In spite of its issues, I had a good time with High Noon Revolver. Not all aspects of its frustration-fun continuum are as thought out as they initially seem, but it succeeds where it needs to the most. It’s a high-octane reflex romp that makes short work of inattentive players, and once you’ve won, it coyly tempts you to do it again with a handicap. Better balancing and a tighter aesthetic focus would’ve resulted in something great, but what we’re left with is still pretty good.

The biggest issue with The Keep is that as a PC title, it offers nothing to really distinguish itself from the legion of other dungeon crawlers, both retro-style and contemporary. Conceptually a game for a small-scale platform, on PC its limitations become amplified and its quirks become impediments to enjoyment. The Keep is not a bad game - especially on the 3DS - but doesn't feel like an essential experience to either fans of old-school dungeon crawlers or gamers who have grown tired of empty-headed, big-budget titles that are all sizzle and no steak.

Creating effective horror depends on powerful moments of the the unexpected juxtaposed with long stretches of calm and the mundane. In general, The Crow's Eye understands the basics of the genre, but frustrating puzzles and platforming both dispel the drive of the narrative and alienate the player. Kudos for looking at a somewhat tired format through a new lens, but points off for implementation. Suggestion: give the player control over save points, pare the platforming to a highly-tuned minimum, and don't repeat the puzzles. Despite these caveats, The Crow's Eye is still worth a look for fans of dread-inducing exploration.

In the end, Dying: Reborn VR could have been a fairly okay product if it weren’t so harshly abridged. It’s a good enough VR experience, but without a coherent story to back it all up, it amounts to nothing more than a paid demo. If you're new to PlayStation VR, there are much better ways to spend your money and time.

With four episodes left, and this episode ending with one hell of a mystery left to solve with a villain hot on their tales, I am looking forward to picking up with the Guardians to see where adventure takes them. Consider my interest also peaked for finding out how they eventually work Thanos back into the mix. Until then, we’re left with a wonderfully solid first chapter that leaves me with the hope that Telltale’s best is still to come.

This product sets out to do one thing: repackage and sell my childhood. In that department, it is a smashing success.

If you’ve ever played a Bomberman game, nothing will surprise you about this modest entry. The fast-paced multiplayer action remains on top of its game, provided you’re not playing with the laggy online mode. But it’s still a tough sell, considering we’ve seen this standard battle mode before, and done better in some cases. Unless this is your only means of playing old-school Bomberman, there are cheaper and more content-rich options on older consoles. More than anything, Super Bomberman R serves as a blip on Bomberman’s heart monitor. As a fan of the series, I’m excited that the little white bomber is back, but he deserves better than this

Senran Kagura Estival Versus appeals to a very particular taste. Those who love fanservice and ecchi-rich anime will have a fantastic time as the girls fight and dilly dally on the beach. I do appreciate that the game made some changes to its design and presentation, making it a more animated and spirited game than Shinobi Versus. With a new dynamic camera, sexier transformations, and “interesting” finishers, and more robust playtime systems for the girls, the game knows its audience. Though the plot is lacking and the battles are often repetitive, such concerns are not going to stop fans from having some fun in the sun.

Overall I enjoyed my time with Flywrench but wished there was a better process for learning what was right and wrong in terms of mechanics. It starts off so well with elements and mechanics being introduced slowly but surely. By the later stages I was sure I’d be ready for the challenge, and maybe someday I will be. But after a few too many deaths and dumb luck wins I felt put-off. There’s definitely a lot to like with Flywrench for fans of the insanely difficult, rapid-spawning games but for the more casual it will only offer a brief run through 170+ levels that will end in glorious victory, endless deaths, or sheer, dumb luck.

At its core, Redie is an entrancing menagerie of grief and triumph. There are things it could have done better, especially when it comes to new players, but it succeeds where it needs to. More than that, it boasts an astounding ability to embrace tedium and turn it into something fun. Redie will test how much you can tolerate a difficult game, but you'll walk away satisfied. And again, play it while you're young and snappy.

If you enjoy puzzle games, Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride may be right up your alley. With its variety of puzzle types, a fairy-tale story for some minor plot distraction, and a helpful hint system in place, this is a fairly easy game to recommend to any pure puzzle fan.

I really liked the novelty Typoman: Revised. I can’t speak to any changes made to the game for its Xbox One debut because this was my first time playing it. Even though most of the word puzzles make me feel like I wasted my time as an undergrad, the challenge is unique and I enjoy seeing how the words interact with the word around my player character. Though the three chapter game can be easily finished in a day, the experience is a fascinating and entertaining one.

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.

In the pantheon of pinball tables bearing the Star Wars name, Rogue One runs close to the middle of the pack. Some exceptional visuals serve as standouts, but are not enough to carry the sadly banal play of the table itself. It never reaches the lows of the American Dad table, but unless you are looking to fill out your collection, Rogue One is nothing to go out of your way for.

Halo Wars 2 is not without its flaws. It doesn't have the depth of other RTS's, but it does control surprisingly well and multiplayer options are abundant. There may not be much lasting appeal for hardcore players, but it is certainly fun in the moment, especially for console players that aren't too familiar with the genre.

Overall, Fast RMX is a blast, especially for the low cost-to-entry on the eShop. It may not fully satisfy those who have been clamoring for a new F-Zero for so many years, but it certainly comes closer than any other game that springs to mind. While the game’s content might not be able to hold certain players’ attentions for lengthy periods of time, Fast RMX’s capacity for fun multiplayer, especially at the local-level, makes it an easy recommendation.

Pointless VR aside, Darknet offers great fun. It isn’t as in-depth as other games in the hacking genre, but the puzzle nature of infecting computer grids doesn’t get old, especially when the challenges ramp up. Those who are looking to find more ways to indulge in the hacker fantasy will enjoy the experience of living in the computer world like TRON. On the other hand, if you want a game that really adds a thrill to the experience of simulated computer malfeasance, I would strongly recommend checking out Hacknet as quickly as you can.

Because the only way to access the new DLC is to have finished the main game and/or its first expansion, From Software is obviously counting on players to be high level, committed fans, and ready for a final, "ultimate challenge." The Ringed City is exultantly that but at times -- especially in the longer, gauntlet sections -- the game's unrelenting parade of enemies and ways to die becomes unpleasantly fatiguing and a decidedly chore-like experience. Fans of Dark Souls who have come to love the series will appreciate most everything about The Ringed City and the ways in which it represents both the evolution and end of a very important franchise.

iO is a fun enough diversion to play in between games, but it’d be even better to play on a phone so you’ve got something to do while waiting for a lengthy load screen to complete or the next Overwatch match to begin. As such, the Vita version may be the better option of the two. It is fun but not particularly memorable, to be completely honest. As per usual for most mobile-to-console games of iO’s ilk, it is best enjoyed in short bursts or as a means to kill some time.

The fact remains that there is still within Mass Effect: Andromeda an ambitious core and a vast amount of content, some of it very entertaining, if not the major leap forward or surprising change of direction that fans were hoping for. The first trilogy had its issues to be sure, but the games were beloved for their stories and characters. It's doubtful that players will keep returning to Andromeda. Aside from the tepid characters and rote story, its biggest failure is a lack of imagination. It somehow takes us to a whole new galaxy but makes us feel like we never left home.

Is Knee Deep worth it? Is Knee Deep, with so many alternatives available whether you are looking for an adventure game or a deep, thought provoking indie game, really worth it. If you're looking for a good adventure game with choice driven dialogue that impacts the overall story, I would suggest you check out a Telltale game that has been relesed in the last 3-4 years, or maybe Grim Fandango, I know that it's a bit old school but come on it's good.

In the end, while the story is regrettably un-memorable and fairly lacking, the game play makes up for it with several clever, strategic spins on time-tested game play mechanics. Back that up with solid graphics and audio and you have yourself an old-school RPG that should scratch that itch you've been having.

Where the next episode goes from here is anyone’s guess, but there is absolutely a showdown brewing in Richmond, and misery is sure to be included in the aftermath. Rather than looking forward to any kind of conclusion to the main plot, the smaller subplots revolving around family are what have kept me thinking about the future of the season. I just hope that, given how quick the tide can come in during the closing episodes, that this family is strong enough to endure what comes.

Thimbleweed Park is one of those extremely rare occasions when all the expectations are not only met but surpassed. I quote myself from my preview: Thimbleweed Park is not an homage, tribute or even a retro game. It's the real deal. It's everything I love about graphic adventures. As much as I was entertained by the time I spent in Thimbleweed County, at the end there was a bit of sadness in the air as I had to bid farewell to the wonderful cast of characters.

Even if you don't want to assign a narrative to Linelight, or if you don't care about ambient music, or if you're not thrilled about the very minimal visuals, Linelight is still one of the best puzzle games I've played since The Witness. It's like weaving your way through a Piet Mondrian painting set to the tune of background study music. Sure, it has some pacing issues and some questionable puzzle mechanics, but Linelight is a puzzle game that stands alongside some of the greats in its genre and it deserves a lot more recognition.

Loot Rascals does a lot of things differently, but not necessarily better. It looks great and has a fun premise to it, molding together board games, card collecting, and dungeon crawling but the randomness of runs sucks some of the fun out of the game. Loot Rascals is easy to pick up and play and much like Nuclear Throne or Enter the Gungeon, it’s a great game for a quick run or two before bed. However, there is a real lack of progression throughout the game, making you feel like even if you spend hours with it you accomplish very little if you don’t beat the game. Sure, you might get to a new level, but once you die your progress is basically wiped out completely. Loot Rascals tries a lot of new things in its design and some of those things come across really well, but the lack of progression and roll-the-dice mentality make it somewhat frustrating to spend time in this otherwise pleasant and cheery world.

If this was the first game I'd seen with this control scheme I might have more glowing words, but in the shadow of Brothers, it's more difficult to recommend this one. Unlike Brothers, Semispheres does very little to show what interesting things can be done with this control scheme. It's an inoffensive game – it's not bad in the moment, but does nothing to make itself memorable.

Snipperclips is an absolute delight that should not go overlooked. This charming title had the ability to pull me away from Breath of the Wild, while still providing truly innovative puzzle design. This game works better as a multiplayer experience, inviting others to join in with its cartoonish designs and side-splitting gameplay. Snipperclips isn’t a long game, but it’ll still provide hours of head-scratching, gut-busting, body-snipping fun.

Judging by the lack of online activity, I fear many players will simply overlook the fun this game can offer. I for one enjoyed the pure gameplay and the progressive challenge. We need more games like this, good, old-fashioned, professionally delivered fun. Simply put Riptide GP: Renegade is the best arcade-style racer I've played in quite a while. For a measly tenner, it should be a no-brainer to jump on the waves.

While I can try to find something negative to say about the game it would be absolute nitpicking and at this point, nothing comes to mind. I can certainly say that Night in the Woods’ relatable and lifelike story won’t be for everyone, and I can imagine some finding the characters too whiny or depressing. However, I think the people who enjoy these kinds of stories and characters will be in for one of the best examples of lifelike interactions and relatable storylines in a game to date. Night in the Woods blends beautiful art, a nuanced soundtrack, and expertly crafted, human writing into a single, cohesive experience.

Punch Club is a cleverly devised fighter management sim, and could have been better if not for the arduous stat decay system. The monotonous grind screeches gameplay to a halt, possibly demoralizing you to the point of quitting. The decay itself doesn’t need to be removed to improve this title. But if it was less harsh and appropriately factored in the pressure of the daily grind, it could have been more manageable. Punch Club is only for the most hardcore micromanagers who don’t mind the long, grueling road to fighter stardom. It’s challenging, but it manages to replicate the hardships of real fighters, who constantly toil against vicious diminished growths, but then achieve amazing feats in the ring.

It's a crying shame that Uncanny Valley spends so much of its time crippling your play time with contrivances and strict time limits. Once you learn how to make progress, you'll enjoy a second half akin to what the entire game should have been, but then its endings get less memorable. Uncanny Valley wants to be an engaging survival horror romp, and sometimes it gets to be, but it's ultimately an experience that can be best described as mediocre.

There's only one question you should ask yourself: do you give up easily in games? If your answer is yes, steer clear of 8DAYS. But if you have a masochist bone somewhere in your body, then enroll in G.O.D by all means and face the challenge. There's nothing quite like that sweet feeling when you overcome the dangers the game throws at you, especially when you have a co-op partner to share joys and hardships with.

Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is one of the best launch games the Nintendo Switch currently has to offer. As far as platformers go, the only better option would be to plop money down and get the full Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove experience, which bundles this in. Specter of Torment is such a solid feature-filled game on its own that you wouldn’t guess it was a DLC expansion. Yacht Club Games has outdone itself retooling an already excellent game with new satisfying acrobatic thrills.

While I strongly feel it was a crime both NieR and Drakengard 3 were grossly overlooked by the media and blatantly judged only by their flaws, it was about time Yoko Taro's genius got the deserving attention and praise in the form of NieR: Automata. One shouldn't underrate the part PlatinumGames have played in the process though. The game might be Taro's baby but PlatinumGames has fostered it to a fine specimen of a Japanese action RPG. Not as brash and mad as Taro's previous offerings but more bold and proud. Much like the protagonist 2B herself.

Does it have the best combat system in the world? No. Is it the best looking game out there? No. Does it have the best RPG soundtrack ever? No. Can the game make you feel like you are eight years old again? Hell yes. It certainly had that effect with me. It has been a long time since exploring, fighting, and adventuring has so consistently brought a smile to my face. Breath of the Wild is such a wonderful experience that once you play it, you will likely never look at open world games the same again.

However you characterize it -- rebirth, change of direction, or coming of age -- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the most mature game in the series' long history. It is a difficult game from a combat and survival perspective, and a challenging game in the amount of information that players have been trusted to figure out for themselves. Compared to its amazingly interactive and constantly surprising world, Breath of the Wild's relatively rote story and sometimes frustrating controls add a note of disappointment to an otherwise peak gaming experience.

While Alwa’s Awakening nails the graphical look and chiptune sound of 80s platformers, it’s too anchored in the past for its own good. Some would say the platforming is too easy compared to those games, but it makes up for those easy spots with frustrating save rooms and making the player replay through the same few screens to get to the next point. Backtracking comes with the territory and while it’s expected in games like this, that doesn’t make it any less tedious. Overall, Alwa’s Awakening sticks to its inspirations for better or for worse, leading to a game that feels like an homage to the 8-bit era without bringing anything new to the table.

With its fast-paced, superhuman action and buckets of mucky pixel gore, Rogue Stache hits the player with great first impressions. Within an hour, though, its problems become apparent. Poor balancing choices, a crippling deficit of personality, and an agonizingly sluggish progression system combine to pull this game below even mediocrity. In a strange, ironic twist, the very elements meant to keep you engaged are those that will leave you irritated and bored. While forthcoming changes might result in a superior experience, right now it’s best to leave this last manly man to fend for himself.

Unearthing Mars begins as a serious expedition to Mars only to transform into a laughably bad science fiction space opera about angry aliens and partying pig dog beasts. It won’t leave you with anything to remember it by, except for how laughably bad it is. The experience of Unearthing Mars is a lot like being EPCOT Center’s Spaceship Earth while riding high on bad weed.

The degree to which you like Alone with You will depend largely upon how much emphasis you put on story versus gameplay. At times, the game feels a little bit too much like a walking simulator with 1993 graphics. A game like Alone with You that features survival so heavily as one of its major themes should make survival tough and satisfying, but the game does not offer that experience. On the other hand, success comes in abundance with the game’s setting, characters, and story. Whereas most “space disaster” games feature scary aliens, action, and explosions, Alone with You features realistic human tragedy. It is a unique approach to this genre of fiction that I have never experienced in video games. It is for this reason that this game can still be considered an overall success, despite its overly simplistic and deeply flawed gameplay.

Splasher is a great platformer and deserves to be played by any fan of the genre. If you enjoyed games like Super Meat Boy or Rayman Origins you’ll enjoy the frenetic pace of Splasher and the demanding controls. You have everything you need at your fingertips, you just need the dexterity to finish what you started. I appreciate what Splasher does with the four buttons because it’s opening up the genre and experimenting with what’s possible. Another platformer where you jump through levels would probably be dust in the wind but Splasher stands out because it takes a chance with its unique, if sometimes frustrating, controls.

Death Squared has been marketed as a puzzle game that anyone, from hardcore gamers to grandmas, could pick up and enjoy, and I think in that respect it succeeds. I see it being most worthwhile as a party game to be played with friends, where everyone can work together to solve these puzzles that are often times both intricate and exceedingly challenging. The concept behind Death Squared is sound, but with a startling lack of variety in its content, the satisfaction from solving these inventive puzzles only lasts so long.

Dragon Quest VIII is a fun RPG that will attract fans looking for that traditional experience. The game is on the lengthy side. The main story took me roughly 60 hours, and that number doesn’t include sidequest completion or the new postgame content. Either way, the game’s rich story and polished traditional battle system will keep RPG enthusiasts engaged throughout. This is one of the most accessible Dragon Quest titles, offering an epic story with fully-voiced cutscenes and likable characters. While the graphics and music may not be the most ideal, Square Enix makes up for it by removing random battles and improving quality-of-life. New characters, cutscenes, and sidequests may even entice veterans to journey on a second time. With all of its upgrades and additions, the 3DS port of Dragon Quest VIII is the definitive version of this classic RPG.

Stars in Shadow is a fun 4X title that makes for a great game for newcomers of the genre to dip their toes into. Likewise, rabid 4X lovers will find a familiar experience here that offers some new, interesting design choices along with a set of systems that are well-polished and well made. The fact that Stars in Shadow was made by a small team is all the more impressive when you look at how smooth it runs and the great deal of polish that went into this title. While it won’t set the standard for new and interesting 4X gameplay, Stars in Shadow offers a great 4X experience that is well balanced and a great deal of fun.

More often than not, the game is an exercise in frustration, which unfortunately characterizes The Flame in the Flood most accurately: a promising, interesting survival game that is ultimately left to drown in the waters of mediocrity by its own core mechanics.

I really wanted to like Rise & Shine. It’s one of the prettiest indie games I’ve played because of its beautiful and vibrant hand-drawn backgrounds, enemies and player characters. It’s also rife with fun, tongue-in-cheek references to the video games of yore. But that love quickly fades after spending hours and hours on a game that feels way harder than it needs to be. The demands and rigors of combat are unnecessarily stacked against the player, taking the form of frequent and cheap deaths. Love turns to fear, fear leads to anger, anger leads to pain, and pain leads to rage quitting and never wanting to play Rise & Shine ever again.

In the end, if you have enjoyed the wave of Kickstarter PC RPGs so far, then you will enjoy Torment: Tides of Numenera too. It will likely be a game that you want to finish, but it likely won’t be one that calls you back for a second or third journey.

Distilled way down to one-on-one medieval combat, For Honor is both instinctual and smart. It's bloody and entertainingly over-the-top, but much more than a button-masher. It's a game that repays thoughtful practice. It looks impressive, with believably gritty textures and tons of detail in the armor, weapons, and environment. It's a shame, then, that so much good will was squandered on the less appealing margins of the game, with pay-to-win systems, poor match making, and a throwaway single player campaign. With lots of time -- or cash -- to spare, playing For Honor is a rewarding action experience that doesn't feel like anything else on the market right now.

I enjoyed my time playing Beholder. Everything comes together well, and the initial experience is fun. It is missing that hook to keep me interested in playing for an extended period. That is the only complaint I have about Beholder. It will give you an enjoyable experience, even if it is for a short time. If you’re looking for a game that you can play for a couple days, Beholder fits that bill.

Imprint-X has style and that goes a long way in terms of making the game stand out. Without its look and without its music it really is just a simplistic game about clicking to solve puzzles. Solving the puzzles provides a sense of accomplishment at times but overall there is no greater purpose or reason to solve them other than the game wants you to. But with that bass beating along in the back maybe you don’t need a better reason than that. For an inexpensive, well-designed puzzle game you can certainly do worse than Imprint-X and it will definitely whittle away the hours without you even knowing.

Thanks to its outstanding writing, acting, cinematography and animation, Yakuza 0 tells an effective and surprisingly nuanced story of one man and his early journey through the complex world of organized crime. Although it marginalizes women to the role of cliche props and some of the dialogue -- in translation, at least -- rings a little hollow, Yakuza 0 is still a great introduction to both the series and its long-running characters. With an almost impossibly large number of things to do and combat that is brutal and entertaining throughout, Yakuza 0 has to rank as one of the most memorable and successful entries in the franchise.

Overall, Paul Cuisset's Subject 13 is challenging, but for the wrong reasons. There are perhaps a handful of very well-designed problems to solve, but most of the challenge comes from fighting the game's camera angle and infuriating controls. The easiest solution to those two problems would be a switch to first-person, as it is at the very beginning of the game. (I was actually rather disappointed when it switched from first-person to a fixed camera perspective.) Sure, the graphical fidelity might suffer a little bit from the closer perspective, but it would be so much easier to see and interact with the environment.

Tales of Berseria is an excellent game despite its flaws. The cast of characters shine in their own right and are easily some of the most memorable in the series and the combat additions coupled with the engaging plot makes this a game every JRPG fan should play.

Lara Croft Go is an excellently crafted and surprisingly lengthy puzzle game that loses nothing in the translation to the PS4. Anything you'd heard about how good, full-featured and fresh it was on mobile devices, continues to be the same now, and the addition of extra levels gives players even more to do. It'll be really cool to see if Square Enix does this concept with other franchises of theirs because the work they've done with the Go series has been excellent so far. If you're opposed to playing games on phones, then now's the perfect time to grab it and give it a try.

There are dozens of "Souls-like" games but Nioh is by far the most ambitious, polished and successful because it has taken Dark Souls' digital DNA and genuinely evolved it into something both recognizable and different. Nioh owes much to the spirit and mechanics of From's games but there is a lot of Diablo and Ninja Gaiden in there as well. It doesn't matter whether Nioh is derivative or wholly original, it just matters that the game is incredibly well made, challenging, complex and fun.

Psychonauts Rhombus of Ruin has its feet firmly planted in foundation laid by the first game - as it should. Though it is trapped within a medium that is still trying to find steady feet, Rhombus at least has the heart and spirit of what made Psychonauts so enthralling. It's a fun and delectable morsel designed to satiate the palate until the second game comes out. While it does excite me for Psychonauts 2, it's only because I know that a console game will let Double Fine’s imagination soar much higher than the VR platform would let them.

From a technical standpoint, the game is a real darling and can compete with the best of them. And yet it’s that the game doesn’t really break away from any of the pre-existing molds that I believe hold it back from being the breakout hit of 2017. It feels almost too conventional. Whether it’s the Ubisoft style side missions, the Batman Arkham vision or the by the numbers storytelling. There’s nothing about Horizon Zero Dawn that breaks out into its own unique experience. I absolutely loved this game. I think it’s a fantastic adventure full of amazing experiences to be had and fully recommend it to anyone who owns a Playstation 4. And yet it does feel like the first game in a series that needs to discover its own unique identity to help it stand out amongst a vast array of open world games that it competes against.

There is an ideal way to approach Space Hulk: Deathwing, which is with a trio of Warhammer 40K fans and pretty modest expectations. In that situation, blasting through the game and taking turns with the four distinct classes can be a lot of fun. As a solitary experience, the lack of engaging story and characters, class limitations, frustrating AI and various technical issues tip the scale to the negative.

All in all, I enjoyed my time with Neon Chrome. It delivers the basics of why I like twin-stick shooters and adds its own mark with an emphasis on strategy and a cool cyberpunk theme. Granted, the game has a few shortcomings such as a non-existent story and sub-par graphics, as well as being rather short and having no online co-op, but if you're looking for something easy to pick up and play (especially with a friend) you could definitely do a lot worse!

Despite its early leaden pacing, Nights of Azure's story concept isn't bad. The two main characters, with their shy, budding romance and mutual dependence, have potential for an interesting arc. What surrounds them -- bland visuals, inconsistent design, sloppy localization and fast-paced but ultimately repetitive action -- makes it challenging to appreciate their relationship and story.

Epic Manager's conceit is refreshingly unexpected and, for the most part, its two genres manage to coexist pretty well. The game seems to own its absurd premise and leavens the experience with humor, bad puns and wordplay. There is a lot to do, although it's often not clear what to do, and I wish its core RPG elements were a bit more appealing. There are many games where dissimilar genres feel at odds, but Epic Manager manages to make a pretty convincing case for itself.

Shift DX takes one premise and remarkably makes it last for 200+ levels. Its healthy mix of spatial reasoning and platforming obstacles effectively tests your mind and reflexes. I’m convinced that this game stimulates a part of your brain that you rarely use, and it feels great. If you are even a casual fan of puzzle platformers, Shift DX will turn your world upside-down.

SpiritSphere has a lot going for it: dedication to the 8bit style, a fantastic soundtrack, novel gameplay, interesting characters, and a myriad of spheres and arenas. There was clearly a lot of work put into SpiritSphere to marry together two disparate genres and it shows. Unfortunately, when stacked up against other competitive games of this nature, SpiritSphere looks like a novel idea that is fun to play for a few hours but lacks the real competitive nature of faster, more hard-hitting games due to its self-imposed 8bit restrictions. While the idea is great and executed in a fun way, it’s hard to recommend SpiritSphere to anyone not interested in an interesting 8bit competitive game due to its lack of depth and competitive multiplayer.

Xenoraid isn’t bad, but it’s not good either. It didn’t feel like a complete waste of time, though. For the first hour or so, the game didn’t provide any kind of challenge, and I was left feeling a bit bored. The trouble is, even though the game gets better after a while, the game never really changes up its design, so it always seems like you’re doing the same boring things, even if it’s just a bit more challenging. Everything is much too repetitive and lacks substance. Once again, it’s just another indie title that you’ll forget you ever bought.

Despite my love for the series, Kingdom Hearts 2.8 is not without its faults, the most glaring being the high barrier of entry. As I said earlier, I cannot in good conscience recommend this game to folks unfamiliar with the series. However, if you don't care about story or you're a Kingdom Hearts vet, then have at it. Or as so many of the Kingdom Hearts armchair psychologists will tell you, "May your heart be your guiding key". What does that even mean?

Despite a handful of persistent flaws, Don’t Open the Doors is a charming, hilarious, and memorable experience that completely engrosses the player in its world of violence and absent-mindedness. With its satisfying gameplay and nonstop sense of humor, it does quite enough to be worth a spot in your library. It's not a masterpiece, but Don't Open the Doors is good old-fashioned breezy fun with a superb sense of humor that pushes it into greatness. Plus, it’s just cool to play something made out of clay.

Overall, Atelier Sophie is a mixed bag. This game serves as a good point of entry for newcomers due to the removal of the series’ notorious time limit, but fans may find the experience middling. While item alchemy is surprisingly fun, the elements surrounding it are not as engaging. The tedious gameplay loop may turn players off before the plot finally gets going. Much like the items synthesized in Sophie’s cauldron, the game excels most when everything comes together – rallying the townspeople to jointly make a gift for Plachta, forming a party of townsfolk equipped with handcrafted weapons and armor, and painstakingly creating amazing items to destroy the toughest foes. At its best, Atelier Sophie devotes itself to its alchemic theme, synthesizing a pleasant experience.

Gravity Rush 2 is not a perfect game, but it undoubtedly expands upon its predecessor in nearly every conceivable way. There are some wonky camera moments along with a few narrative stumbles and problematic quest designs, but the flaws are quickly overshadowed by the triumphs, and just like its endearing protagonist, it lands firmly on its feet in the end.

On the whole, The Little Acre might make for an entertaining couple of hours to spend with the family, but offers little substance or lasting appeal. This does not suggest that the game is without merit, and one can only imagine the countless hours that the team at Pewter Games poured into the The Little Acre’s art and animation. Beauty aside, however, the game simply isn’t supported by its art-style alone.

When the game is at its best, it provides exactly what a video game about a submarine should provide -- that childlike sense of wonder and adventure that can only come from a new discovery or a narrow escape from a tough battle. It is just a shame that the game is hampered by some major flaws that shouldn't have been terribly difficult to avoid. If you can stick with the game, it rewards you suitably. When the credits rolled, I was left smiling, with a positive impression of the game, but that was only five hours or so after I decided to quit the game and never pick it back up again.

I guess if you really want to play a true to source retro game that does nothing to stand out, then I guess you will be just fine, you will most likely have fun and remember all the fun you used to have when you were a child. But for those who want games to evolve, to get better as time goes on, well, Cursed Castilla (Maldita Castilla EX) is just too lukewarm to really recommend.

Despite the generic design of Eagle Flight’s story missions and the inability to reliably play online, it’s still a thrilling thing to experience in VR. It would be easier to write off were it a tradition, VR-free PlayStation game, but the immersion the headset offers makes it all the more fun and a good way to destress from the day.

Overall, Slayaway Camp hits the mark when it comes to being an homage to classic slasher films. It is cheesy, filled with murder and crazy kills, and doesn’t take itself too seriously. While the puzzles can be challenging early on and easy towards the end, they are still fulfilling to complete and that sense of accomplishment doesn’t go away at any point. While it would’ve been nice to see some additional kills and hear some additional lines of dialogue from the narrator, it still works for what it is. Slayaway Camp is one of the best homages to classic slasher films and should be an easy buy for any horror buff looking to pass the time.

Resident Evil VII is a great pivot from the formula and also works as a fantastic re-imagining of the original game and a perfect jump in point for newcomers. There’s a warm feeling of familiarity but it never feels gratuitous or as a result of Capcom running out of ideas. Resident Evil VII successfully kickstarts an exciting new chapter in the long running franchise and is certainly worth your attention.

With a decent number of modes and a solid core gameplay system, Aqua Moto Racing Utopia has the opportunity to surprise a lot of people. While it has some rough edges like its trick system not being easy to utilize and some issues at the start of races with overall chaos, I found myself having a lot of fun with the game more often than not and I’ll probably be heading back into the game to continue beating my best times and shaving that last second off wherever I can.

Don’t Chat With Strangers feels less like a game and more like a practical joke being played on the gamer. It fails at just about everything besides delivering punishment through trial-and-error. It isn’t a clever puzzle game – it’s just an irritating one. Each scare or surprise is effective once or twice, but they all wear out their welcomes before the end. And, when you finally do get to the end, the game reveals how little content it actually has. It is a ten minute experience stretched into three hours via insta-fail and permadeath mechanics that force you to play through a series of boring, mundane events dozens of times.

Detention isn't for everyone. It's not an easy snack to gobble up. It will haunt you for some time and creep into your dreams. I recommend the game for those who enjoy deep and troubled stories and want to experience them in some other manner than just keep walking and pressing X when prompted. I can't stress enough how mature the story and its dramaturgy is, considering these guys have never done any published games or storytelling before. Detention meets all the unwritten laws of Asian tragedies and I could easily picture it as a movie by the likes of Ang Lee, the world renowned Taiwanese director. That's the highest compliment I can imagine giving to this game.

I wanted to like 99Vidas after it promised to faithfully live up to the classics and add new beat ‘em up elements, but it couldn’t hit its own hype at all. The beat ‘em up genre is one that is filled with monotony and it desperately needs a fresh new face to give it the revitalization that other genres, like fighting games, have seen in recent years. I wasn’t expecting 99Vidas to be that game but I was hoping it’d be a competent beat ‘em up. Instead, it leans too heavily on lazy writing and tired mechanics while only adding mechanics that serve to make the game more frustrating.

As a point-and-click adventure fan, I liked Subject 13 despite its flaws. There were some shining examples of environmental puzzles and an interesting story that hooked me. Due to the faulty controls and the horrible final puzzle, I can only recommend this game to the most devout fans of the genre. This game was made for those fans, as the Kickstarter suggests. With just a bit more polish, Subject 13 could have been a solid example of a modern point-and-click adventure.

It’s low rent gun porn. At its best, Lethal VR is a tech demo and barely worth notice, even for hungry PlayStation VR owners looking for something to play. Best acquired during a PSN sale, if at all.

I have to be honest, after only a few hours of playing the game, I got bored and lost motivation to keep playing.

If you enjoy Cities: Skylines, you should definitely put aside some money for this expansion. Your first instincts will provide plenty of amusement, but when you go back to playing the game as usual, the true value of Natural Disasters becomes apparent. Far from being a tangential add-on, it adds more to the game than you would dare to assume. Though slightly marred by visual inconsistencies and conditional performance wobbles, Natural Disasters is a thoroughly essential addition to the Cities: Skylines experience.

I Expect You To Die is a fun jaunt into the world of megalomaniacal super villains and the spies trained to stop them. It has charm, a great sense of humor, and would do well with fans of James Bond and Archer. The puzzles themselves are delightfully elaborate and fun to work through, though I did experience my fair share of impatience at having to restart entire missions because of goof ups that were out of my control. The VR experience is mostly great, though make sure your setup is calibrated and at the right distance from the camera for best results. I Expect You To Die does right by PlayStation VR owners looking for something to play by themselves or with friends.

Though sometimes derivative in humor and puzzle solving, The Little Acre has a character of its own. A great deal of love has gone into making the game and it rubs off on you. It had such an effect on me that I felt bad punishing the game for its weakest elements. The Little Acre should be celebrated for its talent, artistic know-how, and as a demonstration of its developer's skills. The shortcomings (pun intended) of the game are balanced with its irresistible charm and appeal and ultimately the running time is reduced only to a face value. In the end The Little Acre is a hand-crafted piece of art and I definitely want to see more games from Pewter Games, preferably longer by each outing.

Amnesia: Collection does exactly what it set out to do: it presents three terrifying, fun, and intriguing genre-defining horror games in one uncomplicated package. It doesn’t offer any new content or significant visual upgrades from the original releases, and there are a few hiccups here and there, but it is still an unforgettable experience nonetheless. For any fan of first-person survival horror games, Amnesia: Collection is not something to be overlooked.

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!

All in all, though, the Women of Power pack are just fun, fast tables. They allow Zen to stretch a bit by setting up a small story arc, and provide something just a little different for the player then they are used to. Absolutely a worthy pick up if you are at all invested in the Zen Pinball platform.

Tyranny takes a lot of chances and offers some brilliant new ideas, most of which pay off making for another worthy addition to the genre. Unfortunately, it clearly shows the rough edges of a limited budget and/or short development cycle, limitations that diminish the game’s appeal. Tyranny is worth playing despite these issues but temper your expectations.

Exile’s End is a game full of ideas that have already been done before. From a narrative standpoint this leaves the game feeling predictable, shallow and uninspired. While from a gameplay standpoint, it captures the feeling of a classic 2D action side scroller that is a blast to play. If your entering this game for a thought provoking story with interesting twist and turns, you will be disappointed. If you go into expecting a classic gameplay style that feels great to return to, then you will be pleased.

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is a worthy inclusion for any fighting game fan’s collection. It’s a straight port of the 2011 game, but the included DLC makes the purchase worth its price. The graphics don’t feel too outdated, and its comic-book style still holds up as far as 2D fighters go. With a huge roster of fan-favorites, flashy movesets, classic game soundtrack remixes, fair online infrastructure, and medium-defying crossovers, UMvC3 is pure, unadulterated fun.

Coming at the end of a very impressive gaming year, Let It Die can't help but suffer in comparison to a whole bunch of other, more burnished titles. Still, the game's excellent action combat, weirdness, and variety of weapons give it just enough character to stand out and make it worthy of attention. The pay-to-win aspect is a bummer, and there is overall a sense of things being not quite solid, but anyone who's enjoyed other Grasshopper Manufacture games will enjoy this one as well.

What we have in the end is a game that charms you with how it looks and feels, but then does nothing to keep your attention. It shows you that it doesn't want to be generic; that it genuinely wants to be an entertaining and memorable experience. However, it's shallow, repetitive, and tedious- things that were probably meant to be obscured by its broken online mode. With its likable premise and art style, this one really makes you wish it were better than it is. There seems to be a gore-free gem in every genre. Super Dungeon Bros is not one of them.

A much more upbeat entry chock full of streamlining that lets its new ideas really shine, Pokemon Sun and Moon are the most friendly and modern-feeling games the series has put forth in a long time. Though it shifts away from the exploratory aspects I've loved in past games to focus more on a main quest, S&M have some of the most memorable parts I've seen in the series in a while. It feels like Game Freak finally took cruise control off and are willing to try something new, and I just hope they expand on some of the more offbeat ideas in the future.

A much more upbeat entry chock full of streamlining that lets its new ideas really shine, Pokemon Sun and Moon are the most friendly and modern-feeling games the series has put forth in a long time. Though it shifts away from the exploratory aspects I've loved in past games to focus more on a main quest, S&M have some of the most memorable parts I've seen in the series in a while. It feels like Game Freak finally took cruise control off and are willing to try something new, and I just hope they expand on some of the more offbeat ideas in the future.

Given where Episode 2 leaves us, I am truly looking forward to see where A New Frontier goes. Javier is a charming character with a deep backstory, and they way his family is introduced throughout the past and present leads to an immediate investment in his future. Add in some shady actions on Clementine’s part, as well as the overwhelming desire to keep her around, and I feel that TWD is back on the right track. Telltale continues to impress.

The Last Guardian is proof -- for anyone who doubts it -- that video games can be a unique and emotionally powerful form of participatory storytelling. On top of that, The Last Guardian's visuals and creature design give it a timeless, mythic quality that both call to mind the sweet-natured Ico and the towering scale of Shadows of the Colossus. Exciting, challenging, and full of heart, The Last Guardian is unforgettable.

Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour ultimately is a tweaked version of the original game with a touch of new content, though it neglects the content included in its expansion packs. It’s a bit easier to play, and the sound is vastly improved, but beyond what was already great, there isn’t too much else to offer outside of a new episode and developer commentary. The game is still fantastic and holds up very well thanks to this version of the game, which can be a hard thing to do with classic games in the same genre. It’s unfortunate that World Tour doesn’t stand on its own, but it would be a big lie to say that I didn’t enjoy playing through it.