The latest addition to the mega-selling Skylanders franchise brings a new twist to the “toys to life” concept. This time round you don’t necessarily have to buy loads of physical figures to experience different characters – you can just go ahead and create them yourself. The Starter Pack comes with a new portal, two nicely-crafted character models: Master King Pen and Golden Queen, and – at first sight – a rather dull-looking Creation Crystal.

You should never take things at face value though. That seemingly insignificant Crystal actually unlocks a whole heap of fun. In the five years or so since Skylanders first brought its colourful capers to consoles, the franchise has certainly proven it’s not afraid of change.

"Skylanders Imaginators feels like the natural successor to 2013’s Swap Force, where some of the toys had interchangeable tops and bottoms."

Placing one of the plastic toys on the supplied portal magically transports it into the game so it instantly becomes a playable character. Tiny chips in the base of each toy mean your progress and stats are retained, so the characters actually improve their skills and abilities over time. It’s a clever bit of kit and has become a bit of a phenomenon, amassing huge sales over the years.

Each Skylanders game has had all sorts of new design ideas, ranging from giants and trappable villains to vehicles and characters with swappable bodies. This time, Activision and those guys at Toys For Bob have introduced 31 brand new “Sensei” characters – split over 10 classes and each with different attacks, special moves and personalities.

These figures not only unlock special abilities and certain areas of the game, but they’re also the only guys capable beating Battle Gongs, initiating an arena battle for bonuses. Undoubtedly though, it’s that aforementioned Creation Crystal that shines through as the greatest innovation in this year’s release.

Skylanders Imaginators feels like the natural successor to 2013’s Swap Force, where some of the toys had interchangeable tops and bottoms. Back then, the 250+ permutations meant new characters could be created, each with unique powers and abilities. Imaginators takes that a step further…

"Opening chests, finding collectibles, taking selfies and completing objectives during the actual game rewards further add-ons and costumes that you can add to your character, incentivising exploration and keeping the whole thing fresh."

Set aside those shiny new Skylander figures a moment and instead chuck the aptly-named Creation Crystal on the portal. You’re then able to tinker with a surprisingly comprehensive creation tool to build your own unique characters. It’s a first for the series and a fantastic addition. In fact, it’s so much fun tailoring these characters that you can spend ages doing that rather than playing the actual game.

First you have to choose one of the defined battle classes – be it a Ninja, Bazooker, Bowslinger, Brawler, Knight, Quickshot, Sentinel, Smasher, Sorcerer or Swashbuckler – with each affecting ranged, melee and special moves.

You also get to choose a name and the set the appearance of your new Skylander. It’s a deceptively in-depth creation tool, with options to tweak bodies, weapons, gear, size, colour and aura. What weapon should you choose? Which tone should your skin colour be? What’s your special attack move? Do you have a tail? What kind of voice do you have, and what’s your catchphrase? Many selections have a bearing on your attributes too – so choosing the right headgear and arm guards, for example, could affect how fast or strong your character is.

Opening chests, finding collectibles, taking selfies and completing objectives during the actual game rewards further add-ons and costumes that you can add to your character, incentivising exploration and keeping the whole thing fresh.

In fact, I can’t help but think the new Sensei characters will struggle to get much of a look in. It is actually far more fun to romp through the colourful levels with your newly-created character – especially as you can constantly change their appearance and abilities as you go.

Skylanders’ gameplay is much the same as the previous titles. It’s a hack and slash affair, where you defeat an onslaught of enemies before moving onto the next area. Along the way, there are various mini-games – nothing too taxing but fun nonetheless. One minute you’ll be chasing a snail and collecting his slime, the next you’ll be playing with a jukebox or solving a sliding puzzle. It’s all perfectly targeted to a younger audience and although it’s not hard to romp through the levels and complete the game, you’ll have a blast doing so.

Pop two Skylanders/Crystals on to the stand and you can enjoy the experience with a friend through local co-op play as well. Each stage looks suitably different, and it’s as smooth navigating the moving platforms and runaway rafts as it is when you’re being shot from a cannon or sliding and grinding between zones. The visuals are bright, cartoony and as colourful as the characters themselves. Some familiar old faces make a welcome appearance too and are blessed with great voice acting.

The game doesn’t hold out too much of a challenge but Skylanders is clearly aimed at a younger audience. The physical toys are top quality and the tactile, interactive element really appeals to kids. As you play, the portal throbs different colours, illuminating the characters and crystals, which looks kinda cool too. And ultimately, the gameplay is fun, quirky and entertaining – even the cut scenes are good to watch. Children will lap this up. Imaginators is an interactive cartoon with the ability to create and play with your very own characters in the game.

"Be warned though. Skylanders has long been a retail juggernaut and this version is no different. There are plenty of opportunities to splash real world cash. There’s obviously the lure of buying new Sensei figures in stores."

Be warned though. Skylanders has long been a retail juggernaut and this version is no different. There are plenty of opportunities to splash real world cash. There’s obviously the lure of buying new Sensei figures in stores. And you’ll probably find yourself needing at least a few more Creation Crystals. A warning pops up on first use and tells you to choose your Battle Class carefully as your decision can’t be undone. You’ll have to go out and get yourself more Crystals if you want to try out the other classes.

In-game you’re able to improve your stats, abilities and customisation options through a plethora of microtransactions too – so parents beware. And that’s not all money-wise… if you ever want to order a physical version of the unique Skylander character you’ve just created, then you’ll be pleased to hear it’s actually possible using the accompanying mobile app… the downside is it isn’t cheap. You can even get yourself a customised t-shirt or character card. Now that’s merchandising at its finest!

On the plus side, you don’t have to spend more. Every Skylander you’ve collected over the years is compatible with the new portal – which means all that money and time you spent on previous games hasn’t been entirely wasted. All 300+ Skylanders are supported.

Imaginators progresses the series nicely, and although it may be much the same game as its predecessors, it’s absorbing and ultimately good fun. However, the story is not as good as games past, it’s a little repetitive, and the Sensei figures may be overlooked given the great creation options available. Still, there’s loads to do, plenty to explore, and lots of reasons to keep coming back for more.

This game was reviewed on the Xbox One.

Headlining this year’s release is the move away from EA’s in-house Ignite engine to Frostbite – notably used for first person shooters like the Battlefield series. It seems a good move too, resulting in a cleaner, sharper looking game with extremely fluid animations and realistic looking players. The lighting, stadia and weather effects look great and the pitch churns up nicely over the course of a match.

Facial scanning has played a part in FIFA for some time now but the effect is even more impressive this year, with a greater pool of lifelike players now appearing in the game. And don’t get me started on the sweat effects – a small detail but it’s so cool how the beads of sweat gather on the players’ virtual faces as the game progresses. Oh and managers can now be seen gesticulating wildly on the sidelines too.

"Input from the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Marcus Rashford – all up and coming Premier League stars – means there’s a compelling narrative to the story and a sense that this is what a young player breaking into the big time might actually experience."

Frostbite also means a unique story mode could be introduced, drawing us into a world beyond the football pitch, from locker rooms to the manager’s office.

Admittedly, the E3 reveal of “The Journey” left me a little cold. Although it was a first for a franchise, the mechanic had featured in plenty of other sports games in recent years – often with mixed results. The single-player campaign element is a typical rags to riches tale, putting you in the boots of a young lad and steering him through setbacks and successes as he tries to make it to the big time. Would shoehorning a narrative element into the long-running series really work? I wasn’t so sure.

Fortunately, it’s actually pretty damn good – and somewhat revitalises a game often criticised for not changing enough each annual update. Thanks to two years in development, the new game mode proves to be a really polished affair and a nice alternative to just playing matches ad infinitum.

Input from the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Marcus Rashford – all up and coming Premier League stars – means there’s a compelling narrative to the story and a sense that this is what a young player breaking into the big time might actually experience. While being careful not to reveal any spoilers, the tension of the trials, trying to force your way into an established team, the intensity of victory and the misery of defeat is nicely captured and offers an entirely new experience to the series. The voice acting and cut scenes are excellent, and never overbearing – and there’s not too much waiting around in between actual gameplay.

"Attribute points are earned along the way and can be used on a skill tree to unlock player traits, and mould Hunter however you like, be it a pacey, physical striker or a creative, super-skilful midfielder."

At times, the actions of family, friends and fellow players present you with dialogue decisions and just like Mass Effect or Deus Ex, your chosen responses affect your path. Responding aggressively, for example, may gain publicity and popularity among the fans but will not endear you to the manager. Your choices determine your direction – and it succeeds in making the mode feel so much more than a scripted story.

The tale of Alex Hunter serves not only as a decent narrative experience but provides a decent tutorial to the overall game and controls too. After picking your club, preferred position and meeting the gaffer, success in a series of skill games determines whether you make it to the starting XI or have to bide your time on the bench.

When you do eventually make it on the pitch on match day, you can opt to either control the entire team or solely play as Hunter – each offering a completely different experience. A series of challenges appear on screen pre-match – such as having to score the winning goal, impress the boss with a decent display or complete so many passes. Achieving these boosts your earnings, transfer value and helps you gain followers on social media. The better your performance, the more likely you are to cement your place in the first team.

Attribute points are earned along the way and can be used on a skill tree to unlock player traits, and mould Hunter however you like, be it a pacey, physical striker or a creative, super-skilful midfielder. The Journey definitely proves a worthy distraction from the core elements of the game we’re all so used to and EA should be proud for shaking things up this year. Otherwise, there have been four main areas of focus for the developers regarding gameplay: attacking, intelligence, physical play and set pieces.

"The physical improvements are welcome too and instantly apparent."

There’s more control now when unleashing a shot or powering a header towards goal – driven kicks, downward headers and threaded through balls mean a lot more variety to your play. If something’s not working against the opposition, then change it. There really feels like there’s a lot more control now, which can only be a good thing.

Team mates are more intelligent, trying to create space to receive a sublime pass or create a goalscoring opportunity out of nothing. It certainly makes for a more fluid, realistic game. The physical improvements are welcome too and instantly apparent. Players jostle and shield the ball more effectively, meaning that a lumbering forward may prove more useful this year than simply relying on strikers blessed with pace and acceleration.

The final feature, set pieces, will no doubt divide opinion and I’m undecided whether it’s an improvement. Free kicks, corners and penalties have been reworked to provide more control but will take some getting used to. Granted, there was nothing more annoying last year than dominating an opponent, only to concede a free kick and see them scoring with ease. Mastering free kicks last year was fairly easy and almost guaranteed goals if provided the opportunity. This year is an entirely different story – the whole process proving far more complex.

Players can now adjust their stance, with fake throws and a new targeting system resulting in loads more variety. It allows you to mix it up and be a bit more creative but it’s changes to the penalties I’m not so sure about…

I bet even returning players will initially be baffled by the new mechanic. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great you can nudge the right thumbstick to move your player to change your run up. But then things get a little trickier. As soon as you move the left stick, you start your run up… and have to quickly adjust your aim. Then it’s down to the shoot button to control the power and elevation. I’ve taken a number of penalties over the course of the review but it didn’t get any easier or result in many goals.

Overall, the gameplay feels a little slower and it’s particularly noticeable if you’re not using a team blessed with superstars. Now this isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it relies more on build up play rather than lobbing the ball over the top and letting a speedy striker latch on to it – but it does require a different way of thinking.

Passes sometimes appear delayed too and the ball all too often gets snaffled away by the opposition before you can offload it. Tackling feels trickier as well and the success rate of a brazen slide tackle has been diminished. It’s hard to win possession and more often than not, chasing down players and nudging them off the ball can sometimes be more effective.

"As a package, FIFA 17 is comprehensive and fun to play. It’s got some great new additions and makes it an essential purchase for any football fan."

Grumbles aside there is absolutely loads of content, with all the favourite modes including Ultimate Team, Career Mode, Be A Pro, and International games that see the return of women’s teams. Online friendlies and co-op mode also provide a decent distraction – but why EA continues to omit the co-op cup run that appeared a couple of years ago is baffling!

If there’s one certainty about FIFA 17, it’s that when The Journey and Hunter’s escapades are consigned to distant memory, it will be Ultimate Team that will continue to sap everyone’s time (and money). EA’s cashcow is back – still addictive as ever and even more comprehensive, thanks to new challenges and competitions. While FUT draft was last year’s innovation, now there’s FUT Champions cup run, with victories in the daily tournaments rewarding entry to a weekend event, and the promise of decent prizes.

There’s also the inclusion of squad building challenges, where coins, packs and kits can be unlocked by trading in the required player cards. Collecting a set of players with a certain chemistry level could earn a Gold Pack, for example, or trading in a selection of Bronze cards could earn a new special edition strip.

More intriguing are the tougher challenges that will reward you with a rare (though sadly untradeable) player if you collect and trade every team in a specific league. At launch you could earn an excellent looking Jonas card (rated 87) and 30,000 coins if you exchange all the squads from the Portuguese league, for example. This has great potential for the addition of special challenges throughout the year.

As a package, FIFA 17 is comprehensive and fun to play. It’s got some great new additions and makes it an essential purchase for any football fan. It looks the business, plays well and has a glut of content to keep you occupied until the inevitable follow up.

This game was reviewed on the Xbox One.

The announcer’s voice excitedly punctuated the music that spewed through the sound system, welcoming the players onto the rink as the home crowd cheered the team and rhythmically stomped their feet in appreciation. It has to be said that NHL 17 goes some way to emulating that excitement. Certainly, this is as close as you can get to feeling that icy chill on your eyebrows and that sense of expectation as the Zamboni prepares the pre-game ice.

While the series perhaps hasn’t changed a great deal over the years, there’s still something magical about unleashing a well-timed slap shot and seeing a slab of vulcanized rubber tear through your opponent’s net.

"EA Sports’ seminal hockey series is firmly back on track after a pretty dismal outing a few years previously."

EA Sports’ seminal hockey series is firmly back on track after a pretty dismal outing a few years previously (NHL 2015, you know who you are!). Thankfully, after that temporary dip in form, EA’s team has gone all out to ensure NHL 17 game is as comprehensive as possible, with countless modes, customization and its usual classy gameplay.

Dive into a Quick Match and you can’t help but be impressed by the glossy presentation. From the real life presenters who open the proceedings and introduce the fixture, to the lights, music and combustible atmosphere that accompanies each game as the players face off. Hell, there are even mascots celebrating every breakaway!

In-game, it’s just as good looking, with no discernible slowdown despite the fast-paced action. It’s super smooth, with player movement animated nicely. It’s actually quite easy to get distracted mid-game as you look away from the action to marvel at the swirls and trackmarks on the ice, or the excellent lighting effects glancing off your players’ helmets! The sound effects and commentary are equally polished – the pundits providing some decent insight into each and every poke check, foul or Odd Man Rush.

As ever, each game is a frenetic affair. And such is the complexity of ice hockey – with the myriad rules, tactics, fouls and foibles – that you really need to keep your wits about you when playing. Accepting the recommended control and difficulty settings may prove a little tough for a novice as the learning curve is quite steep so it’s fortunate that there’s still the option to switch back to those halcyon days of NHL 94 and adopt the traditional two-button control system. It’s a nice way to ease into the action and avoids feeling daunted by the many skill moves and thumbstick controls.

The excellent onboard visual trainer proves invaluable for getting to grips with the game too, highlighting which areas and teammates to pass to, and the optimal times to hit the buttons. At the end of each period, ratings from your coaches also appear onscreen and provide valuable tips about how to improve your performance.

Everything from the menus to the gameplay is nicely honed and works well. Player movement is smooth, animations sublime, presentation top notch, the controls are sharp, and it’s easy to find and connect to matches online.

Besides the Quick Match option, there’s plenty more on offer too. The hugely popular card collection-based Ultimate Team is ready to eat into your time, as is Team Play, Be A Pro, and Season, Playoff and Practice modes. But there are three brand new options this time too.

"Everything from the menus to the gameplay is nicely honed and works well."

Draft Champions is a great addition – a kind of watered down Ultimate Team whereby you select one of 12 themes that determines the pick of players you’ll try to take to glory. You might only be able to choose from players based in Europe or Canada, for example, or just be able to select from Under 25s or Elite All Stars.

When that’s out the way, you’re gifted a base team and given the opportunity to cull the lower-rated players, replacing them with randomized players over 12 rounds of picks. Each round produces a choice of four to add to your roster, with your selection eliminating the weakest from a particular line.

It’s a fast paced and strangely addictive process that allows you to create a unique team very quickly. Then, with your chosen few, you enter a four-game competition – each victory earning greater rewards for use in Ultimate Team.

Another great inclusion this year is the debut of the World Cup of Hockey. It’s apparently a first in the long history of EA Sports’ NHL games that it’s made an appearance, putting you in the shirts of some of the greatest names in the sport. There are eight international giants to choose from… it’s just up to you to take control and lead them to glory.

Undoubtedly though, the headline act has got to be Franchise Mode – perfect if you’ve got a little more time on your hands and fancy more of a challenge. It’s a far meatier option, allowing you to not only play hockey with your favorite team but to control every microscopic aspect of the business.

This mode type is all about keeping the franchise owner happy and meeting their expectations for the season. This could mean having to upgrade the arena, beat rivals or keep within a strict budget. Careful though… depending on their level of patience, your career could come to abrupt halt if you don’t decide on the best kind of bathroom refurbishment or choose souvenir hoodies with the right type of logo emblazoned on them.

"NHL 17 is a behemoth of a game, crammed chock-full of options, game modes and players."

In fact, the whole “hockey playing” element takes a bit of a back seat here as an inordinate amount of time can be spent dwelling on menu screens and deciding how best to charge for tickets, parking, replica shirts or even a large soda. Keeping the paying customers happy is just as important as success on the rink, so promotional nights and a decent arena will prove essential.

The aim is to keep the punters coming back for more and grow a bigger and better fanbase. It’s kind of cool then that you can even relocate the whole franchise to a new city and completely customize everything to appeal to the masses.

Such an ambitious move could cost you your job if you don’t plan meticulously. Everything is customizable – from the design of the shirt and the stadium to the seat colors, spotlights and songs – and makes this mode so much more engrossing than simply mastering dekes and powerplays, and turning in a good performance on the ice. It’s a lot of fun and proves hugely addictive if you set aside enough time to fully immerse yourself.

NHL 17 is a behemoth of a game, crammed chock-full of options, game modes and players. Whether you’re after the occasional quick game or want to undertake a lengthy campaign, EA’s long-running series has once again returned to form. It may not be a huge leap in terms of innovation from last year’s edition but there are certainly enough worthwhile changes to justify a purchase.

This game was reviewed on Xbox One.

Although the launch of Mutants In Manhattan coincides with the big screen release of the new TMNT movie, the game instead follows the style and tone of the popular kids cartoon series.

Clearly aimed at a younger audience, it’s easy to pick up and play thanks to the simple-to-grasp controls. A couple of buttons to attack, another to jump, dodge, parry and throw ninja stars. The D-pad lets you switch between turtles – thus accessing their special abilities and power ups. It also provides access to a selection of commands that let you direct your green-skinned brothers in battle.

"You can play alone or with a few friends online – but sadly, it’s a real oversight that there’s no local co-op option."

Sadly, most of these controls and abilities are rarely required due to the overly simplistic gameplay. On normal difficulty, Mutants In Manhattan takes only a few hours to complete – and you’ll have pretty much seen all there is on offer within the first fifteen minutes. It’s hugely repetitive too, with each of the 10 stages (including a brief tutorial level), following the exact same format.

This third person hack and slash affair sees Leo, Donnie, Mikey and Raph in all their cel-shaded glory, traversing rooftops, navigating sewers and investigating the New York streets to uncover the dastardly plans of Krang and Shredder.

You can play alone or with a few friends online – but sadly, it’s a real oversight that there’s no local co-op option. Solo play teams you up with three AI turtles who help take the strain when the enemies start flooding in and the odds are stacked against you – but it’s easily more fun when slicing and dicing with human teammates. Gameplay-wise, it all feels reminiscent of the old arcade game that guzzled my coins back in the day, so that’s no bad thing.

The visuals and animations are decent enough, and the cut scenes are nicely done too – capturing the show’s trademark tone and humour. Some of the environments are a little on the drab side though; the grey Manhattan streets, and dark sewers and subways looking dull and unimaginative. In contrast, each attack, sword wipe, special move and combo floods the screen with a burst of colour – which can make it tricky to see everything that’s going on in the thick of the action when loads of enemies are onscreen.

"On paper, this is a game that holds so much promise, especially with Platinum behind it. But it all gets dull too quickly."

An element of strategy and customisation has been added through a simple shop facility where you can cash in points accrued from collecting the many green orbs that are dotted about the maps. These can be traded for weapons and abilities to make your turtles even more deadly. There are some cool upgrades among them too – particularly the freeze bombs, plasma launcher and missile turrets. Energy boosting pizzas and drinks also prove handy. The nature of the gameplay, however, and reliance on button mashing means these upgrades are not really necessary and prove to be a bit of a missed opportunity.

Levels are split into a series of surprisingly short sections, which demand either an area be cleared of enemies, that bombs are defused or objects retrieved. Along the way, the turtles come face to face with hordes of foot soldiers and other cronies – most of whom suffer from weak AI and pose little real threat. Despite the ability to parry and dodge, it’s unlikely you’ll ever need to do anything but tap the light and heavy attacks to see the bad guys off. A bar at the top of the screen fills as you progress through the level, indicating how close you are to reaching the boss battle.

The boss fights really are the saving grace, reuniting us with some of the franchise’s most memorable characters. Mutants In Manhattan pits you against the likes of Bebop, Rocksteady, Karai, Armaggon, Slash and Wingnut – each having a distinct attacking pattern and level of aggression. These segments take place in an enclosed arena and are really the only occasion where you’ll need to call on your special abilities. Each boss fight proves reasonably challenging, largely owing to their multiple health bars that need to be fully depleted. Succeed and your performance for the level is graded – I guess offering some replayability factor should you want to beat your score.

On paper, this is a game that holds so much promise, especially with Platinum behind it. But it all gets dull too quickly. Unless you’re on the tougher settings, it doesn’t pose too much of a challenge – on normal, the first time I died was on the sixth level when an airborne Wingnut kept spamming me with a spinning attack.

"This is a game aimed at a younger audience that is extremely easy to pick up and play, yet it’s simplicity, weak enemy AI and lack of any real challenge means it’s unlikely you’ll be playing this in months to come."

Also, a few more cameos would have been nice – Splinter and April make an appearance but it would have been great if Casey Jones, Metalhead, Fishface, Leatherhead or Dogpound, had shown up too.

Probably my biggest bugbear is the lack of any real variety between turtles. Everyone’s got a favourite, right? Mine’s always been Raphael – the angry one with the red bandana and trademark twin sai to skewer the bad guys. But I quickly found that there’s actually very little that differentiates them in-game. You’d have thought that Donnie should have a longer reach thanks to his bo staff – or owing to his penchant for technology, he should at least have access to loads more gadgets. Perhaps the smaller Mikey should be more agile and awesome for close quarters combat with his nunchucks? Well, no. Whichever turtle you pick has little effect on the gameplay, and that’s a real shame.

This is a game aimed at a younger audience that is extremely easy to pick up and play, yet it’s simplicity, weak enemy AI and lack of any real challenge means it’s unlikely you’ll be playing this in the months to come.

This game was reviewed on the Xbox One.

That was 2003 when Call of Duty was in its infancy.

There were no perks back then, and no sliding or killstreaks. Most of your time was spent escorting a vehicle, taking part in a hostage rescue or storming a seemingly impenetrable outpost. With little more to protect you than a bit of Khaki camouflage and a sturdy steel helmet, the early games in the franchise felt gritty and tough, and sympathetically (most of the time) dealt with the horrors of conflict.

Fast forward a few years and the games evolved, the warzones shifted, budgets grew and graphics improved – yet the core gameplay remained intact…

"Has the move towards futuristic sci-fi warfare now moved the series too far from its roots? Is it more difficult to relate to, and appreciate, some of the newer missions when they are often so far removed from reality?"

Some of the missions in the early parts of the series are among the most memorable in gaming, whether they were set during World War II or the more modern, current day setting that started in Call of Duty 4. From the siege of Stalingrad to dogfights above Japanese waters, or donning ghillie suits to creep past patrols in Chernobyl and racing snowmobiles to evade enemies in Kazakhstan, there were some truly epic scenes that really resonated. And what of the hostage rescue on an airborne jet in Mile High Club and that haunting Normandy beach landing?

Has the move towards futuristic sci-fi warfare now moved the series too far from its roots? Is it more difficult to relate to, and appreciate, some of the newer missions when they are often so far removed from reality?

Set in 2065, the 12th Call of Duty instalment, Black Ops III, continues the series’ leap from the familiar into the realms of the unknown. Jet packs, invisibility, virtual reality and a raft of soldier classes and customisation options are far removed from the days of World War II warfare.

"Black Ops III offers a smattering of chaos, frenetic fast-paced action, glossy cinematics, frequent deaths and a level of customisation and character classes never before seen in the series. It’s undeniably a sales juggernaut and a sign of the times… but personally I miss its humble beginnings."

That hasn’t stopped it from flying off the shelves though. According to Activision, Call of Duty: Black Ops III became the biggest entertainment launch of the year – amassing an eyewatering half a billion dollars of sales within its first three days. It also saw a record 75 million hours of gameplay in that same period – setting a new benchmark for the series!

Based on those figures, you could assume that gamers don’t give a hoot about the good old days…

There’s certainly plenty going for the modern path of Call of Duty. Judging from forums and reviews, most love the fast paced futuristic gameplay, the varied classes, innovative weaponry and visuals. There are clear parallels with recent games such as Titanfall or Destiny so this kind of game is definitely in vogue.

Our very own review praised its gameplay, varied modes and the level of content, and we awarded it a rather healthy 8 rating. Yet it did say that it was starting to get a little stale and although lots of fun, the series “desperately needs a reinvention”.

Gone are the days of protagonists like Martin and Moody, or good old Soap and Price. Nowadays, the story and characters take a bit of a back seat and it’s all about the wall running, bio-technology, cybernetics, zombies and Jeff Goldblum!

We may have the likes of Sniper Elite III available on current gen systems but I can’t help but feel there’s a void that needs filling by an FPS that at least has a hint of realism of history… something like a classic Medal of Honor, Brothers in Arms or Battlefield game.

Black Ops III offers a smattering of chaos, frenetic fast-paced action, glossy cinematics, frequent deaths and a level of customisation and character classes never before seen in the series. It’s undeniably a sales juggernaut and a sign of the times… but personally I miss its humble beginnings.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization. 

It’s a great package, yet critics – including our very own – have highlighted a few flaws that have prevented it from taking pole position. There’s the rubber banding and weak AI, the short single player mode, lacklustre multiplayer and that infernal “always online” feature that means it’s unpauseable and impossible to play if you’re not connected to the internet.

"There’s the rubber banding and weak AI, the short single player mode, lacklustre multiplayer and that infernal “always online” feature that means it’s unpauseable and impossible to play if you’re not connected to the internet."

While those issues may have helped to put the brakes on Need for Speed’s ascent up the charts, we’re seeing the likes of Call of Duty Black Ops III and FIFA 16 lingering around the top spots instead. But they’re not perfect either…

The former is clearly a massively popular shooter and set some pretty impressive sales records but it still suffers from a typically benign campaign and a raft of overused and stale ideas. Once again the saving grace is the zombies mode and some notable cameos from famous folk – with Jeff Goldblum, Heather Graham and Ron Perlman starring this time round – as well as the online multiplayer which continues to attract a horde of rampant fanboys.

FIFA 16 also offers little that’s revolutionary over last year’s release other than addition of international women’s teams and the lauded FUT Draft game mode. The goalkeepers are souped up and the defenders are super speedy. Dribbling is all important now rather than pace alone – and despite the best efforts to cut down on cheats and boosters, somehow you still manage to find massively overpowered opponents online who have mustered enough cash to garnish their teams with the rarest and most expensive of players.

"With the 2016 games lineup looking strong across current gen platforms, let’s hope that more developers take the bold decision to break away from the norm and try something a little different too."

But despite the naysayers, FIFA is still flying off the shelves – although some suggest the so-called king of football games has lost its title to long-term rival Pro Evolution Soccer this year.

Each of these three titles have a common denominator: all are long-running franchises. This year marks their 22nd, 12th and 20-somethingth instalments, respectively. Question is, are they getting a little staid?

Judging by the fact they’re all riding high in the charts, no prizes for guessing why publishers and developers don’t want to do too much to ruin their winning formula. But wouldn’t it be great if next year they went back to their drawing boards and came up with something a little more revolutionary? And that doesn’t just mean changing the setting, overhauling the graphics or coming up with some new abilities or add-ons.

Look at Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain? Some have criticised that for straying from its roots and relying far less on the complex plots and heavy-going storylines of previous games – but with its open world design and more of a focus on resource management and strategy, Hideo Kojima’s epic is being tipped by some as a candidate for Game of the Year.

Just goes to show that change can be a good thing afterall. With the 2016 games lineup looking strong across current gen platforms, let’s hope that more developers take the bold decision to break away from the norm and try something a little different too.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization. 

There’s no doubt about it, NBA 2K16 is a gorgeous game. The visuals are absolutely staggering and ooze realism – thanks to a new physics engine, the addition of over 10,000 animations, full body scanning and improved AI. It looks and plays like the real thing. Even the crowds and arenas take on a new level of visual splendour. Aesthetics aside, the audio is fantastic too – a booming soundtrack and a wonderfully scripted – but natural sounding – commentary really add to the overall sense of realism.

It’s undoubtedly some of the most seamless commentary I’ve ever heard in a sports game, and each play is detailed, highlighting defensive frailties or offensive aplomb, while the pre- and postgame chatter really helps to draw you in. It feels almost broadcast quality – like you’re actually watching the big game on the TV. “Here’s the screen, he’s gone on the inside. It’s good on the triple, he’s got 10 points. He’s sensing this is a critical time in the game.” It just sounds authentic and adds hugely to the atmosphere. Other sports games should take note. Presentation wise… it’s a slam dunk!

"Importantly, the servers seem to have been shored up this time round too and perform much better than last year. We had no problems finding players online and games always ran smoothly and lag free."

And it doesn’t just look the part; it’s all backed up with loads of game modes and plenty to do too. There’s 2K Pro-AM, MyPark, the popular MyTeam card trading game and MyGM – which drops you in the shoes of a General Manager to oversee the day-to-day running of a franchise. The new Play Now Online mode is well worth dedicating some time to as well – letting you take on like-minded souls online as you attempt to work your way up the rankings.

Importantly, the servers seem to have been shored up this time round too and perform much better than last year. We had no problems finding players online and games always ran smoothly and lag free.

A word of warning though… the learning curve is kinda steep – especially if you don’t live and breathe the sport. While series’ veterans will be in their element, players new to the series will surely struggle.

The controls, plays, tactics and rules are all there – but they’re tricky to grasp out of the box. The accompanying tutorial videos provide a brief insight into the fundamentals of the game but these lack enough depth to really be helpful. Even having watched them repeatedly, the refined control system still proved tricky – and plenty of experimentation and practice was needed to understand the full effect of the various buttons. Much of my early gameplay consisted of sprinting, basic passing and failed attempts at three pointers. My defence was shoddy and I gave away an innumerable number of fouls. With persistence and a little practice, however, fake passes, step throughs and spin shots started creeping into my game and became second nature.

"Just like last year, the game lets you customise your player, tailoring his attributes and appearance. There are plenty of defaults to wade through but face scanning once again rears its “ugly head” too."

Get to grips with the PRO STICK (the right stick) and even more offensive options and dribbling abilities are available to you. You’ve really got to persevere to unlock all that NBA 2K16 has to offer and get the best out of the game. Fortunately, GamingBolt has published this handy guide to help you on your way too.

Among the additions headlining this year’s game is the MyCareer mode, with legendary film maker Spike Lee being called upon to pull the strings and concoct an absorbing background story . The story works reasonably well – adding enough meat to the proceedings but some of the acting is a little hammy.

It tells the tale of a guy called “Frequency Vibrations”(!), a young high school player who’s got what it takes to dominate the sport. Lee’s “Living ‘Da Dream” narrative takes players on a journey from high school through to college and then the big leagues. It’s an enjoyable affair, filled with contract discussions, practice sessions, rivalry and of course the matches themselves. The voice acting is strong and the cut scenes occasionally lengthy but they’re decent enough – and, thankfully, skippable. This is all about the pressures, trials and tribulations off the court as well as on it. It won’t be to everyone’s tastes but personally, I thought it was a nice touch and quite entertaining.

Just like last year, the game lets you customise your player, tailoring his attributes and appearance. There are plenty of defaults to wade through but face scanning once again rears its “ugly head” too. It means you can blow the dust off the Kinect camera and use it to pinpoint thousands of reference points on your face, which are then magically applied to a character model – literally putting you in the game. It sounds awesome on paper, especially as the high quality of the graphics suggest a “virtual me” would look pretty decent. It didn’t!

"Spike Lee’s story mode will inevitably divide opinion – a bit too structured and cheesy for many – while the game’s learning curve is huge and almost off-putting."

A simple process of sitting in front of the screen and slowing moving your head from left to right is all that’s required – with Kinect doing all the complicated stuff to transfer your likeness to the screen. My first few attempts failed (blamed on the lighting and the fact I wasn’t moving slowly enough) so I prompted to retry. I obliged, although the result again wasn’t too flattering. The end result was me looking like the offspring of Sloth Fratelli from The Goonies. Other attempts were equally unsuccessful – one of which left my eyeball floating onscreen, seemingly unattached to the rest of my head, while a weird nose/mouth combo looked like I’d suffered some horrific accident. I decided to stick with one of the prebuilt character models… and put Kinect back on the shelf to gather dust for another year. Shame.

That minor blip aside, Visual Concepts has done a great job with NBA 2K16 – building on its past experience and success to produce a title that’s even bigger and better than last year.

Spike Lee’s story mode will inevitably divide opinion – a bit too structured and cheesy for many – while the game’s learning curve is huge and almost off-putting. This isn’t a game that you can just pick up and play; it takes time to learn the controls and master all the moves. A rookie facing up to a decent player should brace themselves for a drubbing and a ridiculously mismatched scoresheet.

Still, it’s a great game – and a great example of just what this generation of consoles is capable of presentation-wise.

It broke records for the series, with over four million global sales within the first week of release, and I’ve no doubt other sporting sims will be hard pushed to match it in terms of quality this year.

This game was reviewed on the Xbox One.

Thus ends my first experience of FIFA 16’s new game mode, FUT Draft. After winning several fraught matches, my run ends with a whimper – massively frustrating but enough to draw me in to yet another year of football addiction.
Think of this new Draft mode as an epic cup run – a series four increasingly tough matches, where the prize fund grows the further you progress. The new addition to the hugely popular Ultimate Team removes some of the usual grind and tests your team building abilities by immediately offering up a selection of some of the most ludicrously skilled players on the planet.

"You need to select your Captain from the first five cards on offer, and then go ahead and build a team around them. Sounds simple, eh? Not so much."

The only slight snag is that it costs a princely sum to enter: 15,000 coins, 300 FIFA points or one of the “Draft tokens” that occasionally appear in packs. Still, at least you tend to cover your costs even if you don’t progress too far, with decent prizes (typically a couple of Gold packs) awarded even when you’re eliminated from the competition. What’s more, you can play either off- or online – but bear in mind, the greater rewards come when you face real opponents across the globe.

After picking your preferred formation, a series of screens conjure up a randomly-generated selection of players. You get to choose the ones you want to fill each position on your team, with a few more to put on the subs bench – that’s 23 in total – and a manager. For many of us, it will be the first time you’ve ever been able to field a team with the likes of Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar and Aguero in your ranks – and it’s a good way of scouting potential transfers target too!

You need to select your Captain from the first five cards on offer, and then go ahead and build a team around them. Sounds simple, eh? Not so much. It’s a real balancing act between snaffling all the top players and doing your utmost to ensure the chemistry rating remains high. Tough decisions need to be made; the more successful teams often led by the head rather than the heart. Remember, chemistry wins games!

With the team selection out of the way, it’s time to kick off.

"Far from being simply a politically correct reskinning effort, the women’s teams play differently too – games feeling pacier and almost more free-flowing compared with those featuring their male counterparts. I’ll admit to being a little dubious about whether a few female teams would add much to the overall FIFA package, but I’m pleasantly surprised with the end result."

Despite that penalty shootout costing me a place in the fourth and final game in just my first attempt, my winnings – a Jumbo Premium and standard Gold Pack – rewarded me with a few decent players to add to my Ultimate Team roster. I even got a Legend on loan (Spanish striker Emilio Butragueno). But what a buzz.

I reckon EA has scored a stunner with FUT Draft – providing us diehard players with a novel new mode to keep us coming back for more. And it’s just one of many changes made to this year’s update. Stealing the headlines in the build up to FIFA 16’s launch was EA’s inclusion of a selection of Women’s National teams for the first time, recognising a rapidly growing part of the sport.

Far from being simply a politically correct reskinning effort, the women’s teams play differently too – games feeling pacier and almost more free-flowing compared with those featuring their male counterparts. I’ll admit to being a little dubious about whether a few female teams would add much to the overall FIFA package, but I’m pleasantly surprised with the end result.

There are 12 teams featured: Germany, England, Brazil, USA, France, Australia, Spain, China, Sweden, Canada, Italy and Mexico – all available in Match Day, Offline Tournaments, and Online Friendly Matches. Sadly, they’re unusable in Ultimate Team and Career modes – and it’s not possible to test the battle of the sexes and match them up against the guys! Still, there’s always next year.

"FIFA 16 is a far tougher affair than its predecessors, and requires skills to be relearned and a slower, more cerebral style of play employed. Gone are the days of belting up the pitch with a Walcott or Aubameyang and thumping the ball in the back of the net."

Gameplay-wise, FIFA 16 seems perhaps a little too familiar at first glance. The early games don’t seem particularly revolutionary; in fact, beyond the obvious changes mentioned above, it seems little more than a copy of last year’s effort. Sure the visuals look a little better, there’s some new commentary and the teamsheets have been updated but it seems to be more of the same.

Delve a little deeper, however, and there are plenty of noticeable tweaks. Those expecting to grab the controller and achieve the same successes they did with FIFA 15 from day one will be disappointed. This year’s edition is a completely different ball game!

There’s a whole raft of new skill games designed to hone your skills, as well as a nifty graphical overlay – dubbed the FIFA Trainer – that can be toggled on or off depending on preference and shows the button options available to the player you’re controlling. It’s a cool take on the usual instruction manuals and tutorial videos, and – although a little distracting – really helps you get to grips with the controls. Hell, it helped cut down the number of fouls by improving by tackling percentages and enabled me to score a few glorious free kicks – and that can’t be a bad thing.
Another couple of innovations are the driven passing and no touch dribbling – the former allowing you to pelt fast, but controlled, passes to your team mates to instantly open up defences, while the latter sees you feint, shimmy and shield the ball – to distract opponents and draw fouls.

FIFA 16 is a far tougher affair than its predecessors, and requires skills to be relearned and a slower, more cerebral style of play employed. Gone are the days of belting up the pitch with a Walcott or Aubameyang and thumping the ball in the back of the net. Players blessed with speed and acceleration are still beneficial but by no means essential this time round. Instead, the focus has shifted to build-up play and more measured passing. A nicely-balanced team of players with a strong physique and decent ball skills is now far more preferable than pace alone.

Lofted through balls and crosses – often my Achilles heel in FIFA 15 – are far less effective now, as are those crunching slide tackles that have very different results this time round, often leading to a straight red and a trip to the dressing room.

Defenders seem much improved this year too, no matter their rating, always managing to gain ground on one of your goalbound strikers. Even the most mediocre of defenders you come to face with seem to be blessed with the tactical awareness of a Nesta or Baresi, making it really tough to pass through the channels or pull off effective crosses.
A real bugbear historically has been the erratic goalkeepers but they’re far better now too, often pulling off phenomenal saves and really looking the part. Everything from their reactions, awareness and positioning means they’re far more likely to determine the outcome of a match than ever before.

The presentation, visuals and animations are typically spot on. All of the top players have accurate player likenesses, the weather effects are decent and the commentary is pretty seamless – although occasionally inaccurate and glitchy.
Though Ultimate Team will arguably remain one of the most popular game modes, there’s plenty more on offer. Single matches can of course be played and co-op leagues entered, and Pro Clubs makes a return too – the usual hectic affair where you can try your hand at 11 vs 11 matches. There’s also a new Interactive World Cup option right now too – letting you rise the ranks online and take on the world’s best to win some pretty decent prizes.

"FIFA 16 may not look dramatically different to last year’s version but under the hood there are certainly enough enhancements to justify a purchase."

Career mode has a couple of new features as well – pre-season tournaments not only let you try out players and tactics but lets you earn some additional funds for your transfer budget. Training drills also let you enhance the skills of some of your players and their attributes. There are also some welcome changes to scouting, transfer dealings, the signing of free agents, and there are also more loan options than before. All in all, it adds to an already comprehensive offering and should sap many hours of your life.

Each year, a lot is made about the FIFA-PES rivalry – about who is the rightful heir as the king of football games. On the one hand there’s the long-running mega-selling FIFA series – full to the brim with licenses, broadcast-like visuals and fast-paced arcadey gameplay… and then there’s PES – the more “accurate” alternative, based on careful build up play and precision passing, albeit a little rough around the edges. Fanboys will no doubt continue to staunchly defend each camp and argue about the respective qualities.

FIFA 16 may not look dramatically different to last year’s version but under the hood there are certainly enough enhancements to justify a purchase. New modes are welcome and addictive, while tweaked gameplay does result in a more realistic and complete game of football. As addictive and frustrating as ever, there is certainly plenty of keep you busy until next year’s instalment.

This game was reviewed on the Xbox One.

The latest addition to the series is a fairly slow-paced game where players scour every inch of the screen for clues to solve puzzles, encounter colourful characters and choose appropriate responses from a simple dialogue wheel.
The result is a charming world, an entertaining story and enough intrigue to keep you playing. The Serpent’s Curse is certainly a great nod to a now neglected game type – and it’s well-written, nicely voice acted and pretty decent to look at too.

This time round our heroes George Stobbart and Nico Collard are dropped in the middle of a murder mystery after a hold up at an exclusive art gallery in Paris, and it’s up to our intrepid couple to find the culprit. The theft of an obscure and mysterious painting, La Malediccio, and subsequent murder of the gallery owner not only leaves a cadaver on the floor but a lot of unanswered questions.

"The control scheme translates nicely to console, the left stick manipulating the ever-present cursor and a couple of buttons selecting where to move to, what objects to pick up and how to use them."

Cue George and Nico to jump in to the fray, solving countless puzzles and visiting various exotic locations to unravel the secrets of the painting in good old point-and-click fashion. The first half of the game progresses at a slightly slow pace, introducing you to the simple control scheme, some of the key characters and setting the scene for what is a very entertaining tale. Fortunately, the pace picks up a little when you leave the Parisian streets and cross paths with a certain Russian oligarch in London.

It’s all strangely absorbing, thanks to the decent plot, the enthusiastic voice acting and the many and varied environments. The art style and beautifully hand-drawn 2D screens are fantastic to look at – helping to pull you in. And just like the environments, the cel-shaded characters themselves are full of colour too – each laden with wit, attitude and often an intriguing backstory.

The control scheme translates nicely to console, the left stick manipulating the ever-present cursor and a couple of buttons selecting where to move to, what objects to pick up and how to use them.

Before long you’ll realise that most of the puzzles are fairly similar and few prove too taxing. Often they require a quick scan around the screen with the cursor to highlight items of interest, which are then either examined or dropped into your inventory. How to employ many of the items tends to be glaringly obvious – although occasionally, a curveball can be thrown in to stump you.

"Nevertheless, the Serpent’s Curse provides a few solid hours of great gameplay and is good fun while it lasts. There’s really no strategy required or quickness of reaction – all you need is a bit of common sense."

Interaction with the many people you come across plays out in much the same way too. Most are a grumpy, obstructive bunch initially – barely anyone willing to help you or answer questions unless you first help them overcome a problem, give them something or rub their ego.

It’s typically a case of introducing yourself, being rebuffed and then selecting various retorts from your dialogue tree. Often the relevant – and most appropriate – line of questioning/discussion topic will appear obvious, but chats with bystanders sometimes tend to descend into simply working your way through each option until they provide the required response and unlock the next phase of the story.

It is a bit of a shame you can’t really make a mistake and say the wrong thing to offend a suspect, or miss clues and head down a dead end. The game is very linear, with each puzzle having to be solved in order before progressing.
If you do struggle at any point, a handy hint system can be accessed through the menu screen – providing a series of tips to nudge you in the right direction. While this is very welcome, it can be all too tempting to cheat your way past a problem, removing much of the challenge.

Nevertheless, the Serpent’s Curse provides a few solid hours of great gameplay and is good fun while it lasts. There’s really no strategy required or quickness of reaction – all you need is a bit of common sense.

Still, you’ve got to give it to Kickstarter and crowdfunding; without this phenomenon, so many great video games would have fallen by the wayside. Fortunately for both fans of Broken Sword and those new to the long-running series, the latest episode won’t leave you disappointed.

This game was reviewed on the Xbox One.

The cute annelids that populate the colourful world of Worms World Party Remastered aren’t exactly typical though… these critters come armed to the teeth, boasting an array of weaponry that would make a small rogue nation proud.

In this remake of the uber-popular 2001 classic, you take control of a team of worms with a simple premise: kill the opposition before they kill you.

This 2D turn-based strategy game – arguably the most popular entry of the series – returns with all the game modes, options and weapons of yesteryear but complete with additional Steam achievements, leaderboards, cloud saves and full controller support!

Not only that, but the visuals have been revamped too. You could argue that the Worms series is perhaps the least likely to ever need souped-up 1080p graphics at 60fps but nonetheless, that’s exactly what you get with this package. It results in some great looking backgrounds, nicely-animated worms and some smooth animations when all hell breaks loose.

"From missiles and Uzis to homing missiles and exploding sheep, there is plenty in your arsenal to keep even the most bloodthirsty of gamers happy."

But it’s not the graphics that the real fans care about, is it? It’s the guns that matter; those fiendishly inventive weapons of destruction that transform otherwise docile creatures into lean, mean, killing machines. And there of over 60 guns, explosives and projectiles available!

From missiles and Uzis to homing missiles and exploding sheep, there is plenty in your arsenal to keep even the most bloodthirsty of gamers happy. The devastating Holy Hand Grenade remains a firm favourite as is the stink-ridden skunk bomb that roams the landscape spraying his deadly scent. Then there are the napalm strikes, cluster bombs and the indefatigable Concrete Donkey…

Worms are clearly not most agile of creatures. They can’t jump over anything more than a small gap, climb or do pretty much anything at speed… so it’s a good thing that there are also plenty of abilities on offer that make them a little more mobile. Teleporters allow them to magically reappear elsewhere on the map, whereas jet packs, bungee ropes, pneumatic drills and other goodies allow them to move elsewhere and worm their way (get it?) into the perfect sniping position.

It’s all very simple to pick up and play but tricky to master, as each of the weapons and abilities need a little trial and error to maximise their effectiveness. It means that many of the worms under your control will be little more than cannon fodder when you first start to play. Match up against an equally-inept opponent and you’ll quite literally have a blast but face off against someone who knows what they’re doing and you’ll be hard pushed to muster a victory.

You can play with friends locally or online with single and multiplayer modes catering for up to six players. Whether you want to dive in and have a quick skirmish or try your hand at one of the 20+ multiplayer missions, there’s plenty to keep you occupied.

"So is it worth buying? If you’re a fan or have never played it before, then Worms World Party Remastered is an absolute blast with a few friends or a well-matched opponent online."

The “Wormopaedia” button (think Wikipedia but for weaponry) is on hand too to help you learn about the many guns and explosive accoutrements available and gain some tips on how to maximise their impact.

Pretty much everything is customisable, with numerous options screens letting you tinker with the maps, timers, weapons and teams. You can determine how much health your worms have, match time limits and even the sudden death rules. Best of all though is the Terrain Editor, which effectively opens up an integrated paint program with various tools to design the ultimate playspace. Numerous templates are available to get you started and then it’s just a case of tweaking as much or as little as you’d like.

So is it worth buying? If you’re a fan or have never played it before, then Worms World Party Remastered is an absolute blast with a few friends or a well-matched opponent online. Remember though that there’s little that’s new content-wise with this update. Sure, it looks a little crisper and the leaderboards and use of a controller are very welcome, but there’s nothing else that really affects the gameplay and experience. If you’ve played the original – or the many follow-ups – you may question whether it needed a remaster at all. Still, it remains a good package and provides plenty of entertainment for a reasonable price.

This game was reviewed on PC.