Without spoiling anything, it is hard to explain how great From the Ashes truly is. The Detail is heating up and episode 2 provides it with the spark and breath it needs to last three additional episodes.

The Call of the Sea is one of the better Lovecraftian games in recent memory, thanks to its art, writing, acting and subtle defiance of some well-worn mystery conventions. In general, its puzzles are accessible yet challenging and the story is well told and set in a refreshingly unfamiliar environment. Less passive than a typical walking simulator but still not an action game, The Call of the Sea should appeal to gamers that appreciate beautiful art and an engrossing mystery.

After playing through Lego Star Wars multiple times the one thing that holds this game back from being extremely fun is, first the length which could have been longer, and secondly the camera, which at times did get in the way.

While frustrating at times, Signs of the Sojourner does a fantastic job of nailing the actual flow of communication in the form of a card game. It also provides an excellent sense of freedom. By the time I got to one of the game’s multiple endings, I really felt like my actions and choices had earned it. I only wish that it had gone on a bit longer. Just when I really felt like I was getting everything the game was throwing at me, it ended. Still, I appreciate a game that leaves me wanting more and the different paths I could have taken provide enticement for a second trip.

THQ presents the perfect game for younger gamers this holiday season, with refined platforming mechanics and co-op gameplay to further strengthen the Tak franchise.

Mechanically, Warlords is a great addition to The Division 2. Conceptually, many of the issues that have plagued the game are still present and sometimes worse. But there’s no denying that The Division 2 is an incredibly competent shooter, and it feels even better to play with the changes made to the loot/gear system. On top of that, the loose story threads used to create the new endgame makes me actually want to participate in it. Warlords of New York provides the best entry point to date for new and returning players. I really enjoyed my time with it but make no mistake, if you didn’t like the core game, this is still The Division 2. But it is easily the best version of itself.

In a crowded landscape littered with a few too many survival crafting games, The Forest makes a pretty strong case for itself. With an open-ended world balanced by a story that moves forward, The Forest contains both freedom and mounting tension and provides not just the means for the player to survive, but a compelling reason to do so.

When I first started it, I thought it would be a repetitive game that would lose my attention quickly. I’m happy to say this couldn’t be further from the truth. The fast pace meant I was able to jump in and out of the game with no problems. For being such a simplistic, the game is quite difficult to master as many of my runs fizzled out quicker than they should. The unlockable system keeps you always a step behind the curve, never giving you a chance to get too comfortable. In the end, Super Mutant Alien Assault is one enjoyable title that I definitely recommend.

There is no doubt that 3 on 3 NHL Arcade is missing some key features like a Season or Tournament mode, it needed something. Lucky for the guys and gals over at EA, 3 on 3 NHL Arcade works from top to bottom giving a really great arcade hockey experience.

Whether as history lesson, exercise in nostalgia, or appetizer to the upcoming fourth entry to the series, The Bard's Tale Trilogy remains engaging. It requires a lot of patience and attention to detail and a special love of character micromanagement and, although the rerelease is more colorful than the original, the graphics and core gameplay are still rooted in the limitations of 1980s technology. Playing The Bard's Tale Trilogy is a reminder that while games have achieved cinematic production values that rival anything from Hollywood, they don't always fire the imagination the way that the less graphically accomplished adventures often did.

Putting the poor Live experience aside, the game is really quite good combining a heavy dose of both action and strategy into one game, makes for an extremely enjoyable experience.

Katamari Demacy: Reroll alludes to an age of game development where larger publishers were still willing to make risky, experimental titles. It may not upend the industry, and it may be relatively short, but this a game so confident in its own style and unique mode of play that it is hard to ignore its considerable charm. It has aged well because aside from its many sequels, no one has attempted to make anything else like it. And sometimes the music swells in a way that makes you forget you are an uncaring cosmic being creating space garbage to cover for your dad getting wasted and accidentally destroying the night sky. Katamari Demacy is the type of singular strangeness that should be experienced at least once.

Sure Spore may not be the perfect game but its an amazing accomplishment and one that I think everyone should really check out.

When it comes to the writing of its protagonist and furthering the story, Smoke and Mirrors is a definite step forward, especially after a three-month drought of interactive storytelling.

Now that I’ve finally had a chance to play Year Walk I know exactly why everyone was so fascinated by it when it came out. Hauntingly atmospheric, clever and interestingly presented, it surprises at many turns and rewards players for being smart and attentive. It’s a bit of a short run, but it ends right when it needs to, leaving itself in the player’s mind for long afterwards.

In the end, Mad Max’s ability to create a good time far outweighs any problems it has.

Dusk's core gameplay is just what you'd expect: a zippy shoot and strafe loop with minimal story and lots of little secrets to find. Lots of games have tried this before, but Dusk realizes that the appeal of those early 90s shooters was largely in the level design and environmental details. They made the worlds seem more real than you might imagine, given their primitive processing. Although it isn't quite yet a complete package (additional chapters are coming later), Dusk comes eerily close to feeling like an undiscovered sibling of the classic shooters.

Puyo Puyo Tetris is supported by the weight of its juggernaut puzzle franchises. A game with both Puyo Puyo and Tetris in one package would have been acceptable, but the modes that uniquely integrate the two transform this from good to stellar. The bite-sized puzzle battles are incredibly well-suited for portable play on the Nintendo Switch, and marathons of endless play will appeal to puzzle lovers whether on the big screen or on-the-go.

The underrated Grandia RPG series gets its third game, and wows us with its engaging story, superbly involving battles and sleek visuals.

As with all console ports, the Platinum Games bundle represents a fine opportunity to experience company defining titles you might have missed the first time with the added convenience of not having to dust off last gen’s console.

If you're a fan of the franchise or just WWII shooters I would still give a strong recommendation to check this game out.

When all is said and done, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night delivers on its promise of bringing Castlevania back. Though I had various issues with the game, it still manages to provide that distinct Metroidvania experience. From the forgettable and dull story to the unbalanced gameplay, Ritual of the Night can’t compete with the best of the series. However, based on its own merits, it still provides a journey worth playing at least once or twice. Without a doubt, the game’s release is worth celebrating for, though it’s missing that creative spark Castlevania series has had in spades.

Iron Harvest shines the brightest when it focuses on its imaginative alternative history milieu, incredibly well-designed robots, and even its story, which is much more engaging than simply being a premise to get the mechs on the battlefield. One could complain that it doesn’t go far enough in changing the mechanics of the genre, but it isn’t like gamers are inundated with Company of Heroes-like titles. Expansive and worth looking at for its setting and robots alone, Iron Harvest is, if not an instant classic, a welcome reminder of just how fun small-scale RTS games can be.

Fans of strategy games and those looking for something a little different would be interested in the title. For beginners, there is a bit of a learning curve to get through and with an adjustable difficulty setting, you can easily take things slow. I just wish certain aspects of the game were explained a bit better.

Terraria is an enjoyable, combat focused alternative to Minecraft that doesn’t ape Mojang’s game for the sake of taking advantage of consumer confusion. It has its own spirit and soul, allowing it to stand on its own two feet.

If you enjoyed the first game, you will most likely enjoy this game because it's very similar.

The teams at EA Sports are undeniably having a hard transition to the next-gen, but FIFA 15 has weathered the transition quite admirably.

Don’t bother with Nippon Marathon if you don’t a have company to play the game with or if saying “keep it real, keep it Nippon” makes you irritated. Everyone else, though, forget cheap production values and throw yourself broad-mindedly into the craziness of Nippon Marathon!