While I always swore by Worms Armageddon, Worms Revolution, while it may be an iteration, feels like a whole new game and the best game in the franchise.

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.

The Eternal Castle is a neat experience that prides itself on its unique aesthetic and interesting environments. Unfortunately, gameplay felt a bit dated, though, and left me with conflicted feelings. Overall, The Eternal Castle is undoubtedly a title that is definitely style over substance.

I like the game overall, but it tends to grow a bit tired after a few missions from the story.

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.

If you absolutely must have a new combat car racing game, go for it. Otherwise, maybe hold off until the mood strikes you… or it’s on sale.

For the most part, you'll spend your time solving pleasant puzzles, enjoying a pleasant story, and having a pleasant time. The Layton series can be so much better than this, though, and I hope their next outing, no matter who it stars, aims higher.

Although beautifully designed and well-written, The Almost Gone is kept from greatness by the nature of its game elements and UI. If you can overlook that or are willing to take advantage of the innumerable walkthroughs that will invariably pop up, you may enjoy this entry in the puzzle adventure game genre.

From its inception to the execution, Iron Danger showcases a rare, coherent vision where everything comes together to form a unified experience, not least because of truly novel gameplay that holds it all together. I’m afraid that Iron Danger has spoiled other games in its genre for me. I can no longer imagine playing formulaic fantasy tropes with rigid combat and eternally repeated, tired systems.

This is a game with a ton of content, but too much time is spent in less rewarding downtime or grinding for materials in environments that simply aren’t that fun. It’s obvious that My Time at Portia would love to be both a dream game for the building/crafting fans as well as offer a substantial narrative. The slow pace of the former undercuts the momentum of the latter but My Time at Portia does offer a legitimately different variation on what has become a pretty formulaic genre.

EA's latest in the MoH franchise adopts a more interesting open-ended squad-based shooter approach, but falls short due to a mediocre multiplayer offering.

Although the Switch version is a new way to play, it really doesn't add anything new to the game. If you were a fan before, you'll either want to play it again or you won't. But if you're a new player picking Overwatch up for the first time, then you'll very much enjoy the experience on Nintendo.

With co-op and additional skirmish modes available on top of the main campaign, SpellForce 3 is a generous -- and largely successful -- merger of two genres. While it isn't the world's deepest or most complex RPG nor gaming's most substantial RTS, it is a very effectively constructed and balanced hybrid and most important, makes a strong and compelling case that the mashup works. With over a decade between installments, it's not like the SpellForce franchise has overstayed its welcome. It's perfectly timed to delight both fans of the series and surprise new players looking for something new and different.

The driving in Test Drive: Eve of Destruction is one that I think had the potential to be great but with the lack of fine tuning ended up just being average.

Overall, this particular port of Star Ocean is simultaneously the absolute best way to play the game today and a bit underwhelming at the same time. Only little has changed between First Departure and First Departure R, mainly portraits, audio choices and upscaling while the gameplay remains rather outdated. The port was literally made for more sales, but I’m still glad they brought this classic game to modern consoles and I had a bunch of fun playing it once again. Here’s hoping we see a Star Ocean: Second Story R in 2020!

In Marvel’s Iron Man VR, Camouflaj delivers an immersive experience featuring the world’s most favorite billionaire playboy philanthropist.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot was designed for a specific audience and likely will not draw people who aren’t already invested in the series. For everyone else, Bandai Namco has delivered a gift to Dragon Ball fans the world over, a loving tribute to Japan’s most popular and endearing addition to popular culture.

If you aren’t a big fan of turn-based combat, then Hard West is probably not a game for you. If, however, you have played through the XCOM series, Wasteland 2, or even the Shadowrun reboot RPGs, then Hard West will provide something a little different if you are still looking for more turn-based combat.

In the end, Raiden V felt like a game that ticks all the right boxes for a Solid Shoot’em Up. It is not trying to be the most innovative game of the genre. It is only there to give you a solid gaming experience that you expect from a vertical scrolling, retro-flavored, bullet-hell game. Everything Raiden V has to offer is something you have already seen elsewhere, with some minor changes here and there. Overall, Raiden V is just another game in the long evolutionary process of Shoot’em Ups. If you’re looking for a casual and good vertical shooter to spend your time with, Raiden V is a good choice.

0RBITALIS succeeds at being much more accessible and artistic than most games where scientific accuracy is a core aspect of the gameplay. Unfortunately, complexity and artistic ability usually aren’t those games’ weaknesses; the unforgiving and uncooperative nature of reality is.

Draugen didn’t make me a fan of walking simulators overall, as its excellent insight is more exceptional than a norm. However, it made me a fan of Edward and Lissie and the particular brand of storytelling designed around them. I was happy and most curious when the ending credits promised that the dynamic duo will return.

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.

Rad Rodgers is a tautly constructed, well-paced game that doesn't outstay its welcome. Although I grew tired of the Pixelverse gimmick and wasn't always on board with the game's humor, I enjoyed its vibrant art, action and level design. Whether you're a platforming wizard or just a casual fan on the genre, Rad Rodgers will keep you entertained.

Overall, I’d recommend The Flame in the Flood for those looking for a new type of survival game, and those patient enough to deal with the interface.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is definitely one of the most faithful recreations of the D&D experience in digital form and those with patience, a love of numbers and a willingness to tolerate a bit of opacity and imbalance have much to look forward to. There’s something a bit overwhelming and unfriendly about the game’s mechanics and while Pathfinder’s faithful translation of D&D and city building elements are unique, a lot of the setting, story and characters are a bit too “standard CRPG.” There is room for improvement and growth through patches and content, and it will be interesting to watch Pathfinder: Kingmaker evolve.

Capcom shows us how it's done with this refreshing take on the beam 'em up genre. Awesome boss battles, simple but deep combat system and tough enemy AI makes this a clear choice.

If you enjoyed any part of the previous inFamous games, there is enough in First Light for you to enjoy that makes its purchase a no brainer.

The beautiful game goes next-gen with stunning visuals, but sadly doesn't follow through with a less than solid gameplay and simplistic online play.

The premise and production values are pretty much the only things that made me interested in West of Dead but the frustration over not being able to gain a proper foothold for forward progress really got to me. Character advancement doesn’t carry over into each new play session, making any boosts you find a zero-sum game. These days, my time is increasingly valuable. Nothing about the experience was ever fun and at the end of the day, I fell into the mindset that the only way to win was to simply not play.

As far as hidden object puzzle adventures go, Eventide: Slavic Fable is a quality product. Sure it won’t revolutionize its genre but it’s innocent and relaxing entertainment. Even hardcore gamers can found some solace in its soothing atmosphere. After all, some casual gaming now and then can’t hurt anyone or ruin reputation.

Capcom compiled their best X adventures into one disc, and it's a sweet deal for fan wanting to relive those classic Mega Man moments.

In the end Drawn to Life may not be the most impressive all around experience, however it is certainly a unique and fun game to play.

Despite its length, occasional frustrating parts, less than stellar visual quality and odd gameplay anomalies, Warp is an enjoyable romp that will keep you playing until its conclusion. If you are looking for a new portal, this isn't it, but if you are looking for an interesting puzzler that doesn't overstay its welcome then you'll enjoy warp, even if 800msp is a little steep for how long it lasts

Well paced throughout, and offering at least one scene changing choice, I can only hope that the future episodes can remain at the high bar Children of Arkham has set. Not content to simply tell another Batman story, Telltale is putting its mark on the Caped Crusader in all the best ways.

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.

Combat is fine and functional, offering enough of a distraction from the constant back and forth that makes up the “adventure” portion of the story. That is bound to be perfectly fine to those that have a passion and patience for the genre and I’m sure they’ll enjoy what Sakura Wars offers. I just wish there was more to see and do in what amounts to be a Jules Verne-inspired vision of Jazz-age Japan. I desperately wanted to break away from the confining linearity of it all. There’s a lot of artificiality here, from vendors who sell you items despite there being no currency, the reuse of still images in the story segments, and the lack of any meaningful upgrades or additional moves to use during fights with demons. For all its flash and flair, Sakura Wars doesn’t go far enough beyond its reach.

Despite some of the shortcomings I found in the narrative and its inability to simply impress when it came to the conclusion of most cases, Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth - Hacker’s Memory manages to hold its weight. It's saying something when compared to other RPGs in the fighting monster team genre. The true stars of the show are the digimon, as they indeed should be, and there’s enough zaniness in the rest of the game to keep you entertained throughout its long running time. There’s room for improvement, though, and should the developers choose to keep this side of Digimon series going, we could see something truly amazing in the future. As it stands now, Hacker’s Memory is not a bad way to hang out with some of my new favorite digital friends.

Rainbow Six: Siege delivers on what it promised to be: a well-made, multiplayer-focused, team shooter. To criticize it for not having a stronger single player experience is accusing it of a pretense it never made, and consumers will decide whether the product has broad enough appeal to warrant its price.

It is a shame to say that Twisted Metal Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition wasn't able to recapture the same great flare that the PSP version had

A grim journey indeed. Letter Quest: Grimm’s Journey Remastered fails to make a puzzle game work the way that they should with messy RPG elements and difficulty based on an upgrade system rather than your own personal skill level.

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.

Kids or no kids, if you like the Telltale style of adventure game, Minecraft Story Mode: Season 2 is worth your time.

Despite all my gripes with the game, I still can recommend Detective Gallo. It really starts to take flight as it goes on, and it has a greatly paced plot. The hard-boiled detective Gallo was a lot of fun to play as, and the surrounding cast and environments all blended well together. The typical difficulty of the genre does rear its head at times, but fairly linear progression makes it manageable. Detective Gallo is definitely a game that you’ll want in your lib-rooster-y.

The game can get a little dull over time, especially if you’re trying to get through all fifteen levels in a one sitting, but like most things in life, Trine: Enchanted Edition is better with friends. One last point I’d like to make: I staunchly recommend against playing without a Pro Controller. I thought the Joy Cons were rather unwieldy for this particular game and not at all comfortable during some of the more intense platforming sequences. Do yourself a favor and splurge on the better controller if you have the means to do so.

The real problem with Heroland is that it can’t decide what it wants to be. Is it a JRPG? A resource management game? A visual novel? It tries to do too much and ends up lacking the necessary gameplay element to make it a complete package. However, if you enjoy a charming, dialogue-heavy game with a grind, you just might enjoy Heroland.

"Style over substance" is a reflexively-bandied phrase that's diminished in meaning over time. Although I partly agree to its usage here to highlight certain gameplay flaws, I don't think that should tarnish Narita Boy's immense successes. Studio Koba designed what they knew best – reverent 80s nostalgia, inspired techno-spirituality, beautiful 2D art, & more – with a sincerity rarely seen today.

Nintendo transitions the classic SNES hit Excitebike to the Wii, but lets us down with overly simplistic, shallow gameplay and barely decent graphics.

Crimson Alliance is a fun, and well-built game. I have to question if it would have been nearly as fun if I didn't invest extra money on gold to upgrade my character. Due to this, Crimson Alliance is a major set back due to ridiculous micro transactions. If someone pays $15 for a game, they shouldn't have to invest $5 more into each character in order to fully upgrade their gear.

On what may have been its last foray on the aging PS2, the developers have continuously refined the SOCOM formula, and added fun connectivity with the PSP for good measure.

It really is a shame to see this once powerhouse FPS struggle the way it does on the PS3.

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.

Reborn is a beautiful but short-lived experience that continues building this interesting universe while introducing more questions than it answers.

Compilations generally don't do well, but Capcom gives PSP owners quite a treat with the decent emulation of truly great classics.

9 Monkeys of Shaolin is not anything to write home about, nor is it a must-play rebirth of the beat ‘em up genre that the publishers and developers claim it to be. Although the game provides aesthetically pleasing environments and some enjoyable music, it ultimately suffers from an uninspired and one dimensional co-op beat ‘em up experience and is hamstrung by a vanilla cast of characters.

A good hack and slash title but not a great one. The lack of variety to the game hurts it in the long run.

Overall this game is perfect for pick up and put down play.

Although the visceral feel of its combat comes as close to Souls as any game, The Surge would really benefit from more variety in enemies, story, setting, and player character options -- as well as difficulty -- which eventually start to become repetitive. The decision to make every fight significant and potentially deadly certainly adds tension but there is rarely a sense of power or growing mastery, simply a more easily found relief at not dying. Thanks to its sci-fi setting and excellent combat, The Surge is overall a very solid, unique addition to the growing catalog of Souls-like games.

Serious Sam 3: BFE does one thing: lets you kill HUGE numbers of aliens at a nearly unrelenting pace. But it does that one thing well. If that sounds like a good time to you, then I recommend BFE without reservation. For everyone else, this is great throwback to the way shooters used to be that is definitely worth a look.

No one is going to play Zombie Army 4: Dead War for a nuanced alternative history or thought-provoking story. Its raison d’etre is killing hordes of undead zombies in as many interesting ways as possible, alone or with some buddies, and maybe caring enough to try to earn a high score in the process. Whether solo or coop, Dead War is entertaining enough, though visually a bit behind the curve and in need of a few bug fixes and pass with the polishing cloth.

CastleStorm is a fun game to play either online or against AI and that experience alone is worth the price. However, it shouldn't be blindly purchased just because it has "VR" added to the title.

SCEA seeks to bring the fun of the NBA to the PSP, but again misses the mark, with a minimal gaming mode, spotty AI and gaming-style clash.

It combines the old school style gameplay from the games past and it takes on a new aged style as well.

Once you get past the odd control timing I think anyone can really enjoy Full Bore. The world feels unique and fresh while the gameplay feels familiar enough to be comfortable, but different enough to feel innovative.

The video game adaptation does well, offering lush visuals and decent combat, but falters with a fairly limited multiplayer mode and unbalanced characters.

Tecmo produces a light-hearted and quirky action platformer that charms us with its simple but highly strategic combat and adorable characters.

Leo’s Fortune has all the components for fun, but it’s length and familiarity are its undoing.

While I think Nairi: Tower of Shirin had a potential to be a perfectly-scored game, I have to dock enough points to keep it just below it. Subject yourself to the setback of an unsatisfactory ending but experience an otherwise extraordinary graphic adventure. I highly recommend you to join Nairi and Rex on their journey, and hope that I get to join them on a sequel very soon!

This however is still a very good Tony Hawk game and if you enjoy a bit more arcade flair to your skateboarding adventure then this is a title you should check out.

Tales of Zestiria has its fair share of flaws and blemishes, but the engaging combat, coupled with a likeable cast of characters kept me engaged; it’s just too bad that a faint whiff of déjà vu still lingers over this franchise.

If you love the thrill and tension of stealth-based gameplay and going up against ever-increasing threats the longer you stay engaged, I think you’re really going to like what The Blackout Club has to offer. It took me a bit of time to warm up to the game and when it all eventually clicked, I started thinking that this might be the sleeper hit of the year.

Atari spices up the celebrated DBZ franchise with this fluid free-form fighter, and complemented by the Wii's wacky controllers.

While it shares lots of flaws with its brethren of the genre, this point-and-click adventure game has enough going for it with its story and cognition mechanics to make it worth playing.

Team Sonic Racing isn’t the fastest thing alive, but it moves at a decent pace. It won’t convert those who hate the kart racing genre, but it offers a decent twist on the formula for existing fans. That in itself is enough to justify its existence at a budget price, and it thankfully isn’t an embarrassing mess like Sonic Forces.

A great adventure. With the complex puzzles, enjoyable gameplay, and exquisite world to explore, Crystal Dynamics once again gives Tomb Raider fans an exemplary addition to the acclaimed series.

Overall, I would say that the Nintendo Switch is the perfect way to experience Red Faction: Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered, whether you have played the game before or not. The game runs seemingly at a solid 30fps with minimal drops, and sometimes even seems to be smoother than most other games I have experienced on the system. It might not be as beautiful as the PS4 and Xbox One counterparts, but looks amazing nonetheless. The pick-up-and-play hybrid console, blended with the chaotic and extremely fun gameplay of Guerrilla, is a perfect match, topped off with motion controls. It's certainly a well-done remaster of a brilliant game and is definitely one that most people should pick up.

Semispheres is a really cool puzzle game that can be played solo, though I imagine it would be even more fun to play with a partner. The blue and gold jellyfish are controlled using both halves of the Switch’s Joycons, making it extraordinarily easy for two people to work together--a noticeable difference, I assume, from the PC and PlayStation versions of the game. Easy to pick up but challenging enough to make you feel a sense of achievement, Semispheres is a great and relaxing way to spend an afternoon.

Legendia continues the excellent Tales RPG series, thrilling fans with good pacing, strategy-laden real-time combat and very stylish visuals.

The game in general though is just a whole lot of fun.

Book of Demons is an approachable, addictive action-RPG with a few new ideas but overall, an admirably lean approach that doesn’t allow feature-creep or overly ambitious design muddy the fun. Distinguished by its paper book aesthetic and player-friendly mechanics, Book of Demons is thin on story and level-by-level lacks variety but the ability to determine the length of each play session means that it won’t overstay its welcome.

The multiplayer portion of the game is where the game does its best.

Overall, Cognition: an Erica Reed Thriller – Episode 2: The Wise Monkey is a solid step forward for this promising mystery series. The point-and-click gameplay does feel somewhat outdated, but it is devoid of the pixel hunts and illogical hilarity that has ruined past games of the genre.

Although the option to play a variety of starting puppets and see the story beats change nudges up the replayability factor, Shadows: Awakening does become repetitive. There are moments where characters feel unbalanced, and load times can border on egregious. Overall, though, Shadows: Awakening breaks the mold of the action RPG and reshapes it in some entertaining ways while still retaining enough of the genre to appeal to fans.

When a game is genuinely good, it doesn’t feel like I’m playing it just for the sake of the review. Need for Speed Heat evokes that feeling as I’m simply having too much fun with it. Compared to its obvious role models, it doesn’t ramble all over the place but has a grateful focus to it. The game comfortably speeds along a yellow brick road that goes neatly between calculated appeal of Forza Horizon and the excess abundance of The Crew, and that’s why I liked it better than those two. In fact, I’m afraid that NFS Heat kind of spoils its genre. I need games with a human touch and after this, racing games without this much personality just won’t do anymore

Solid in all departments. It has some great RPG elements but nothing that is going to catch the gaming market's eye quite like "Knights of the Old Republic."

Sea of Solitude might be flawed but that makes it more human than any perfect game would ever be. There’s a little bit of classic Ico in the game, especially in the way the journey is concluded, and more than a passing resemblance to Hellblade as an imaginary pilgrimage through a retrospective hardship. When Sea of Solitude states it’s a personal journey, it really is so. It could be about anyone’s passage to understand better not only themselves but also the people around them and that’s the game’s biggest strength.

The series moves from the light-gun to the overly saturated FPS genre, offering decent if unspectacular gameplay.

Like any good puzzle game, MouseCraft tests the wits of its player by gradually increasing its level of difficulty as the story mode advances.

There's certainly fun to be had, and there's no doubt in my mind that there's an excellent foundation here for future updates, but Chasm lacks the qualities needed to make it an essential player in an already competitive genre.

Be the one-man army with Climax's martial arts brawler, which shines on the PSP with its bright visuals and solidly fluid combat system.

Do I recommend playing these games? Oh yes, absolutely. Grandia 1 and 2 deserve four stars by themselves. The games are dated, yes, but they stand the test of time, flaws and all. They are (mostly) timeless and I would replay them over and over. But maybe wait for this specific collection to go on sale.

This game not only challenges you to think outside the box but to have the endurance to continue thinking that way until the level is over and the boss is beaten.

Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst is an admirable attempt to make a niche concept work. Unfortunately, it so intently focuses on avoiding the pitfalls of the previous game that it stumbles into a hole of its own.

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.

State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition doesn’t do much to standout from the original version of the game. Bugs, glitches, and other issues consistently drag down the experience but the sheer amount content, exhilarating survival elements, and solid gameplay saves the day leaving us with hours of fun inside this zombie playground.

The game itself continues to be as good as it was when it came out the first time, and to anyone looking for a deep RPG world to get lost in, you could do a lot worse. Kingdoms of Amalur is a game that shows its age, mainly through system design, and while this re-release does little more then slap a new coat of paint on an already good game, giving a new generation a chance to enjoy the sole product of a studio they otherwise would have only heard about in the annals of “bad stuff that happens to poorly led studios.”

If you have a PS3 and can roll with the kind of plaintive adventure Rain revels in, it’s one of the year’s most interesting peculiarities.

Was the story exciting and interesting enough to experience it several times? Yes and then some! It tells something that even after a few play-throughs, I was curled up in tension with heartbeat in my ears when I drove the story to previously unseen directions. Lastly, would I recommend Late Shift to hardcore gamers? Yes, because I'm such myself and I could see no reason why someone else would't get thrilled by it. And there you have it. Late Shift is a solid crime thriller where you don't have to just watch people making bad choices because you can make them yourself. Or even some good ones necessary to pull you through the night.

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