Games

It's been five years since Halo 3 left Master Chief drifting through space with the war against the Covenant finally finished. Although franchise creators Bungie are no longer involved, under the reins of 343 Industries this new Halo sequel feels like a seamless transition.

This compilation of all things Halo will be a no-brainer for Xbox gamers who have grown up under the FPS tutelage of the Master Chief. All the original games have been remastered for inclusion (which means they still play exactly like they did originally but there’s more texture to the visuals) and there’s a planet-load of extras to explore, too. Featured are Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2, Halo 3 and Halo 4 campaigns, with all multiplayer and DLC content including more than 100 multiplayer and Spartan Ops maps. The package also includes the Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer beta. As a value proposition it’s phenomenal.

After numerous years in development, Quantic Dream founder and CEO David Cage's long-gestating and much-touted vision of the future of 'interactive drama' is finally here. The question now then is whether or not the finished game can possibly live up to our own expectations and the creative team's numerous claims. And while the answer - unsurprisingly - is no, Heavy Rain still delivers a unique gaming experience that comes close to living up to the hype.

It's been a little over 25 years ago since writer-director John Milius first unleashed his action flick Red Dawn on filmgoers, telling the tale of a band of small-town teenagers fighting back against Soviet forces who had invaded the country.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Superman – and he wants to kick your ass in this latest beat 'em up from the developer responsible for 2011's Mortal Kombat reboot. And, clearly buoyed by the outlandish combat opportunities provided by having players take control of a bevy of DC Comics' superheroes including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow and Flash, NeatherRealm Studios has developed what may well be the best one-on-one brawler ever crafted outside of Japan.

It was hailed as a milestone in history of videogame development and a new era for interactive entertainment in the run up to its release. But now that L.A. Noire has finally arrived on shop shelves, does Rockstar Games' latest blockbuster live up to the pre-release hype? And does the game really get us any closer to the arrival of the long-fabled interactive movie?

The most expansive adventure yet for the brick-built caped crusader and his trusty companion see them venture out of Gotham and into deep space for a romp that utilises 150 characters from the DC Universe, each with their own quirks and powers. Indeed, it’s this inspired choice of Justice League and related cast members (including Adam West!) that makes this kidult title such fun.