Blazing Beaks was a nice little surprise and I thoroughly recommend it for fans of the genre. It loses a few points in my eyes for a rather bland soundtrack and a complete lack of narrative. Overall, though, it’s a fun little game and worthy to sit among the others.

The Club was a pleasant surprise. It's a guns blazing light hearted action experience that may not be the best shooter out there but it doesn't have to be.

Midway has almost got their series down, just add more depth, and some more interesting features, and I can see next year's game is going to be a true winner.

Old school RPG is very much alive here, as Fire Emblem charms us with its engaging storyline, uncompromising combat and solid gameplay.

For all the praise I will give Streets of Rogue with respect to its gameplay, I was disappointed with how the story ends. While the journey is a lot of fun, the final level is rather abrupt and anticlimactic. It isn’t a major issue, but a game of this style could really use a bombastic ending sequence to add that extra incentive to complete the game. Overall, though, Streets of Rogue is one of the best rogue-lites I’ve played in ages. It highlights the virtues of the genre very well, and while the challenge dissipates steadily over time, the game remains interesting and varied.

More of an expansion pack, and a solid one at that.

Automachef is a very pleasant game, and a lot of fun. I would highly recommend it if you're in the market for a short, easy to play game that will test your skills and brain power. Whether you're commuting, winding down after a long day in the office, or just looking for something new to play, Automachef will fit that bill.

In a gaming landscape where every game has bountiful side quests and unending DLC, it’s nice to play a game that knows what it is and sticks to that formula from beginning to end. While Nex Machina won’t be for everyone, it’s a game that absolutely excels at being what it set out to be: a challenging, beautiful arcade shooter that will constantly ask if you want to continue.

Lethal League is a lean, intricately detailed fighting game designed for everyone in 2014, and what’s more, it’s a smashing good time.

While my challenge seeking heart and likely inexhaustible patience were hoping for our reward to be a secret new area, an Ultimate Boss or heck, a minor change to the ambiguous ending to Dark Souls II’s main story, Crown of the Ivory King was not just a delicious (and at times bitter) cake to go through, but it also provided me with a cherry top that was clear interpretation of what our player character was able to ultimately accomplish.

Peter Jackson's midas touch spreads to the video game, as King Kong impresses us with its cinematic visuals and the great giant ape.

Overall this is the strong outing that the FIFA franchise really needed and it came out in a big way and for lack of better terms, scored.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is a fantastic return to form that benefits from modern console hardware, making a more dynamic air combat experience. The story, told from different perspectives on both sides of the war, has a tendency to be too serious and overwrought to the point of hilarity but I always give it a pass because it’s so endearing.

Had the multiplayer been deeper, it would have easily been an editor's choice.

All fine and dandy but still, I expected more. The main reason is that The Path Home is over too quickly. Most of the previous add-ons have been understandably short so that they don’t mess up the main campaign pacing too much as they take place during it. However, as a post-game content, The Path Home had no such burden. The scenery that Lara travels through is breathtaking but as it is, it’s visited all too briefly.

Even with small small gripes, I found the overall package of The Golf Club 2019 to be a huge step in the right direction. I dug far deeper into this year’s outing than any other in this series. HB Studios has really tightened up the core mechanics, and now with the PGA license and an amazing suite of customizable tools, the series has nothing but upside. If you’re like me and have been craving to hit the digital links again, I highly recommend giving The Golf Club 2019 a look.

Atari finally comes good with the celebrated DBZ franchise with this high-flying, free-form fighting game. This is as close as you'll get to the frantic anime-style battles.

Doom is, at core, a classic first person shooter with satisfying weapons and lots of ways to kill and dismember a legion of demonic enemies from another dimension. The game's great level design and near-perfect pacing shine through on the Switch, and moment-to-moment gameplay is still a blast to play, though the framerate drop and somewhat gauzy visuals may irk players used to other versions. In the end, Doom on the Switch is a welcome bit of mature content and a fine shooter that transcends whatever compromises had to be made to port it to the system.

Snack World is a game with a lot of potential. It could use a little more polish and a more engaging setting, but the elements are all there for a good dungeon crawler. Despite my issues with the game, I've enjoyed my time searching for treasure, and recommend that you check it out if you love a good grind.

I will say that the Console Edition of Stellaris is bound to come out to some consternation. Merely because it’s based on a PC game released in 2016, you’re bound to have some complaints from computer players. The control scheme is an obvious one, but the lack of mods on consoles is another one. Still, I had a blast with the game and can easily see fans of the genre racking up hundreds of hours into it on their consoles, regardless. If 4X games are your thing and you’re looking for one to play on your console, Stellaris should be right up your alley!

Whether you’ve played every game in the series or this is your first experience with a Lombax, you really can’t go wrong with Ratchet & Clank.

The highly acclaimed developer works their magic on the bike racing scene with this extremely addictive sim. Not quite a Gran Turismo for bikes, but close enough.

Who knew the camera could be this powerful? Tecmo comes up with the perfect shot, and you'll be clicking away like a Hollywood paparazzi in this genuinely scary adventure.

All in all, if you played and enjoyed Episode 1, you should nab Episode 2 whenever you can. It's got a little less dialog and a few more puzzles, but you're still growing into your character the entire time and delving deeper into the overall mystery. After all, you have one hell of a game of Hide and Seek to play!

Make no mistake about it, Iceborne is a full five-star expansion that adds dozens of hours’ worth of sizzling action to the brilliant base game but technical issues at the PC port’s launch reduce the score. After a few patches, the game is near the level the fans deserve but still it needs some more tender, love and care to make it perfect. When you get it to work, though, Iceborne is a beautiful and engaging playground for new, exciting hunts among magnificent and imposing monsters, a thrill ride like no other. It may be just pure entertainment without anything poignant to tell but in that context, its gameplay and the bounty are nigh perfect.

Sonic the Hedgehog has had it rough lately thanks to a number of middling games that have departed from the spirit of the first three games. Sonic CD is best served to those who played the original games back in the day and want a chance to relive the glory days. If you've never played Sonic CD and are a fan, then by all means spend the five bucks to play a game that's wildly different from any other.

The aesthetic design was pleasantly beautiful, the score was catchy and memorable without any dull moments, the characters were interesting and quirky, and the game stayed relatively simple without sacrificing any of my interest. There is a lot to love about The Sexy Brutale, but unfortunately, the game doesn’t take many big risks. Other than the unique hybrid between genre and mechanics, there seems to be a lot of wasted potential, or rather potential that could have benefitted from a little extra time and effort. I’m by no means disappointed, but I really would have liked to spend more time learning about the characters through something like additional puzzles or manipulation of the time mechanic. That being said, it does provide a great experience to anyone who is looking for a puzzle game with an interesting set of characters. It won’t blow you away, but it’s definitely well worth your hard earned twenty dollars.

Army of Two: The 40th Day is bigger, badder, and better then the games first outing.

There is no doubt that even with this game's shortcomings, PGR4 is still a fantastic racing game that just came up a bit short from the high bar that has been set for this franchise.

Friends of Mineral Town may not feature quite everything that the newest Story of Seasons games have, but it comes fairly close and it does so while remaking one of the series most popular titles. Fans of this long-running farming series should feel good picking the remake up and playing it whenever they can, and if you're a recent convert (from, say, the breakout success of Stardew Valley), you will also undoubtedly love this title as well. Welcome back to Mineral Town!

At the end of the day whether you jump in for the grind or not, NBA 2K18 is an amazing game of basketball. I know the microtransactions are going to drive some nuts, but for me personally, I found a ton of enjoyment without ever once thinking about spending money. I believe that the foundation that 2K has laid with the neighborhood could revolutionize not only this franchise but others out there. It’s a compelling way to extend the life of a sports game far past the initial season. If 2K is able to soften the grind without having to pay to win, NBA 2K should have no problem remaining the king of sports games.

While it might be a surprising translation between genres, Gears Tactics plays like it was meant to be. The game is often quite challenging and instead of the twitch reflexes of a shooter, it demands smart and strategic thinking. It nails the look and feel of Gears and adds some welcome refinements and improvements to the now-standard turn-based formula. Lengthy and populated by familiar and violent Gears of War moments of triumph, Gears Tactics suffers a bit in the areas of story and character and repetitive mission structure. In most ways, however, Gears Tactics is a refreshing and unexpected take on the Gear of War saga.

I actually liked playing Trover Saves The Universe despite the cheap laughs and sometime annoying cast of characters.

Overall Madden NFL 12 is a great game of football that adds enough new content to warrant fans coming back for more, especially if you're into the franchise mode.

If you love a good dual joystick shooter then Crimsonland is the best choice on the Vita. The biggest problems are simply the lack of visual variety and the Vita’s own issue with joystick precision, but other than that Crimsonland is a game well worth the price of admission.

Hand of Fate is an unique game that blurs the line between an action RPG and a tabletop collectible card game.

I think Regicide is a really cool concept and an interesting adaptation of an already turn-based game with entirely different mechanics.

Konami's massively hip dancer comes out for the Cube, as Mario does the boogie to classic Nintendo tunes. A solid choice for music-hungry fans.

With different gameplay options designed to suit quick or extended play, cosmetic goodies to earn, and multiple courses, Everybody’s Golf VR offers good value for its thirty dollar price tag. I was concerned about using the Move wand at first, knowing that certain VR games I’ve played before suffered tracking issues, but I had absolutely no problems here. And it’s way, way better than using the Dualshock. Sadly, the Move couldn’t help me with my own physical failings, meaning that many, let’s be real, all missed and failed swings were my fault. Everybody’s Golf VR is challenging and more physically demanding but is just as fun and spirited as any other game in the series.

Battletoads isn’t perfect, but it sure is a lot of fun. Despite some of its shortcomings, notably in its excessive use of mini-games and short overall length, the story is entertaining and combat is surprisingly deep. Some of the artistic design choices may not be for everyone, but those who are able to look past that will find developer Dlala Studios has done a solid job in reviving this dormant franchise.

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing was a treat, and hopefully, we’ll be able to have more in the future.

Overcooked! 2 is fun, exciting, and keeps the joy of couch co-op alive. The formula and flow of the game are fantastic and I was constantly delighted by the challenges posed by unconventional kitchen layouts modeled around different themes and mechanics. This is definitely going to find a place among the games to break out when I have friends over.

It is a good game, one that continues to build upon the really great franchise from Namco.

I have to say that my overall feelings on F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin was that of a really solid experience.

It is difficult to overstate what an achievement Prey's environmental and gameplay designs represent, nor the elegance and real ingenuity behind the many interlocking systems that the player accesses throughout. Whether you approach it as a horror-action game, a stealth-puzzle game or a run-and-gun shooter, Prey will accommodate you. Although it lacks narrative drive or memorable characters, Prey will engage you for hours as you realize the potential for creativity that the developers baked in to every area and moment in the game.

With all the focus previously on Mario and Luigi, Princess Peach steps up with her own adventure. Solid gameplay and sweet Nintendo visual treatment makes this a winner.

I've played SEVEN of these Artifex Mundi games at this point (all since joining Darkstation as a reviewer) and I have to say that Enigmatis 2 is definitely my favorite among them. The graphics are excellent and the gameplay is just as good as the other titles, but it's the story that really shines here. If you're a fan of the puzzle genre (and ideally have played the first Enigmatis game...), then Enigmatis 2 is very easy to recommend.

For its running time Get Even is certainly not a walking simulator or walk in the park. It takes 16-19 hours to complete the game, depending on the player’s willingness to sweep every nook and cranny for all the clues. But Get Even is not an action game either. It’s a mixed bag really. It’s problematic with its identity, reaching out in different directions and jumping all over the place but in the end, it’s this blurred identity which is the focal point of the game. For those who have the stamina to go for the full length of it all, Get Even is a disjointed, schizophrenic, exhausting but ultimately rewarding experience.

Fixing what wasn’t broken appears to have been the studio’s number one goal, and they accomplished it. It would have been nice for some more new gameplay elements to have been introduced and for the controls to have received a little bit of precision. It also would have been nice if the Juan had been more fleshed out, as was promisingly teased in the game’s prologue. These issues aren’t deal breakers, though, which means that gamers looking for a good time of cracking skulls and terrorizing enemies as a chicken should find the experience that they seek.

The Coalition has done a superb job of reminding us why we fell in love with Gears back in 2006.

Still, whether this is your first Splinter Cell or your eighth, you deserve to give it a shot because while it’s not the best Splinter Cell, it is one of them.

The one and only thing in the game that hasn't changed is the fun factor, which thankfully is still alive and well.

Episode 1 definitely sets things up well, and while the characters are a little weak so far, the quest itself is interesting enough I can’t wait to see what the next episode holds.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen was never a looker on the same level as other RPGs, and it has legions of devoted fans thanks to its unique mechanics, combat, story and not-quite-mainstream vibe. All those come across just as clearly on the Switch. This might not be the ultimate way to play the game, but everything that made Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen stand apart from cookie-cutter RPGs is still there and still a lot of fun.

There is plenty of depth in Madden 07 to make this game a good solid purchase.

One of the most celebrated super heroes team gets a pretty decent outing, with intelligent level design and plenty of variety in the gameplay.

A downright solid game.

This is not the second coming, and despite the trumpets blowing, they herald not that which would save us from the rest of First Person Shooter-dom. We find instead, quite simply, a damn fine game and one hell of a good time. And for my money, that’s enough.

Another element to the game I found trying were the unique, almost Descent-like controls because it took some getting used to. My mind had trouble getting around using the left bumper and trigger for throttle. Strafing is performed with the left analog stick as is vertical boosting--functions I typically expect to find on the right stick. It took a lot of patience and practice before I got used to the controls, though I never really felt comfortable with it. As this is a personal gripe, your mileage may vary. In the end, these concerns failed to disrupt what amounts to be a nice, stellar spin on the roguelike genre. Everspace has the same one more run motivation that spurs players to reach the end goal and at the same time, offering a fresh experience with every run.

Very challenging and incredibly addictive. The game does a great job of doing what it set out to do and this is a solid side scrolling shooter.

Criterion applies the lessons from the crash-laden Burnout series to make an over-the-top, explosion-heavy and beautifully flowing FPS.

If you are a Vita owner and you have loved the Uncharted games in the past, or if you just love third person action games, then there is no reason why you shouldn't enjoy this title.

2K Sports has done Top Spin 3 a great service with a lot of the improvements that the game has gotten.

This story shared between a young boy and injured bird is absolutely worth a small chunk of your afternoon.

Test Drive turns the racing genre on its head with this superb multiplayer online racer. Great track customizations and the lower price makes this an easy choice.

Although the controls are a little stiff, the new boss battles, multiple game modes, and the Hypernova ability all add to what makes Triple Deluxe a really fun game to play.

For younger players, 198X may not open up in the same way as to us old farts. However, it’s like a museum of a bygone era when the budding digital entertainment was honest and ripe, rendered in a beautiful pixel art and channeled through a marvelous soundscape. Oh, and the ending pays a nice homage to Golden Axe – without the chasing part.

It seems a little silly to gush about a video game that simulates housework but given the added amount of stress and anxiety that has crept into my life lately, House Flipper is a wonderful way to shut out the noise of the world for a little bit.

It’s a thought provoking game with a lot of heart, and it left me excited to see what Swordtales decides to put out next.

I am shocked to say this but Driver: San Francisco is a great game that is perfect for anyone who enjoys a good arcade racing experience.

New Super Mario Bros. U definitely plays things safe and mostly sticks to the framework established by the "New" offshoot series established back on the DS, but the tougher design and beautiful look make it a great Mario game no matter how you look at it.

For fans of the genre, Hollow Knight is a game you simply can’t miss. It takes what people expect in a metroidvania and polishes them up to shine radiantly. The art and animation in a game like this, no matter how beautiful, can only go so far if the backtracking and general metroidvania tropes aren’t handled well. While the backtracking can be tedious and the exploration can be maddening, Hollow Knight is still worth a look to anyone looking for a great action platformer. Hollow Knight wears its inspirations on its sleeve and reminds the world that sometimes you don’t need to create completely new mechanics, sometimes you just need to make those old mechanics shine again.

The Gunstringer is one of the best Kinect titles for the core gamer.

It is the first game from this studio that I have enjoyed not just because I was intrigued by it, but because it executes its concepts well and puts forth an all-around solid package.

Everything is definitely a unique experience but it does wear out its welcome at a point. When it starts to feel empty and like all you're doing is mechanically ticking things off of a "found a thing to control!" checklist and feels like it's leaving its message to the wayside, that's when it's best to cut it loose, in my opinion. It can feel unlike anything you've ever played, but eventually, like real existence, it starts to feel like a slog. But in those moments when it's firing on all cylinders, it's really something special.

Even with MLB 14: The Show not adding a ton it still remains one of the best sports games on the market today.

Thanks to the Switch edition’s versatility, combined with the free and exclusive Super Mario mash-up pack, this is one of the best versions I could have started out with and is an ideal purchase for fans on-the-go and newcomers alike.

Coming in at around six hours for a pretty thorough playthrough, Headlander was an absolute delight.

Danganronpa V3 is not without its flaws. Class trials don’t always pan out and pacing gets in the way at times, but this is still the same Danganronpa fans have grown to love over the years. The wonderful cast of characters and immersive plot coupled with a plethora of endgame options makes this a must-play game for fans and newcomers alike.

Some niggling control and camera issues should not prevent you from playing Rock of Ages. It is an entertaining action puzzler with a hilariously bizarre sense of style.

If you enjoy this style of humor or even enjoyed Bad Fur Day, then you are going to enjoy the solid single and multiplayer modes in this game.

Considering that Assassin’s Creed as a series allows us to visit the past, Rogue Remastered ends up achieving the series’ purpose. It’s a romp through time, a showcase of some of the best that Assassin's Creed has to offer in both gameplay and story, and now visually matches its successors. While not everything about the game is perfect, I have no trouble recommending it, especially to someone that has not experienced it yet.

I think Strange Loop Games had a lot of nice and genuinely cool ideas that were decently executed. For the most part Vessel is fun, creative, and deals very well with fluid dynamics (congratulations to the programmer[s] responsible). It's a shame that such a crucial component of the game is executed so poorly. However, as the new studio's first product, Vessel succeeds more than it fails and shows that the studio has the potential to make a truly fantastic game in the future.

While I could not have recommended it to any but the hardcore fighting game community when it released, it’s now complete enough that I don’t have qualms about getting into it now. I’m still having fun with the game, even though most of my time is spent trying to complete survival runs and challenges rather then feed people rating boots online.

Skydrift brings gorgeous visuals, addicting multiplayer competition and interesting mechanics to the Xbox Live marketplace, which feels a little too saturated by art-games at this point.

Sure to be a fun, good natured under the tree gift this Christmas for kids and kids at heart.

It might sound crazy but I find Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel a better brawler than more widely known Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR-, also an anime-style beat 'em up just recently converted to PC. I really appreciate the clean and crisp nature of Nitroplus Blasterz, both in presentation and gameplay, while Guilty Gear seems too often a blundering mess of too many effects and things happening at the same time, making the player feel a bit lost. As I have understood, the freaky Saya alone from the visual novel Saya no Uta (The Song of Saya) as a playable character is a reason enough for many fans to get Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel. Why not, and there are lots of other cool and fun to girls to play with!

At its core, CastleStorm is a game about variety, and every mode and mission offered in this robust package is executed with style and precision.

For fans who played and loved the early games, Battlefield V is like a memory on steroids. It’s a very good game, not quite a great one yet, but six months from now it may prove to be a high water mark in the franchise.

Arcade Spirits is tailor-made for someone like me who was born in the 70s and spent much of their formative years in the 80s, the golden age of arcade, video and computer games. The old retro uncle inside me trembles with enthusiasm when seeing the game’s piquant arcade hall and all its lovely retro games. In the arcade game auction during chapter two, when I made a bid for a game I would have loved in real life, too, it felt so uncannily real. That’s the strongest part of Arcade Spirits; it sucks you in to get involved in a life that despite a few whimsical departures is very much reminiscent of our own with all ups and downs.

Proclaimed as one of the best Xbox 360 launch titles, Monolith's effort shines with its hyper-realistic gameplay and super-creepy visuals.

Whatever you decide to do, it’s easy to just hop into the game and have a spin - or a splash or a woosh! What comes to the comparison I presented in the beginning, Forza Horizon 3 (and not to mention its upcoming sequel) might be clinically prettier but it lacks something The Crew 2 has; charisma. Overly serious big games don’t often allow having much fun nowadays, so it’s refreshing to see a title that is built around it.

Thanks to the randomness ingrained with the other games that ensues no two sessions are alike, we could easily stick to the games we liked and still feel like The Jackbox Party Pack 5 was a great way to spend an evening with friends.

If a fast and brutal magic melee is what you’re after, Lichdom fits the bill nicely.

Hard Reset is a something special, a budget priced game that brings together familiar shooting mechanics with aspects of modern shooters. Other games have tried to create this interesting balance but few have succeeded the way Hard Reset does. It's a great experience for anyone looking for a fun, exciting, and different take on a saturated genre.

While the X Games content might be quickly exhausted, there’s still plenty to dig in the base game. For newcomers, Steep X Games Gold Edition is a great entry point to hit the virtual slopes. It’s modestly priced and includes the base game and Winterfeast DLC alongside the X Games pass. I could almost say that the pass is mandatory for the previous owners of Steep, too, because slopestyle is such an essential addition to the game. Hoping to see you on the slope!

With a fantastic roster and just greater polish overall, WWE 2K14 is a great addition into the WWE video game franchise and is a must own for any wrestling fan.

The climax is one of the better actions scenes that The Walking Dead has put forward, and it delivers for the most part. I was a bit upset at the end, as there is at least one senseless death that seemed thrown in just to remind you that any choice you make has consequences, but there were also some really great moments, including one that calls back to Lily’s father Larry, and his incredible death during the first season. For the first time that I can recall as well, you are given the option to knock out the Raiders instead of simply ending their life, and I wonder how that will play into the overall narrative as this train comes to the end of its track.