Despite a lack of imagination in its story and setting, Redemption Reapers is not without appeal. Strong production values, excellent music, and solid core combat mechanics promise an engaging experience. Its stabs at originality are both appreciated and a mixed success. Better balance, less oppressive mechanics, and shorter, streamlined missions could make Redemption Reapers an attractive choice for fans of tactical RPGs.

If not for the unique film noir storytelling combined with a stylized black and white look, White Night could have been one of the more forgettable survival horror games of 2015. Unfair enemies and camera issues dampens an experience which otherwise should have been much better than the sum of its parts.

As a comic brought to life, Hellboy: Web of Wyrd nails the narrative tone and art style that Mike Mignola perfected decades ago. As an action game, there are impediments to enjoyment, starting with the purposefully choppy animation and Hellboy’s lack of fluid movement. What works in the pages of a book doesn’t necessarily translate to fun in the hands of the player.

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.

Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden is in an unfortunate position where the core game is kind of good, but everything surrounding it is kind of bad.

At the end of the day the pacing, environment and storytelling go some way towards offsetting the Kinect-specific issues, resulting in an average game that shouldn't fail to captivate fans of the series and some new players who are there for the ride.

The game’s different aspects of resource management, puzzle-solving, platforming, and story development may be individually sparse, but they all come together to make a modest title that doesn’t overwhelm the player. Overall, despite its technical flaws, Phoning Home is an unassuming yet enjoyable experience.

An ambitious outing for a smaller studio to be sure as Mars: War Logs is big on ideas but sadly a bit lackluster on actual execution.

My only real gripe with the game is the lack of saving and respawning options. I am one of those players that tends to die a lot, so it can be a bit frustrating. Not to mention the mini-map is quite small, so it can be easy to miss something important before moving onto the next level. Other than that, RemiLore: Lost Girl in the Lands of Lore is an incredibly fun title. With beautiful graphics and fluid hack ’n’ slash action, not to mention the back and forth hilarious banter from our heroes, this title is an easy pick whether you are playing it at home or on the go.

Given Wario’s great gaming background, Game & Wario leaves much to be desired. The selection of games is sparse, and even though a few of the games are fun, it doesn’t make up for the amount of ones that aren’t.

Catan on Switch is serene but never boring. It’s not a pulse-pounding action thriller, but it asks for a lot of thought. You will strategize, you will win, and sometimes you will lose. But the music will continue to gently encourage you, the cartoon opponents are just begging to be defeated, and there are still so many islands to clear. I don’t know how glossy you can make a game like this, but I’m happy to report that you don’t have to. An attractive package and a clear interface are the only reminders we need- Catan is a classic and being able to play it on the go is a gift.

Brawlout seems supremely content with the middle ground, to be fun but unremarkable. There’s no Mario, Scorpion, or Comic Book front man on the cover; instead, the obscure roster fails to carry the brawler beyond the appeal of any fighting game with an ongoing legacy. The diamond in the rough comes in the form of free character updates, the next one being the Dead Cells hero. However, I can’t base the final on how much better the experience will be a year from now.

The motion control is impressively accurate and the various inputs involved are simple enough to provide wide accessibility for all players.

While most of the game was rather bland, Tempest’s potential showed in some of the stranger quests that popped up (ghosts!), the large scale naval battles, and surprise sea monster attacks. Unfortunately, these events are short distractions from the lackluster nature of the rest of the game.

Double Dragon Revive isn’t the rebirth fans were hoping for. Its combat impresses with a variety of defensive and environmental mechanics that add real depth to each fight, but other elements drag the experience down. Sudden difficulty spikes create frustration, and the light platforming sections feel underdeveloped. The presentation also needs an overhaul as its uninspired visuals and soundtrack fail to capture the energy and attitude that once defined the franchise. There’s a solid foundation here, but it’ll take more than nostalgia and new mechanics to truly bring Double Dragon back to life.

The most immediate issue with this game is the boss fight difficulty in the story mode. The lack of online multiplayer is disappointing, but maybe future sequels will step beyond the confines of the couch.

Rogue Trooper Redux is a third person shooter that surpasses the original by adding depth, a story of betrayal, an interesting dynamic with Rogue’s squad, multiple tactics, and fantastic controls. The game looks great and it’s easy enough for newcomers to enjoy without feeling overwhelmed. Rebellion and Tick Tock Games did a fantastic job keeping it authentic to the source material and it’s a game everyone should try.

The gameplay and controls do stand up to the test of time, but without getting any sort of solid changes or updates it didn’t hold my attention or interest as much as it did 17 years ago.

Drag x Drive packs in plenty of interesting ideas, but they never quite merge into a compelling eSports experience. The mouse and motion controls are impressive in isolation, yet in the chaos of high-speed competitive play, they can become a source of frustration. With minimal offline content and few incentives to return online, it risks being overshadowed by stronger competitors. Without significant expansion to its bare-bones structure, the game may struggle to hold onto its player base.

Unfortunately tedious, unimaginative missions and too much emphasis on the poorly presented combat system drags the rest of the game down. With serious technical issues afflicting the game, it would seem that Risen 2 performs better on its home turf, the PC.

Jam Live Music Arcade has some really good elements; however, some of the control issues and the games difficulty level may inevitably turn some people away.

By and large, EA Tiburon have managed to release a golf experience that is a blast to play and features some brilliant looking courses. Granted, the limited PGA roster, only 13-courses out of the box, and some technical hiccups dampen the experience.

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.

If you’re okay with having minimal interaction, enjoy making tough decisions, and love an interesting narrative, The Complex is certainly an experience to add to your list. If, however, you enjoy a game that will keep you engaged for hours, a little more hands-on or are looking for something that offers up a meatier narrative, this may not be your cup of tea. At its current price point though, this single-player title is more than worth the money.

Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns introduces three well-rounded veterans that add even more variety and depth to an already robust roster. The guest characters inject personality into the game, offering you the opportunity to create memorable encounters with iconic figures from video games, film, comics, and television. While the campaign delivers incredible sequences packed with cinematic flair, it falls short in narrative depth. Nonetheless, the game’s engaging combat mechanics, diverse character lineup, and stylish sequences ensure that long-time fans of the franchise will still have plenty to enjoy.

The bright side is, the strategy layer of Sheltered 2 is better than ever. If this kind of game is your jam and the original flew under your radar, it’s worth checking out. And if you played the original to death (as I did) and you’re looking for a reason to fall back into it, think of this as a sort of pricey update. If that doesn’t repel you, Sheltered 2 is just fine. Or maybe that sounds really appealing to you. Despite some of the underwhelming changes, I anticipate putting a lot more time into Sheltered 2. The core gameplay is just that appealing. That makes Sheltered 2 a game where the core mechanic is strong, but none of the set dressing is all that exciting.

Hirogami is a pleasant adventure with innovative ideas that don’t quite land. The ability to transform into different creatures is engaging, especially in later levels where switching between forms is essential to progress. Unfortunately, the lackluster encounters, basic level design, and the need to revisit earlier stages to move forward create frustration. While Hirogami brims with creativity, it never quite comes together into a truly memorable experience.

Defiance can be a fun game, though it is difficult to enjoy its many features when so many bugs run rampant. The visual slowdown combined with the Internet related issues creates quite a mess at times, but when the game is working I can appreciate its uniqueness.