Version favoritism aside, Corpse Party does a good enough job with the technology to deliver an interesting and thoroughly Japanese story of tragedy, murder, and the paranormal.

Mad Riders is not a bad game. It has some truly fun moments that remind me of the best arcade racers. The unfortunate part is that there are a lot of games that are simply better than Mad Riders. The game is cheap enough, at $10, that those who are interested in off road racing should consider checking it out. All others should probably look elsewhere for their racing needs.

Demon Stone could have been a great game given a little more depth and better computer AI.

This wonderful experience is cut too short. There are only eights dive to perform, each taking only about half an hour or less even if you spend your time exploring outside the mission objectives. Beyond Blue can be easily played through in one session and there is little replay value if you already explored everything in your first go. Of course, the game is labeled as a single-player narrative experience, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s insanely short. I would have liked it to last at least twice its current running time as it’s such a beautiful and soothing experience with an important environmental message. Still, Beyond Blue is worth a try for those who respect life instead of taking it in video games. Who knows, the next time when browsing through a store for a game to buy, you may go for something more peaceful and tranquil than the latest first-person shooter!

With the end in sight, I feel akin to the characters in the game with regards to where the series is heading, namely, I don’t have a damn clue. Thicker Than Water was a good episode in a season that ranks only slightly below the original, and the only thing left for the team now is to wrap up what they started. Will Javier and co. survive? Will Richmond? We’ll just have to wait to find out.

It’s a shame that more time and money wasn’t spent on Fairy Tail, because, in the end, I really enjoyed large chunks of the game. Once I started playing, I could play for hours and be entertained. The guild building is really fun, as is the combat. This could have been a great game, but the developers leaned too hard on the license and not enough on fleshing out the elements of the game. If you’re a fan of the franchise, you should definitely give it a shot. If you are an anime fan and like turn-based combat, this might be a good game to put on your wishlist for later. Otherwise, you can safely give Fairy Tail a pass.

Family has always been at the crux of Guardian stories, and as Gamora puts it before the episode comes to a close, sometimes family sucks. With one episode left, I am at an absolute loss as to how this adventure is going to come to a close, and how, with who has been lost along the way, any kind of status quo can be reached. I was shocked when we killed Thanos in episode 1, and am still shaken by Episode 4’s conclusion. How do Peter and the rest of the Guardians come back from this? Episode 4, Who Needs You, has done its job. Now all that left is to see if Telltale can finish with a season finale worthy of this fantastic buildup.

60 days was more then enough time for me to determine that I would rather spend my time elsewhere.

Empire's release slips under the radar, but manages to surprise us with its incredible ragdoll physics and smashing damage system.

With only a few exceptions, Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2 looks to hold true to Telltale’s own brand of storytelling while expanding on the characters it created during the first season. Sure, we’re only one episode in, but as introduction to the whole kit and kaboodle for me, I thought it did a great job and not only showing me the world, but not making me feel bad for skipping the previous season. If the rest of the episodes can fix the small pacing issues of Episode 1, we might be in for quite the funny, heartfelt ride.

To my surprise Touchmaster really did capture what a good compilation is made of.

GRIP: Combat Racing is a solid enough throwback to warrant a play from Rollcage fans but for those racing game players looking for something new, the game doesn’t deliver. It isn’t bad by any measure, but it doesn’t do enough to set pulses racing.

Hardline is liable to satisfy Battlefield diehards for the next few months until something new comes along or new content is offered. For those sitting on the fence, the changes made to the Battlefield design are interesting but not enough to warrant paying full price just yet.

Zipper Interactive has taken their experience with the PSP and cranked up their flair to produce an excellent hand held shooter. If you are a Vita owner and you love action games then Unit 13 is a must have. With great mechanics and a functioning online co-op there is a lot of fun and many hours to spend with this great title. I couldn't put the game down and I expect to keep revisiting it for a while.

Farpoint has peaks and valleys. It’s a well-built, functional, and thoroughly competent first person shooter but it’s antiquated. The story is incredibly compelling until it stumbles like a drunk elephant until it collapses into a stupor via an unfair and undeserved cliffhanger. Speaking more positively, the VR is integrated really well and I appreciated that Impulse Gear refrained from making the player the center of the universe. With the exception of the habitat recordings, the camera never interrupts the game to grab you by the face and force you to look at something. It also doesn’t force mission critical assets to stay within your field of view. This creatures a more natural existence for the player, making them feel like they are part of the production. I came away from the game with a mixture of emotions but the one thing I feel confident about is Impulse Gear’s grasp on building a high quality game in a VR space. Farpoint is a pretty good start.

If you're going to spend the $20 on Corpse Party, it is very important to know what you're getting into. This is not a "game," but an interactive novel with video game elements that, for the most part, aren't very good. You will get frustrated and lost a few times, but if you stick with it and keep a cool head, Corpse Party will reward you with an unsettling story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The game doesn't shy away from violence so be prepared to sit through some really disturbing and uncomfortable moments.

For shmup aficionados and lovers of Japanese anime culture, Mamorukun Curse is a worthwhile play because it contains all the trappings of the genre with a few interesting twists.

Overall, Where the Dead Lie, is a good introduction to what could possibly be an amazing experience.

Batman: The Enemy Within is Telltale at their best, and The Pact simply continues to prove why.

If you're looking for a quirky old-school RPG, Romancing SaGa 2 is right up your alley. There's perhaps a reason it never got a release in the west until now; it's far from being a player-friendly. Many of the quirks that make Romancing SaGa 2 so special are things that many modern players aren't most likely to enjoy, so you must be sure what you're signing up for before you lead the Kingdom of Avalon to the glory.

Happy Birthdays is a truly unique way to learn about ecosystems, evolution, and the changing world. As a game, its slow pace and passive gameplay isn’t for everyone, and its content isn’t necessarily enough to justify the fairly steep retail price. Happy Birthdays is a title that fosters experimentation and observation, but its demand on stat management may go over the heads of younger players.

Thea: The Awakening isn’t a bad game, but it’s hard to recommend. Those looking for a tough survival game could do better, yet they could find some enjoyment in it. The highs, though few and far between, did provide a sense of accomplishment when there was actual difficulty behind them. However, the anger and lack of joy found in the defeat, with restarting being almost the only option, is enough to turn off a lot of people.

All in all, I have to recommend Ashen to all fans of the Souls-style games, Metroidvanias, challenging games, etc. Anyone who is unfamiliar with these types of titles, then by all means jump in to Ashen, as the option to have AI or a friend by your side can make all the difference in how you play the game, and can really open it up to new audiences. Ashen is out on PC, PS4, Xbox One and now on Nintendo Switch. Personally, the Switch version is a perfect pick-up-and-play game, allowing you to venture deeper into the world one session at a time. While the game is not as large-scale as some of its inspirations may be, it's worth playing all the same.

Not having played any of the previous God Eater games, I can’t speak to how the franchise has progressed. As a stand alone product, God Eater 3 has generally engaging combat, some depth and complexity in terms of weapon and skill development and a story and character that are not actively bad, just generic and not very creative. Fans of Monster Hunter and games in the genre will enjoy the shorter encounters and faster, more fluid combat.

I feel a little weird having gone this far without even a mention of the start of Episode 3, but with the enjoyment I am getting out of this being so heavily reliant on the story and its turns, mentioning them, no matter how briefly, feels a bit like a betrayal. There are a number of moments that I would love to bring up, especially ones that deal with Bruce’s ability to trust and how those moments being left up to the player brings me a substantial amount of joy, but I think I’ll save those for the finale. For now, I am happy to say that Batman: The Enemy Within is Telltale at their best. We are halfway through this season, and I am equal parts jumping for joy and pulling out my hair to see where this ends up.

Not only does the game look gorgeous but the control system has been enhanced for the Dual Sense with haptic feedbacks and life-like rumble effects as you tear across the pavement. Newcomers to motorcycle racing (or people just wanting a new game for their new PS5) are going to face an uphill climb as they acclimate themselves to the unique complexities of Ride 4’s gameplay demands. There are systems in place to make the experience a bit easier but I would have liked to see a stronger emphasis on the fundamentals of controlling a high-speed bike - and the initial license exam would have been the perfect opportunity for that. As it stands, there might be some substantial hurdles for the player to overcome before they get to a point where they feel like they’ve got a proper handle on Ride 4’s deep approach to simulated racing.

Transference is equipped with a fascinating premise that suffers from a substantial disconnect because there’s no apparent connection between the Hayes and you, the player. Who are you supposed to be? How did you stumble onto this simulation? Is this supposed to be some new twist on the “found footage” genre? Tying the player into the narrative to some degree would have gone a long way to make me feel more attached, involved, and invested in these people’s lives and why they matter outside of the empathy you develop in seeing them suffer from Raymond’s apparent physical and mental abuse.

The PS4 version of Uno is an average offering that doesn’t take advantage of the fact that it’s a digital game.