Astro Bears is incredibly easy to learn, play, and provides a good amount of challenge depending on who you are playing against and how you work together (or against each other). The best part is that even though the levels are nothing too special because you are playing with other people, no two rounds will ever be the same. While most of its elements feel repetitive and lacks adventure, Astro Bears is really just a no-frills, fun family game. It is nothing spectacular nor extraordinary, but its playful colors and the atmosphere it creates in the room shows it is capable of bringing joy to those who play it.

Without my suffering-tinted lenses, Ghostrunner is a fast-paced, tough-ass platformer. Every stage is a non-stop barrage of fresh new challenges. Death is around every corner if you ever stop moving. You’ll experience crushing defeat in a host of different ways, but your victories will be all the sweeter. You can choose your path to victory, with multiple routes available through some of the larger stages. On the aesthetic side of things, more or less every stage is drenched in cyberpunk minutiae. The neon, the grime, and the violence lend an electric urgency to your already death-defying exploits. My only warning is this: know what you’re in for first. First-person action platform games aren’t for everyone. Of course, I had to play one to discover this, so who knows! Maybe a new favorite subgenre is waiting in the wings.

Overall, The Bridge gets by well on its unique influence, style and on its difficulty. It’s a perspective bender that will leave your brain hurting and really challenges you in the puzzle solving genre.

Conarium does a fantastic job on the atmosphere and giving players those fearful moments of panic where you are holding your breath at every turn. The gameplay; however, is somewhat unchallenging and puzzles are few and far between. While the story and plot are good, Conarium is quite short. This being said, those who love anything inspired by Lovecraft and his creatures should surely enjoy this title.

Like the visuals and the sound, my recommendation for PUSS! is a complex, chaotic beast. On the one hand, it’s a beautiful, brilliant game. I haven’t heard a game soundtrack this unique in literal years. The visuals will haunt your dreams for days after you’re done with this game. And yet, the challenge is either insurmountable or woefully insufficient. After a moment of weakness, I decided to look up some let’s plays on YouTube. It turns out I’m just not good at maze games? A man hands as shaky as these should have seen this coming, but still. My evaluation of the difficulty is tied to my skills in the genre overall. To that end, if you’re a maze gamer? This will be an absolute blast. Conversely, if you’ve got no patience for high precision movement and constant dodging, PUSS! might be a pretty bad time. Either way, you’re unlikely to see a game quite like this for a very long time.

Needless to say, the co-op mode is incredibly fun to play.

Pathologic Classic HD is certainly an improvement on what was already an instant classic, but players shouldn’t expect a hugely different experience from the 2005 version, and the flaws from back then have become even more obvious with age. That being said, it’s perfect for people who’ve never played the original, or who just can’t wait for the remake.

Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China takes a bold new step for the franchise. While I did have fun, I spent most of the game frustrated by buggy controls and A.I. that seemed to forget what its limitations were.

Star Overdrive is a gorgeous and ambitious indie third-person adventure game. It has lofty dreams of being Breath of the Wild with SSX-style hoverboard traversal. The exploration and board riding feel great. I loved the gameplay loop of travelling to new areas and gaining powers from dungeons. But the combat is way too simple, and obviously masked by a way too forgiving difficulty. A lot of the RPG mechanics are light and work well, but the hoverboard crafting system is an unexpected, overly complicated mess. There are a lot of interesting ideas in Star Overdrive. Even though they’re not all well-executed, I urge anyone curious to give it a try.

I liked the look of Winter Ember and its dark Victorian vibe, which meshed well with its revenge narrative and story. There’s more to a game than atmosphere, though, and that’s where Winter Ember is a mixed success. The levels are filled with confusing repetition and uncertain goals. Stealth and close-up combat aren’t equally viable, despite upgrades to both. As a result, Arthur never quite becomes the all-around badass protagonist you want him to be, and the game’s elements never fully come together. That said, stealth action fans should find something to enjoy about the game.

Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered is awesome in so many ways, but it’s annoying in a lot of ways too. With the steep learning curve at the beginning, I can’t imagine anyone enjoying it who’s not a JRPG veteran. But for those of us that love the genre, there are some cool experiments to shake things up, and a massive world to explore with multiple protagonists. It’s a ton of content; easily over 100 hours’ worth. Anyone curious about the roots of modern JRPGs like Octopath Traveler and Bravely Default should really give it a try.

Overall, Battlefield Waltz is a pretty good time. Don’t expect something revolutionary, but do expect some fun romance. And the visuals are very nice.

The Charnel House Trilogy sets up an intriguing mystery but doesn’t quite complete it. While some issues hold the game back somewhat, there is no question this was an enjoyable five to six hour diversion akin to reading a good story.

Its story is certainly not bad – it is just that it is very safe, and doesn’t take any risks – and it misses a real opportunity to be great.

Like so much of the Warhammer 40K universe, Necromunda is a richly imagined world filled with the potential for conflict and storytelling. Using it as the setting for an action-filled shooter makes total sense. Although its mechanics are essentially a greatest-hits collection of ideas from other shooters, Necromunda: Hired Gun is a competent introduction to this particular slice of the Warhammer 40K-verse. At some point, however, repetition and fatigue with the one-note approach to pacing and the relentlessly hopeless nature of the world set in. You begin to desperately hope for some humanity, emotional depth, humor, or variety…which I guess ultimately is the plight of the Underhive’s residents. It just shouldn’t be that of the gamer.

I think that if you translated Lost in Random's dark narrative and engagingly strange visual style into a stop-motion animated style film, it would be a powerful exploration of a harrowing and at times poignant journey through an upside down world ruled by disorder. There's a lot of that in the game, too, but it's made less effective by tepid mechanics and tedious, unrewarding combat. The story and setting are absolutely worth experiencing, but there's probably a chance you'll be as disappointed by the gameplay as you are enchanted by the tale.

Underneath the catchy soundtrack and neon art style is a game that is made for the hardcore gamer, but it’s also very accessible for a newcomer. The pick-up-and-play control scheme is simple and intuitive but it’ll also take patience and some luck to overcome the high difficulty.

The Bozak Horde is a fine endeavour by Techland. Not going with the safe, bonus missions DLC again, they decided to branch out and give you a whole different way to experience Dying Light. Unfortunately, a new way to play isn’t always enough. The lack of storyline to it left me wanting more and the timed trials eventually became more of a ‘how well did I memorize each level’ instead of how skilled I was with a machete while performing intricate parkour.

Metal Slug Tactics injects fresh energy into the tactics genre with its dynamic, fast-paced systems. While the game introduces a range of compelling mechanics, their lack of clear explanations can hinder your strategic choices during missions. However, the thrill of initiating sync attacks encourages a more aggressive playstyle, making battles feel exhilarating. Leikir Studio has successfully reimagined a classic franchise for a new genre, and despite some issues with system clarity, the addictive gameplay loop offers a fun and innovative twist on tactical strategy.

There’s a good formula hiding somewhere in Agents of Mayhem, I just don’t think the solution was ever found. Perhaps in time with some improvements, my mind will change, but right now I don’t know if I’ll enlist with the Agents of Mayhem again.

The story is a bit dull, featuring a “mysterious Pokemon” that really isn’t that mysterious, even to casual fans like myself.

Castle of Illusion is a beautiful game in imagery and sound yet we are left with some control issues that need some fine tuning and maybe a couple more options to make it a tad more robust. All in all Castle of Illusion is a solid game that Disney fans and those who might be looking for their next platforming fix will enjoy.

There’s no way this will ever be a mainstream fighting game, but it’s still a blast to play.

Layers of Fear: Legacy has some flaws, but the central experience – exploring an ever-changing mansion as you descend into madness – is solid and exciting. If you don’t mind a few cheap scares, there’s a good horror game here.

While nearly all aspects of the game shine, it’s the collective story that is supposed to bring the cases together that is lacking.

While Mother Russia Bleeds is a competent brawler with a nice variety of punishment to extoll, it clings a little too tightly to old school mechanics and ideas about gameplay and narrative. The slick presentation is nice to look at, though, so you could do much worse for an afternoon on the couch with your buddies.

It takes a long time to do anything in Portal Knights. And when doing things begin to land on the side of tedium rather than fun, it becomes quite difficult to see the silver lining. That being said, Portal Knights surely isn’t bad. It’s just the type of game that appeals to its niche audience; in this case a younger crowd itching for some minecrafty sandbox fun. There’s definitely some to be had, you just might have to do a bit of digging.

F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch is an excellent story-driven, combat-heavy Metroidvania. But the Nintendo Switch version is the worst version available. If the Switch is your only option to play the game on, it’s a great game at its core. But if you have access to either PlayStation, or a PC, their visual and performance quality greatly outweigh the Switch’s portability option.

Rhythm Fighter provides an interesting concept and although the beginning is overwhelming, it is an enjoyable and forgiving experience. You don’t need much sense of rhythm or direction, making it a friendly experience for many. It starts to become repetitive despite the battlefield being randomly generated, but its catchy music encourages you to pick up the game again and again.

I can honestly say that I enjoy Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires more than Dynasty Warriors 9. You may attribute this to the sorry state of the latter when it first launched. Although, I must affirm that I am a big fan of the simulation genre and empire management. The fact that battles affect the grand campaign, and vice versa, makes all the interactions in this installment meaningful. To what extent is up to you. Sadly, apart from a decent graphical upgrade, there’s not enough here to call it a fully realized sequel. The franchise is competing against itself. Unless the updated hack-and-slash gameplay and expanded character roster are enough to tie you over, consider this empire incomplete.

Echoes of the End is a mixed success. Its narrative, characters, and performances are excellent, and the world is impressive. Some of the game’s more logical environmental puzzles and its late-game combat are engaging, too. Unfortunately, the game’s overall pace is undercut by repetitive gameplay structures, far too many busywork puzzles, and flat combat that takes too long to get interesting. There’s a lot of great stuff in Echoes of the End, but it’s impossible to ignore what doesn’t work as well.

Bricktales is perfect – for the right audience. The trouble is, I’m not sure who that audience is. The visuals and the writing feel very all-ages. But the puzzle design requires a high degree of patience and perseverance. I’m neither a parent nor a child, however. For all I know, kids love spending ages making the perfect bird perch. That’s where the alchemy happens, you see. That’s the crucible. If you love building without blueprints, if you’ve got a head for design, you’re in luck. LEGO Bricktales will be an incredible time from start to finish. But otherwise? The breathtaking visuals and clever design won’t be enough to hold your attention.

It will give you a fun gaming experience that is equally zany and competitive. That said, you might want to play with the in-game sound off.

If you found yourself starving for a greater challenge while playing World of Final Fantasy, then the Maxima Upgrade will surely light a fire in you. If you struggled and slogged through the game’s many battles, then this upgrade will leave you famished yet.

Everhood is an enchanting rhythm-based adventure that falls short of greatness due to a few technical issues. Its combat system is an absolute joy and the music is brilliant, however, frame-rate drops and lengthy load times hinder what could have been a great experience.

Once again I ask, is the Pokemon Violet DLC worth buying? That depends. If you were hoping for a smoother framerate, you’ll be disappointed. The Teal Mask DLC runs just as well as the base game. If you want more Pokemon content, you’re in luck! There’s something like 100 old Pokemon being added to the total roster. There’s also new sidequests, new story content, and new items to acquire. The battles are challenging (by Pokemon standards), and there’s a wide variety of biomes within Kitakami to explore. For me, this was a perfect excuse to jump back into the game. But I recognize that I’m a hardcore fan of these games. Ultimately, that’s who Pokemon DLC is usually for. If you’re a fan, you’ll enjoy this extra content. Otherwise, you can leave this one be.

Ripples took my every criticism of “Hide and Seek’s” core experience and fixed it, focusing more on The Council’s incredible dialogue system than the puzzles of the manor.

Overall, Turf Wars felt much more exciting than The Heist in terms of action and combat. The three new suits are way more badass, with the first two being heavy-duty, Iron Man-style get-ups and the third being an insanely satisfying, animated surprise that you’ll have to unlock yourself to admire. The enemies feel more dynamic, and while the content is limited, the story is short, and the plot is easy to feel indifferent towards, Turf Wars is fun and leaves us wanting more in the way of Yuri’s ominous storyline.

The fact is that most players will just want to hop in and play rather than build. Those players will ultimately be left wanting after play set boredom sinks in. Still, it is an improvement over 1.0 and it makes me hopeful for what we might see out of the eventual successor in Disney Infinity 3.0.

The levels are challenging without being overly frustrating and the music is charismatic. Fans of the retro 8-bit games will enjoy Ninja Senki DX.

Though the mechanical elements are rock solid, the look and feel of the game is still off. At least for me, this campaign content feels subdued and a little lonely. Taken as part of the complete experience, the single-player content is something of a safe house. A quiet space where you can sharpen your skills and experiment with new weapons. Even so, the solo campaign for Splatoon 3 had me longing for the chaos of the online arena.

It doesn’t have the personalization of Beat Hazard and it doesn’t have the level of content that Pac-Man Championship Edition has. In many ways for the entry point of ten dollars there are better options out there. But if any of what you’ve read sounds intriguing or if you see the game on sale, take to the skies and enjoy the ride.

Overall, City of Gangsters is a fine title that attempts some fun twists on the 4X genre. The setting is excellent, the art is good, and the music is atmospheric. It would have benefitted from a little voice acting, especially in the tutorials, as this game has a lot of text to read. City of Gangsters demonstrates that the 4x genre works just as well in miniature as it does in grand, sweeping epic spans of history.

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is the original System Shock 2 experience for better and for worse. It includes every aspect of the original game, including the clunky menus and side features that don’t work as well as intended. Fans of the original will miss nothing, and have a smooth-running version on consoles. While System Shock 2 is an important video game, it’s going to be difficult for modern players to experience it for the first time. I recommend Nightdive’s System Shock remake for anyone who wants to get into the series for the first time. Undoubtedly, System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is the best way to play this classic open-world survival horror FPS CRPG.

If you know your own tastes in RPGs like I do, if you know what systems baked into these games get your cortex lit up like the dashboard on a 747, Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea might be perfect for you. However, if you play JRPGs for their rich story and beautiful game worlds, maybe give this one a pass.

The Tale of Bistun has an engaging narrative and even stronger ties to Persian mythology and storytelling. Few games are so thoroughly respectful of their source material and culture. As a game, The Tale of Bistun has acceptable but very limited mechanics and a structure that’s a bit repetitive. Still, at only three hours of playtime, it isn’t a huge investment and worth it for the unique window into little known mythology.

Omensight is an enjoyable indie adventure with a compelling murder mystery that unravels several layers of depth and deception. Replaying levels and altering events of the game can be interesting if a bit repetitive as you experience the same locations and areas with each of the supporting cast members.

Sure, there are far worse games than Sparklite, but there also far better games with similar structures and rogue-like trappings that are worth your time. Sparklite happens to live in the middle. It’s okay. It’s fine. Its art is beautiful and its music wondrous, but somehow it’s missing its own magic. So if you have nothing going on, and it seems your jam, give it a go. It’s totally fine. Personally, I need something a bit more than okay these days.

There was some very fun and satisfying moments, and I actually cheered when I completed the “10tons Defeater” achievement – that was a very tough level! If you haven’t yet enjoyed Tennis in the Face on another platform before, than you owe it to yourself to give it a go here.

This is a title I encourage players new to RPG’s to dig into and deserves a spot in everyone’s library.

Credit where credit is due, this is a charming game with a lot of love poured into it. When I got into the flow, it gave me a unique experience I’ve never quite found anywhere else. But I don’t recommend it to anyone who isn’t already a fan of the Atelier franchise. At least, not until people start putting their item crafting spreadsheets online.

While the retro graphics are a tad unsophisticated, Zotrix has a catchy techno soundtrack, which gives the game a lively feel. While there are definite drawbacks that come in the form of difficult controls, repetitious levels and an uneventful story, if you are a fan of classic arcade shooters, you will definitely enjoy the simplicity of this game.

Fast paced, competitive, and strangely addictive, Dodgeball is a simple idea that turned into a pretty fun game to tackle. While most of the appeal is online, there’s still plenty for you to do on your own to hone your skills for the big matches.

Luckily we have the groovy beats and slick moves by Felix that distracts from how mundane or how terribly difficult the levels become. Perhaps having varied gameplay and level designs would have helped keep things interesting. Casual fans of this type of genre may find Felix The Reaper to be too difficult after a certain point (the hint button can only help so much); however, this may be right up the alley for those who crave a serious challenge.

Even though this game did a good job at focusing on choices, relationships, and the outcomes of the decisions you make, the simple controls and monotonous tasks really ruined it for me in the end. Overall this game will find an audience, but to tell you the truth it’s going to be a hit and miss affair if you will be the one that the game is meant for.

Dordogne is a gentle and comfortable adventure that manages to capture an authentic quality. The intriguing narrative threads are thoughtfully implemented to allow you to tie strands together. Gameplay aspects are rudimentary and at times feel unnecessary, however, they do help make the jaw-dropping environments feel alive. While at times you may wish that Mimi could run, that thought seems to dissipate as you take in the beautiful surroundings. Although this is not for everyone, those who enjoy narrative-driven games will fall in love with Dordogne.

If you’re looking for a puzzler that tests your brain as well as your reflexes, then Death Squared will fit the bill nicely.

All in all, BloodRayne Betrayal: Fresh Bites is a solid title for anyone who’s into hack ‘n slash. If you’re concerned about the balance, it’s still a punishing game, but once you work out the controls, you should be all right in Standard mode. After mastering that, Classic mode will put you through your paces. However, it has basically nothing to do with the existing BloodRayne storyline, and I really don’t recommend playing the raven levels more than once.

While Absolution is by no means a disaster it just feels lacking in comparison to the rest of the content we’ve been given for Infinite Warfare so far. Although Absolution does add new content, and the Attack of the Radioactive Thing! is both complicated and fun, the multiplayer maps just don’t fit very well within the constructs of Infinite Warfare.

If you were a fan of Blackguards when it came out, I would recommend picking up the DLC. The price is reasonable and adds some extra meat to the game to sink your teeth into.

Some might get frustrated with the breakneck pace the game can reach; particularly without the ability to pause and take stock of the situation. However, fans of the genre who feel they can keep up with the escalating mayhem will find Defenders of Time to be a solid entry.

The Occupation is a serious and well crafted first-person thriller dripping with nuance and subtleties. It excels in its voice acting and ambient audio, as well as letting the player test their investigative skills without holding their hand. It does, however, suffer from incredibly long load times, awkward climbing and crouching mechanics, and a narrative that can be difficult to follow. If you are looking for guns and explosions, this isn’t the game for you, but if you love solving puzzles and the pressure of a looming time limit, this might just be the occupation for you.

Disney Speedstorm is a solid racer that ties a number of franchises together in one fun experience. Seeing fan favorites share a racetrack is a thrill, however, a variety of issues stop this from reaching the greatness of its influences. The restrictive nature of its character selection and the confusing number of currencies hinders the enjoyment. Mix in the performance issues and this racer narrowly misses the podium.

Wanderstop perfectly executes its intention: to pull players away from the fast-paced nature of life and immerse them in simple, meditative tasks. Its story unfolds in a relatable way, leaving you pondering its themes long after the credits roll. While the narrative shines, the gameplay, which focuses on farming-style tasks, feels more tedious than engaging. It succeeds in creating a peaceful atmosphere, but it never truly captivated me. Fans of cozy, narrative-driven experiences will likely find a lot to love, but those seeking more dynamic gameplay may not be as enthralled.

As you move through the various levels, different ages of the main character are explored but in the two or three hours of game time, you are left with far too many questions. What makes the experience worthwhile are the graphics and music that build effective moods and create a level of tension that goes hand-in-hand with your character’s vulnerability. Fortunately, if you die, the resets are quick and bring you back to a point close to where you previously expired. For a first game effort, Playmind has crafted a decent experience that shines technically but lacks in storytelling clarity and game playing depth.

Overall, fans of King Arthur: Knight’s Tale will enjoy this DLC expansion. Newcomers starting with Legion IX will need some onboarding. The game’s core combat remains challenging, interesting, and fun, even if the narrative and writing are disappointing. As a fan of Arthurian legends and history — and more importantly, tactical turn-based RPGs — I had a good time on the battlefields of Avalon.

There is a lot to love about Deliver At All Costs. It trumpets an exuberant charm with its clever writing, wacky missions, and chaotic gameplay. Each area of the map is beautifully crafted and a delight to explore. Whether working on the story, completing odd jobs, or just cruising around town, it is always a satisfying adventure. The story of Deliver At All Costs has enough hooks to make you keep wanting to learn more, but the overall tone of the story juxtaposes against the comical nature of the gameplay. A few QOL missteps, like not being able to set waypoints and the restrictive camera, are minor annoyances to an otherwise very enjoyable experience. Deliver At All Costs simply delivers.

The core gameplay is frantic and fun, but I’m always feeling bamboozled. You’re given a wide range of abilities that feel distinct and well-constructed, but they get you no closer to the top of the tower. The music is amazing, but it has to work very hard to dissolve my frustration. I hate myself for going back, but I feel compelled to anyway. In a way, this game is an amazing recreation of that ‘arcade’ feeling. You’re pumping in fistfuls of coins, desperately hoping that this time will be different. To the developers’ credit, this palpable frustration and compulsion to continue balance out pretty well. I’ve said out loud, to multiple people, that I hate this game. I recommend you play it yourself. I know I’m going to keep coming back to it for some time.

Remember Me offers nothing new as far as gameplay goes but it has an interesting concept that parallels many of the things happening now in our technologically obsessed social media culture.

I don’t like raining on anyone’s parade but it seems hard to believe that anyone will be scared by this stuff these days. It’s all so… hokey. But if you’re just itching to see what the commotion was all about with this series, and you can do so with a sensible understanding of context, the Amnesia Collection might be worth the investment.

After playing Zoo Tycoon I have to admit that it is quite time consuming, has a long learning curve and is more ideal on a PC platform compared to a console experience. That being said, it is a game that provides a robust zoo experience perfect for any zoo enthusiast, a veteran “sim” player, or perhaps even for a parent looking for a game without any violence whatsoever.

Regardless of the mediocre upgrades to NHL 24’s game modes, I must admit, the on-ice action is a big step forward for the franchise. The new hitting and passing systems need work, but the changes in how momentum affects the moment-to-moment gameplay have injected new life into the series. At the end of the day, I find myself wanting to step back out onto the ice. And that’s more than I can say for how I’ve felt over the last several years.

It’s pretty tough, and incredibly satisfying when you get a good time on any level. If you’re new to the genre or don’t really like indie platformers, you may as well stay away.

The basic nature of the gameplay makes the game quite accessible. The drop in/drop out nature of the co-op play is great for parents who may want to play with their kids and with a relatively good selection of modes and collectibles the game gives even a bit more reasons to continue to play.

It’s an ambitious title that hits a lot of the right notes, and 7Levels should be very pleased with what they ended up producing with this title. It’s an enjoyable side-scroller with very enjoyable combat, and there isn’t quite a title like it in the shop. For those aiming for their next difficult game fix, Castle of Heart can definitely scratch that itch.

I really enjoy Throne and Liberty’s colorful world, detailed environments, and engaging combat. Though the story is pretty uninspired, the game is technically polished and that alone is worthy of praise. But as a primarily solo player, the game isn’t for me in the long run. That’s not really a criticism, because being built for groups isn’t a bug, it’s a feature. That was true back at the dawn of MMORPGs and sometimes it’s still true. I think Throne and Liberty has a lot of promise to succeed at launch and grow beyond it.

As it is, Neverout is probably the best movie tie-in game to a movie that few are probably aware of, which is not saying much. Neverout is a pleasant diversion in VR but one that only scratches the surface of its potential.

No, WQ isn’t setting any new major trends in the tactics genre, but it’s a great universe both for those who love Warhammer and for those who just enjoy high fantasy.

On the surface, this game has all the ingredients to make a great RPG. The graphics are gorgeous, the soundtrack is infectious, the combat is approachable yet complex, and there's a ton of replay value. Unfortunately, the disparate pieces don't hang together quite right. Without a strong central narrative, you're left bouncing around for the whole playthrough. And without a comprehensive walkthrough, you'll be doing so for quite a long time.

Tower of Guns is a pretty decent, fun game to play casually, when you are in the mood to just blow stuff up. And it never takes itself too seriously.

If you find yourself drawn to punishing difficulty and savage foes, then Feist will satisfy. But otherwise the frustration will build slow and refuse to leave. Feist is a game that shows you the savage beauty of the natural world, with all the good and bad that this entails.

What is does get abundantly right is its unique tone, powerful narrative, masterful writing, and a visual style that fooled me into underestimating it makes it worthy of praise.

Despite the unappealing looks, this is a really fun way to explore the Sentinels universe and I hope you’ll come back and play this. There’s an ineffable alchemy at the heart of Sentinels of Freedom, one that goes beyond scores and polygon counts. If you invest the time, maybe you’ll learn to love this troubled little game as I have.

All in all, Souls of Chronos is a fun ride. It combines polished action with an unpolished translation, but the bones of the story are still engaging. It explores the cycle of poverty, betrayal, and desperation. I don’t think it will be anyone’s game of the year. But if you’re a fan of nice action and RPGs, you should check this title out.

The supernatural and mystery aspect of it was enticing enough to continue playing, I just wish that the characters where more interesting or fleshed out (I’m talking about you, Chiharu!). All in all, I would recommend it if you like Visual Novels or anime and don’t mind playing an interactive story.

Demon’s Crystals is a decent game considering the price, but if you’re looking for local co-op mayhem, there are better titles to choose from. There might be some appeal in the character art style, but the only time you can really even see it as at the selection screen. Don’t expect to make out any minute details on your hero as the screen fills with color and mayhem.

The Elder Scrolls Online cannot be faulted for lack of content, and while each new expansion opens up new, unexplored regions or folds older Elder Scrolls lore and landscapes into the game, the DLC is starting to feel pretty formulaic. The new Companions are definitely a welcome addition to those of us who prefer to play solo, and Blackwood has a main quest, cities, and characters that are worth exploring. Blackwood — the region and the DLC — might be an odd and confusing place for new players to start their journey with the game, but for long time players the Companions and nostalgia factor baked into the expansion might be enough to give them a bit of fresh energy.

Fire Pro Wrestling World, for the most part, does what it sets out to do very well. That experience may not be one that’s going to be for everyone. It may even skew more towards those truly dedicated fans or those yearning for a more classic approach. Can it still hold its ground though compared to other contemporary Pro Wrestling titles? Yes, it can, but it takes such a radically different approach than others. It’s definitely good, but it’s definitely different.

World Heroes Perfect is a classic fighter that’s often overlooked when tracing the genre’s long history. Its distinctive roster carves out a niche, letting players create strange, fantasy match‑ups. SNK strengthens the package with a solid netcode, giving the game a real chance to reach a new audience. While it lacks the expansive modes and options of modern fighters, this release gives long‑time fans and newcomers a chance to appreciate its quirks and its role in the genre’s evolution.

The graphics in Astroneer are simple yet bright, beautiful and vivid. It makes exploring the world much more exciting and I feel like it doesn’t strain your eyes, either. It’s a wonderful game to add to your collection. It turns out, being able to play and explore new terrain and worlds with friends is a lot of fun! Though the lack of a narrative or any driving force forwards may not be the most appealing for some. Even with the stress-free gameplay, it’s sometimes nice knowing that there’s a common goal we are working towards. If you want to explore a vividly bright world, or if you just want a very chill time to just sit back and relax, then I would certainly recommend you pick up Astroneer. Alone or with friends, you can explore and build to your heart’s content.

Dragon Is Dead is a very good hack-and-slash game, but it’s a pretty poor Roguelite. I wish the game had more carefully crafted levels, with well-placed items. The game’s pixel art and dark fantasy world drove me to keep playing, but the Roguelite systems didn’t. There are also way too many systems and ideas that need streamlining. The game has enough good elements that 2D hack and slash and Roguelite fans should still check it out. Dragon Is Dead just isn’t a great example of the genres merging.

If there’s a sale or you’re really into these experiential games, then Planet of the Eyes is absolutely worth a shot. It’s a great way to kill a couple hours and relax during your time off, especially if you’re a much more casual gamer. Otherwise, you won’t be missing much if you pick up something that gives you a bit more bang for your buck.

Though Nascar Heat 3 is a solid racing sim overall, it could have raised to greater heights with more exciting content for those outside the niche market, and a few tweaks to the frame rate stability and cheesy voice acting. Despite the lack of replayability and expansive customization options as seen in other games in the genre and in sports games overall, there’s still a whole lot of fun to be had here, especially for those who love racing, Nascar, or both.

Despite the technical issues, my displeasure with the voice acting, and the addition of the hints in the conversation tree, underneath it’s still very much the Gabriel Knight I fell in love with back in 1993.

Blade Strangers is a competent 2D fighter comprised of characters from hit games like Code of Princess and Shovel Knight. While the game does absolutely nothing, beyond the diverse cast, to stand out from other fighters - it's still a game that might be worth your time if you're a huge fan of fighters. My biggest gripe with Blade Strangers was the visuals when presented on TV - they just lack the smooth look that many modern 2D fighters have. For the most part, I was happy with this fighter and I really hope we see some additional post-release content added, such as more characters from Nicalis published titles.

A fun romp in a B-movie sort of way. I like to compare it to a poor-man’s Indiana Jones movie that you might see late at night on cable.

Ultimately ReCore contains fun combat, an engaging lead character, cool customizable corebots, and a big world to explore filled with challenges.

The reality is Just Dance Disney Party for the Xbox 360 Kinect is pretty good entertainment for kids who love all that is Disney. While the games 25-song set list and overall experience may not be on par with other dance rhythm games on the Kinect, it is a nice little option for the little ones looking to have some fun with some Disney tunes.