PRIME TIME

BUT LONG-AWAITED METROID TITLE ISN'T THE ONLY GAME TO GET YOUR HANDS ON IN THE RUN-UP TO CHRISTMAS

- CHERYL MULLIN

NOVEMBER vanished in a flash and Christmas is just a few short weeks away.

While the weather outside is indeed frightful, inside you can gather round your console where it's a little warmer.

December is traditionally a slower month for game releases, but this year is bucking the trend.

There are two massive titles landing this month in the form of Metroid Prime 4 and Octopath Traveler 0.

So if you've got any free time between the Christmas parties and festive get togethers, can I recommend the following.

Assassin's Creed Shadows

(PEGI 18) Switch 2

Release: Out now

The 14th major instalment in the Assassin's Creed series, Shadows finally got a release this year.

A stunning tour through 16th century feudal Japan, you can choose to play as Naoe, a shinobi, or as Yasuke, an African samurai based on a real historical figure.

Combat is some of the most aggressive I've encountered in the franchise, especially if you find yourself cornered by a group of enemies.

Opponents tend to now block attacks, meaning you have to work a lot harder to open up vulnerabilities to eliminate them.

This is doubly hard when you consider many of the baddies are also armoured, so you have to think tactically and move fast.