Fans of the pink blob will be happy about this minigame collection that could definitely use more content.

Vice City is a magical place that is home to my most memorable videogame experiences. And everything is there, or at least it seems: Crusin' through the city is fun, the soundtrack is as good as ever, so is the dialogue. But as soon as you really have to play, the systems' limitations spoil the fun.

Neat 2D-jump'n’shoot with hardly rewarding roguelike mechanics and frustrating weapon swap system, but charming enemy selection.

I liked Mad Skills Motocross, but I can't get into the Swedes' BMX title. While the first races are quite entertaining, the controls are not precise enough for the later challenges.

For most of the time Call of Cthulhu moves in the right direction, but mechanically and in terms of storytelling always gets lost. While it tries to lure you into this world, it always loses grip on intensity, freedom and above all, challenge - thus losing the player in the process.

While the true fans can’t wait for the recently announced Pokemon Sun and Moon , Nintendo tries to get the most out of the 20th anniversary of Pikachu & Co as possible. But in this case this is not for the better. While the idea is as good as it always was, the random element brings a lot of redundance, while the story is targeted at a very young audience.

Like its predecessors, this is a charming, but very unspectacular Anime-RPG. But even though veterans may notice some progess in terms of presentation, combat system or level design, you'll still miss freedom, variety and depth.

Don't get me wrong: This was and still is a solid action adventure. But the decision to split the Japanese original into two separate games leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

The Vita version of this PSN hack'n-slay, which in return is based on a mobile phone franchise, offers solid entertainment with a hefty price tag.

Average tower defense with a wide range of multiplayer options and unique visuals.

It manages to entertain for short periods but if you want more than the occasional 8- or 9-ball the potential here remains mainly untapped.

Challenging and motivating at first, but the technical faults up to total crashes make sure that the fun is short-lived.

With its varied spell system and the adventure book intermissions Fictorum shows a lot of potential. Unfortunately it is merely tapped into...

Sometimes it is too evident, if the game in question is a solo project like Spheroids. But nonetheless: If you like the oldie Pang! you’ll find some fun behind the technical shortcomings.

Solid twin-stick action that lacks diversity, while you sense the mobile roots at every corner.

Surprisingly well playable mobile shooter, with loads of in-game-purchases and bots.

The direction is good, the actors are convincing. The movie experience is intense, but as a game it just never really takes off.

Quotation forthcoming.

Even with receding quality in the series over the years in mind I was looking forward to this game. But just like the 19th century became a cultural breaking test for Japan, this becomes a breaking test for even the hardest advocate of samurais in an open world.

Quotation forthcoming.

What was once a glorious name in JRPG is slowly dismantled by Square Enix and inscrutable design decisions. The sad bit about it is that conceptually this could have been a decent comeback for Lightning.

The action is mostly exhilerating, but the open world is a rather strangely lifeless barebones experience - except for the ressources, that you find in an inflationary abundance.

Why one of the most uninspired franchises in Sony history gets a sequel, is beyond me. Having said that, Knack 2 improves the formula in almost every aspect. Unfortunately even with that it still is a generic and bland action platformer with no esprit.

It looks classy at first, but in the end it as merely an average board game in a well known universe.

Quotation forthcoming.

Not a successful restart: The Saints Row reboot isn't really convincing either in terms of play or technology.

The line between motivation and pure hatred is very thin. While I like the basic idea the redundancies as well as the strange jumping behavior keep me from getting invested more.

Amy impressively showcases how underdeveloped gaming generally is on an emotional level. But unfortunately the moments of frustration about the controls, the lengthy storytelling, frustrating AI and too much trial and error prevail.

Promising, but unpolished interpretation of the classic Pang! that needs refinement in almost every aspect.

I love Superhot VR on PC. But without proper room scaling and with evident technical problems this is nothing but a shell of one of the best VR games around. You can still sense the greatness of its brethren, but the execution feels too rushed and not catered to PSVR.

More of the same and unfortunately in every respect: The Treasure of Zone Zero brings more of the addictive gameplay loop and at the same time the well-known legacy that was rightly criticized with Pokémon Crimson & Crimson.

Quite entertaining comedy adventure that builds on a “Groundhog Day”-theme, but keeps getting lost in illogical and strangely connected puzzles.

I expected more from this metaphysical thriller. The Lovecraft induced premise with wild visions as well as the technical and supernatural setting shows promise. But the storytelling dynamics and lack of challenge leave a lot to be desired.

In theory (and when it runs without problems) Into The Stars is an interesting fight for survival in space somewhere between Wall-E and FTL. But bugs and the weak presentation drag you back down to Earth.

Gust opened the world, but it still lacks a more interesting story and better visuals.

Theoretically this is a really good action roleplaying game. But a lot of small and some major issues in basically all areas from visuals over sound design up to puzzles and quest design spoil the fun.

What could have been an interesting mash-up of Streets of Rage and Dead Island, is nothing more than a bland zombie variation of runner mechanics – with a captivating artdesign, though.

With the forced ommisions in the Western markets, this game is in the limelight for all the wrong reasons. But if you think that the art of long lost boob bouncing, a merely solid battle system and superficial “my boobs are smaller than yours” dialogue is game of the year material, than this might be something for you.

The premise is interesting, the visuals are good and you constantly feel the potential simmering under the surface. But overall this mystery action feels unfinished or unpolished too often for its own good.

It shows a lot of potential but at the latest when you get to the grinding stage (which is fairly early), you’ll find that the mechanics can’t back up all the potential there might be.

You feel like a babysitter for an undisciplined Roman legion that got lost in antique texture forests. Between micromanagement and visual boredom the fun is lost too quickly.

This is no catastrophe, but it is far from being a good game as well.

GRID Autosport shows one thing first and foremost: That Switch is unsuitable as a racing platform if a game wants to show off more than arcade mechanics – even though the combination of mobile gaming and GameCube-controller promises quite some fun.

The concept is interesting but too soon everything will be sacrificed to in-app-purchases that are forced by design dead ends that can just be solved by spending money. This is pay-to-win at its worst…

Below par and slightly censored 2D roleplaying experience with an active time battle system that stays bland throughout.

I really would like to fall in love with Assetto Corsa Competizione. And would it be only for the driving physics, this is a dream on four wheels. But bugs (loads), half-baked features and incomprehensible design decisions leave the impression that is still an obvious beta version with a hefty price tag.

Quotation forthcoming.

Koei is Koei is Koei. Kenshiro’s second fight for vengeance is rich with content, but he just can’t step out of the poor base mechanics that make all that content so repetitive.

If you are looking for a quick strategy snack this might just work but in the end it lacks complexity, an online mode and suffers from poor presentation.

It looks awesome and the borders between movie and game get blurred once again. But the linear, very simplistic game design doesn’t even scratch the surface – be it in the firefights, the stealth or the useless interaction. Overall: A tremendous amount of potential gone to waste.

A nice idea held back by its boring execution that pales in comparison to Rogue Aces.

The discussions about the fetishes catered to aside, this is a solid, albeit grind heavy JRPG.

Crude mixture of dating sim and dungeon crawler that would appeal to boys in puberty rather than roleplaying aficionados.

Although the concept of Koeis musou action works with the heroes of Utawarerumono the scuffproof mechanics feel unsophisticated and rather unspectacular.

Quite short and remarkably unspectacular postapocalyptic dungeon crawler.

This is FIFA 17 light. With less visual power, reduced modes and less impressive mechanics compared to its name sharing siblings this is a downgrade with a hefty price tag.

The mysterious atmosphere as well as the multi-faceted fight system show a lot potential. But Absolver seriously lacks content, while technical flaws and shortcomings definitely need to be addressed soon.

You think you can ride with Age of Empires 2 into the high definition era? Think again. Instead of offering full social penetration with “like us”, “subscribe”, “watch” and “follow” the visuals should have gotten the attention this classic deserves. If you can live without online battles and the pseudo HD, here’s some advice: The gold edition from 2001 is a bargain…

If you need an example for a funny idea that should have stayed a funny idea, look no further. All the new influences are definitely not enhancing the gameplay.

Seriously? We had to wait for the PC port this long? With bugs and technical problems the once very good action roleplaying game is reduced to a meager shell.

I love old school role-playing games. But I am Setsuna almost makes me fall asleep. Too static, too easy, too monotonous.

From time to time the glory of old times shines through and you start having fun. That is, before you are brought down again by the uninspired level design, the outdated visuals and the redundant missions.

This is definitely the weirdest title in the PSVR launch lineup. Sometimes an impressive showing of how immersive and claustrophobic horror in virtual can be, mechanically most of the time it is just not interesting enough. Plus there is a decent issue of motion sickness that even hardened VR players might succumb to.

Iconic monster trucks competing in repetitive events. Steel Titans 2 shows too much untapped potential when it comes to the interesting licence.

As a soccer fan I am disillusioned: One of the world’s leading publishers is not able to reproduce real World Cup feeling.

Even though you have a variety of weapons and a fairly decent fight system at your disposal, this rather feels like hack and slay jogging.

In theory the concept of Metroidvania platforming with bikes and elements of Trials still is promising. But technical shortcomings hold the One-version back.

Finally: Trials comes to iOS and in the end it is merely a watered down free-to-play version with focus on in app purchases.

At its core, this mixture of action-adventure, evolution and prehistoric survival is interesting, but held back massively by a bunch of cumbersome and badly explained mechanics as well as clumsy controls.

There are some strong moments. But they are definitely not found within the visuals. Unfortunately Cyanide doesn’t manage to walk the tightrope between simulation with its energy management the team orders and the tactical components and pure arcade cycling without mechanical failures or even crashes.

Legends of Eisenwald tries hard to challenge the competition. But as a roleplaying game it is either corny or boring while the turn based tactics are standard respectively borderline uninteresting.

The concept is interesting, but this tower defense with its mobile heroes feels unfinished.

It could have been to Gran Turismo for motorbikes. Milestone can’t capture the fascination as well as Polyphony did over years, while the races suffer technically and in terms of balancing.

Good ideas and a charming presentation are held back by bugs, AI problems as well as technical and control issues.

Of course it looks better than on the old gen consoles a few years back. But the conceptual and mechanical shortcomings are still evident. This serves as a warning in which direction Capcom shouldn’t go with the sequel.

If you can look past the boobs that seem to be moved by hydraulic systems and the sometimes unbearably embarrassing dialogue you’ll find an interesting fighting system that gives Koeis Musou-games a run for their money.

The presentation is almost as boring as the battles, which are too easy most of the time – with the exception of bosses, of course. If it wouldn’t be for the interesting story, this could have been a disaster.

Compared to the similar War of the Roses you get tighter controls and more game modes, but it lacks in entertainment value.

While the presentation of the Australian Open is quite entertaining, the overall experience with its limited freedom of movement and strong focus on automatisms is mediocre at best.

The PC version emphasizes why the once strong franchise failed to impress and rather disappoints in so many areas. Terror, Horror and suspense are gone, while the shooter parts that remain are way behind Crysis 3 or Gears of War Judgment.

Yes, this is an ambitious action adventure with an appealing world. But it is held back by the weak story, fights that lack any real challenge and bucketloads of unsophisticated quests, all of which push it into mediocrity.

The Technomancer tries to make an effort. Almost every aspect that you would expect from a roleplaying experience is there. Multifaceted character development, party-interaction, decisions with consequences, crafting, stealth. But there is not enough quality, everything seems superficial. In the post-Witcher 3 or-Fallout 4 era you have to do better.

At first glance it is fascinating, but the longer you look you'll realize that augmented reality still is in its infancy. Wonderbook shows what potential lies in the fusion of camera, motion recognition and game. And in its best moments it creates something magical – but rather visually than in terms of gameplay.

It should have stayed on mobile platforms. While it is motivating enough to keep you coming back from time to time to hunt for highscores, it lacks variety to fascinate in the long run.

Grueling solo survival with too many bits and pieces as well as unintuitive management and a short exploration leash.

This reboot is not a new but a soulless misinterpretation. It undoubtedly has its moments but they are outweighed by its petty mechanics and superficial treatment of the Thief heritage.

While I am a fan of retro collections, this one is rather disappointing. The games itself are chosen well, but they also show with little to none mechanical progress over the years, why this genre is more or less extinct. And there is hardly enough bonus material to keep you happy, either.

Thanks to the sound design Zombie Studios manage to create a nightmarish atmosphere. But in the end Daylight is no match for Slender or Outlast.

While the campaign feels lackluster and like a prelude to the multiplayer battles, the lootbox lottery that DICE and EA focus on almost knocks out the great fun to be had. They definitely took one step too far into the Dark Side.

More playground than living breathing world. BioWare opens a gigantic fantasy theme park. But unfortunately the only thing that is epic is the amount of content. Story, character behavior, quests and minigames are a mere shadow of the studio's former glory.

A good soundtrack and VR immersion are not enough to outweigh the diffuse storytelling and mostly bland visuals.

The foundation is rock solid and the premise with its mix of city-building and real-time strategy is still interesting. But the execution lacks finesse, while bugs and a steep learning curve take their toll on the motivation.

Shooter mechanics in a world that is a conceptual carbon copy of Dark Soul? In theory it could be interesting, but the execution is lackluster and leaves a lot to be desired.

The quality of the cardboard peripherals is way higher than the quality of the games that come with it.

Solid, but in the end quite mediocre turn based tactics that hasn’t been optimized for Switch.

Technically Let’s Sing is an entertaining karaoke game with interesting modes, but also well-known strengths and weaknesses from yesteryears’ iterations. And the song choice is rather disappointing.

After quite a few systems, dozens of planets and hundreds of scans you don’t feel like a conqueror, but rather like Haviland Tuf from George R.R.Martins novel “Tuf Voyaging”: You’re a collector and explorer. But you can experience truly magic moments in this interstellar Terra Incognita. Nonetheless the fascination fades eventually and is replaced by frustration about the frequent crashes that in the end are effectively killing your motivation to continue.

This is dreary, sometimes plain boring and frustrating. Even if you get into the mechanics thanks to YouTube-videos (!), there are way too many shortcomings.