Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below is a huge step forward for Omega Force. This is the right formula for making future Dynasty Warrior-like games, as story, leveling structure and beautiful presentation form a perfect wrapper around typical/repetitive button mashing gameplay experience.

Syndicate's guise is thoroughly unoriginal and yet irrefutably stylish. Its guns aren't distinctive but feel great with every pull of the trigger. Breaching is debatably necessary and still every time it's engaged. Cooperative plays feels more like beating the game than beating the intended challenge, which somehow makes for a better feeling of elation. In conforming to the first person standard, Syndicate has turned in a wave of contradictions that, almost in spite of itself, typically emerge on the right side of social order.

The Trials of St. Lucia is a robust and very worthwhile DLC release for a great game. If you are into challenge arenas, you couldn't ask more.

Jackbox Party Pack 11 is a good release that features some fresh games and plenty of good times. It returns the series to a better form, although it’s not perfect by any means, nor will it rival the best of the best in the Jackbox series. But it’s far better than what has been recently released over the last three years and gives hope that more fun is to be had with future Jackbox releases.

W!Games has a fantastic turn based title on their hands that I'd recommend to casual and hardcore fans of the genre alike.

If you have the PlayStation Move, you need The Shoot. It's a great, fun addition to the genre and makes good use of the Move controller.

In and of itself, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity is a fun experience that big-time Pokemon fans (especially younger ones) should enjoy. As a first-time Mystery Dungeon player, I can also recommend the game to anyone who might be on the fence about jumping in and exploring some dungeons. Not everyone will enjoy it, mind you, because it’s not the Pokemon they know and love.

Arise: A Simple Story is worth a go and worth your time and attention. It carries a heavy-hearted story that is backed by stunning visuals and few flaws.

Skate 3 takes a great game in Skate 2 and brings it to the next level. If you're looking for a great skateboarding game, look no further.

Competent virtual reality creates a profound shift in the way games immerse players. Past the novelty, however, comes the demand to have a material effect on the virtual world. Being a witness is fine, but becoming a participant is better. Job Simulator, perhaps more than any other PlayStation VR launch title, neither dwells in abstracts nor resides in stasis. Its cartoony confines are genuine, and player agency, however modest, feels authentic.

A solid all around JRPG, Tales of Zestiria is familiar yet worthwhile.

Fat Princess was a ballsy choice to pack into Sony's handheld, but Fistful of Cake doesn't disappoint in its attempt to emulate big brother.

The entire package aches for better consistency between its original modes and suite of upgrades, but these are minor complaints; from a historical standpoint or modern approach, Resident Evil 4 remains one of the finest ways to survive horror.

SFVCE is by no means an entirely new game, it’s just a culmination of where SFV has come so far. In the last four years, the game certainly has come a long way. If you’ve waited until now to jump in, this is obviously the best version to get.

Bluepoint has done a phenomenal job recreating the core principles and "feel" that make Titanfall a can't miss online title for the One...Of course some concessions had to be made, and they came in the looks department.

As for the gameplay, it's essentially the same, but improvements with weapons and plasmids makes it a little deeper. The addition of multiplayer just ices this cake and gives you a little more reason to add Bioshock 2 to your library.

Few VR games integrate story, boss battles, combat, puzzles, and motion control into one competent brew–usually more than one of those things is absent from the end result. But as I lifted my controller to my mouth to drink a potion or something in the options menu, or looked behind me to toss a spell enhancement into a frog’s mouth, I didn’t feel like I was doing anything except having a great time with a good game which also happened to be one of the best VR experiences around.

The Bright Lord is a bunch of frustrating fun, but it pays off at the end with new missions, upgrades and quick gameplay.

MLB 14 The Show doesn’t feel the need to reinvent a formula that has worked for the series over the last few years, but it does show some innovation and trust by allowing user-driven content to lead the way through new online modes like Community Challenges. Even if it didn’t have this user-driven content, MLB The Show is still the best baseball series out there in the sports gaming world.

Under any lens Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 don't feel ravaged by the father time - which is exactly what’s needed for spending another hundred hours across Spira.

Annual franchises can be tough to get excited about and to differentiate, but Codemasters has made some great decisions with F1 2016 to make it a clearly superior version to last year's, and quite possibly the best version in the franchise to date.

Hitman’s improved world, which includes smarter NPCs and versatile ways to complete goals, has brought the series onto a higher level of entertainment. Definitely worth a go.

There's a lot more to like about How To Survive than not, and at the end of the day, the addictive and fun gameplay trump its shortcomings.

This is a polished and proven fighter that still has a lot left in the tank.

The Capcom Arcade Cabinet is a premium way to enjoy Capcom arcade classics. While the price might not be readily accepted with the younger generation of gamers that missed the arcade heyday, the package certainly brings enough new features (like online play and leaderboards) to get any gamer excited.

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is mostly what we were waiting for in a sequel to the classic original titles. With just about everything you can expect from the series brought over onto the DS, this game features the high production values and classic jRPG gameplay coupled with the rewarding puzzles and unique Djinn battle system.

You get all aspects of what it's like being a fighter pilot. IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey is one of the best games I've played in a while and I'll keep playing it well beyond this review.

Fallout's modern interpretation may have started to show its wrinkles, but Old World Blues remedies an aging formula by resurrecting the series' latent dark humor and pushing it in the spotlight.

A creative, well designed, and well-executed local co-op game, Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime is fun and worth your attention.

"Splatoon" is everything you could want out of a new Nintendo IP. It somehow manages to be both cute and cool.

Ms. Pac-Man is the ultimate sequel to the original game. Level variety, better cutscenes and fast gameplay equal out to a fun experience. It looks great on the iPad and plays just as well.

The Raven is an engaging and fun point and click whodunit type of mystery/adventure that I'm happy to recommend. This opening act does a great job of hooking the player with an interesting cast characters and a story that I'm eager to play out.

Fostering a reaction as elusive and subjective as fear and then circulating it through a game presents a vicious assignment. Outlast nearly completes this task before exhaustively collapsing under the burden of its medium. While Outlast doesn't crack the code, its dreadful atmosphere and relentless tension move the entire genre closer to figuring it all out.

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes is pretty solid on the Wii U. While there is some control issues that create frustration when the Wii remote jumps into the mix, the game still defines what a LEGO game should look and play like.

LittleBigPlanet's trip to the PSP was a faithful transition.

Saber Interactive has created a surprisingly balanced and entertaining asymmetrical multiplayer title that throws enough systems in so matches don’t get stale. Finding favorite survivors and demons to play as is a joy and fingers crossed the annoying bugs and issues are ironed out soon to detract less from the quality presented here. Thankfully, Evil Dead: The Game is a groovy blast and not a bloody bust.

An overall solid sequel and a great game, with some evolutionary game design from previous titles in the series that may or may not appeal to you.

Gumball in Trick-or-Treat Land from developer Exquisite Laundry Pet LLC harkens back to a simpler RPG time while adding some worthwhile questing, good turn-based action, and some clever humor.

Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 is a tough, uphill experience that might have a few things going against it in terms of frustration, but the game also has a lot going for it in terms of challenge. Gamers generally cry about games being too quick and easy, so Bandai Namco Studios has created something that goes against that grain. Certainly this is the Dark Souls of the Pac-Man series.

Creative Assembly's passion and dedication to their Total War machine is evident with ATTILA. It's not for everyone, but for those that enjoy the series, this has all the makings of a superb entry.

Another fine Capcom Resident Evil series HD Remaster that's worth the time and money to add to your collection.

Papers, Please is a game about beating the system. Or subverting the system. Or submitting to the system. Or maybe ignoring the system. In any approach, it forces the player to consider conflict as a multifaceted condition tied to its narrative and design, and it doesn't much care if you judge its sum-total as traditionally fun. Papers, Please has something to say, and it makes it very clear at almost every instance.

Spark Unlimited's take on EDN III is engaging and fun. It's not going to turn the genre on its head or come away with any game of the year awards, but it is the best in the series and makes the franchise relevant again.

The game is very accessible and is also addictive and rewarding enough to keep you going.

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed respects and reproduces its source material with such precision that it'll leave Sega fans desperately clinging to the foolish belief that we'll get proper Nights or Burning Rangers sequels one day. On its own merits Transformed is a competent racer with a great drift mechanic, and the dynamically shifting carts and tracks are a solid contribution to an otherwise homogenous genre.

For all its similarities, Nintendo Land is a wholly different experience from the Wii and Wii Sports-and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. While the presentation and concepts still exude a casual shell, the real meat of the experience is deceptively deep and unmistakably challenging. It's no "killer app" launch title, but it's no slouch, either.

Sacrificed (somewhere) were elements of surprise and spontaneity, locking Tokyo Mirage Sessions to a rigid course, but its overall performance leaves little doubt of its capability; Nintendo and Atlus saved one of the best for last.

This is an excellent release for the PSP. Two classic JRPGs re-mastered and made available in a single, well-priced package. Fans of Ys or the genre can't go wrong in picking this up.

The Deadly Tower of Monsters is the latest in ACE Team's Ghastly Menagerie of Interactive Curiosities. Inventive ideas with perspective and the concept of ascending a lavishly decorated outdoor tower put some distance between The Deadly Tower of Monsters and genre conventions, but, really, it's not why you're here. You came for an ambitious descent into Chilean pandemonium and this game holistically satisfies that urgency.

If you are a huge fan of Skyrim and have been looking for a good reason to get back into it for a few hours, then look no further. Although it probably could have contained a bit more for its $20 price tag, most gamers who have dedicated months of their life to playing this game will not be disappointed with their purchase.

Ones and Zeroes accelerates Republique's exploration of action and consequence by placing the player in a position of uncomfortable accountability, continuing to be an exemplary exhibition of touchscreen gaming.

As the game progressed, you unlocked new weapons. Despite having a variety of firearms, I found myself really sticking to 2-3 guns the whole game. The guns unlocked in later portions of the game felt more cumbersome than useful. I think of a game like Bioshock Infinite that shows you a little animation after you receive a new ability. This animation helps the player learn the extent of the abilities, and I think this would have been helpful for the equipment in Mouse. Despite their flaws mechanically, they look beautiful, and their names are fantastic. The Tommy gun in this world is a “James Gun”, come on, that’s just good old-fashioned comedy.

Ms. Splosion Man is frequently good with equal parts brilliance and frustration. Sometimes you might get the feeling that the folks at Twisted Pixel had so much fun making their game they sort of forgot we common folk would wind up playing it, but it's hard to fault ambition.

Its age is apparent in open-world areas and questionable pacing, but its clever puzzles and thick fan service are just as appealing now as ever.

As to be expected, this is the top DOA to date.

Assassin’s Creed III Remastered on the Nintendo Switch is impressive. It’s refined stealth tools and tactics mixed with additional gameplay design upgrades makes this a must-have for any AC fan dying to play something on the Switch that is guaranteed to occupy them for a long period of time.

If you're looking for a strong follow-up from the Crysis 2 storyline then you're going to be heaven. Crytek brings a very powerful story that fits just right with the previous titles and compliments it with a fast-paced gameplay experience. Sure the campaign might last 6-8 hours, but you'll enjoy every minute of it.

The Climb is a cool and fun VR experience that takes an obvious VR concept and runs with it. The result is more positive than not and worth checking out if you have an interest in rock climbing. [Tested with Rift]

Stardock hits it out of the park with Sorcerer King. Turn-based strategy at its finest.

One part hysterical, one part horrifying, all parts engrossing: "Affordable Space Adventures" is every bit worthy of consideration as the next addition to your Wii U digital library.

Saying it's the most fun I've had in a Sonic game in 15 years isn't actually saying a whole lot, but it's certainly a great start.

Like most (perhaps every) Sega Ages releases, Team M2 has done another great job. There’s an argument to be made for the lack of including the Genesis and SNES versions of the game given that they are a bit different than this arcade port, and seeing as how Sega Ages titles in the past have sometimes included the other versions of games, too… I suppose we maybe got a bit spoiled in having the best of all of the versions included in one release, but I did want to mention that this particular release is just the arcade one. Still, it’s a great game, arguably one of the better SHMUPs of at least the early 90s, and M2 has done another great job of making it available on the Switch.

Freedom Wars has its shortcomings, but I would still consider it one of the top Vita games available.

The definitive version of How To Survive that's priced well and enjoyable online or off, solo, or with a friend.

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is a far cry from revolutionary (though it hardly seeks to be), and it's too linear and shallow an adventure for a game banking on the appeal of Metroid. Nevertheless, it's a tasty hors d'oeuvre that teases with sheer beauty and some clever gameplay concepts in the later areas. Its appeal is greater than the sum of its parts, even if it does leave you wanting more.

NCAA Football 13 doesn't bring anything groundbreaking to the franchise, but it does make some much needed improvements. Better AI, more QB animation, sharper receiver reaction and the addition of the Reaction Time mechanic make this a fun and interesting NCAA Football release. It definitely isn't a leap from last year's game, but it's a step up.

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 nailed it in 2011 with great gameplay and all of it still stays relevant and fun five years removed. I wish more fighting games took heavy notes from this title and started to craft their own experience after it because this is how you make a fighting game.

At its core, Scott Pilgrim is still just an upgraded version River City Ransom, but its polish and sense of style aims to keep players engaged, nostalgic, and smiling. Never trying to do more than it sets out to do, the game offers a fine balance of presentation and gameplay mechanics.

The simplicity of Knights and Bikes lies within its need to revisit your childhood and remind you how much fun life can be, even when the storms are intense. It brings a great narrative to the table, throws some fun puzzles in the mix while delivering beautifully playful visuals that request you go on an adventure with a good friend. The game’s intentions of stupid fun might outweigh its execution, but it succeeds in capturing the imagination and delivering a fun experience that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

The charm of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker resides in the unique variety of levels built for the game, as well as the competent, yet simplistic gameplay design it delivers. Add a strong replay value to the mix and you have one of the best surprises to hit the Wii U this holiday season.

While I would have personally preferred the addition of three player support, or even extra stages or modes, Natsume and Project Tengo did a great job of resurrecting a classic for modern audiences and adding two new playable characters. Other cool features include a timer to encourage speed runs, with online leaderboard support, and being able to unlock the soundtracks from the original and the ’94 games. Beautiful sprite art and animation, and a nostalgic-inducing soundtrack add wonderfully to the experience as well.

Rabbids Go Home is a strong recovery for the Rabbids franchise, shying away from the mini game conglomerations we've been accustomed to and bringing an entirely new adventure to the table featuring these misunderstood creatures.

R&C: A4O almost delivers a great single player and multiplayer experience, but falls a little short. Neither mode is outstanding, but the multiplayer mode is a lot of fun (especially with local friends) and the single player mode is pretty cool on its own.

Entwined will put your brain to work and force you to think with both hands at the same time. It will challenge you to do better and keep you going, while at the same time relaxing your senses. It’s not perfect, but it’s engaging enough to warrant the time, money and effort.

While Dawnguard probably could have contained a bit more for its $20 price tag, most gamers who have dedicated months of their lives to playing this game will not be disappointed with their purchase. For the time being, I'm hooked again, and that means I'm probably going to have to go pay off my ridiculously high bounty in Whiterun.

I wanted a new distraction to pull me away from my dull adult responsibilities and force me to consider living on 5 hours of sleep. And NHL16 almost gets me there. For the majority of my time in game, I get lost in the flow crisp passes, smooth break outs and well crafted scoring opportunities. But I suddenly find myself escorted back to said world of dull adult responsibilities when my AI defenders gift wrap scoring chances for opposing attackers.

In all seriousness, MLB 10: The Show takes baseball fans somewhere they were dying to go and does it in such style. Everything about this game screams perfect, but it all depends on what type of baseball fan you are and how much patience you're willing to give.

Atelier Rororna should appeal to series fans and newcomers alike. Gust did a fine job with this game and it's well worth your consideration if you're in the market for a solid JRPG.

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is a work of surprising confidence. Combat that favors leveling up the player's, not that avatar's, skill set is worthy of admiration, as is a wildly imaginative, frenzied art department that never allows their beautiful work to overstay its welcome.

Child of Eden is a visually stunning game. Prepare to be immersed into a 3D world that you can control and protect - all with the power of multi-sensory gestures, using your hands.

Kingdom Two Crowns is not for those seeking out a traditional strategy or management game. It merely skirts the edges of the genre to present a unique vision of how this type of game may play out through a different perspective. Intense and difficult moments are often traded out for a serene blend of exploration and discovery. Though it has its pacing frustrations, those keen enough to go out of their comfort zone should find depth and satisfaction in Kingdom Two Crowns.

Overall, Indygo, while certainly nothing groundbreaking with mechanics, is a frightfully accurate portrayal of what happens in the mind of someone suffering from depression. The narrative is clearly more important than the game’s mechanics, and that shows at times, but the combination of mechanics, dialogue choice and acting help to push the message about how devastating depression can be for an individual suffering from it. Go and get this, folks. It’s a helluva experience.

Palia and its Elderwood Expansion from developer Singularity Six is a budding MMO with all sorts of green flags waving toward a long future. While the main quests may not catch your attention too hard, the customization, exploration, and new free Elderwood expansion will be enough to motivate you to give this a shot. It still has some growing pains, but right now, Palia is a solid game.

The intriguing storyline and fluidity of the game make it a good one to play.

Overall, Samurai Shodown is a fun release that brings back memories of a simpler time in the fighting genre where focus laid squarely on technique and gamer ease-of-use. The inclusion of a variety of modes helps to beef up the fighting content and offer up good challenges for those seeking them. All of this makes the experience more engaging and entertaining.

In sum, Ghostrunner on PS5 takes what was already a pretty compelling game and spruces it up just a very little bit. This is a short, narrowly-focused game that is built for speed — to that end, it does very well, but just know that going in and don’t expect a full-blown FPS-like experience. That in mind, I think you’ll appreciate what the devs were able to accomplish here.

Overall, Ghost Giant has been a fun experience for the PSVR. The characters are endearing as the story, the VR is very engaging and engulfing, and the simplicity of the controls helps to keep focus on the fun and side-experiences you happen upon. There’s a lot to love about this title.

In sum, Samurai Shodown is back and the release for the Xbox Series X does very well for itself. Though a little scant on content compared to some others in the genre, this is still a great game for fans of the franchise or the genre.

If you liked the game in one of its previous releases, you’ll like it here as well. If you didn’t, well, the portability of the Switch might help, but if not, there’s no reason to look at the Switch version any closer. Many would agree that this is one of the best open world RPGs in the last several years, so if you haven’t played it yet, this at least gives you another reminder to consider moving it to the top of your backlog.

As long as you know what your’e getting into with Ion Fury, there’s not a whole bad that I can say about it. There is some repetition and a little bit of button-hunting and I didn’t care for some of the raw simplicity of some of the bosses, but all in all, I had a great time. So I think it’s fair to say that with Ion Fury, you really get what you probably came for — an old school FPS experience with a few modern refinements that make it a standout game. That goes for both for genre newcomers as well as veterans looking for a blast of nostalgia. Plus, with the budget price of $25, it makes it very affordable.

At $20, Fatesworn offers a strong enough great to bland ratio for me to recommend. I thought the DLC felt a little formulaic, with a lot of boxes checked and not a lot of fresh creativity and inspiration, but, I adore Kingdoms of Amalur and was happy to dive into a new area with new content. Fatesworn will provide a solid ten hours, if not more, depending on the difficulty you’re playing on, your skill, and just how thorough you want to be. Given that you have to have completed the original (long) game to access this new content, Fatesworn is clearly for fans who enjoyed the original gameplay loop and want more of the same. If that’s you, like it was me, Fatesworn was worth the wait. Here’s hoping THQ Nordic keeps Amalur in their future plans.

Overall, if you liked Patapon 2 back in the day, you’re going to enjoy this release on the PlayStation 4. It doesn’t do anything particularly special other than giving you the game you might have loved in 2009 on a bigger screen.

Kitsune Tails is a charming 2D-platformer that I just adored playing. While it may have been more difficult than I had initially envisioned, completing the game to the end was worth it, if only to see Yuzu and her friends’ stories come to a close in a heartfelt way. Kitsune Games and MidBoss have given players a wealth of tools to create some cool levels and minigames, and I cannot wait to see what players create!

Clustertruck posits a world in which a mysterious force must fashionably break the will of a congregation of sentient eighteen-wheelers whom do not care if they live or die. This is exactly as fun as you think it is. A detectable absence of precision and available control may disappoint those hoping for a more air-tight platformer, but also this game is called "Clustertruck." It performs as advertised.

It's another solid addition to the PS3's library of JRPGs, and I recommend making an effort to check it out.

Overload is an ode to Descent and the fans who have longed for a true, modern successor. It delivers to those fans in spades as it reproduces the Descent experience fantastically well. There’s plenty to see and do even when you’ve completed the main game though the lack of a community to drive the multiplayer is a worry at this stage. Still, if you’re don’t care too much about online play and are a huge fan of Descent then Overload was made for you.

Darq isn’t the most difficult puzzle game out there, but it does excel in all uniqueness categories. Its greyscale art style adds to its overwhelmingly gothic vibe while providing puzzles that are difficult enough to force you to pause yet easy enough to solve. It’s definitely something to check out, even if you won’t be challenged to the fullest extent.

Simpler Times from developer stoneskip. is a short narrative with simple interactive moments holding up a melancholy adventure. The value of the game comes with the translated experience where the gameplay can mean different things to different gamers with varying perspectives from where they might be in their life. Its interpretive structure makes the gameplay and story far more meaningful than the minutes it takes to complete it all.