It’s a shame that the actual gameplay is so stale and repetitive because Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson is polished in many other areas.

Massive visual improvements definitely count for something, but when you can’t fix the original problems with a game’s dated mechanics and design, there’s not much else you can do. Outcast: Second Contact is a solid attempt at returning to the original classic, but it’s far from perfect.

One Dog Story started out as an ambitious project, with many ideas and references that unfortunately seems to have fallen short when it comes to embodying its proposal. I was never fully engaged in the experience, and while I do commend Big Ways for pressing on and finishing the game, perhaps not every dog should have its day.

This is a pretty simple game to break down. You’re drifting through a beautiful ocean paradise, scanning marine life. Doing so teaches you more about them, and also saves the world. Getting to this story gets harder and harder as things progress. If you love the simple gameplay loop, you’re in luck! There’s so much of it to be had. But if this simple premise doesn’t immediately appeal to you, then this game will disagree with you completely. For the ocean life lovers out there, Endless Ocean Luminous will be a peaceful meditation and an extensive learning experience. There just isn’t a ton of gameplay to go along with it, is all.

Even with my frustrations with the interface, the game itself made me want to keep going. I credit the style of gameplay and my total need for world domination for that. Anything related to the Roman Empire is compelling, but even though I sank 14 hours into this game, I didn’t even get strong enough to unlock any of the other clans. I got closer, though, with each restart, but in my last playthrough, I found myself stuck because right after creating a fishing and galley joint army to begin an exploration mission, my game crashed. I tried returning to the previous save, but it won’t allow me to play in that Kingdom again. So I suppose, my conclusion is that the game has a lot of potential and I intend to keep playing it. I get the feeling that a lot of this will be worked out in time.

Outbreak: Endless Nights does everything it sets out to and while I enjoyed some dungeon crawling and shooting zombies in the face for a little while, I’m still going to go back to my very full game library… I have far too much to catch up on to spend too much time in 2002.

There are so many Soulslikes to choose from that no gamer has time to sample them all. Although it can’t find a consistent tone, The Last Oricru has a much better narrative arc than it does action or gameplay. Whatever small stabs it takes at originality are counterbalanced by deeply unsatisfying combat and poorly implemented mechanics. Only rabid Soulsborne fans who have to play every game in the genre should check this one out.

Although there are flaws in the games design, for dedicated Transformers: Prime followers there is some fun to be had here. At the end of the day, for young fans of the Transformers Prime series this game is a fairly good choice; however, for older fans a weekend rental will probably suffice.

Dead Alliance may not have the best visuals or the biggest budget, but it implements a MOBA-like system into an appropriate zombie shooter mold and provides a unique experience, unlike anything I’ve played in the genre. Other developers would do well to take notes from Psyop Games on their brilliant combination between MOBA and multiplayer shooter.

If all you’re looking for is fan service, I guess Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash provides it, though it adds almost nothing to the established lore or characters. If you’re primarily interested in Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash as an anime-inspired fighting game, look elsewhere. A very short story mode, no 1v1 matches, poor design choices, and an overall lack of polish more often than not overshadow some occasionally fun combat.

As enjoyable as a lot of the sections are, too much of the game focuses on the poor combat, and I found myself constantly wishing the next area was either another boss fight or a cool platforming section.

The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker puts a ton of work into the acting and presentation of the characters but lacks in the actual gameplay to make it stand out as a video game.

Kukoos Lost Pets is a short platforming adventure that harkens back to the old days. There isn’t a whole lot of content. In fact, you can easily finish the game in an afternoon. Maybe two afternoons if you’re intent on collecting every coin, flower, and rescuing a pet. A few extra features would have gone a long way to build on the game’s foundation. Using coins to unlock cosmetic options for your character and pets would have been nice. But then again, there’s no real value in sticking around after the story is over unless you’re looking for that Platinum trophy.

The combination of rumor, magazine publication, and CD trading is what made the Monster Rancher games special. It’s hard to recreate that kind of feeling today. But, Koei Tecmo did it very well. The only problem is that there’s not much content in the game, and without multiplayer capabilities, mileage doesn’t go very far. If I have any advice for anyone attempting to play this game, it’s to share this nostalgic story of how the game worked, and don’t just look up the stats of the best monsters on the internet. Play with some friends, use your favorite albums, and see what you get, because that is what makes Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX unique. Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX is an effective nostalgic novelty, but as a monster raising sim, it’s pretty meh.

Custom Mech Wars is all about construction and experimentation. There’s a dense system for putting mechs together, and all of it feels friendly and approachable. You have a ton of options, a lot of freedom, and multiple ways to test things out. But that’s sort of where the good times dry up. The campaign is crazy boring otherwise, and the multiplayer options are equally threadbare. If you can get a good group together for playing online, you might find more fun than I did. But on your own, Custom Mech Wars has limited appeal. If you’ve got a lot of mechs in your heart begging to be built, you’re in for a good time. Otherwise I can’t really recommend this game.

Papo & Yo really tugged at my heartstrings, like few other games have managed as of late, and on that basis, despite some valid criticism, I feel it really is a worthwhile little game.

Walden, a game turns a gorgeous piece of literary work into an interactive experience where the player can truly live out Thoreau’s vision and experiment. For those seeking excitement and thrill, this title will likely bore you. However, for educators or those looking for a short, calming episode that connects the player to the underappreciated beauty of nature (without actually having to leave the home), Walden is a great little option.

In the end, Kerbal Space Program: Enhanced Edition is potentially the type of game I could definitely lose myself in. The amount of options to build your craft, the variety of things you have to do to maintain your space program, the charming Kerbs you blast into a million pieces, and the feeling of accomplishment when you reach a new milestone are the kinds of things I look for in a simulation. The added streamlined game modes are bonuses, letting me scratch whatever itch the game may give me. However, all of those positives are offset by a nearly insurmountable control problem. Even in Sandbox mode, where my wildest ideas begged to be carried out, I grew more and more frustrated with each passing moment the engines didn’t line up or my failsafe parachute just disappeared because it wasn’t where I thought it was on the lander.

It’s clear that Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection will only appeal to a tiny, very niche audience. It just so happens that I fall into that group. Poor choice of included games, an almost disrespectful lack of multiplayer, and no effort put into modernizing mechanics doesn’t exactly make for an enjoyable, user-friendly experience. Despite all of this, I’ve still had fun with it. It’s not great, but damnit, I kinda, sorta, like it.

If you’re desperate for a platformer, you might find some redeeming qualities here. Overall, the game took me under 5 hours to beat, but completionists might need an extra few hours. This game could have been something exceptional, and hopefully, the devs take this criticism as an opportunity to add more polish to the game with future updates.

Arca’s Path is at once a flowery, majestic adventure that immerses you in the magic of its world and in the madness of its moments, while also presenting another side that consists of a mundane, empty trek through a dead world. And this juxtaposition can be seen in all areas of Arca’s Path, from its gameplay to its design and visual makeup. It is an adventure that can be sliced in halves of good and bad, and a game that I can only recommend to those who don’t mind sitting through one side to get to the other.

Overall, The Caligula Effect is an ambitious PS Vita JRPG that falls just short of expectations. While the game may not be the outstanding experience some have come to expect, it remains a decent title on an otherwise barren platform that can still be enjoyed. Despite being repetitive in a few aspects, The Caligula Effect’s story and battle system will be sure to keep you coming back for more.

As it stands I finished the game without a lot of desire to repeat the journey to flesh out the many endings (34 in total). Because while there are enjoyable moments, it’s spread across a sparse and long hallway to move through. Ashwalkers has the bones of some good ideas. I’m hoping to see more from this studio as there are unique things to be found here, Nameless XIII just never really hits their mark. There are plenty of walking simulators out there that make you forget what they are. Ashwalkers, unfortunately, is not one of them.

Minecraft Legends can be commended for its impressive visuals and unique-to-Minecraft gameplay style. Unfortunately, it’s just too convoluted and too tedious. I simply did not enjoy my time with it. I don’t know how many times I would want to build a structure or mob, and I’d have to spend far too long trying to find resources. Controlling mobs is almost impossible. Gameplay just moves too fast to really utilize any sort of precision. Ultimately it comes down less to strategy and more to attrition; just keep spamming piglin bases with mobs and hope you don’t die too often. Minecraft Legends is a difficult game to recommend, even for the most hardcore of Minecraft fans.

The Unexpected Quest mostly looks good, mostly plays good, and I would mostly recommend it. I don’t know if I’ll remember the game in a couple of months, but I still had a good time with it, even with all its frustrations. It might not be a glowing recommendation, but if you have a fantasy itch to scratch and a little money to blow, hey, why not?

I know it isn’t fair to judge a game by what isn’t there, but I was really hoping for a deeper crafting system. Arelite Core’s aesthetic didn’t hit the mark for me, but if you like what you see and hear, check it out. Flaws aside, there’s a heart to this game.

Pecaminosa is a perfect little game to spend a weekend with. It won’t challenge you, it doesn’t last long, and the atmosphere is enough to warrant a look from any noir fan. I can’t help but feel like you might be better off playing it on steam, but you’d still have pages of exhausting dialogue to sit through. I suppose that’s all really subjective, but Pecaminosa misses the mark more than it hits for my money.

Battlezone is well-made in terms of its brilliant UI design and solid set of shooting and movement mechanics. However, the single player missions do not showcase the tactical brilliance of playing with real human players and the lack of any PvP online modes is almost a crime.

Rusty Rabbit is a game packed with potential, thanks to its intriguing premise, promising gameplay loop, and distinct art direction. Unfortunately, it struggles to capitalize on these strengths. The combat lacks impact, the gameplay loop quickly becomes formulaic, and the visuals feel dated, all of which contribute to an experience that, while occasionally enjoyable, ultimately feels uninspired and forgettable. There are glimpses of here and there, but the game never does quite enough to stand out from the crowd.

Manual Samuel will not be the pride and glory of anyone’s game collection, but it will be an entertaining and hilarious way to pass time nonetheless.

I came away disappointed but I can acknowledge that Eden Games has done a decent job in bringing a realistic racing experience to the Switch. While the actual racing tends to grow a bit stale after a while, the ability to upgrade and improve your cars and performance shop makes for a fun mini-game of sorts and a nice distraction. But at its core, this is still a racing game and it’s disappointing that Gear.Club Unlimited doesn’t measure up where it counts.

This is an installment for the fans that love everything Naruto – others will have a hard time sticking this one out. For the average gamer, not enough is offered in a manner that would keep their interest.

Entertaining for a time but it will ends up becoming stale if your session goes on too long.

Bottomline, if you are a fan of the franchise and you’re stuck with no other means of playing this game, go ahead and pick up the PC version and push through the problems and enjoy yourself.

Stitchy in Tooki Trouble is a lovely introduction to the genre for younger gamers. Although the title lacks challenge for those more experienced, the passion for the product is evident and will communicate with youths. There are a few missed opportunities but it successfully achieves its goal of being an accessible platformer.

The gameplay feels all too familiar and I never found myself becoming emotionally attached to the game's characters.

At the end of the day Neon Studios did a great job of beautifying Legend of Kay, and I’m sure many of the more frustrating areas are a walk in the park for those who have beaten it all the way through before.

The story simply goes nowhere.

SHP may provide a diversion to youngsters for a short while but everyone else will quickly wander off for more fulfilling experiences. It’s a shame too, because the tone and look of SHP deserve a better game.

Cuisineer is a charming game in concept but struggles with execution. The art style and relaxing difficulty make it an enjoyable experience at first, but the repetitive combat and lack of engaging management systems ultimately hold it back. If you’re into low-stakes dungeon crawling with a side of cute restaurant management, you might find some enjoyment here, but be prepared for some frustration with its unpolished mechanics.

Warriors Orochi 4 is a pleasantly familiar experience in the long-standing Warriors franchise, offering 170 playable characters across the Dynasty and Samurai Warriors series as well as introducing new support team mechanics and magic-based attacks. While the core hack and slash gameplay is just as fun and simple as you remember, the narrative feels more repetitive than the gameplay, and the dated graphics feel out of place. If you enjoy the Warriors franchise this is a fantastic experience and a joy to get sucked into “just one more battle” but despite its new features it still feels stale.

Bread & Fred is a novel concept that fails to deliver due to its frustrating climbing mechanics. The idea of climbing a large mountain and working with a partner to do so is appealing; however, the inconsistent physics and anger-inducing design that allows you to lose progress in an instant hinder the game. Although SandCastles Studio adds an array of assist options to address these concerns, at its core, the game struggles to balance challenge with enjoyment. The fundamental design flaws overshadow the creative premise, resulting in an experience that is more exasperating than entertaining.

Raiden IV x MIKADO remix is a tough sell. It’s a no-brainer for hardcore shmup fans. There’s tons of content, and score junkies will get a lot out of it. But to non-hardcore fans, it will be a very generic experience. It doesn’t have unique visuals or gameplay elements. It also lacks the wow factor of a crazy bullet hell shooter. Everything about Raiden IV x MIKADO remix is well-crafted, but it doesn’t focus on being unique at all.

This didn’t provide a particularly memorable or impressive experience, but it did keep me entertained. It leaves much to be desired in the way of a nice soundtrack and varying level design, but it achieves at least the most important element of gaming: fun.

Tempestfall is not a terrible game. It’s just not a deep game. Other VR games have raised the bar on VR melee combat over what Tempestfall offers. For better melee combat games, try After The Fall or Swordsman, which use physics based actions. However, if you are a Warhammer fan, the story lore and setting may be enough to keep you engaged.

Despite being a long time coming for North American fans, the real value here is more about getting two gameplay experiences for the price of one. That’s just enough to keep this one from being an average experience.

Despite the friendly gameplay and interesting tactics, The Witch and the Hundred Knight 2 falls short in developing its characters and presenting a satisfactory storyline, thus leading to a somewhat dull experience.

There’s a lot to like about this game. The sense of scale and visuals is amazing. However, the core aspects of the game, such as handling and getting access to the main rally, are frustrating. Saber Interactive has done a good job on the macro level of the game. With upcoming pledged updates, I’m hoping they enhance the micro aspects which are badly needed.

Verdun offers a unique experience not seen elsewhere on the PS4. It’s realistic, historically accurate and sometimes satisfying gameplay can’t make up for the fact that the game’s community is almost non-existent, gameplay is riddled with technical issues and the lack of a proper tutorial can make the game downright frustrating.

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.

Some of the design decisions will come off as a little strange, but there’s some decent fun buried in there. If you loved the Super NES original, however, this updated version will fill you with confusion, anger and disappointment.

This won’t rival Frogwares’ best work, but it is a fun way to enjoy an afternoon if you enjoy detective games.

All in all, Dungeons 2 is an enjoyable venture. The dungeon aspect of the game is great and really sent me down memory lane even if the controls annoyed me a bit. The Overworld RTS style play could be polished up a bit to make it more engaging.

Predator: Hunting Grounds has remarkable potential. It has all the right ideas in place but desperately needs further polish and a dedicated player base to flesh it out. The thoughts I’ve shared probably sound incredibly critical, but I oddly feel like sticking around to see where it goes.

At the end of the day Spartan Assault is not a bad game, but there are a few hiccups that hamper what could have been.

Evil Genome is a Metroidvania that gets the most important part right and left me wanting in every other category. The sheer ecstasy of stringing together a dozen moves is betrayed by the game’s misunderstanding of what it wants to be. However, an unnecessarily complicated upgrade system and disappointing localization issues doesn’t stop Evil Genome from being a blast to play, for the most part.

That’s the most disappointing part about The Journey: it lifts you up to take you back down. Great graphics are overshadowed by weak gameplay which is then bolstered by a great cast of characters.

Please Dojoban, please, stop trying to associate so much with SUPERHOT. Become your own identity, and carve out your spot in this genre.

There is no denying that Full Frontal Assault can be an entertaining game in the realm of multiplayer, but with no story mode that fans have come to expect, and a lack of further multiplayer options, the experience becomes repetitive and somewhat boring quite quickly.

For all you retro lovers out there, this may just be the perfect escape for you right on your New 3DS.

If you’re looking for a bit of nostalgia, then Syberia is for you. It does date itself with its visuals and controls, but sometimes that’s the appeal of sitting down to re-releases of old gems that you may not have access to otherwise. While the game itself remains intact, the controls are frustrating and the graphics could really use a paint job.

Woolfe: The Red Hood Diaries is enjoyable for its strong atmosphere and audio, but unfortunately some of the poor gameplay mechanics just kill the overall experience.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is a passable Smash Bros. clone. While it lacks the depth and polish of a game like Smash Bros, it’s not without its charm. Being able to brawl it out with beloved Nickelodeon characters such as Ren & Stimpy, TMNT’s Michelangelo, and Patrick from Spongebob Squarepants is a lot of fun at first. Unfortunately, the lack of depth really starts to take notice when you realize the 20 playable characters is all that’s included – no unlockable characters or stages. Completing the Arcade mode provides no unique character endings; however, you do get some unlockable images and music to view in the Extras menu. Beyond that, your only drive is to try and complete the game with each character on more challenging difficulties.

The dialogues between named characters and quest givers are equally dull. There was not a single moment of depth in any writing and all characters just spoke their mind and acted out their cliched character tropes. I definitely would not recommend this game for its storytelling. I would say, for most of our audience, to definitely hold off on purchasing Sands of Salzaar as it is still currently under heavy development. However, there is immense potential with the system they have developed! Keep an eye on this one.

While it’s the way to go compared to its original PS Vita only release in 2012, Ragnarok Odyssey ACE might not be the Monster Hunter replacement you’re looking for, that being said with the implementation of cross play it might just keep you busy for a while.

I’m torn. I really like the core gameplay of Ghost Recon: Phantoms and see it being even more fun with friends. But, there’s just not enough here and the frustrating micro-transactions only make it all the more disappointing.

The Nintendo LABO Robot Kit is one substantial project that’ll take you half a day to build. It’s a satisfying project to complete. After you’re finished, you have a few different mini-games to play, but none of them will make you want to come back over and over.

Fans of the anime will still want to play Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness, but do so with caution. The main draw for new fans will be exploring the abyss and seeing all its layers. There’s just a lot of garbage to sift through to get to the good stuff.

When you accelerate away from the line for the first time, you quickly realize how clinical and devoid of character it all is.

God Eater 3 is a middling experience of ideas and gameplay that paradoxically work and don’t work. It can be a lot of fun and it can be a slog of dialogue. It can be an intense firefight and epic battle, but only last less than a minute before returning to base. Somewhere beneath the tangled web of ideas lies a wonderful game but for now, in its current state, it’s a serviceable experience to pass the time on the go if you ignore the narrative and stick to the hack and slash chaos. I had hoped for more out of the level design and overall presentation but sadly it feels like something from the late PS3 era. Hopefully Marvelous will learn from this experience to make God Eater 4 everything we could ever want in the end times.

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.

LOUD on Planet X is an interesting concept, but it ultimately falls flat. The great soundtrack and cool art style is hampered by a lack of interactivity with the music, limited replayability and competitive spirit that other games in the genre have.

Cold Iron’s unique premise oozes with promise, but the core experience is mired by repetitive, punishing gameplay.

There are gamers who won’t just like Strain Tactics, they will love it! However, just as many will be turned off by its controls and UI. Which camp you fall into depends on your answer to this question. Would you revive your cloned soldier if it meant taking an extra 15 minutes to fumble with multiple interfaces and slow inaccurate controls? I left my two soldiers who burned to death behind, I couldn’t be bothered. Maybe you’re different.

So who is this DLC for? It’s for the Stellaris veterans. For extreme micro-managers. For those who like to live dangerously, and won’t be too upset if they get wrecked through none of their own doing. Like I said, it’s a wrinkle. And Cosmic Storms might be – for some of us – the wrinkle that pushes our fun, stressful, management sim too far. There’s fun to be had if you’ve perfected the art of conquering the galaxy, but Cosmic Storms as a set of mechanics may push getting into Stellaris from challenging into not worth it territory.

While Gear.Club Unlimited 2 seems to have a bit more to offer compared to its first Nintendo Switch release, unfortunately it is still lacking in the excitement department that other racing games have. There were not a lot of cars to choose from, the races felt slightly repetitive, and the long loading times were brutal. On the other hand, Gear.Club Unlimited 2 is decent on its own and can be exciting for new racers. However, if you want something more stimulating and comparable to previous racing game experiences, you may want to wait until a more cohesive and complete game is released.

This is a game where the ending sequence saved it. As a platformer it barely stacks up to a lot of the competition; some portions of the art aren't that good; the combat is very wonky, with a "bouncy" feel; and, finally, the story doesn't deliver until the end. Adding some badly designed puzzle sections all pull Neversong down. The ending and the idea the title puts forth is powerful enough - even with some plot holes in retrospection - that is worth checking out if someone is into platformers, and has a few hours to try out something different.

Devotees of yuri, musou, or anime visual novels might find something to enjoy in Samurai Maiden. Aside from its genre trappings, fans of action RPGs won’t be impressed. The game’s combat is simply too frustrating, repetitive, and janky. Samurai Maiden doesn’t take any chances. The result is an overpriced, low-budget game with tepid combat bound to a collection of familiar genre tropes.

For those who love action-arena games like Gift of Parthax, this game will likely delight, as the pixelated characters are nostalgic as hell and the combat, when leveled properly, can be that right mix of challenging but fun. Unfortunately, for those more casual about the genre, Gift of Parthax doesn’t offer enough to offset painfully unbalanced seasons, the grinding that results, and a leveling system that’s as mystical as its characters.

Sports Story pales in comparison to its predecessor. The plot fails to capture the whimsy which engulfs the original. While I understand Sidebar Games’ decision to go large with its narrative, in doing so, it removes the simplicity which makes Golf Story so unforgettable. Although it expands its gameplay with a number of new sporting activities, the success of these varies. Combining this with the volume of performance issues and bugs means this swing is a whiff rather than a hit.

Between the fighting that isn’t quite realized and the story that feels like something that could have been found on DeviantArt, I have a hard time recommending JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven.

Ultimately, the choice of what to do with Seven Deadly Sins comes to down to one thing and it’s not really great. Are you a fan? If you are, I can almost guarantee you’re going to love this game. If you’re not a fan? There’s not really a whole lot going on to draw you in. A double-edged sword indeed.

Melty Blood Actress Again Current Code should be a much better game than it is, as the base game is very solid. It’s disappointing to see a strong base and nothing supporting it.

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

I think I am safe to say that this is not the best game out there, but it is far from the worst, and it can provide kids with some definite fun over the winter months for sure.

Crashday: Redline Edition stays true to its roots, offering gamers a variety of ways to play, however, as a whole the game just doesn’t mesh well together. One part car mayhem, one part stunt driving, and one part driving simulator, all narrated by cheesy mobster talk. With a name like Crashday: Redline I was expecting something akin to Twisted Metal or the Death Race films. Instead, we have a collection of moderately functional modes that offer a satisfying challenge, but odd and sometimes unresponsive controls.

If you’re unsure whether you can handle some uncomfortable and disturbing topics, this is definitely not the game for you. If you’re looking for a creepy and dark mystery to get lost in for a couple of hours, or you’re curious who Rachel Foster is, this is worth a playthrough.

The crude, last-gen visuals, the walled-off world, and the dull, errand-boy story are just not up to the standards of the Witcher or Elder Scrolls series that we have gotten used to in the last decade.

Tower of Fantasy has some strengths and several annoyances. Its attractive world is populated by a generic story and forgettable NPCs. Its exciting combat is hampered by time-gated exploration and an overly complex, fussy gacha system. For fans of the Asian MMO genre or recent converts to Genshin Impact, the game might be worth checking out. I don’t think Tower of Fantasy is a good introduction to gacha games, and there are generally lots of better MMORPGs to invest your time in.

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

I’m not sure who 1-2 Switch is really for. As a full priced title, I don’t feel the core gaming crowd will find much appeal here and for the more casual crowd, there isn’t really anything instantly captivating or fun enough to hold interest for more than a couple hours. Having to constantly swap accessories in and out becomes tedious as well. At the very least, 1-2 Switch does act as a nice little social ice breaker to get the room interacting quickly and there are a few good ideas on display here. I applaud Nintendo for trying new things, even if they don’t always hit the mark.

Sam & Max: This Time It’s Virtual is a textbook case that proves not all games are easy to transition from a traditional to virtual presentation. Dialog heavy games can work in VR if you are an active participant. Not so much when you are a mere observer. This problem is further exacerbated by the lack of polish of the game’s controls. What still works is the banter between Sam and Max. The writing is good as is the soundtrack. If you are a fan of these characters, you’ll probably be able to deal with the game’s shortcomings. For the rest, your time is better spent elsewhere.

I had high hopes for Beat Cop. As someone who loves Tarantino’s over the top nonsense, this title held so much promise. If the gameplay was tweaked here and expanded upon there, this review would have an entirely different tone. But as it stands, Beat Cop drew its own chalk outline and willingly laid inside it.

I can see the value of The Pirate Queen: A Forgotten Legend as a great introduction to a specific slice of cultural history. After all, what young person doesn’t like pirates? Though they might be disappointed by the absence of Jack Sparrow, Cheng Shih was a formidable character and leader. For older, more experienced gamers spoiled by the likes of Asgard’s Wrath 2, The Pirate Queen will probably feel like an action-adventure downgrade.

Short Peace leans towards its visually appealing aspects instead of its story and gameplay features. It’s a nice anime and video game hybrid to mindlessly keep you busy for about two hours, but if you’re looking for a serious game to invest your time in and explore this might not be what you’re looking for. Your eyes will be thanking you, but your brain might say otherwise.

The Force Unleashed is a fascinating slice of video game history. Unfortunately it’s not exactly fun history, not anymore. Again, your mileage may vary. Perhaps you’ve lately grown wistful about motion controls. Maybe you long for the days when quick-time events were a much bigger part of mainstream gaming. For me, revisiting this chapter of gaming’s history was downright unpleasant at times. I loved messing around with force powers and lightsabers, but that only gets you so far. If you’ve got fond memories of this game, they’ll likely survive a subsequent playthrough. Otherwise, I’d be wary of jumping into Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

Even with the expansion included, Magic: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2015 doesn’t offer enough variety and makes it too difficult to progress through the game without feeling pressured to buy cards with physical money.

Hell Pie is a vile platformer that struggles to nail the landing. Certain segments beam with ingenuity to create some fun and exciting moments, however, an array of bugs, inconsistent mechanics and an overall lack of polish make the game a lackluster experience. It’s great to see 3D platformers aimed at an older audience and even though it does manage to stir that feeling of nostalgia, it relies too heavily on games of the era which makes Hell Pie feel dated.