The epic science-fiction trilogy concludes, and Commander Shepard faces his greatest battle yet. Set in the distant future, the Mass Effect series of games are about a character called Shepard, a human whose military, political, and personal life are heavily intertwined with the fate of the galaxy. In the previous two games, we see Shepard take on the immense threat posed by the Reapers, an advanced life form that bring carnage and destruction to entire civilizations. In this final chapter, Shepard must come face to face with an entire fleet of Reapers, who have invaded his home world (Earth) as well as many other planets. Shepard is also faced with the threat of Cerberus, another human interest group, with vast amounts of technology and funds at their disposal, whose leader, the Illusive Man, seems determined to use to control the Reapers in order to use them to further his power. Picking up where ME2 left off, this third instalment carries all of the progress made by the previous games, and adds a massive dimension of tension to the story. The impending doom of Earth and the galaxy creates an awesome atmosphere to play this game within, and the action which follows is equally as impressive. Battle scenes are fine tuned, superbly directed, and the plethora of creatures and aliens on offer add depth to the game play. Some of the characters from previous games reveal themselves, making it an even more enjoyable experience for anyone deeply rooted in the ME franchise. Some criticism has been raised over the choice of ending for the games, and indeed the choice to end them at all. This certainly has credence. However, anyone who has been on this journey with Shepard from the beginning must see it through to the end, and the continuing use of plot-changing choices is excellent. Overall, this game is a knockout. The cut scenes rival any modern gaming experience, the depth and variety to the game play is fantastic, and the aforementioned tense atmosphere has made this the game of 2012 so far.

Skate 3

Skateboarding games hold a dear place in my heart: from the early days of Tony Hawk Pro Skater, to the modern Skate games, there is something special about the combination of gaming and skating. As franchises go, Skate revolutionised the way we enjoy skating games, but this newest addition fails to add much to the party.

An enjoyable game, Skate 3 continues with the hard work that 1 and 2 did, giving a smooth and enjoyable game play, with plenty of variety when it comes to missions and tasks. There is still the bevy of street contests to compete in, and the photo/film missions, as well as the notorious Hall of Meat challenges which test a player’s ability to annihilate themselves at a given location. All these fun factors are still there, but with very little new ones.

The concept of Skate 3 is to build your own skating company from the ground up, and make it into a success. Completing challenges means more money for your company, and as you become a bigger success, the challenges become equally harder. However, there seems little depth to this plot, and not much actually happens as you progress. It seems like a lacklustre attempt at a game, and a kick in the shins for the loyal fans of the franchise. They have attempted to increase the online presence of those playing the game, but this seems like a weak attempt at development.

If you have played the other two games, you don’t need to play this one. There is only a few changes, and they don’t excuse the price you will pay to try them out. A short lifespan in your machine, and then a dust collector on the shelf, Skate 3 is unworthy of the skating games legacy.

Batman: Arkham City (2011)

A mighty successor to Arkham Asylum, this time, Batman is locked inside a prison in the heart of Gotham, that is five times bigger than the Asylum.

Few games have ever come along of this calibre, and if you have played, and loved, the first instalment, you will know where I am coming from. The Batman series has managed to create its own league within the games industry, with very little competition.

Arkham City follows many of the traits of its predecessor, but adds extra gadgets, abilities, and new game play in order to make it fresh. The result is an enthralling game, with an amazing storyline, a great script, and captivating characters (drawn from the original comics, such as: Mr Freeze, Two-Face, and, of course, The Joker).

The most impressive element to this game has to be this city-wide prison that is housing countless criminals, as well as political prisoners, and the lonely Bruce Wayne. Headed by a skilful, yet, evil, Dr Strange, the prison was supposed to be Gotham’s answer to its endless crime problem, but has instead created a breeding ground for notorious gangs and thugs. Gliding through these dark city streets, and skimming water or hanging from vantage points is an essential part of the play, and something that does not tire.

Most games opt for a half-hearted script, in order for the game to keep moving, however, the Arkham games have some of the best dialogue and character development going. Some of the scenes with baddies are so brilliantly staged, they seem more like high quality films than game sequences, and the cut scenes are moments you want to relish and enjoy, not skip and move on from.

If I were to highlight any criticism, it would be that the Riddler challenges became a little tedious after a while, due to the vast quantities of them. But, apart from that, every aspect of this game is enjoyable, and it is a world I will go back to again and again.