Call of Juarez: Gunslinger is an absolute diamond in the rough. The motion-comic cut-scenes get the job done, but are otherwise unimpressive to look at. The frame-rate can get really rocky when there are tons of lawmen about, firing rifles or revolvers from all over a town, as Silas darts from cover to cover. The overall concept and execution on the other hand is pure genius and fully takes advantage of the historical setting, flawlessly weaving it into the gameplay. John Cygan as Silas Greaves is an utter joy to listen to, as he gradually succumbs to a hilarious stupor. The arcade-like structure makes Gunslinger a natural fit for the Nintendo Switch's portable mode, so that chunks of the game are easily digested and completed while on the go.

The Mass Effect trilogy is a personal all-time favourite of this here reviewer, and Legendary Edition comes highly recommended to anyone that enjoys sci-fi narratives, regardless of preferred genres or experience. As games, each has its faults and glitches that can't be glossed over today, but this package as a whole is a gripping adventure that takes players all over the Milky Way galaxy, meeting fascinating characters and alien races, of whom many will stick long in the memory. The lore will always be the absolute reason for anyone to give this a try, and it's highly likely that no matter the issues, the story and crew will be more than enough to keep you going to see this grand adventure right to the end. Unfortunately, one too many complaints are difficult to ignore and hold it back from being the remaster this deserved to be.

When it comes to action RPGs, Ys Origin ranks among the elite. It's fair to point out, however, that the Xbox One port could have been better. Sure, the slight load time increases and lack of controller options are nitpicks, but the original game was released in 2006. Surely these minor details should have been accounted for. More egregious is the stuttering. Although it doesn't go far enough to ruin the port, its presence is unjustifiable. Still, whatever the format, this phenomenal classic can't be passed up.

While it fails to capitalise fully on its core ideas, it still works exceptionally well as a quick game to load up when there are a few minutes to spare, letting you blast away, exploring the latest new zombie-killing method before giving it a rest again for a while.

Among metroidvania titles available, Rusty Rabbit holds its own, though it falls short of its contemporaries due to the disruptive flow of cutscenes and narration. Its controls could be more fluent and responsive, but the dense atmosphere and writing carry the weight of the experience, making it memorable and interesting enough to stand out from the crowd in a saturated genre.

The Isle of Armor is a nice extra chunk of land to explore in the Galar region that brings with it 100 past Pokémon, and two new ones to add to the list of playables in the 8th generation games. A slew of extra items and features making Pokémon breeding and training a bit better are also included, along with enough bonuses to warrant the existence of this DLC... but not much more than that. Nevertheless there's a sense that story content is kind of short here, and that having to pay extra to gain access to more of the older Pokémon, whereas past games included all of them right from the start, whether through Pokémon Bank or not, is not the best of deals. Still, this is better than having to pay for a full new game like Ultra Sun and Moon, only to have access to a bit of extra stuff. The concept of expansions is, at least, a better solution.

Asdivine Hearts doesn't reinvent anything; far from it. But it takes the JRPG formula and balances the combat to perfection.

FIFA 21 provides enough new content and changes to set itself apart from FIFA 20 but ultimately this feels like an entry that plays it safe. This is totally understandable; the new console generation is just around the corner and will allow EA to take this series to the next level. Truly, it needs exactly that - the graphics and presentation are in dire need of an overhaul. Nevertheless, the bolstered Career Mode and gameplay balances contribute to this being a decent swan song for the current generation of football simulators.

Dragon Marked for Death struggles with the finer details, but Advanced Attackers ensures that even just the single player is more than engaging.

Clearly made by gamers with a strong affection for the 2D RPGs of old, Vampire's Fall: Origins surpasses the standard of typical mobile games and delivers a solid experience that manages to stand on its own two feet. For gamers who want a value-for-money RPG and who can abide the lack of bells and whistles, look no further than this bargain bloodletter.

Just Dance 2019 is exactly like Just Dance 2018, 2017, and so on. In other words, it's extremely fun… but it also feels like a cash-grab, since it doesn't try anything new. Also, the 400+ long song list, arguably the bulk of the experience, remains hidden behind a subscription… albeit, a reasonably priced one.

Yume Nikki: Dream Diary is a morbid, and profoundly engaging journey into a frontier rarely seen in games. It mostly succeeds with its concepts, and while the visuals might turn off most people, those who get accustomed to them will appreciate just how effective they are at creating a strong uncanniness to its atmosphere. While there is no excuse for some of the technical flaws or control issues, the overall design is strong enough to carry the weight and suck people into this spiralling descent into madness. It has a great replay value, with alternate endings and even a couple of mini-games within the core game.

While it may not be of the same quality as the greats of its era, this is a solid and enjoyable title. The puzzle sections are by far the highlight, but the exploration and Zelda-style progression are all good enough to keep the players coming back. Many, many players who have fond memories of the generation missed out on this one, and its resurrection here gives them a chance to experience something new yet nostalgic. Instead of a new game trying to capture the feel of an era, this is a lost relic, a chance to experience a "new" action-platformer from the past.

Trailmakers is right on the cusp of being something great. There are a lot of tools here, and pieces that can be used to build anything imaginable. The focus is on creativity, and this is for anyone that liked building their own LEGO original creations, rather than following the instructions. If everything about this was as good as the customization, this would be an easy recommendation for just about everyone. Unfortunately, what exactly they let you do with your toys is less exciting, and the "game" part of the game needed a bit more work. It has the feel of building a top of the line, brand new Ferrari, and then only being able to race it around the local supermarket parking lot. With a bit more work, this could've been exceptional, but for now it feels stuck in neutral.

Shikhondo - Soul Eater is a visually unique and very enjoyable shmup. That's really all there needs to be said. It's not as if there's some riveting plot or a fantastic ending to look forward to. In fact, the story is basically non-existent. Perhaps, instead of filling the screen with words, the developer chose to cram in some more bullets. That's fine - wonderful even. There aren't any distractions to keep players from performing their best. If the idea of navigating a sometimes literal maze of death grabs you, then consider giving this a go.

Despite a couple of minor issues, Origament manages to be a perfect stress reliever. Its slow pace combined with very smooth controls and relaxing surroundings create a dreamlike experience. However, just as with dreams, the logic does not always make sense, which sadly translates into some very weird invisible walls and difficulty separating what is meant to be explored from what is not. All in all, it is a great game to play through in an otherwise stressful evening, or to just let one's child play as one of their first video game experiences.

This second DLC pack is, just like the first, just a tool to help players grind and farm for things a little easier than the first one allowed. However, whereas the previous pack only made marginally easier the things that could already be done in the base game, this one really does help things out by a lot for players looking to maximise the potential of their party, especially post-ending. While the Inner Sanctum is still easily doable mid-game, the other two maps that are part of this second round of DLC really should only be tackled last to earn the last few levels of experience before maximising a character, or to finish upgrading every important weapon or pieces of equipment in the case of the map that lets players grind money.

The problem that plagues all triple-A sports titles can be found in here as well. There's not much to say concerning the differences between NBA 2K23 and the previous entry. In other words, maybe only super-fans of the series or major basketball aficionados should care. If you have the patience to wait for a discount, what you'll find here is a great NBA game, with some cool modes that transport you to the past of the organization, with chief among them a meaty tribute to Michael Jordan.

If you're looking for a bunch of good fighting games on Wii, get this collection, but due largely due to the fact it features one of the greatest fighters 2D of all time in KoF '98.

Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition HD is a fun little accompaniment to the original and certainly a preferential option for those that want to re-experience the original without investing an ungodly amount of time. That being said, the flaws are rather glaring. It's all far too simplified, and the old-school aesthetic would have been greatly complemented by adding in a turn-based, classic Final Fantasy combat system.

The Plucky Squire is a great little adventure game. It has a fun, if slightly cliché, story but executes it in a very unique way. Gameplay is always chill, the writing and art style are charming, and it's a really solid package. It stumbles a little on the clarity and iffy stealth, but it's not enough to detract from the charming animation work and fun puzzles. A fun pickup for fans of older-style Legend of Zelda titles and crafty-looking games.

Psikyo shooters range from above average to good. Therefore for any genre fan, those tend to be safe bets for a truly good time. The fact that those six can acquired in physical form in one package, even outside of the Japanese and Southeast-Asian markets is a big relief. One can only wish that the full package was a bit cheaper on the eShop, however, since buying them all separately comes to roughly the same price, making a digital release of this package simply redundant. This also means that should only some of the included games catch the attention of anyone, at least those can be still be bought individually today.

Steins;Gate: My Darling's Embrace deserves credit for managing to retain a desire to spend more time with these characters, and runs with the humour and nerdiness in combination with the sexually natured and light-hearted narratives that Okabe ends up entwined in. It does the series justice by sticking to what makes everybody so appealing, but it is a very specific type of visual novel that doesn't get into any serious or dramatic situations. Understand what you're setting yourself up for and this is a fun alternate diversion to the original title.

Amongst the ACA NeoGeo line of ports that have been made for the Nintendo Switch, The King of Fighters '94 surely stands among the better ones, although the core game was never close to perfection. Those in need of something better are advised to try ACA NeoGeo: The King of Fighters '98.

The fact that it is a visual novel in the stricter sense of the term, unlike games such as Virtue's Last Reward, which contained much more interactivity than most games of the genre, may put off certain players.

Near-perfect first person shooter controls, and solid online play make a game worth considering - especially if you're in need of shooting loving on the Wii.

It feels really, really good playing Velocity 2X, whether you fly the teleporting spaceship, or run with the teleporting heroine - and all the while a pretty catchy set of tunes bop along. On the… not so bright side, though, the action can get a tad repetitive, and, somehow, this heavy focus on speed-running sort of damages what seems like the groundwork for a much more meatier experience.

A fairly by-the-book platformer where gameplay never goes to any great heights or depths. Certain small aspects regarding platforming and combat can occasionally become annoying, but these negatives aside, the art and general charm of the game is quiet compelling. The story hints at some dark sci-fi plots, and exploration is satisfying, if sometimes annoyingly difficult. The characters are especially attractive with their highly animated visual novel portraits, which gives a sense of life this genre often doesn't have. Overall, though, Kotama and Academy Citadel feels like it needed more cohesion to really come together.