Few retro handheld fighting games hold up today, but SNK had already done a good job getting the gameplay of The King of Fighters functioning well on the Neo Geo Pocket Color, and SNK Gals' Fighters still proves fun for some casual bouts in this Nintendo Switch port. A lack of gameplay depth, inability to convert some moves to unused buttons, and confusion in how to unlock characters is a shame, but the additional options introduced, including the excellent multiplayer setup to allow for instant local fights on the go, really make this more enticing, and much more tempting given the price.

As for Call of Duty: WWII - United Front: DLC Pack 3, it's hardly going to set the gaming world alight, but it does exactly what it sets out to do, with both Operation Supercharge and Monte Cassino being particularly strong highlights.

The system is likely not deep enough for hardcore strategy fans to want it solely based on this reason, though, yet for those more from the simulation genre fan club, they will find it all to be pretty fun overall. Those craving a sandbox simulator in space will feel right at home here, and the amount of crafting/decorating will be what some are definitely looking for.

The transition from single-screen pre-rendered backgrounds to fully realized 3D environments has breathed new life into level design of Oddworld: Soulstorm Enhanced Edition. Stages wrap around each other, utilizing added depth creatively. The expansive vistas of Oddworld's alien landscape look incredibly realistic, showcasing the capabilities of the Unity engine, which has evolved from a budget choice for hobbyists to a platform capable of rendering imagery on par with AAA Unreal Engine 4 titles. The clashing tones with the storytelling and gameplay are regrettable. The developers should have leaned more into the silliness of the premise instead of take itself so seriously. Being able to fart on command was a crucial pillar of Oddworld and seeing it gutted is utterly depressing.

Air Combat 22's biggest claim to fame is its fluidity and timeless visuals. The core mechanics are serviceable, but there isn't enough to keep it engaging past one playthrough. Without the cockpit cabinet and the booming chaos of a '90s arcade screaming in the background, there is less novelty and charm. Playing Arcade Archives: Air Combat 22 on a Nintendo Switch 2 is not the same as it would be on an original unit, but even if it were, the core experience is spread thinly, emphasising that the game was a shallow, cheap thrill.

While the overall package is lots of fun, it's not without a few issues. The lack of a truly driving story is by far Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream's weakest point. Furthermore, progression is in general just slow throughout, with endless backtracking. The simplified alchemy system is a mixed bag. It does little to stray from the formula and will be picked up by players exactly for that. It would be nice to see Gust take some risks and really step out with some new ideas rather than re-hashes of the same thing over and over.

It's very easy for a critic to say "fans of X will enjoy X", but the phrase absolutely applies here. If you've no interest in Les Stroumpfs then there's nothing for you here, but if you enjoyed the movie and would like a dancing game based upon it, then you could do far worse than Ubisoft's latest money maker.

There are some routes and plotlines in Olympia Soiree that stand amongst the best Idea Factory! has put out, but the price for entry is just too high. There's some beautiful art showcased here, and some memorable moments, and each person in the audience will find a bachelor that fits them… but it's hard going. The deluge of exposition, and dragging slow start makes it a slog to get to these points. This combined with the overly edgy "bad endings" tarnishes the experience as a whole.

As it is UnderMine is a slightly addictive, but also quite grindy roguelike which can get boring a bit too soon. With just a few changes, especially in the way boosting items such as artifacts work, as well as a few additional tools like weapons or skills (and maybe a more striking art style), it could be one of the genre's classics.

With its tight controls, solid mechanics, and fun scoring system, Tenta Shooter is an altogether pleasing addition to any shmup fan's library. Each game mode is worth spending some time with, and dedicated individuals will enjoy seeking out all of the secret bonuses. The fairy types, particularly Type-C, are a little unbalanced. Perhaps there should have been separate high score tables for each of them. The lack of online leaderboards is also unfortunate. Then, of course, there's the explicit content. It's entirely optional, but curiosity gets the better of everyone. Now, this critic is left wondering about all of the life decisions he made that led to this point.

Big Helmet Heroes offers a straightforward gameplay experience suitable for young players new to the genre. The game features a weapon system that allows players to experiment with different fighting styles and classes while maintaining their preferred character. The game's aesthetic is designed to appeal to children, and the visual gags offer mild amusement. Older gamers won't connect with this, but newcomers will welcome the presentation and simplicity, without getting bogged down in any grind.

One Night Stand is almost as short as the real thing, but not as pleasant… or unpleasant. Despite the intriguing concept behind this nice-looking visual novel, which is to find out what the heck happened last night, this plays its cards a bit too safe, and never dares offering something more emotive, or to include interesting plot twists. It is a simple create-your-own-adventure kind of deal that's… well, fun, just not as much as it could be with a little heavier emphasis in character development and/or plot. If a fan of the genre, and don't mind super-short indies, check it out. The rest can safely pass this by.

There is a solid game in WarriOrb, which has some well-designed elements and curious story moments. Unfortunately the experience is marred by flawed implementation or design in the core gameplay that makes this feel more frustrating than challenging. It is definitely something that will appeal to the few rather than the many, but that may mean that it's playing to strengths that this reviewer clashed with. It would certainly be very interesting to see Not Yet develop more titles in the future.

Ultimately, Pawarumi is an inventive and engaging STG that's held back by a low frame-rate. Considering the genre, a lesser game would completely fall apart if it ran at 30 FPS. At least with this one, its admirable qualities still shine through. The art-direction is quite interesting and the Trinity Mechanics are really well-executed. That said; dealing with the handicap of having less reaction time is liable to be too much for some players. It's advisable to wait for a possible 60 FPS patch, or check out the version that's available on Steam. Otherwise, expect at least some frustration and anger in your future.

Whilst it's good to see a decent forgotten game given a second chance in the modern day market, it is a shame that the original flaws weren't ironed out for this revision.

From a pure mechanical point of view Lost on Mars is decent. It generally retains the fun of Far Cry 5 action in a different setting and story. The problem comes in the execution, with the previous originality and variety of missions and situations replaced by bland tower climbing and frustratingly repetitive boss fights. There is humour in Hurk and his tale and the AI 'ANNE' displays all the traits of a typically psychopathic computer system well. However, this humour only goes so far and can't assist in battling through the hours and hours of looped gameplay with weapon upgrades being the only meaningful reward for doing so.

This is a competent puzzle game that gets the job done, with an original and interesting presentation and personality. Nonetheless, at the end of the day, The Delusions of Von Sottendorff and his Square Mind is just a nice anecdote in the vast 3DS indie library.

ENDER LILLIES: Quietus of the Knights is the definition of sky-high potential gone to waste. At first it will seem like this is a flawless diamond. It is beautiful, it controls like a charm, and the story behind it all is mysterious and dark. The more you play, however, the more you realise that, under the wallpaper-worthy vistas lies something that leans more towards generic than awesome, with combat in particular slowly turning into a repetitive slog. Sadly, this is nothing more an 'okay' metroidvania.

Hours of Darkness is a solid DLC entry for an already great title. It certainly presents a diverse style of stealth oriented gameplay, alongside a different setting to the main story. Seeing the background context of a previously acknowledged Far Cry 5 NPC is also a neat bonus. However, there are issues with the lack of content and having just one main objective in a relatively straight and linear path means that the realistic timeframe of a play-through is going to be somewhere in the region of one to three hours depending on how incentivised the player is to complete side objectives and collect items.

The developer has done an admirable job of maintaining the core of Epic Games' legacy, yet they have been unable to truly improve upon it. It is still the same cover-shooting action it has always been. Still satisfying and very crunchy.

The problem is the precise touches combined with the time attack aspects that only make for an annoying experience.

The Spore concept is a difficult one to transfer well to weaker hardware, but thankfully EA have not tried to shoehorn in anything unnecessary to a good gaming experience.

If My Heart Had Wings is an entertaining, slice-of-life, light romance/comedy tale, which, strangely enough, also delves with the creation and flying of a glider plane, and even succeeds in making that part entertaining. That being said, this will probably only appeal to fans of the genre and no one else, as it's a somewhat generic choice for a visual novel. Even fans, however, should expect something that takes a bit too long for anything to get going. Prepare yourself for lots and lots of reading, which can eventually put you to sleep.

When it differentiates itself Disney Universe comes across well, but the problem is that it just doesn't happen enough. The gameplay is clearly derived from the LEGO titles, while costume presentation comes from LittleBigPlanet, all given a Disney coat of paint.

The Thin Silence hits all the right notes when it comes to the puzzling situations faced, with extremely smart ways of working through the various stages faced, continuously crafting new objects to aid with progress. Sadly, it does hold itself back too much with a painfully slow walking pace for the lead character, and some weighty prose that misses the mark, too often proving to actually be boring and/or confusing.

2D games are enjoying a resurgence on Nintendo's home console this generation, and with its unique premise, Drawn to Life could have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with them. It's unfortunate, then, that the series' transition to disc has brought about new problems that have, if anything, made the basic platforming ever more apparent, and made it rely even more on the editing tools, which cannot hold the rest of the game up.

Fire Emblem Warriors falls a little short of what it could be, or rather what it should be. The dull slog of the story, along with some awful writing, leaves a terrible taste throughout the course of the campaign. The post-game history mode is where the game does its best, but it's not enough, especially when it's lacking so many key characters and events from the series' history. For the New Nintendo 3DS port, it is impressive how well it runs, but the visuals look, frankly, ugly, something that hugely impacts the fan-service element. Those with the choice between 3DS and Switch would be wise to go for the latter.

PSVR has expanded its catalogue year on year, going a long way in proving that the technology is here to stay, and not the gimmick many had thought. While Downward Spiral Horus Station isn't a groundbreaking VR title, thanks to the combat and lack of variety in the "puzzles" letting it down. It still delivers on crafting an immersive and atmospheric experience. Letting its audience step into the void of space. It's another to add to the catalogue of games to introduce non-VR gamers and non-gamers in general into the wonders of virtual reality.