If you have been searching for a retro-inspired tactical RPG that actually delivers the goods, then look no further. Rainbow Moon will push all of the right nostalgic game-play buttons. Just be prepared for a pretty thin story, and a lot of old-school grinding as your time investment – and the game’s difficulty level – increases.

Overall, We Are the Dwarves is slightly too difficult, in a way that would make me apprehensive about going back to it rather than spur me to try again.

No matter what genre of games interest you, Superhot is one you’ve got to play.

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.

Lots of work, time, and love was put into Cobalt, but ultimately, it’s a product that makes me hope that the future will improve, because what is currently available, just isn’t that enticing.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is about the best fans could expect from this finale.

In the end, if you’re a fan of Dying Light, you’re going to be a fan of The Following. It has everything you already love, gives you more of it and then throws in some vehicles as well to spice things up.

The general gameplay is a bit simplistic but your actions result in high-stakes scenarios that make you immersed in the world and the experience which is a hallmark positive in any survival game.

The Mega Man Legacy Collection is a great retrospective for long time fans, and the perfect introduction to the series for curious new fans.

If you enjoyed the original Project X Zone then picking up the sequel is a no-brainer. It’s a bigger, better experience with a better cast of characters.

Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright is a great tactical JRPG with a weird release. The game itself is fantastic though.

Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 is not exactly the biggest step forward developer PopCap Games could have taken, but it builds on a solid foundation and for now reclaims its original and unique feeling in the realm of multiplayer shooters.

All in all, Arslan: The Warriors of Legend seems to be a pretty good anime that got turned into an okay Dynasty Warriors-style game.

If you are a Street Fighter fan, and are looking forward to seriously competing in this console generation’s great fighting game franchise, then your time has arrived.

A fun, thrilling – and yes, very scary ride. Its amazing visuals and fascinatingly-creepy environments will have you hesitating at times, jumping at others, but always pushing onwards to uncover the story of its insane protagonist.

It really is a jack of all trades, but master of none.

Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel is a solid effort, bringing together such a great cast of characters from a number of different visual novels and gaming franchises; pitting them up against each other in an enjoyable arcade fighting style game.

There’s just really not a whole lot going on for Bombshell. The cutscenes look kind of nice, and when you look at the gameplay from a distance it can seem fun, but ultimately what you’re left with is a game that is worth far less than the asking price of thirty dollars.

This time around the development team made the decision to mix the new DLC maps with the existing ones which stinks for those who just want to get into the new maps. Regardless, this small annoyance doesn’t take away from Black Ops III’s strong first batch of DLC.

Indie games of this kind, rise or fall on the creator’s ability to weave a narrative that engages the player on not just a gaming experience but also on that all important emotional one. The cost of this game is a worthy one to experience Price’s journey.

A wonder to play, a joy to experience, a feast for the senses and a heartfelt story told by a team of passionate developers.

Unless you’re interested in the subject matter — and, really, I was — you’d be better off spending your money elsewhere.

It’s fun, looks great, elicits a lot of tense moments as you run into an empty room to reload your shotgun before a small band of soldiers comes marching through to their death.

While it may not be the most convincing package to get players to return to Hekseville, Gravity Rush Remastered is by far the best way to enjoy Sony’s underappreciated action game. The combat, while still a weak link, feels much better using a controller, and the game’s art style has kept this Vita stunner looking impressive.

This may not be the best game you’ve ever played, but Shooting Stars is one that passes the time with colourful and humorous animations, and is a fairly enjoyable experience overall.

Not a Hero is a game that will immediately grab your attention within the first few moments of playing it. By the time you make your way to the middle of the game’s story, some of the charm will probably wear off as you start to see some of the game’s more glaring issues including a ramped up difficulty, no checkpoint system, no auto-reload or missing a piece of cover to be killed by enemies once again.

Please, for those who are interested, I implore you to take them up on that offer and make sure this game is right for you before you make a purchase.

LEGO Marvel’s Avengers is still the best LEGO game in recent memory and it could be the catalyst for greater ventures in the series’ future.

Everything is bigger and better, XCOM 2 exceeds expectations and spawns new hope in future sequels.

Although Baseball Riot has its fun moments and I could probably see myself playing it when I have nothing else to do sitting in a Doctor’s office, it’s not something I would sit down to play at home. Anyone sinking money into this title for their console might regret that decision and wish they had tossed a few bucks on it in the app store instead.

Fortified is compelling enough to get through, in its simple but gratifying gameplay, but it doesn’t offer enough to pull me in.

It’s just one of those games where you build that connection with players over a common goal, and doing it in such a simple way is certainly worth mention. Dreii is simply designed, pleasing to look at, and a ton of fun, be it with friends or the occasional stranger.

I don’t think The Witness is a contender of the best game ever, but I do think it’s one of the best puzzle games out there. It does everything a puzzle game should do and does it well. I would like to see a bit more opportunities to interact with objects in the world, but I completely understand why that wasn’t part of the “deliberate” design architecture. Quite simply, The Witness has been one of the best experiences in gaming I’ve had in a long time, probably in about 7 years.

After the head changing, talking teeth, back and forth repetitive scenes, Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink ends as a disappointing couple hours of play.

A welcome addition to Rise of the Tomb Raider even if it runs a little shorter than most people might like. The battle with Baba Yaga alone is worthy of the price of admission.

While it has some flaws in the sound department and issues with the touchscreen pad usage, Klaus challenges players with each level.

Despite not really doing anything new and it’s repetitive nature you still can’t go wrong for under 10 bucks.

Overall, its a competent strategy game that is bogged down by its immature humor and annoyances.

Deserts of Kharak is a triumphant return to Homeworld, just minus the space part.

The Banner Saga is a good game when it comes to it’s unique combat, art style, and atmospheric score but the awkward transition of the menus to console and the presentation of its plot hold it back from being great.

It provided more of what people loved about Bloodborne; fantastic music, cool trick weapons, and monstrous bosses that will kick your ass. If you’d loved Bloodborne as much as I did, this DLC is a must purchase.

The final score-card on Punch Club is that it packs a huge amount of game into a tiny little package. This game, despite its cutesy appearance, is actually a pretty deep and sophisticated recreation of a struggling fighter’s life.

All in all, Atelier Escha & Logy has made a solid return with its “Plus” version for the PS Vita. While at times the fluffy dialogue and constant state of repetitive work can be a bore, the long-lived Atelier formula with its alchemy, expeditions, and battles keep you trucking along.

AIPD is a very well done game from its awesome blue and red ‘Tron-like’ graphics to its fast paced, fly around shooting style. It takes concentration and skill to make it to the top and the extra difficulty each level brings out makes it a must have for those times when you just want to kill some alien spaceships. It is a great play and definitely fun once you unlock some of the later content.

The Star Wars Pinball: The Force Awakens pack is well worth the purchase for Star Wars fans who love Pinball FX2. The tables play well no doubt, but to truly get the stories these tables are trying to tell you, you need to watch The Force Awakens at the very least to understand what is going on.

Hyperdrive Massacre understands what it is, and plays to its strength of frenetic multiplayer action to perfection.

Color Symphony 2 is a perfect scratch for the hardcore puzzle platforming itch, but it might not be for every gamer. I would like to have a little more depth to the game, maybe longer levels with an interesting assortment of obstacles rather than lots of short levels with an associated gimmick.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam is a delightful game with all the love and charm you’d expect from Nintendo poster boys…only now with a dash of poster boy made from poster board. Fun, laughs, and a generally good time are all to be had if you pick this up for your 3DS.

Not perfect, but still a shining example of a stellar RPG and one that fans of the genre should readily seek out.

FIM looks and sounds good but all that effort is for naught if it is an exercise in frustration instead of fun.

Gemini: Heroes Reborn offers up pretty good value for the buck. When you consider the $15 dollar price tag there is a lot to like here. The telekinesis and time travel abilities make for an experience I found remarkably enjoyable. While the games presentation and frame rate issues dampen the experience, this is perfect Sunday afternoon romp for anyone looking for a change of pace.

Resident Evil Zero felt like a dated game in 2002, and an additional 14 years hasn’t exactly helped the game feel fresh. While the modern controls are a nice addition, they’re not nearly enough to make this a great game anymore.

The art and animations all feel at home in the universe this studio has produced, giving a cartoony kid-friendly vibe that’s violent but not over the top.

This is a solid platformer that highlights a new chapter in the Assassin’s Creed universe, taking us to a unique setting and providing a well needed challenge that will test the very limits of our patience.

Sora succeeds in providing a satisfying toolset for players to mix and match playstyles and attacks. The sheer number of mechanics adversely gets in the way of consistently fun combat as players are bound to forget the dozens of weapons and dash combinations triggered by an insane number of button commands that are introduced.

A charming adventure game that will have you waiting ever so eagerly for the next episode in the AR-K series.

While the graphics and enemies are less than desirable, the music releases an inner childlike sense of happiness that keeps you coming back for more punishment.

A movie based game that isn’t half bad. Sure, it’s not as long as one may hope for as it’s over sooner than later, but it stays pretty true to its source material, which is refreshing.

While its random elements will surely turn some gamers off, there is a lot to like about Tharsis. From its toying with morality to the pure ecstasy it provides when defying the odds and having a successful flight, there really isn’t anything else like it. If you’re willing to overcome a substantial learning curve, then you’ll your haphazard trip to Mars.

The actual construction of the expansion is solid, and the new features definitely put a new spin on playing the game, but the amount of content doesn’t fit the price.

The story simply goes nowhere.

Fun, fast-paced and full of ass-kickin’ action, this is a straight-up Jurassic classic that everyone should experience.

Even with its eye-catching art and a bubbly soundtrack, it needs a deeper combat system in what tools you are given, mainly in its lack of a parry function. In the end, Questria both succeeds and fails in its quest to deliver a solid dungeon crawler.

Republique Episode 4 is neither the weakest entry, nor the best. It’s caught in the middle. Whether it’s because of development troubles or simply to blame on the story, remains to be seen, and with a finale on the horizon, it still has a chance to end strong.

A dream come true. It is the near perfection of the music/ rhythm genre.

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.

Is Red Game Without A Great Name the worst game I’ve played this year? No, that still belongs to Calvino Noir. Is it one of the worst? Absolutely. Don’t buy it. Don’t rent it. Don’t look at it. Don’t allow it to enter your thoughts. Avoid this game like I avoid social situations.

In my opinion, chapter 3 is going to make or break this series. The Odd Gentleman still has my curiosity and attention for now, but unless something really exciting happens soon then they’re going to lose not only myself but I think many others as well.

Trails of Cold Steel is a very good, long JRPG. It’s not going to win any game of the year awards, but if you’re a fan of the genre, and are aching for something that harks back to the glory days of the PS1 RPG, play it. Thoroughly enjoyable combat, and a deceptively well-told story, make this a JRPG totally worth your time.

You’d think that a series wouldn’t have a ton of new tricks up its sleeves 15 years in, but Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires is a pleasant surprise. While the core gameplay might still be a deal breaker for some, the strategic offerings add a new layer of depth, and importance, to the battles. It’s still repetitive, but there is plenty to like here.

A bump in the overall production value, akin to something like Ubisoft’s upcoming For Honor, and Chivalry: Medieval Warfare would be among my favorite games of the year.

The Summit will have you doing drift races, drags races, and doing stunts with monster trucks. The monster trucks are an absolute riot.

Temple Of Yog has some great ideas, and can be very fun in short bursts, but it doesn’t have enough variation to sustain it as a rogue-like game I wanted to grind at, and conquer.

Cherry Pop has done an elegant job of making the controls as seamless and intuitive as possible.

More variety in enemy types and more gadgets at the disposal of the player would do wonders for an already solid stealth game.

Had I been more familiar with, or been a fan of the series, it’s possible I would have enjoyed Sword Art: Online Lost Song more than I did. As a newcomer to the series, the game has a lot to offer, but poor design choices ultimately lead to the game becoming mediocre instead of great.

I’m giving this title full marks for gameplay, originality, engagement and variety.

If you’re looking for a deep space opera to release your inner Captain Kirk than Starpoint Gemini 2 is worth the price of admission.

While Earth Defense Force will likely continue to have a strong cult following, at $49.99 it’s hard to recommend to anyone looking for a little more depth to their gameplay experience than just insect extermination. - See more at: http://cogconnected.com/review/earth-defense-force-4-1-the-shadow-of-new-despair-review/#sthash.1b3S1y1C.dpuf

Multiplayer is the key word for this game, because you will gain nothing from Siege if you are looking for a single player experience.

The scenery is quite stunning as the island life is beautifully rendered. There’s so very much to do in the game that you could spend entire sessions simply travelling the map and entire other ones just hunting down secrets and easter eggs.

Whatever your reason for buying MDR, be it the wackiness, gameplay, or art, you certainly won’t be disappointed.

Eiyuu Senki – The World Conquest appeals to a very niche audience. It has very good combat, and lots of options, but most gamers, even those who love their RPGs very Japenese, will have a difficult time getting into the silly story, and boring dialogue. This game is for hardcore visual novel and strategy RPG enthusiasts only.

Despite my initial reactions, I finally start to enjoy Life is Feudal. After getting over the initial learning curve and skill grind. There is something liberating about being able to terraform any piece of land and cut down any tree I find.

A little bit on the pricey side for a DLC expansion, but it does give you a lot of new content – and I think it is worth the purchase for anyone who has been playing the base game consistently and is looking for something new.

Despite some minor flaws, Xenoblades Chronicles X is a JRPG fan’s dream come true.

Slavic mythology, card minigames, and hexagonal turn-based strategic gameplay are just the beginnings to what Thea: The Awakening has to offer. With such a high replay value, it’ll keep you entertained and busy for much more than you would expect.

For what it costs, this is simply too generic and unimpressive. It feels dated and a little unfinished, leaving you wondering if it was supposed to come out five years ago.

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing: Final Cut is a game I really wanted to like, but ultimately just made me wish I was playing Diablo or Torchlight instead. At it’s core, it’s technically sound, but the handful of interesting mechanics are lost in a sea of terrible ones, and does an injustice to the titular vampire-hunting doctor.

It’s an extremely polished and tight shooter that offers an unparalleled experience in the Star Wars universe. For 10 hours, you’ll be thrilled. Beyond that, you’re going to run out of things to do. But those 10 hours are a blast.

It may be surprising that a PSP title is a potential Game of the Year contender in 2015, but we all know life is strange. Trails in the Sky SC is an excellent JRPG that has managed to age incredibly well since its Japanese release.

Mordheim manages to create a turn-based experience that is not quite like the now seemingly industry-standard XCOM but which finds its own way to tweak the genre.

No, it’s not a bull’s eye by any means, but Hard West will certainly hit close enough to provide you with hours of Wild-West fun.

There’s definitely a market for this game, but I completely understand why so many long-time fans are so upset. It feels like Ubisoft basically tried to dumb down an amazing series to gain more popularity, and I’m not so sure expansion packs can fix this.

At the end of the day, folks looking for something more to do with their collection of amiibos, or who want a new multiplayer game to sit down with their friends, should definitely consider this one. What I can’t recommend though is expecting too much out of it from a single player standpoint.

Driveclub Bikes works on a lot of levels; it’s a great expansion, it’s a great game and it’s made virtual bike racing fun again.

Battle Trivia Knockout offers some interesting ideas to help liven up the usual trivia game experience, but it mostly fails to hit the right pressure-points.

The core of Sword Coast Legends has potential. The single player story is fine, but not remarkable, and the capacity for multiplayer is welcome but ultimately disappointing.