Crash Test: games in review

THIS week Tristan Ogilvie gives you his take on the supernatural follow up to 2009's Heavy Rain as well as three other new games.

Beyond Two Souls

THIS week Tristan Ogilvie gives you his take on the supernatural follow-up to 2009's Heavy Rain as well as reviewing three other new games.

* TOP PICK

BEYOND: TWO SOULS [R18+]

PS3 / $99.95 / out now

Rating: 3/5

Ellen Page and Willem Dafoe star in this spiritual successor to 2009's Heavy Rain. While there's no connection between the narratives, this supernaturally themed thriller employs the same branching narrative structure and intuitive control system of its predecessor, and adds co-operative play making it a great gaming choice for couples. The visual design is near-photorealistic and the performances of Paige and Dafoe are excellent, but unfortunately the supporting cast is substandard and the writing is patchy. As a result Beyond doesn't quite hit the same emotional heights as Heavy Rain.

SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED [PG]

PC / Wii U / 3DS / $39.99-$59.95 / out now

Rating: 3/5

Scribblenauts Unmasked lets players summon almost any hero or villain from DC Comics' history. Regular protagonist Maxwell returns, and using his magical notebook the player can spawn almost anything they can think of. The more creative you are in your approach to puzzle solving, the greater the rewards - although some solutions feel illogical at times.

F1 2013 [G]

PS3 / Xbox 360 / PC /$69.95-$89.95 / out now

Rating: 3/5

The 2013 F1 season may have succumbed to another year of Sebastian Vettel dominance, so it's good the official video game spices things up with classic cars, tracks and drivers from the '80s (and '90s if you opt for the Classic Edition). The racing benefits from tweaked handling and AI, although on the whole the improvements over last year's game are fairly incremental.

DRAGON'S CROWN [M]

PS Vita / PS3 / $44.95-$59.95 / Out Thursday

Rating: 4/5

Harkening back to the days when side-scrolling beat-'em-ups like Golden Axe were at the forefront of the video game medium, Dragon's Crown is an aesthetically beautiful brawler. It features a robust loot and upgrade system and action that continues to intensify over its 20 hour-long campaign. Its story may be a little weak, but its combat and multiplayer modes more than make up for it.