greater version of an already magnificent game.

Tearaway Unfolded is a beautifully crafted Playstation 4 port of the PS Vita best-seller Tearaway, and it's surprisingly fun. Created by Media Molecule, the creators of the LittleBigPlanet series, the game is set in a paper world which has been invaded by small monsters called scraps, which spawn from a giant hole that's mysteriously appeared in the sky. You have to choose between two cutely designed paper 'messengers': Iota (male) or Atoi (female). Their bodies are comprised of an envelope head, paper thin arms and legs and a cute backpack - the design is definitely one of my favourites. The game starts off with some questionable voice acting, before the player has to gain the trust of Iota/Atoi by pointing the DualShock 4 at the screen and using your Guiding Light to guide the character on-screen. The DualShock 4 is used for the majority of the game, luring scraps into traps, interacting with mechanisms and startling NPCs'! The DualShock 4's touchpad can also be used as a canvas, and allows the player to draw things and implement them into the game, though sometimes it can be quite difficult! The game has a beautiful art style, whose charm is difficult to find in modern games. The world is very interactive, allowing the player to utilise the DualShock 4 to draw things, perform tasks and much more. Additionally, there is so much side content such as creating papercraft structures and using the companion app/website, and the customisation allows you to customise your messenger however you wish using in-game currency - confetti. You can change everything from the colour of the character's body to it's selfie pose! That being said, there are some downsides. The voice acting is some of the worst I've seen, with the two talking 'guides' (one male and one female) having dreadful voices and hardly any expression in their voices. Additionally, some of the tasks like defeating scraps and performing tedious tasks such as throwing apples to activate mechanisms are a little repetitive. However, overall it's a great game and Media Molecule did a good job of porting the PS Vita game - this title definitely doesn't get the credit it deserves.

Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival is a spin-off party game of the Animal Crossing series that in no right deserves to be a standalone game. The game has you control your character's movements by tapping one of several compatible amiibo - in fact, to play co-op each player must have a different amiibo and half of the game is locked unless you can buy the amiibo to unlock it. The fact that even the dice is controlled via amiibo diminishes the small amount of interactivity the game does have, with the only good thing being the graphics. Apart from that, Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival is just a mockery of a fun, co-operative party game, instead just being a vain attempt to market merchandise. I don't believe it's the amiibo that ruins the game, as Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer for the 3DS utilises them perfectly. What makes the game a failure is it's lack of interactivity or fun, and the fact it's a game retailed at full price is ridiculous. In my opinion, it should just be a side feature/minigame in a proper Animal Crossing game, and even then it would need some major improvements.

Another great digital game that I got with PS Plus in October, I first played Super Meat Boy years ago on PC, and I had a great sense of nostalgia loading up the PS4 version. Super Meat Boy has you play as the protagonist - a cube of meat, as he has to save his girlfriend who happens to be made of bandages from the evil Dr. Fetus. Most of the levels in Super Meat Boy are extremely difficult, adding to it a degree of difficulty, and making you play and play those levels again until you get it just right. The game also has you collect bandages, in-game currency found in most levels which can be used to unlock additional characters. Speaking of which, the game has a wide selection of characters, all with varied stats and different special abilities. Some characters can also be unlocked via warp zones found in certain levels, and by clearing these levels, you will unlock the character in question. There's nothing quite like flying over gaping holes as Bit.Trip! Overall the game is a great play that you'll find difficult to turn off right from the onset. A brilliant combination of level design, character design and frustrating boss runs, this game is definitely one of my favourites!

Batman: Arkham Knight is a fantastic game and easily one of the best of 2015 (excluding the PC version). A brilliant finale to Rocksteady's Arkham series, it has a great narrative and massive open-world gameplay. The story is centred around the mysterious identity of the Arkham Knight, with Batman also facing threats from other villains such as Scarecrow and Harley Quinn, as well as some Joker 'clones'. Rocksteady also did a brilliant job showing Batman's slow demise into insanity, with the Joker screwing with his head throughout. The game also allows the player to drive the Batmobile for the first time in the series, though sometimes the tank battles can get a little repetitive. With a whole host of additional side missions and DLC, the game is a magnificent play, my only criticism being the amount of tank battles, and enemies such as Deathstroke being taken down in one hit. Apart from that,it's easily one of my favourite games I'm sure to replay again and again!

Rocket League is an immensely fun game, centred around the concept of cars playing a giant game of football, that I originally got with PS Plus in July. I, along with many of my friends, were originally skeptical of the game, but eventually warmed to its fun gameplay! Single-player is great in itself, with the AIs' of some of your opponents testing your skills. That said, the multiplayer mode takes the game into a whole new dimension in itself, with fun co-op play testing your teamwork skills and even sometimes destroying friendships! The amount of customisation in the game is also mind-blowing, with the player able to choose from a wide selection of vehicles, make them whatever colour they want, add fun and quirky accessories and much more! Rocket League has also frequently been updated with DLC, adding new pitches and vehicles, all of which are reasonably priced. The game is a great play with very little negatives, and with an Xbox One version in the works and set to release in early 2016, more people will get to enjoy this fantastic game!