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.

At the end of the day the cocky, confident, wisecracking and unapologetically sexual protagonist and her amazingly rich style of combat still beats strong at the heart of Bayonetta and revisiting the game on PC is a reminder of how much fun the game was in 2009. Any fan of stylish action games will still appreciate Bayonetta, especially now that some of the original's technical issues have been addressed and resolved.

Salt and Sanctuary clearly gets it’s inspiration and ideas from previous Souls games so there is a lack of innovation here, but developer Ska Studios does a masterful job of adapting the already proven formula of Souls into a exceptional 2D adventure.

Madden has slowed down a bit in Madden NFL 10, but in terms of performance it has ramped up to a new high.

For all of the fans of the original Pikmin, or any strategy enthusiast, you need to go our and buy this game right away.

Cadence of Hyrule is a miracle project, birthed from an indie developer given the keys to Hyrule Castle and surpassing everyone’s expectations. Brace Yourself Games has managed to compose its own worthy Zelda adventure, incorporating its own rhythmic roguelike gameplay with fantastic remixes. The end result is a unique musical experience that’s hard to put down. Needless to say, the game may not be as inviting to those unversed with The Legend of Zelda. But for big fans seeking a new tempo, Cadence of Hyrule hits all the right beats, and I look forward to an encore.

Episode 2 proved excellent all the way around. I really appreciated the points they chose to hit, the themes of friendship and change, as well as the fantastic trip the Admin takes the group on. I never thought that these kinds of stories would be possible with Minecraft as the background, but it just proves to show that a good story can take place anywhere. Even an exploding Heckmouth.

>observer_ is one of the most immersive games I have had a privilege to play in recent memory. It grabs you by the collar and pulls deep into its twisted cyber mystery. The game progresses with the beat of any good thriller and won’t let you have a dull moment, even with a lack of action as observers come unarmed. It took about 10 hours to solve the case (or did it solve me?), but I would gladly have spent twice the time in the bleak and oppressive neo Krakow. The game is worth jacking back into, though, as it has alternate paths to take and endings to see. >observer_ is like a direct-to-video B movie that never was that you can now play yourself. And it stars Rutger Hauer. Did I tell how awesome that is?

Not only is the gameplay superb but also the graphics are just drop-dead gorgeous.

Considering the Switch game’s price point is higher than the Wii U version ever was, it may not even be a cost-effective first choice if you happen to have both systems on hand and don’t mind lack of portability. All things considered, Tropical Freeze is one of the best platformers on either system, and regardless of how funky you’re willing to go, it’s worth gobbling up, especially for old-school Nintendo fans.

Now in its third installment, this FPS franchise continues to impress us with some pretty realistic battles, enhanced online multiplayer and much expanded gameplay.

Initially, The Swapper only managed to gain my curiosity, but as I progressed further through the game, I began to realize I was playing something special.

Bolstered by sensuous visuals and melodic, elegant heavy metal tunes, Othercide is definitely not the case of style over substance. Both sides of the game support each other in the eternal battle between good and evil. Any fan of tactical combat and challenge should break on through to Othercide!

Stronghold Crusader 2 was a rare game that I got lost in. I started playing and before I knew it, it was six hours later. Who can resist a game about castle building, economy raising, and taking on large castles full of troops and hazards?. Especially when you can soften up the numbers by launching diseased animals over castle walls.

Attack on Titan 2 is a comprehensive take on the franchise and a good entry point to it.

NCAA Football 10 is the complete college football experience, it has the depth, the style, and the substance that fans have been looking for. For the first time in years I am happy to report that the upgrades in NCAA Football 10 game were enough to make for one of the best NCAA Football titles in years.

I am a huge fan of open-ended action games, and this one just really did the business for me. There is still just so much action in the game and the storyline is so interesting that it's hard not to just sit back and say wow, this is a fun game.

For as fun as the experience is, not being able to scale it back to something a little more manageable is a shame, but it's a game that gives a great experience if you're able to deal with the challenge.

Rockstar bounces back from their Hot-Coffee fiasco in style, with a fresh take on table tennis. Think of it as Pong for the 360, a truly fluid and fun budget title.

While I would have loved to see more new features and additional games like the oft-forgotten spinoff Mega Man and Bass, a package of four solid action platformers is enough to make Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 desirable to both fans and newcomers.

For all the ire thrown in its direction on forums, consider this rebuttal: Dark Souls has never looked better, ran smoother, or had more to offer than it does on PC. And for one of the best games of this generation, that's no mean feat.

When it comes to nostalgia, there’s a fine line between “loving homage” and “trying desperately recapture former glory.” Fortunately, ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is a fantastic and faithful attempt to bring a nearly thirty-year old game into relevancy. It’s more than just a flashy reboot of the original title, adding in new elements as well as those adopted from its sequel, Panic on Funkotron, to make something that feels fresh, new, and stand shoulder to shoulder with the kind of roguelikes available today. A blast from the past that never feels forced or at odds with itself, ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is a delight from start to finish.

Senran Kagura Peach Ball is one of those “You got chocolate in my peanut butter/You got peanut butter in my chocolate” moments you don’t see often in video games. It combines the unapologetic lewd and silly nature of the franchise with the thrill and unpredictable excitement that I love about pinball.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses does a tremendous job presenting a more immersive experience in the series’ first console entry in a decade. The three paths all present unique and compelling perspectives into the rich cast, and the Persona-like school life segments are a breath of fresh air that give players a lot more to do besides constant battling. The strategy gameplay is more or less the same with a few alterations and additions, but it remains a shining example of the genre. Every element meshes together well to make Fire Emblem: Three Houses one of the best games in this long-running series.

PGR2 fixes almost all of the problems that plagued original, and even manages to improve upon everything else.

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.

Although this game may also be the most difficult game in the series it also still retains all of the fun and enjoyment that has been with this series since the very beginning.

Sony's other stealth-actioner favorite debuts on the PSP with an impressive story and gameplay mechanics, backed by a solid control scheme and plenty of game modes.