Paul Renshaw

Ah Activision, purveyors of fine video games for the discerning consumer. Or, if you have a small child obsessed with Skylanders, purveyors of small shiny plastic figures that empty a parent’s wallet faster than a cocaine habit.

Code Vein is a great new addition to the action RPG genre. It may be nothing more than a reskinned Dark Souls, but when the source material is so strong, that isn't a problem.

Forza Horizon 2 then, a game from 2014 - a game that still stands up today

I found myself thinking about my favourite parts of Gears 5, the highlight reel if you will, and wondered how my list of memorable moments would compare to those of others. Would it be the stunning story? The intense multiplayer? The Horde mode for being, well, Horde mode?

I have no hesitation in naming Gears 5 on Xbox One as a triumph. The story is amazing, the multiplayer works perfectly, and Horde and Escape are the cherries on the cake.

Every game in Risk of Rain 2 begins with a character being dropped onto a planet, and told to find a teleporter, while anything and everything attempts to kill you. And I mean literally every little thing, except some of the flowers.

The single player mode is great fun, and while this makes for an enjoyable experience, once the online multiplayer begins to work as intended, this is a game that will go from strength to strength.

Even in a season that includes games like Borderlands 3 and Gears 5, Ghost Recon Breakpoint has gone to the top of my most wanted list.

Seeing a new perspective to the Gears Universe is always interesting, and this one is just a happy, fun to play, place to be.

Vigor is a new game with an interesting premise… yet a strange implementation.

Asdivine Menace is a must if you played Asdivine Dios, as it brings the story to a very satisfying end.

It appears that someone at Blowfish Studios has access to a sheet of tracing paper, and it has been put to good use. See, Whipseey and the Lost Atlas resembles a mash up of Super Mario Bros, Kirby and, weirdly, a dash of Pokemon.

If you are a fan of Gears, and its extended universe, or even if you just want a leg up on the story of Gears 5, I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending you to pick up a copy of Gears of War: Ascendance from Titan Books.

Excited for Gears 5? Gone back to play through the previous Gears of War titles? You'll probably be wanting to get fully immersed in the whole lore of the series. And with that in mind Titan Books' Gears of War: Ascendance should be something to check out. We certainly wanted to know more about the thrilling novel which begins immediately after Gears of War 4 and leads directly into the action of the new game. Thankfully the writer behind it, the New York Times-bestselling author Jason M. Hough no less, was more than happy to spend some time answering our questions...

I've got to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Animus - Stand Alone. It is by no means perfect, and the camera is a serious issue that can cause problems, but other than that it’s been a pleasure.