Climax continues to refine its ATV racing franchise, adding more modes and much welcome PSP connectivity. Decent offering for what appears to be the last ATV on the PS2.

It has simply been done too many times before, and the game seems content to be a comfortable -- in both a good and not-so-great way -- and immediately recognizable experience. Easy for me to say. I'm not sure how to make the storming of Normandy or the frigid Russian winters surprising again, especially in an RTS where the human drama takes a back seat to pushing around little units to solve tactical puzzles. For console gamers less affected by ennui, Sudden Strike 4 is approachable and not terribly obtuse and provides something that PC players have come to take for granted: a great looking, fun-to-play, well-made strategy game about one of history's most turbulent and strategically interesting periods.

A decent spin-off. The hack-and-slash gets tiresome, but it works in small bursts and is a fine fit for the Switch's handheld mode. The graphical genre shifts and peppered-in minigames provide good variety, thematically feeding into Travis’ love for games. The game is not a visually exciting entry, but it may still be worth it for fans of the series to indulge in Travis’ latest adventure. The insane story beats and off-the-wall humor are still here, alongside satisfying teases. It may not be No More Heroes 3, but Travis Strikes Again stands as a fine stepping stone for Suda51’s otaku assassin.

The writing has its fair share of material that’s worth a few sharp exhales through the nose and sensible chuckling but the committed delivery of the cast is a nice surprise and adds value. If you’re a fan of the Explosm! webcomic series and shorts, then Freakpocalypse is bound to hold a measure of interest. Just don’t go in expecting too much.

MLB The Show 16 is yet another great game of baseball, but for the first time I felt like the franchise is starting to wane in its greatness.

The fourth in the series continues with what works, featuring standard turn-based RPG conventions, with a bit more twist and strategy in combat.

Sega adds an arena mode and some gameplay tweaks to inject some depth to the original Xbox 360 flop, resulting in a decent arcade racer for the PS3.

Harry Potter fans can be sure that they will not be getting suckered in by another poor movie game, as this is one of the few movie titles I actually enjoyed my time with in a long time.

RymdResa eventually becomes a test of patience but its tone and the drama of Man’s desperate search for a new home is interesting and thought provoking.

In many ways, Dark’s greatest success is in reminding me of time when I liked vampires and when stealth games were stealth games. And it provides an entertaining- if sometimes absurd -experience on both fronts.

Fall of Cybertron is undoubtedly an improvement over an already impressive debut, yet it doesn't feel nearly as invigorating or daring as War for Cybertron did.

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.

If you are a fan of the Speed Racer label then you will have a good reason to go check out Speed Racer: The Videogame.

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.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare does little to really push the series forward in a meaningful way, beyond the addition of space combat. Although well written and acted, its story is still too binary and lacks the subtlety of real-life geopolitical conflict. Amazing, its short campaign can feel too long in places, and its stop-and-start pace suffers in comparison to its shooter peers. Multiplayer and Zombie modes fare better, and for many players, that will be good enough.

Sega seeks to reenergize the arcade racing genre, but just slaps some rehashed tracks from OutRun2 and nothing much else.

It would be harsh to call The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics uninspired, but it’s clearly more focused on promoting the Netflix series than providing a rewarding, standalone gameplay experience. Fans of the streaming show may enjoy seeing their favorite characters through a different and more interactive lens but those unfamiliar with the series may find Tactics’ story opaque.

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

Although it conflates and confuses a lot of historical reality to conform to its alternative universe, Close to the Sun really impresses in a few key areas. It looks incredible and is founded on a solid story concept. Some of its puzzles, mechanics and pacing issues get it in the way and remind the player that moving through the world needs to be just as satisfying as looking at the world. Fans of “walking simulators” and BioShock will feel at home but Close to the Sun does a good job of creating its own identity despite the obvious influences.

Agatha Knife is all barks and no bite as it makes fun without being mean or mocking. I expected to sit through some profound lesson but much to my surprise – and without spoiling too much – the outcome was positive for all the parties involved. In the end, the unique presentation and a curious premise hide a somewhat familiar parody and the so-called criticism the game likes to think it represents isn’t as sharp as Agatha’s knifes. Or maybe I’m so used to all things weird that it would take something more outrageous to freak me out. On the other hand, maybe it’s better that Agatha Knife plays it safer because even the most straight-laced individual can enjoy the charm of Agatha’s sincere antics set against a strange world of (make)belief.

If you like turn based strategy games and want one that takes place in space then Endless Space can surely scratch that itch.

Star Renegades is fine enough a game in its genre but it hangs too tightly onto its rigorous gameplay loop, exhausting fun out of repeated attempts.

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.

I would never argue that escapist entertainment such as videogames should not explore the dark reaches of the human psyche or behavior. Where My Lovely Daughter falls down for me is not the grim subject matter but the somewhat artless narrative and pacing and the repetitive gameplay loop that sustains the experience.

From its price to its story to its demands on the intellect and reflexes, Swords & Souls: Neverseen is modest. Likewise, it’s modestly successful and moderately fun. Training, upgrading and short and fast-paced battles are great ways to spend a few minutes but in the long haul, the game’s limitations become a little more apparent and concerning. If I knew anything about sports, I might say that a good, solid stand-up base hit is better than swinging for the fences and whiffing it. Swords & Souls: Neverseen makes a good case for itself as a fully-formed PC game.

It’s worth the price tag for the borderline ridiculous long-range shots you can pull off, but the campaign isn’t so good that I’d want to play through it a second time right away.

For its beautiful presentation and for all of the ponderous ruminations about life that it might invoke within the player, it’s a crying shame that Rain World just doesn't feel very fun to play. While there is nothing wrong with sluggishness and weight as intentional designs, the options given to the player feel totally at odds with the sheer relentlessness and urgency of the systems at work.

In the end, there isn't a lot that can be said in the extreme about Rise of Insanity. It is competently executed, other than its shoddy translation. It doesn't look to redefine the first person horror genre and it doesn't shoot for the stars, but it has enough going for it with its story and its environments to make it worth a play through. It might not be an easy game to recommend at its full price, but if you are a fan of psychological horror and you would like to experience a slightly unique twist on it, then Rise of Insanity might be one worth checking out.