In a market saturated with shooters, it takes something special to rise above the pack. Crysis 3 was on the cusp of doing so, but in the end it didn’t quite knock one out of the park.

Despite the lack of variety, I have to recommend Blasters of the Universe. Its addictive mix of shooting action and immersive gameplay make this a worthy addition to anyone’s VR library.

Cute and charming are perfect words to describe this game. The sign of a good platforming game is one where players want to explore and collect all the items that are found around each level. I found myself wanting to do this and more. New Super Lucky’s Tale delivers a platformer for the whole family to enjoy by being easy to play, visually appealing and introducing a new and clever mascot to the Nintendo faithful. I sure hope we get to see more of Lucky in the future.

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.

Invincible VS is bloody brilliant. Accessible yet packed with depth, Quarter Up has crafted a fighter that welcomes newcomers while offering the nuance that will excite the fighting game community. While more modes and options for solo players would certainly round out the package, this is an incredible fighter worthy of its heroic name.

I’d like to see The Enemy Within challenge players’ minds a bit more.

Ys VI still has its original charm and classic elements to make it a timeless game. It’s a simple and not overly complicated action RPG which makes it an easy game to experience and love.

The content is great, but the relative value is horrible. If you are a big Kingdom Hearts fan (and really that’s who this collection is intended for), you’re going to be overjoyed.

If Destiny is judged on the game itself without falling victim to the unreachable expectations placed on it then it stands out as an amazing new IP. Never before has a game managed to merge separate genres quite so successfully and despite some of its flaws it does a lot of things right.

While fun and most of the time incredibly satisfying, matches rely quite a bit on the ability to reverse moves. That’s not an issue and can be quite fun in itself as well. There’s even a prompt letting you know a move is coming to reverse, except, of course, when it doesn’t prompt you. There might be the temptation to think, oh well, can’t reverse everything, but if you’ve become accustomed to slamming that R2 button you’ll find that you can reverse moves in which no prompt to do so was shown at all. It’s the sum total of these “oddities” that makes WWE 2K19 like eating from a bowl of M&M’s that someone has slipped a few Skittles into.

In the end, Beholder 2 might not be able to compete with the big AAA titles out there in the visual and depth departments, but it is a solid sequel to the original. Kudos to the developers for listening to criticism and addressing a lot of the shortcomings of the original Beholder. Beholder 2 is a pretty fun experience that gives you lots to do and look at, all while simulating the horror of a totalitarian existence with a nice balance of humor and seriousness. Could it look better? Sure – but as they say, beauty is in the eye of the … something something …

Even though some of the peripheral bits were less polished, the core gameplay in Fever is red hot. Actually playing a match of Tennis in this game is downright excellent. The regular matches are excellent, the tournaments are intense, and the special matches are all awesome. If you’re looking to change things up, the Trial Towers and the score challenges add a stack of fascinating twists to the standard tennis systems. Although I didn’t really vibe with the campaign mode, I still recognize its usefulness. I also wish those motion controls could be used in every other part of the game. If you want a more aggressive, fast-paced tennis game that’s also colorful, cute, and accessible, Mario Tennis Fever is an excellent choice.

MotoGP 19 is a huge leap in the right direction, with this being an excellent title for the fans of MotoGP. Milestone’s making the right steps, and their next entry could be the de facto MotoGP experience if they keep trending upward. They continue to improve the quality of the game with each release to marked effect, and it’s safe to say that MotoGP is in good hands.

The Dragon Quest Heroes series is an ambitious undertaking. Blending arcade-style action with RPG elements is a tricky balance, one that Heroes 2 doesn’t always manage to maintain.While it might bite off a bit more than it can chew, the end result is still good frantic fun. If you’re hungry for more Musou action, a Dragon Quest fan, or both, you can’t go wrong with this game.

This expansion may not appeal to everyone right out of the gate. While there may be a little something for everyone, your personal preference to building missions might sway whether you feel it’s worth the price tag. What’s there is very good, but only if that’s what you are interested in.

The game… is basically Terraria. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t have the massive variety and polish of Terraria’s crafting system, doesn’t have the interesting biomes of Terraria, doesn’t have the crazy enemies of Terraria, and it doesn’t make allusions to Lovecraftian horror.

Pode does a good job of being adorable, puzzling in all the right ways, and fun, all in the span of a few hours and while it’s worth mentioning the game seems a tad too short, the consistent pacing throughout makes it feel like a bit of a longer journey than it actually is. Despite camera issues that made the platforming and gameplay mechanics a bit more challenging than it needed to be, and although it could have used a more engaging storyline, the environments and the bond Glo and Bulder share bring an enchanted feel to the entire game that’s hard not to find charming all the way to the very last moment.

A good roguelike leaves you as enchanted as you are frustrated. Tamarak Trail is a good roguelike. If you don’t play this game, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Play Tamarak Trail.

For fans of the franchise, Gundam Breaker 4 is a successful reward for the patient faithful. For casual Gundam players not deeply invested in the series, Gundam Breaker 4 is a surprisingly good introduction to the experience. After a few hours in its virtual battles, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll want to start building a collection of Gunpla. Clear your shelves and enjoy.

For a game composed of familiar elements, Souldiers still managed to surprise me. If nothing else, the game’s execution is exemplary. Even if you’ve played a ton of pixel art, soulsborne, and Metroidvania titles, this particular blend is a satisfying one. The art direction is beautiful, the controls are tight, and design is rock solid. If you’re looking for a new 2D adventure, Souldiers will easily scratch that itch.

Tchia’s story and characters might be slanted to younger players, but older gamers will enjoy its open-world mechanics and relaxing vibe. Thoroughly rooted in the culture, music, traditions, and geography of New Caledonia, Tchia is an appealing and respectful window into an unfamiliar slice of paradise, translated into a game that’s full of charm.

If you’re a diehard fan of the RoboCop franchise, you may find merit in RoboCop: Rogue City. Regardless of my disappointment with it, I can’t deny that it’s the best RoboCop game we’ve seen. Just keep in mind that isn’t exactly saying much. A weak narrative, archaic character models, generally horrific voice acting, and a slew of technical issues hold Rogue City back from being the game I desperately wanted it to be. Admittedly, shootouts can be fun, but I’m not convinced that alone saves what otherwise feels like a letdown. Much like RoboCop’s enemies, approach with caution.

Overall, MotoGP 20 is a game for the player looking to be as close to racing on a crotch rocket at 300 mph without having to go jump on a bike themselves. With a very deep career mode, a ton of customization options, several modes of play, and stunning graphics from beautiful locales, there is a lot to do for the gaming purist looking for a hyper-realistic recreation of one of racing’s finest leagues. For the gamer who wants to shoot rockets from the sunroof and pull a barrel roll over a lake, well, this is probably not for you.

Every Mana game after Secret of Mana has felt diminished, by comparison. Time has revealed even that gem’s numerous flaws, but there’s still a bar that’s been set. Trials of Mana reaches for that bar, perhaps even grasping it. The graphics are lovely, the music is compelling, and the combat is engaging. It’s a weird, beautiful action RPG with enough hooks to keep me on the wire to the very end. The story may be wafer thin, the characters might be flat, and their dialogue might be clumsy, but the core remains intact. Whether you’ve played the original or not, Trials of Mana should be on your ARPG radar.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage is a return to form. While the RPG titles offered a huge world, there’s something about the smaller, tight-knit areas that lend themselves to the life of an assassin. The smaller scope and focus on stealth are refreshing which makes the moment-to-moment gameplay a blast. Combat is diverse allowing you to adapt to whatever situation you find yourself in and missions give you the freedom to find your own route to the objective. Aspects from the history of the franchise combine in Mirage to make this the best release the series has offered in years.

Q.U.B.E. is a great puzzler that is both fun and challenging without delving too far into the ‘too complicated’ area that most puzzlers love to go to.

So my advice would be if you own NCAA 12, there is a good chance you may just want to skip this year, but if you don't own last years game then feel free to purchase NCAA Football 13 with confidence as it is a rock solid gridiron game.

In a season where game releases generally slow down, gamers should take a close look at Spec Ops: The Line as it has some great qualities that most should enjoy, but the ride may be over a little too quickly for those who those who invest the money and don't play online.