Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree, from developer Brownies, is a fabulous roguelike action game that brings more to the table than not. It features solid presentation and story, a great backend system that brings a heavy amount of strategy and fun, while hiccupping only with its enemy repetition.

MLB The Show 26 from developer San Diego Studio and publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment is a solid improvement from last year’s game, with more data inclusion, smoother career decision-making, and better backend gameplay refinements. While not a huge leap from the previous year, it’s still a good release with enough reason to consider it, especially if you’re a new player who doesn’t have last year’s game.

Strange Brigade gets much more right than it does wrong, and it proves the power of co-op yet again. Played alone, this game isn’t worth the time or effort due to the tedium. However, add in a friend or three, or at least some decent randos, and suddenly the game takes on a whole new feel and it instantly becomes a treat. It’s certainly not the first game to prove this phenomenon, but nevertheless, if you have some buddies to play with, keep Strange Brigade on your radar.

I’ve spent several hours playing Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S and I just love it. Barring the unnecessary complexities of its Skill Battles and attempting to learn its nuances, the additional modes and Versus setup makes for satisfying, frenetic, and highly replayable puzzle gameplay. It’s an excellent game to take on the road and play with friends.

LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham is initially the same type of gameplay that you know from the previous LEGO titles, but with a little bit more freedom and flavor added in to separate it. If you loved previous LEGO titles, especially the most recent LEGO Batman titles, then you’re going to enjoy this one.

While MSH2 does not innovate, it does, other than some glitching and sketchy design decisions, provide another fun LEGO romp that’s best enjoyed in local co-op.

Although the series’s core gameplay is action-adventure, it offers much more than that. You progress through levels and different parts of the world, and they are quite challenging with no guidance provided. Tomb Raider is a game that requires a lot of trial and error, so it’s always a good idea to save your progress frequently. Numerous traps in the game can catch you off guard, such as rolling boulders, spike pits, and even a T-Rex lurking around the corner. If we view the trilogy through a modern lens, we can see that it has the same level of difficulty as a Soulsborne game, while also featuring a Metroidvania-style design.

Akka Arrh is a fascinating game that finally gets a proper release after forty years. The gameplay is fast, addictive, and embodies everything great about an 80s arcade experience.

Rise of Iron is a rather fitting end for Destiny and is worth the purchase for those who've followed the game thus far. The changes made by Bungie over the course of its lifespan have made the game a much more fun place to be. There are still the old drawbacks of the grind for gear but given that it's something so integral to the game it's not surprising this hasn't changed.

This is a really good game that would be a nice compliment to any shooter fan's library. And for 1200 MS Points, it's hard to argue the price.

Dead Island 2 often is nothing more than a game where players use ridiculously customized weapons to ravage zombies in increasingly gruesome ways. It’s comically satisfying how good it feels to tear through hordes of the undead–and it looks absurdly vile. It may not be a diamond forged over time, yet it’s hard to deny the fun to be had tearing it up in Hell-A. But does the idea of doing that hour after hour with small amount of variety sound appealing? If not then, Dead Island 2 won’t lure you in.

Despite the few gripes, I had a fun time playing this game. WWE 2K16 brings a bigger roster, more creative options for gamers, a revamped career mode that is mostly good and a bevy of other improvements to make the experience worth it. It’s a nice step up from last year’s game.

A textbook, solid tennis sim from EA Sports that is accessible yet about as deep as you want it to be.

At $16, Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy is fairly priced and offers a lot of quality content for the puzzler in you. Personally, while I am enjoying my time with the game, I will be looking forward to the 3DS release instead, primarily out of personal preference more than anything. However, if you do not have a 3DS, this latest Layton adventure is a top quality app that shouldn’t disappoint.

The Eternal Castle is obsessed with the idea of feeling like a game pulled from either the late 80’s or early 90’s. It compiles successful hallmarks of that time in gaming and culture and rewrites them as an ode to a highly specific time and place in the minds of its creators. It’s more fun romanticize history than perfectly recall history, which is a method of operation that only really works in entertainment. The Eternal Castle is a remaster of everything and also nothing, and it’s immensely successful from either perspective.

While the difficulty may seem like a bad thing to have, it is as much a reason not to play these types of games as it is a reason to play these games. If you seek a challenge with a simple story, rather fun combos and some tough bosses, The Surge should be your next stop! Maybe wait for a price drop, though.

Far Cry 6 strikes me as the apex of the series, mechanically, structurally, and narratively. Far Cry has gone through its fair share of growing pains since Far Cry 3 became the de facto standard. Yet all roads, rocky or otherwise, have led to this point. Crazed villains, bombastic mayhem, and open freedom have been polished to their highest sheen. What’s presented is a dramatic piece of open world escapism, rife with possibility. Players can become decorated contract killers, loosing the bonds of an oppressive regime with any amount of chaotic bloodshed, engage in aimless side quests, or paint the world red with friends. The massive scope of Yara provides a playground of opportunity for engagement, transforming Far Cry 6 into the best yet, a date with destruction.

NASCAR ‘25 is a game that fans of the sport will honestly enjoy. It fills a void that has been left open for years and allows them to be able to finally ‘scratch that itch’. It’s not something that will blow other racing games out of the water, but if iRacing Studios is going to try and possibly turn this into a yearly franchise, then this is the perfect foundation to start building upon.

Birds of Steel had real potential. It had the visuals, the historical missions and the online co-op and head-to-head action. The controls pretty much ruined the experience. A little bit more work on those and this game is up there with the IL-2's of the world.

Disney Epic Mickey is an exercise in patience and nostalgia, dominated by bizarre mutations of familiar (and obscure) Disney properties, but polluted by a terrible camera and hollow fetch quests.

Close Quarter is a wonderful addition to the BF3 DLC family. It brings a new aspect to the BF3 model and it provides a more fast-paced, high-sensation experience. Like I said at the beginning, snipers need not apply.

Overall, SNK Gals’ Fighters is good, even for a game from a failed system back in 2000. It is progressive in its gameplay design and a fun fighter for a two-button control scheme. It needed to be translated fully onto a Nintendo Switch screen, but it’s manageable with the screen options the game provides you.

Sonic Superstars has shaped up to be a Sonic game that is reminiscent of the Genesis days yet futureproofed for newer players to enjoy. It’s in no way a perfect Sonic game, but it’s a fantastic reinvigoration of some of the best facets of the Sonic series thus far.

As it stands, Star Ocean First Departure R is a great RPG that needed a bit more love on the presentation side of things. It certainly deserved it.

ooka-Laylee’s full use of the color spectrum, Grant Kirkhope, David Wise, and Steve Burke’s endearing score, and its relentless positivity are boons to its medium. It’s also firmly disinterested in twenty years of forward progress, doubling as a paean to Banjo’s banal challenges, mushy control, and distressing tedium. It’s tough to feel bitter—Playtonic delivered what was promised—it’s just awfully easy to feel chafed and bored, too.

Iron Man and Tony Stark are conduits of chaos. Virtual reality is a medium that demands comfort and sophistication. Iron Man VR attempts control of both worlds, combining Iron Man’s breakneck speed and giddying repulsors with the crafted elegance of a maturing medium. The product is a confident and convincing presentation of Iron Man, albeit one that feels limited by its budget and hardware.

DragonBall Z: Kakarot isn’t necessarily trying to reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t have to. After years of adding more and more “new” lore to the canon, it’s nice to take a trip down memory lane and re-experience the characters and story that makes DragonBall so special. While the open world isn’t necessarily the most engaging aspect of the game, the combat is epic and the characters are always entertaining. Simply put DragonBall Z: Kakarot is fun and is sure to please new and old fans alike.

Star Trucker from developer Monster & Monster and publisher Raw Fury is a solid game and a fun concept. It does enough to keep you in a space truck’s cockpit with its skills tree, challenging hauls, and push to keep exploring space and its vastness. It certainly has some fixable shortcomings but has more positive than negative.

Madden's debut release onto next-gen is impressive and a solid first step.

Skylanders Battlecast is probably one of the more entertaining turn-based card games that I’ve played. It's quick, addictive and strategic fun.

Nidhogg 2 is the madhouse on top of Nidhogg's foundation. Formidable swords and a low-fi aesthetic are swapped for a gleeful array of sharp objects and a ridiculous style that embraces the 90's grossest toys. Nidhogg's singular focus isn't lost or diluted, it's amplified with a jubilant response to skill and spontaneity.

Verne: The Shape of Fantasy from developer Gametopia is a fascinating adventure that uses a classic author within their own classic tale to push a good story while supported by beautiful visuals and sounds that harken back to 90s-style gameplay. That gameplay works for the most part, though some more direction with puzzles and a more balanced story could have worked a few more wonders for the overall gaming experience.

A strong game in many respects, but also lacking in a few key areas to put it over the top.

Dante's Inferno is a captivating fight through Hell that any action gamer should partake in. Highly recommended.

Tt Games did a wonderful job with bringing the world of Harry Potter to life through the LEGO Harry Potter Collection and remastering the experience onto the PlayStation 4. The games certainly show their age, but they’re still a blast, especially if you’re a Harry Potter fanatic.

The gameplay loop can be repetitive but is able to be consumed in such small morsels that one may enjoy picking up Garden Story every day just to get a small fix. There’s a lot of promise here in terms of a sequel but in the next go round, I think a bit of editing might be beneficial. As much of an embarrassment of riches Garden Story may seem, it can be a lot to take in for such a compact adventure.

The game takes current generation consoles to a new level with visuals, even setting some graphical benchmarks for online play, but it drags it down in sustainable substance that is required to keep a game going beyond a two month mark of the release.

Astronaut: The Best from developer Universal Happymaker is a challenging game that brings so many layers of complication that it can be overwhelming as much as satisfying. The difficulty might catch some gamers off guard, but the humor helps keep the ship together and create a fun experience.

One of the more exciting and worth-your-money HD Collections available to date.

Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 is a concise, focused sniping experience that packs a good punch at just $40. With lots of long range shots, fun gadgets, and good mission design, it’s an easy recommend if you’re looking for a summer sniping romp.

It's too easy to see where Anarchy Reigns could have been better. Games are made within a budget and Anarchy Reigns' surely wasn't much, but you have to admire the purity of its intentions. In a perfect world it would have a Call of Duty 2-like impact and birthed refined successors, but as it stands Anarchy Reigns is an enjoyable oddity pleading for an elegant sequel.

Overall, Sakura Wars is a solid game that delivers in a lot of areas, story and dialogue choices to give your players control of their fate, and falls a little short in others, especially action/mech. There is far more positive than negative and I think the re-tooling and reboot of the series might gain more fans than lose them.

It's easy to admire and fun to play - for a fleeting thirty minutes. Subjective intangibles make the most of its run time, but a scattered definition of value makes Karateka a tough call for the uninformed or uninterested.

Two amazing classics in one well-priced and convenient release that I'm happy to recommend to series newcomers and veterans who want to revisit these gems on the go.

Metallic Child doesn’t really suffer from anything aside from its lengthy dungeon crawls. Even then, the frenetic melee combat and constantly shifting nature of its core mechanic provide many avenues for players to maximize their time. Compact rooms mean that challenges are never too difficult and can be cleared rapidly. Mostly, though, I was surprised by the game’s charming take on narrative perspective and the colorful worlds that really popped on the Nintendo Switch. It might not be the most traditional spin on a roguelike but Metallic Child offers enough action and bosses to entertain you for quite some time.

Certain Affinity took few risks in constructing a bare bones, workman like hack 'n slash and left experimentation to its pricing structure. Whether that was their call or Microsoft's isn't likely to be known, but it's definitely rendered Crimson Alliance an afterthought, or something to play if you've completely exhausted Torchlight and need something else in the console space.

In the end, House of Ashes doesn’t offer a new unique tale that I found with Little Hope or Man of Medan. I did enjoy my time playing through another The Dark Pictures Anthology tale, but it hasn’t left an impact on me as a player as Little Hope did. Choices often felt inconsequential, and few and far between. Character development for all of the characters outside of Salim was underwhelming and disappointing, even though the backdrop of the Iraq War in 2003 was ripe for compelling character development.

Depending on what you’re looking for in your next third person stealth game, Styx may fit the bill. It gets a lot right and is a noticeable improvement from the first game, which itself was pretty good to begin with. It may not carry the history or prestige of some of stealth’s bigger franchises, but if you like the genre at all, Cyanide Studios’ latest effort deserves your attention.

Haven presents a lush alien world, one rife with resource gathering and loaded with turn-based combat, as a suitable venue for its forbidden love story. Such an unorthodox collection of disparate elements may have had trouble connecting if not held together by widely relatable and sharply written interpersonal dialogue. It’s an assembly that allows its pair protagonists to thrive inside moments of tedium, suggesting a story worth telling takes precedent over action not always worth doing.

I suppose if you're tired of Majesty 1 and want some more of the same action pick up Majesty 2. It should give you hours worth of game play.

Change can be good, and I think that's what Unbounded was out to prove for the Ridge Racer franchise. It largely succeeds, offering an experience with elements that action and arcade racers are going to find accessible and enjoyable, while also offering engaging drift mechanics and a cool multiplayer mode built largely upon UGC.

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.

Dancing in Starlight is a heedless trip back to the Persona buffet for seconds thirds fourths. You wanted more Persona 5? You got it. Chew the fat. Pretend the calories aren’t empty. Pray you won’t get sick. Somehow, despite the intemperance, I still feel fine.

In sum, Lamplight City is a bit of a departure from a typical point and click adventure, but it more than holds its own. While a little bit light in terms of gameplay and difficulty, it’s well compensated for with good characters, stories, multiple endings per mystery, and a fine presentation. Any fan of the genre or a good mystery should give this a serious look.

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.

If you never got around to playing the original on the Wii, or are just looking for an interesting, although flawed, game from the strange mind of Suda51, you can't go wrong with Heroes' Paradise.

House of Wolves adds many of the tools that Destiny needs to be successful in the long term. It gives players more content than ever, while still keeping old content relevant. It strikes a new balance between PVE and PVP end-game activities. But at the end of the day, this is still Destiny—and Destiny is nothing if not polarizing.

An impressive follow-up to 2010's Lords of Shadow that you shouldn't miss.

Dead Rising 4 won’t win any awards nor is it the best of the series, that for me is still the Dead Rising 1, however, it’s a strong entry and worthy of your time. I mean putting comedy heads on zombies will never, repeat never, get old!

Mahokenshi is a fun game. It contains a healthy amount of tabletop strategy, an addictive deck-building component, and a dash of RPG elements to keep some motivation going. Its gameplay is challenging and brutal at times but in the end, it works more than it doesn’t.

The Be a Pro mode is enough of a reason to pick this up. While it holds up some similarities to NHL 20, there is enough to go into the rink, lace up your skates, and hit the ice.

An instant classic in the point and click genre that plays great on the PS4 and goes highly recommended.

Remember Me appropriately and effectively creates a functioning futuristic society that treats memories like we treat oil. This is admittedly preposterous and shouldn't work, but Dontnod’s art direction sells their fiction with confidence and creates an engrossing world begging for (and happy to provide) rampant absorption.

Only Final Fantasy could get away with the paradox of a clean slate that simultaneously references countless tropes endemic to its name. Type-0 HD can feel like the tortuous result of hasty assembly, but if allowed the time and energy to piece itself together, it stands as clear and original as others bearing its exalted title

Origins is a fun excursion into the not-so distant past.

Legend of Mana is a beautiful game full of wonder and whimsy. Every time I hopped into this gorgeous remaster, I found myself grinning from ear to ear. Though I do not have experience with the original Legend of Mana, I feel fans will be quite happy with the work put into this remaster.

Perhaps not as deep and full featured as some previous Anno games, 2205 will nonetheless scratch the itch for most city builder players, whether they're new to the series or returning.

Ultimately, Block N Load is a ….load of fun (I’m sorry) and will be seeing a lot more playtime on my part moving forward. A highly strategic game that allows you a lot of freedom in what that strategy is. The team with the most innovative plan will likely be the winner, and that key element of innovation can come from anyone and any class.

Leo's Fortune assumes an identity behind the blasé eyes of its protagonist. Leo's the kind of dude who's seen it all before, a sentiment sure to be shared by any seasoned platformer enthusiast. Still, it's an inoffensive way to kill a couple hours on a Saturday, assuming ambition doesn't get the better of you first.

Inside Line is another solid offering from Eutechnyx. The good foundation laid with 2011 translates to this title, and the same great core gameplay mechanics are back. Improvements to the Career mode are the biggest contribution to the series, and helps make this a decent step forward.

Karma: The Dark World is a rare game that offers stark familiarity but challenges the concept of normalization. Its mechanical trappings keep it grounded and mildly rote. But it is horror with minimal jump scares. Techno-thriller via existential dreams. Disparate elements made tenuously coherent. Beyond any critique, however, Pollard Studio, with their debut, have made a game with truly stunning visual direction that only the most seasoned directors have achieved.

Overall, Cars 3: Driven to Win is a surprising treat. It has beautiful visuals mixed in with impressive gameplay design underneath the hood. It’s not going to replace your Mario Karts of the world, but it certainly will keep you entertained, especially if you have young gamers in the household.

Phoenix Springs is not a transformative point-and-click adventure game. While it offers a unique “inventory” mechanic, its ebb and flow are still dictated by the whims of the player’s propensity for thinking outside literal and figurative boxes and a developer who crafts the solutions within. Though it may frustrate those who approach it casually, a stellar visual palette may offer enough enticement to look up solutions online as a lubricant towards progressing the narrative. Deep within its recesses, Phoenix Springs is beautiful and perplexing but to many it will always be a mystery.

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

Hitman GO is a great game that is a perfectly comfortable and enjoyable VR experience. At $10, it's an excellent value, especially if you haven't played the game before.

RoboCop: Rogue City is a worthy successor to Verhoeven’s 1987 masterpiece. There is no question that developer Teyon shot for the moon and hit the landing many times. The game may be technically rusty at times but it always surpasses those hindrances with exceptional, powerful gunplay that hearkens back to the best classic shooters. Executing on RoboCop‘s stark dystopian vision, Rogue City is violent, comic, and definitely serves the public trust.

The Blackout Club manages to wedge itself into a crowded cooperative space with the use of clever tricks and an approachable atmosphere. But unless the developers build off this initial offering with new content to slice through repetition, it will soon get lost in the dark.

The Hangman gets Cognition off to a promising start despite a few design and technical flaws. Genre aficionados should take note.

While Team Sonic Racing makes a statement with its collaborative squads of racers, its identity is lost in the amorphous complexion of a conventional kart racer. Worse, its gorgeous locales and myriad customization options aren't quite enough to support a despairing imbalance between luck and skill. Silver the Hedgehog's presence is one of many indications Team Sonic Racing is burdened with deadweight and light on inspiration.

This is a nice DLC pack to finish out this standout game from over a year ago. If you didn't like the game to begin with, nothing in this DLC will change that. On the same token, if you enjoy Borderlands, this game may feel a bit too familiar, but it's enjoyable nevertheless.

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris has its limitations due to the dungeon crawling style of the game, especially in the presentation department. However, it does a great job with bringing some fun puzzle solving, competent enemies and level design, as well as a strong leveling system that motivates the gamer to keep going.

A dungeon-crawler that contains an addictive card game element as the crux of its gameplay design while making the experience as easy as possible for the player to stay focused on creative elements of the game.

Overall, Bandai Namco Entertainment’s Namco Museum for the Nintendo Switch is a well thought through collection that touches the older gamers’ heartstrings and those 90s/2000s gamers who believe they grew up in the best video game times. In other words, it’s got a bit of everything, nearly all good, for every type of gamer out there. It’s a welcomed addition to the Nintendo Switch.

What Killzone Shadow Fall Intercept lacks in maps and level design, it makes up with strong, team oriented gameplay and a deep points/reward system that keeps you going. Intercept certainly renews the excitement of owning Killzone Shadow Fall.

Outriders Worldslayer is a considerable upgrade from the original release. The introduction of a new tier, tree, and a more balanced gameplay design helps to make the case for more content down the road. It certainly feels like it’s on the right path to perfection, but still struggling in some minor areas.

Like Guy Ritchie’s Snatch, Sunday Gold is criminally underrated for MANY reasons. Outside of its gritty and gruesome portrayals of a dystopian London, it executes a well-blended mix of RPG and point-and-click adventures. The great voice acting, sleek comic-book aesthetic, and grungy music offer players a neat and unique package that’s not only worth a try, but worth completing. I can understand that some may not be down for point-and-click gameplay, but please–give it a shot. You won’t regret it.

I could go on and on about this game, but just know that games like Sea of Solitude are important. It personifies Kay’s journey with mental health issues, and brings to light different types of situations that people suffering from MHI might encounter. It also brings with it perspective that some people absolutely need should they know someone going through MHI and potentially a starting point when it comes to getting help for that individual.

TOHU reminded me of a lot of games that I played as a child, from the point and click design to the mini-game layout, I found myself feeling a bit nostalgic. This game is quite delightful if you don’t mind going at a slower pace and you have the patience to figure out some pretty difficult puzzles. I found myself enjoying the problem-solving aspect and wanting to play more.

The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition is the quintessential The Outer Worlds experience that I’ve wanted all along for my PS5. With the immense graphical upgrades, Halcyon and the rest of the galaxy look better than ever and visually immerse players in stunning spacescapes while you attempt to navigate a universe that’s effectively ruled by corporate overlords. For new players who are also PS5 owners, the Spacer’s Choice Edition is a no-brainer given the additional QoL upgrades and the DLC packaged together. However, those who’ve faithfully done their time in supporting Obsidian and Private Division’s franchise from the get go may feel like they’ve been left in the space dust because of the lack of cross-generation save transfers.

The Last Faith is a grueling metroidvania, leaning into pinnacle souls-like gameplay elements that reward exploration, precision, and patience. Its combat may be simple and fun, but the challenge of mastering its traversal may be too much to handle. Its gorgeous visuals might not be distinct enough to separate itself from the pack of its predecessors, but it’s a great start for those wanting to test the waters of the souls genre.

Ground Divers! is an interesting specimen, albeit one that looks much better than it ends up playing. On one hand, being a spectator and plotting out mining paths may be an adult’s dream of a nuanced Dig Dug. On the other hand, the grindiness of replaying levels and creating gacha-esque weapons with random perks can detract from a strategic experience. The world of Ground Divers! is a charming (but desolate) one, sure, but I want so much more from this game. Should you take the plunge and try your hand at Ground Divers!, I recommend playing in short bursts to avoid burning out on the grind.

Directive 8020 is not without a handful of recognizable flaws and quirks that have been present in Supermassive Games’ horror titles for a decade. But the shift into science fiction is one of the many necessary changes to the formula. By toying with player expectations, this involved, character-driven horror fest emerges as one of the strongest entries in the Dark Pictures Anthology, laying the ground for a potentially enthralling Season Two.

NBA Live 18 is a real positive step forward for the series. The extra time EA gave Tiburon to make things better paid off. You get a solid experience with a good amount of modes that will keep you glued. The skills tree alone will keep you going in the game. The controls of the game are the only downer of the release, and it’s not all the controls, as they need some tightening and tweaking. Controls aside, NBA Live 18 is better than expected and shouldn’t be overlooked.

When allowed composure, Mirror's Edge Catalyst becomes the colossal free running daydream that never seemed tenable. When pushed into conflict, either with its own systems or the demand of "content" in 2016, Mirror's Edge feels anxious and frenzied. Separating wondrous substance from obliged distractions isn't a distinction the game is capable of making, leaving gratification to the will of the player.

Overall, Skylanders Imaginators on the Switch is a solid game and as good place to jump into the franchise as any if you haven’t to this point. That said, the only real advantage to the Switch version over say the PS4 or Xbox One version is the portability, but even that might not be that important to you. Additionally, the PS4 or Xbox One versions are cheaper than this release, and both of those offer a higher fidelity presentation. Still, if you’re looking for a fun, kid-to-adult friendly game, Skylanders is an excellent choice.

Let It Die's gameplay is simplistic. It does add some crafting and decision-making as you progress in the game, but ultimately you’re in for a button-mashing method of gaming that is sickly addictive, even through its obvious flaws. It’s fun, frustrating and makes you want to come back for more, if not only to prove you’re capable.

In brief, it’s great that THQ Nordic revitalized this classic. I appreciate the presentation boosts, and the under the hood changes to leveling and difficulty. I would have liked to have seen shorter load times and a revised inventory management system so that players can more easily avoid spending so much time in their inventory, but these are things that could very well be addressed with patching. Those two gripes aside, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is an awesome game and a wonderful experience to sink into.

Having the ability to play arguably three of the best games in the Assassin’s Creed universe on a current generation console is brilliant, although don’t expect much of a significant impact in terms of upgrades for gameplay or visuals. Improved upon? Yes. Reinvented and completely remastered? Not really. Still worth the money, though.