The gameplay has not aged well, and the Kinect integration is gimmicky at best.

Babylon’s Fall falters with its implementation of a live-service model. While it contains a compelling, multi-faceted combat system, its brilliance is lost in a crowd of unnecessary features. The art direction, although interesting, doesn’t capture the notion of an oil painting. Instead, it looks bland and at times, downright ugly. Unfortunately, it seems that a troubled development period has marred the game, resulting in a directionless, cluttered and convoluted adventure.

Another gripe I have with the game is that there are no checkpoints. If you fail, you have to start from Wave 1. While getting through each wave doesn’t take an extraordinary amount of time, your arms do start to hurt after shooting a lot of arrows. It would have been nice if the game implemented some sort of checkpoint system as I frequently found myself dying during the boss battles.

Ionia has some appealing concepts and the environmentally-conscious themes show its heart is in the right place. The climbing mechanic and other physical interactions are also well suited to VR. But there just isn’t enough to do, and in Ionia’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it run time I was never challenged physically or mentally. Even the centerpiece musical aspects really just amounted to me plunking a few notes and moving on. Despite a few highlights, this is one adventure that doesn’t live up to the magical premise.

Quantum Error desperately wants to just be a dystopian sci-fi CGI film, without any pesky gameplay to kill its momentum. Alas, there is a clunky, antiquated, and unrefined shooter wedged between the game’s Unreal Engine 5 cinematics. Love and attention was poured into the cutscenes, but the shooter is malnourished and not very much fun. Next time, just make a movie.

Rather than feeling any sort of tension, I was mostly bored.

The graphics look good for a budget title. From far away environments look especially good. But the music is definitely where Tamarin shines brightest. The score was done by Rare veteran composer David Wise and employs everything from military action music, to synthwave, to jungle beats. A lot of tracks are very memorable, and I was always happy when something extra powerful kicked in for combat sections. I really hope Tamarin’s issues are addressed with patches. It’s possible, as the game was constantly pushed back from its original release date. But right now it’s almost unplayable, because of its camera pulling. It’s not possible to recommend Tamarin for anything other than the music at present.

I was expecting (and hoping for) a spooky and atmospheric thrill ride, but instead got an ill conceived and unpolished first person puzzle game. The story is weak, the puzzles unintuitive, and the experience wholly unsatisfying. Explorers would be better served travelling back in time and playing Myst, or picking up one of the games I mentioned above. Steer clear of this one.

A poorly-done Tomb Raider clone that lacks everything good about that series. Awful combat and stealth mechanics, a boring dead world, and mindless co-op puzzles await all who purchase this. Do yourself a favor and purchase either of the new Tomb Raider games for less than you’d be paying if you bought Troll and I. I’m still shocked they’re trying to charge the exorbitant amount that they are for this buggy, unimpressive adventure.

Overall, there’s not a lot here for me to even criticize. The motion controls are a bit sloppy, the dialogue needs work and the amount of actual content is pretty laughable. On top of that, you’d be hard-pressed to get through this game without feeling gross or guilty. Yet, I still have to salute Xseed’s commitment to their physics engines and character models. Whatever else the game lacks, Asuka still moves and reacts at the level you expect from any Senran Kagura title.

Maybe the writing is good? The voice acting? The visuals? Nope. Remothered: Broken Porcelain looks awkward, the writing is weak and the voice acting… actually the some of the voice acting is alright. So, at least it has one redeeming quality, otherwise, this one is a hard pass.

There’s far too much wrong here for me to recommend The Deer God. Maybe the devs will continue developing and turn this into an excellent game at some point. The pieces are all there. It just needs more time and effort to unlock its full potential.

The reason why Zombieland was popular was because it was quirky, the characters were charming, and it was hilariously meta (I’m looking at you, Bill Murray). The makers of Road Trip try to recapture that glory but they seemed to have missed the part about how the characters made that movie. Much like how the phrase ‘Nut up or shut up’ was already tired by the end of the first movie, Road Trip is tired even as it boots up. So much so that most of the dialogue given to Tallahassee is that phrase that has been worn out for a full decade. Luckily, Double Tap itself was much better than its game counterpart. Based on historical examples, this isn’t the first time nor will it be the last time we can make that statement.

Overall, it’s just hard to recall a less ambitious multiplayer shooter than CrossfireX. Its generic single player campaign fares much better than its multiplayer, which is simply lacking in everything we’ve come to expect from the genre. Smilegate’s previous shooters have obviously connected with millions in the Asian market, but it’s hard to imagine CrossfireX igniting anything near that kind of enthusiasm in the very competitive multiplayer scene.

The idea was there, but the execution of the final product is a confused and chaotic mess. It’s unfortunate to say, but Umbrella Corps has taken the title of being the most poorly executed Resident Evil game to date.

All in all, Heavy Fire: Red Shadow is a game that is easy to overlook and doesn’t really give you much reason not to. There’s fun to be had and it’s an easy way to waste a half hour, but that’s really all you’ll be doing. With repetitive gameplay, a strange storyline, and a tone that oddly feels more like a recruitment video than anything else, Heavy Fire seems like it probably should have stayed dormant. Seriously though, if it does unlock a special invite to join the military, someone please let me know!

There was a real opportunity for DYING: Reborn to shine on virtual reality, but the end result feels like a cruel joke.

Clunky controls, poor visuals, and boring and repetitive gameplay make this game experience one that you should skip.

Whether it was the shoddy writing, non-existent character development, the floaty platforming physics or the combat mechanics that are often at odds with themselves, Randall is the kind of game that is no more than the sum of its parts. Unfortunately, that sum does not add up to a memorable experience.

Ultimately, Left Alive was such an awful experience that I wouldn’t recommend purchasing it for its full $60 price or even half that. Throughout my time with the game, I thought about how money someone should spend to buy this game and I eventually decided on an amount: No more than three dollars.

Though there are some definite strengths throughout Past Cure, like the textural environments, the melodies and the overall world duality, it simply fails to really take advantage of the hype gained from its badass trailers.

Flashback 2 has some nice ideas but bugs, a lack of polish and the clunky design hinder the entire experience. At each step, it feels as if you’re fighting with the game to get a hit of nostalgia. Beneath the wealth of issues, there is something of merit, however, the sheer volume of issues will just frustrate and infuriate.

For my interest in something to be increased, it has to be entertaining. This is where NBA Live 14 ultimately falls short for me.

If you’re a fan of Monster Jam or have younger gamers who enjoy simple racing games than this might be a worth-while purchase. However, if you’re a gamer looking for a deep racing simulation style game, or even a really good arcade style racing game, you’ll find better options elsewhere.

Overlord: Fellowship of Evil had the potential to be great especially with the direction of the Diablo-eqsue style game play. Sadly, the lack of polish in the presentation and unintriguing gameplay made for a hot mess and is a definite pass for any gamer, fan of the series or not.

What 7 Days to Die does right is provide a hearty selection of crafting and allows you to team up with friends locally or online to enjoy some co-op action. But is it worth picking up? For the simple fact that there’s better examples of world-building engines out there with a large fan base and even larger servers, I say pass.

Has all the ingredients to be good but it fails to bring it all together and ends up being a mediocre experience at the very best.

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.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum tries to be a respectful homage to Tolkien’s masterpiece. Unfortunately, it’s expressed through buggy, unpolished, and not very interesting or enjoyable gameplay. Gollum is a fascinating and complex character, but makes a poor protagonist for an action game. Only ravenous fans of Tolkien will want to come near this game, and then only if they have a very high tolerance for crashes, bugs, and disappointment.

If you are looking for a portable experience worthy of the Call of Duty name, you will not find it here. Declassified has very little in the way of redeeming qualities which is unfortunate because this is a massive opportunity lost for Activision, Sony and fans of Call of Duty games.

Even if you can get past the poor humour and lack of story, the controls and combat just feel bad.

Going into Weeping Doll I was hoping to experience a horror game in the glory that is VR. Sadly, Weeping Doll didn’t deliver much of anything, except a simple puzzle solving game that feels undercooked.

The clunky controls, combined with a ghost town of players to actually play this game online with, really works against this title.

Frustrating mechanics, bad interface, and an unbelievably bland, confusing, and uninteresting story make for a bad combination. There’s so much wrong here that I hardly even have time to mention things like the terrible mini-games and wild inconsistency of one-hit stealth killing.

In summary, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 5 is pretty much a poorly done remake of THPS 2.

When it comes to humor, satire and pretend violence, I have endlessly high tolerance. Art and entertainment should be free to push buttons and push the limits of what’s acceptable. I have far less patience for lazy, sloppy and tired humor that masquerades as edgy, and no patience at all for developers that waste my time with games that barely run. With Postal 3, Running With Scissors blamed it on the Russians. With Postal 4, they have no one to blame but themselves.

Even the most casual gamers will find little in the way of redeeming qualities with this mish-mash of mini-games.

It severely lacks in the fun department with its repetitive gameplay and bland characters. Expecting gamers to drop $50.00 dollars on this game is insulting. Yet, even if it were cheaper it would not make it any better.

Sniper Rust VR’s formula may work on the mobile free-to-play market, but as a VR title, it doesn’t take advantage of the medium in a way that justifies its existence. Anyone who has handled a sniper rifle in virtual reality will know that sniping should feel fun and rewarding, not like the chore as it is presented here. Unless you’re looking for a lesson in how not to design a VR shooter, steer clear of Sniper Rust VR.

Code Violet falls short of its inspirations. Although the concise adventure has some strong moments, with some great interior environments, it fails to create menacing enemies that evoke fear in the player. Bugs hinder the experience, often leading to clumsy moments that break the immersion. Unfortunately, fans of Dino Crisis will have to keep waiting for that spiritual successor they’ve been hoping for.

The Walking Dead: Destinies would have been a fitting release a decade ago during the peak of the series’ popularity, ironically, the game plays as if it belongs to that era too. You’ll quickly tire of the repetitive mission structure and grow frustrated with the combat system. Although the game claims to allow you to choose the path that Rick and Co. walk, your decisions barely make a difference. Even die-hard fans of the formidable franchise will want to steer clear of this undead adventure due to its dated design and poor execution.

Forget this game. Move along, and pretend you never heard of Decay of Logos. It tries so hard to be something that it simply isn’t, and it leaves players with a frustrating mess of mechanics that have been done so much better elsewhere. There really isn’t any reason for someone to pick this up. If you’re craving a big, open-world to explore, literally any open-world game will be better than this. If you’re looking for a difficult, combat-based action game, literally any combat-based action game will be better than this. Some of the sound design is actually decent, and I’ve heard worse soundtracks before, but there is no reason you should be playing this game. Get out while you can.

With a game that constantly breaks, unstable controls, a pointless map, flat story, and repetitive rock music riffs for audio, Road Rage might incite rage in the gamer, but for all the wrong reasons. This is a game best reserved for feeling like you need to empty your digital wallet and have no other options.

What I will say is that you can see the passion that went into this project. The environments are well-designed and it’s clear that the developers had a lot of love for the genre. It’s a game made for survival horror fans, but sadly isn’t one I can see many survival horror fans loving. It’s a mildly effective throwback, but somehow manages to feel more dated than games that were made decades ago, and that’s not a comfortable spot to be sitting in.

This game is meant for the fans of Tenkai Knights, and when I say fan, I mean a die-hard fan. Even then, I doubt any hardcore fan would find many redeeming qualities with this junker of a 3DS game.

Besides the obvious attempt to cash in on the launch of the Wii U, it seems as if the design philosophy of Game Party Champions was to make playing on the TV and GamePad equate to a DS-like experience. It fails miserably. Trying to combine this sort of experience and motion control onto the Wii U's GamePad is frustrating and feels forced.

If anything it gives all the Xbox One doomsayers a glaring example of why the Kinect should have been abandoned a long time ago. Even if this game was a fraction of its baffling $59.99 price tag, I would not recommend it for anyone. The Fighter Within has only one good thing going for it and that is you can burn a few calories after a fight or two. Otherwise, do yourself a favour, avoid this game as it’s awful.

My gripe in this case is that there’s just so much lost potential with Cartoon Network: Battle Crashers that between it’s brief 6 hour run time, it’s boring gameplay, and it’s seemingly soulless presentation that it’s hard to lend praise to this game.

Boring, uninspired, glitchy, unfinished….those are just a few of the words I’d use to describe a wholly unenjoyable gaming experience in Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons.

The fact that there are some­ interesting mechanics trapped beneath the monotonous grind called Vroom makes it all the more disappointing. Poisoft has shown the ability to create fun portable experiences in the past, but all of the trappings that would normally keep players coming back are missing here. With little to offer other than some unintentionally hilarious dialogue exchanges, Vroom in the Night Sky is best avoided on the Switch eShop.

The stale visuals and problematic control issues make this game hard to recommend.

While the lack of additional content for the single player portion of the game is a disappointment, all in all the Local Justice DLC is a solid buy and one that should be considered a no-brainer for anyone who heads online for some Max Payne 3 goodness.

The three new multiplayer maps, new Guerrilla map, the new game mode, the new weapons, the level cap increase, and the new achievements make this bit of DLC a solid purchase, and if you are looking for a reason to get back into the game, the Arctic Strike DLC Pack should give you the justification you need to do so.

A great table because you don't have to know anything about the original game to understand the pinball table and the challenges it provided. There is no deep complex story line just some good old pea flinging action.

The Raven Strike DLC missions are a welcome extension of the game, and with intense, traditional Ghost Recon gameplay, and with the addition of a new Guerilla map, and they really should be considered a must purchase for fans of the game and those just looking to expand their Future Soldier experience.

While the gameplay does tend to get tedious at times, the reality is that the games target audience, girls anywhere from 5-10, will definitely enjoy the game provided of course they adore those Disney Princess characters.

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.

In small bursts, Hotel Transylvania is tolerable, featuring some challenging platform areas forcing you to make some precise movements with the circle pad. Unfortunately, the overall experience comes up a bit short making it hard for me to recommend this game for anyone this holiday season.

Ultimately, WRC Powerslide is the perfect example of an average game and it’s hard to recommend when there are better arcade racers on the market.

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.

When it comes to virtual pinball, Zen Studios are the masters and it should come as no surprise that they managed to pretty much knock the Star Wars Pinball: Heroes Within Pack out of the park.

It will surely appeal to fans of Guardians of the Galaxy franchise and will most likely be picked up by a virtual pinball table collector such as myself. That being said, the lack of randomness in the opening of the game and repetitive voice work has me actually recommending that newbies to Pinball FX2 take a perusal of their extensive table library to find something that really piques their interest, then after some quality time with other tables, take a gander at this one.

The attention to detail is fantastic, rebuilding and bringing to life key elements from TV shows, movies, and comics, all within the confines of a pinball table and making it work, and The Walking Dead table is no exception.

Fibbage just makes lying fun.

I hate to say it but if the development team had put as much effort into refining Boo Bunny Plague’s gameplay as they did the soundtrack, this could have been a very enjoyable game. Poor controls, bland level design, and last-gen graphics just make the experience so disappointing.

I’ve always been a staunch supporter of the idea that a game doesn’t always need to break new ground in order to be good so I won’t say that Juju is in any way a bad game. I just wish it had something to it that really made it stand out from the impressive list of amazing games it so clearly borrowed from.

It doesn’t really bring anything else new to the table in the team deathmatch genre, but what it does bring, it does it well.

It’s a fine follow up, and I can’t recommend it enough, but I also cannot shake that nagging feeling that everything it brings to bear wasn’t adding anything new, it was merely completing the original.

A horrendous driving game.

If there’s no groundwork and fundamentals in place for players to interact with one another, especially for a game with zero objectives, it’s destined to fail. I can understand what Wander was trying to do, but even so, it’s both nowhere near complete and polished, and sadly, completely void of fun in any way.

If you’re a fan of the game and are looking for a little more or you’re simply looking for a new indie game to dive into, Alcatraz is a great addition to an already solid game that will leave you feeling like Tim Robbins (not sorry) in the end!

A puzzle game is only as good as its level design, and unfortunately, Chip’s Challenge 2’s levels are a mixed bag of hit and miss. Considering it’s a game from 1991; however, it’s impressive that some of these levels are as fun as they are and can still enjoyed.

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.

The truth of the matter is if you enjoy the base Card Hunter game then Card Hunter: Expedition to the Sky Citadel will be a welcome addition.

All in all, my real issue with this game is that it feels like there was enough put in place to really make something fun. Despite the quality of each piece, and the unique take on the beat-em up genre, I almost feel like the game could have functioned much better as a side-scrolling title.

Fans looking for a fighting game with deep gameplay that rewards mastery of game mechanics best look elsewhere. Fans of the characters that just want to run amuck with them for awhile should be pleasantly diverted. At least for awhile.

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.

The game is very focused on the essence of platforming which is good for dedicated fans of the genre, but might seem a little repetitive for a wider audience.

Sadly though the game only boasts four levels to play on and even though these take you from the depths of Atlantis to the top of the trees on the Island of Spirits, this small variety is disappointing.

Placed alongside Endless Legend’s previous expansion, ‘Guardians’, Shadows is similarly priced and has a lot more to offer in the way of content. How that content is introduced to the player could use some work, but the amount given is neither too much nor too little.

This one is definitely for the heavy hitters.

The fact that this PC version is a massive downgrade from the original, or any previous version to be honest, speaks volumes. As a fan of RPG’s I whole heartedly recommend FFV, just make sure you play any other version than this embarrassing PC port.

Despite its flaws, Eternal Step isn’t a terrible little indie game if you’re a fan of the roguelike genre. It has enough gameplay depth to keep things fresh, at least for a while.

Don’t buy Vicky Saves the Big Dumb World expecting some niche masterpiece, or the next indie breakout star. Go into it expecting to play something that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but in all the right ways.

Overall, if you enjoy puzzle or time management games, this is a pretty fun one as it is very easy to pick up and play and it is definitely the type of game you come to when you have a bit of free time.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Awesomenauts Overdrive adds more characters to an already expansive list of mercenaries and continues to evolve the combat and tactical depth the 2D MOBA offers.

With a clever combination of live action videos and computer graphics, the game makes you feel as if you do indeed have one foot in reality and the other in a dream. However, while its narrative is enjoyable, it doesn’t go beyond in bringing anything new or exceptional.

Stikbold! A Dodgeball Adventure has an excellent single player campaign, but it lacks replay value.

If you’re a comic book fan and love MMO’s than this game will rock your world and then some.

Despite how peculiar it all may seem, all of the elements of Soft Body come together and make perfect sense while you are playing it.

If you love tower defense and can ignore some of the game’s quirks, Hero Defense is worth picking up, but there are not enough unique features to recommend this to the broader PC player base.

You get a lot for your 2,000 Crowns with the Dark Brotherhood DLC, and there is enough new and fresh ideas here to make this, well, not worth KILLING for, but almost.