Crash test: Games in review

KNOW what to play with Cam Shea's review of the latest releases to hit the world of gaming.

Skylanders Swap Force video game available on PS3 / Wii / Wii U / Xbox 360

KNOW what to play with Cam Shea's review of the latest releases to hit the world of gaming.

Batman: Arkham Origins [M]

RATING 3/5

PC / PS3 / Wii U / Xbox 360 / $79.95 / $89.95 / Out now

Origins is set before both the previous Arkham games, and has one hell of a premise. It's Christmas Eve and Black Mask has put an enormous bounty out on Batman for one night only. Eight villains are out to get him, while others, like Enigma, lurk in the shadows. Gliding and grappling around Gotham is as entertaining as ever, as is the balletic, timing-based combat, but this release feels inessential; a redux of what has come before. One cool new addition is the enhanced Detective Mode that lets the player analyse and reconstruct crime scenes.\

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 Skylanders Swap Force [G]

RATING 4/5

PS3 / Wii / Wii U / Xbox 360 / $99.95 [Starter Pack] / Out now

Skylanders is back and the 16 new figurines have a top and bottom half which can be mixed and matched. How about a robot octopus? Or a rollerskating parrot? Experimenting with combos brings a new dimension to the action-platforming gameplay. With fun action, humorous characters and witty writing, Swap Force is a game for the whole family.

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The Stanley Parable

RATING 5/5

PC / $15 / Out now

The Stanley Parable has fun pushing the boundaries of video game storytelling. Its ever-present narrator is in turns a guide, friend and adversary, commenting on the player's actions as they unravel the world's web of branching, looping paths. More an interactive, nonlinear story than a game, The Stanley Parable is surprising, deftly mocking expectations and conventions. Not to be missed.

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140

RATING 4/5

PC / $5 / Out now

This music-driven 2D platformer keeps its presentation simple and its controls minimal, placing its superb techno soundtrack front and centre. 140's gameplay is intricately linked to its score: a bassline may blow the player up into the air, or blocks may expand and contract with the music. Each level evolves with the music, making for a brief, but compelling experience.