Rocket Knight is a solid revival of a classic Genesis franchise, but it suffers from a tragically short lifespan and high price tag.

It's an unexpected dichotomy—tranquility isn't the sort of evocation expected of extremely topical police-state paranoia—but one that Neon Struct dispenses with plausible seeds of insurrection. Colorful symmetry is the expected outcome, but Neon Struct surprises with plenty of shades of grey, too.

The Red Star is a fine game, and should be played by fans of the brawler and SHMUP genres. Whether you dig up a PS2 version or get this one on PSP, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Mystery of Mooil Rig continues Sunset Overdrive's maelstrom of colorful and chaotic action. As far as downloadable content goes, Mystery of Mooil Rig is wholly traditional - but when it's applied to a game as whimsically defiant as Sunset Overdrive, it's tough to complain.

While Disney Universe can't really come close to LittleBigPlanet in terms of scope or gameplay options, there's enough fun here to keep any Disney fanatic entertained. Simple controls, plenty of levels and challenges will make this fun for younger gamers in any household.

Overall, this is a fun game. Upgrading your Arsenal and gaining new weapons and equipment to fight enemies feels very rewarding, especially when fighting the bosses. If you can get past the cheesy dialogue and fighting endless waves of common enemies, you will enjoy this game and all it has to offer.

In single player, it gets repetitive in a hurry, but with friends, it's a blast. I wouldn't recommend this game for purchase unless you're sure you can line up some co-op.

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

Defiance is far from perfect. But it gets enough stuff right, that fans of action RPGs should find solace and have a really good time on this sci-fi excursion.

Square Enix and HexaDrive sought to introduce fresh mechanics to set The 3rd Birthday apart from its peers, but they forgot to center a cohesive game around their collection of neat ideas. Much like its protagonist, too often The 3rd Birthday is caught with its pants down.

Hardcore Skylanders fans will want to take a serious look at the unique differences, both good and bad, that the 3DS version of SWAP Force offers. If your interest in SWAP Force is more casual, and you don't have the need to play on the go, it's nigh impossible to recommend picking up the 3DS version over the console one.

At the end of the day, SS4 is what it sets out to be — a racous, over the top, arcade FPS that is best played with up to three friends. If that’s the kind of game you’re looking for, it’s very easy to recommend it. With a launch price of $40, it’s a lot more feasible to get some friends to buy in as well than if the price were $60, so keep that in mind, too.

A significant amount of new content and a new home on the Vita makes the Plus version of one of the best Atelier games a compelling release for Atelier fans as they await the next release from Gust.

Gaming has a long standing tradition of making what is (ostensibly) one person's job into another person's preferred means of escape and relaxation. BigFest's approach to multitasking your way into and out of resources isn't especially unique, but its application to the riotous music festival scene is a welcomed novelty.

Labyrinth Legends' ambition doesn't go far beyond its modest plot line. Save the princess, bash some bad guys, and solve a few puzzles along the way. It's disposable, sure, but that doesn't stop Labyrinth Legends from being enjoyable while it lasts.

Any Naruto or anyone just looking for a good button mashing brawler with RPG elements needs to take a strong look at Akatsuki Rising.

Mario Party 10 is pretty to look at and it has some interesting modes (like the Bowser mode) to play, but the overall amount of content is a tad bit on the shallow side. The way that player management and competition is handled falls short of Mario Party expectations.

If you're into classic RPGs and/or don't mind stepping back into some randomized battles, the game is well worth the price of $29.99. Otherwise, look for a more modern RPG.

Back to Bed is a visual upgrade from its mobile brethren, but it still maintains the quick, casual fun that the mobile side sported. If you like a decent puzzle game, this might be worth looking at on the PlayStation 4.

The Wii U version of Sniper Elite V2 misses the mark and is inferior to the game on other platforms.

Unto the Evil is a bit expensive, but offers some pretty good additional content for the multiplayer component of DOOM. If you're a fan of that, Unto the Evil is required to keep pace with the community, but otherwise it may be best to save your efforts for the next DLC which should cater to the more popular campaign mode.

Namco Bandai did some really good things with Galaga Legions DX. They maintained the integrity of the original game and added some fun elements, including the ability to freely move anywhere onscreen, to make the experience exciting. I wouldn't choose this over Pac-Man Championship Edition DX, but it's still mindless fun if you need an updated classic arcade shooter.

As a first foray into SMT games, Devil Survivor 2 was both inviting and discouraging. I liked the premise, in that it kind of reminded me of my favorite DS game, 9-9-9, and I also like dialogue sequences that mean something. On the other hand, the slow-paced, harsh difficulty made this one tough to stick with and easy to put down. Naturally, fans of the genre and SMT games are going to get better mileage than I have, and while I may have my reservations about the game, I'm able to respect and appreciate its quality.

Resident Evil 6 for the PC is a step up in terms of content and visuals, but a considerable leap down in terms of controls. Give me the console version over this one any day of the week.

It goes without saying, but Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 is still just a Naruto game. Full of loose, yet accessible mechanics, the game is a love letter to Naruto fans that seems to forget that it needs to complete its sentences to get its point across.

Band Hero DS is a nice addition to any music lover's library of games.

The lengths to which Burial at Sea: Episode 2 goes to distance its gameplay from BioShock Infinite's blueprint is outmatched by the indulgent spectacle of its writhing narrative - a risk not fully conscious of its consequences. Through success, failure, and to simply admire the sunset of a generation, the conclusion of Burial at Sea remains a worthwhile experience.

DDR Hottest Party 3 is another solid entry into the long running DDR series.

A heart of gold surrounded by endless color makes it all easier to swallow, but you're left wondering what could have been had The Last Tinker's gameplay come on as strong as its presentation.

The Descent is a good addition to the Dragon Age: Inquisition family. It has great atmosphere, wonderful level design and motivates the player to explore the Deep Roads a bit. It does get repetitive in the enemy department, and brutal at times in terms of difficulty, though the rewards help to ease the pain a bit.

Overall I enjoyed my time with Project X Zone 2. As a first time player of the series, there was a lot I liked about the core combat mechanics and even some of the story elements. However, I felt as if the game relied too much on players’ previous knowledge of the series’ story, and often felt lost when references were made throughout.

Overall, RIDE 4 was my first attempt at getting my toes wet for motorcycles both in general and racing wise. While excited going into this new world, I found myself uninterested and not entertained. Most racing games really bring me in and keep me there technically. As someone who works with their hands a lot and wants to know how things work/make them go faster, racing games really get me going. Herewith RIDE 4, I didn’t really fill that. It felt lackluster and just kind of plain.

It was nice to play through a new story with new characters, even if the story design was somewhat familiar and the outcome (essentially the same despite which ending you choose) was fairly predictable. Solid voice-acting, good writing, and pretty graphics (nothing show-stopping, but they’re good) make for a nice presentation package on top of an alright game. If you’re looking for a more casual, story and character driven game to play this holiday, Call of the Sea is worth considering.

There is some frustration with Cling!, but there is a lot more charm and value in the title as well. Give it a go and see what you think.

RPG fans should make it a point to play this sleeper gem. While certainly not perfect, it's quite good and I think it's safe to say it's one of the best RPGs on the platform to date.

One would have expected a gentle tragedy out of Gotham City Imposters, not unlike the way its collection of wacky gadgets would perform against actual assault rifles. In practice, however, it's those same silly toys that boost Gotham City Imposters out of copycat land and into a neat realm all its own. If you want a bit of humor and subtle creativity injected into your competitive first person shooting, and don't mind its inherent familiarity, look no further.

A solid entry to the 3DS' eShop, Fractured Soul offers plenty of challenging action platforming gameplay for a fair price.

As far as presentation, my only complaint is that Buzz talks too much and repeats himself far too often. Outside of that, the rest of the audio presentation is fine, the graphics are good, and the load times are great. So while you won't find the flashy presentation of the PS3 version, you certainly will find a very competent, functional, and good presentation here.

Sometimes despite itself, AoT3 proves that a fun co-op experience can go a long away in masking flaws.

With just a little more time in the cooker, Fade to Silence could have fleshed out these mechanics. This is the kind of game that thrives off an expanded scope. The vision for this unique world is there and, for the most part, it delivers.

Ultimately, I think Codemasters has got a lot of great ideas and gameplay elements in OFDR, but it just needed more time. There are too many rough edges here to make this easy to recommend to everyone.

A Machine For Pigs may not appease fans of The Dark Descent, but it does offer a compelling entry into the genre, even if it's inferior to its predecessor.

Ion Assault is worth a look if you are a fan of the genre or space arcade shooters in general. It combines two well established formulas and adds some extra mechanics to make a rather interesting game. It's fun, challenging, and often frustrating.

Raging Blast has a lot going for it with 70 playable characters, lots of modes, online play, and a nice presentation. The camera and controls remain the most concerning part of the package, but for any average Dragon Ball or avid fighting fan, it's well worth a look.

Stupid fun, though not particularly groundbreaking. It will certainly entertain those in need of a quick gaming fix, but won’t replace Diablo in your library any time soon.

It is what it is — a reasonably priced spin-off of the series that is not bad, it’s just limited in its scope and replay value, though your mileage may vary greatly depending on who you have to co-op with.

Overall, this is a game that is made for its fans and crowd. It’s beautifully made, the control scheme is really good, and the story is honestly a really intriguing one for me. I just couldn’t get past the idea of ‘farming’ things and trying to manage people while being strategic. Granted I’m not the best at these types of games, but still. It felt super hard to figure out which way to start.

Kingdom Rush Origins from Ironhide Game Studio is a step up with creativity, enemy, and hero design/execution, and with how clever the series’ maps can get. Unfortunately, the difficulty has also stepped up and can create a frustrating time that may hurt the positive parts of this latest Kingdom Rush game.

Mamorukun Curse! is a simple shooter that is insanely difficult to master. This game isn't for everyone, but for those gamers up for the challenge, they'll find a lot of fun in this title.

Starpoint Gemini 2 is a standard space sim, with some cool features.

Labyrinth of the Demon King from developer J.R. Hudepohl harkens back to a simpler survival horror time and recreates most of the right elements that reflect that era and genre. While it’s strong in story, atmosphere, and creepiness, it falls short with its mechanics.

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged is a trip of childhood nostalgia for kids who grew up wanting to slam on the gas and experience speed, but are five years old and can’t reach the pedals. If you’re looking to try and live out that experience then this will do you well, but if you’re someone who played the first and is looking to see what’s up with the newest edition, you might fall flat at the starting line.

While not perfect and not compelling in some areas, Star Wars: Trench Run brings the goods like no other iPhone app does. It's fun, it's quick and it's cheap.

While Dragon's Crown remains the most refined and candid of Vanillaware's neo brawlers, it's absent of the range of improvements and adjustments that marked Odin Sphere Leifthrasir's transition to modern hardware. Dragon's Crown Pro is Dragon's Crown on the PlayStation 4 and it has no interest in being anything else.

Dark Auction positions itself as a visual novel with one of the more intriguing premises tackled in the genre. Players comfortable with a rather straightforward pace and lack of challenge will likely enjoy the ride and some of the strange twists in store.

Everything about this game is so straightforward, that my final thoughts will be as well. This is a solid port of an old game. It does exactly what it set out to do and does it well. If you like fighting games, you can’t find a better bang for your buck in this price range. Fairly priced, designed, and realized. This game is a really solid experience, and one I imagine will be elevated for anyone who looks back on this game with any nostalgia.

You get the feeling Datura's elusive narrative and moral ambiguity was intended to be the subject of rampant speculation. If only it were complimented by proper tactile feedback, or if the whole detached hand mechanism managed a legitimate grasp of Datura's nebulous constructs, we'd be talking more about Datura as a great game and less as an atrophied experience.

Citizens of Earth is ultimately a victory, but not without a few conspicuous bruises.

Windjammers is a solid game that is dumb arcade fun from the 90s. While it certainly has some arcade charm to it through its intense gameplay, it isn’t meant for long periods of play, which might be a turn-off for some gamers.

EyePet & Friends still needs tweaking on the technological side of the game. If you can move past those frustrations then you'll find a very cute, customizable and affordable game for the younger gamers in the household.

Doomsday Vault from Flightless is a pleasant puzzle game that will keep your attention in short stints. Its simplicity will keep your interest, while its flexibility to come and go will keep the experience casual.

If Guacamelee was a celebration riot through metroidvania, its sequel feels closer to an orderly parade across the same space. Guacamelee! 2 is a warm, expertly designed, devilishly preposterous, and, ultimately, safe return to its Mexiverse.

Weird Beluga attempted to merge two distinct genres of game with Clid the Snail: top-down shooter and narrative. Although they succeeded on the worldbuilding and narrative front, the gunplay feels unforgiving, repetitive, and frustrating. I can’t sleight them for trying something new, as I generally enjoyed Clid’s grimy world, but I really did want more. I can’t wait to see where Weird Beluga go, as Clid is a good start for hopefully something better in the future.

It’s still a solid experience but it could use some expansion or improvement, which if a sequel is ever created, Triangle Studios surely has the opportunity to address.

FOAMSTARS from Square Enix is an interesting competitive game that borrows its surface-level gameplay concept from Splatoon while offering deeper and more intriguing gameplay underneath led by solid upgrade and buff systems. Unfortunately, the lack of meaningful solo missions does hurt the game, as it feels like half a game made it to launch.

The delicate and skilled operation of a high performance vehicle projects Gran Turismo Sport's utopian vision. Its factitious structure and inattentive principles remind the player that it operates in an unstable reality. Gran Turismo Sport lives in a world of sportsmanship and prestige and doesn't much care if would-be residents find its narrow paradise aloof and inhospitable.

River City Saga: Three Kingdoms is an interesting and fun direction to take the characters and series. It has so many pieces that work but is hampered by inaccurate controls that cause frustration. If you can live with those controls, then you’ll find a fun game underneath that had a lot of thought and love put into it.

With the Rapture's cameo at the end of Infinite, it wasn’t clear how Irrational could make the same trick work twice. The answer is simple; the return Rapture in Burial at Sea isn't a trick. It's a venue to express an original idea inside stylish and increasingly sophisticated framework. In that regard Burial at Sea gives its all the narrative - and unfortunately comes up short when it wants to be a game.

The short Story mode was the most disappointing part, but I liked using the AR booklet and my own environment to make a largely satisfying experience.

I fully realize this is for the younger gamer that enjoys more collection/customization, but I expected just a bit more action in this game like I experienced in the console versions. The modifications and cuts from the bigger console versions really made a difference, as there is just a bit more 'dull' in the 3DS version. It's still fun, but not as fun as it could be.

The art for the characters and environments are absolutely astounding, but with a dated gameplay style, it’s difficult to say this remake is fully realized. Yes, purists will love that The Dragon’s Trap is a nearly 100% replica of the original with updated art, but I feel as though the love given to the art of the game should have been given to the gameplay as well.

Evasion is a decent FPS for the PSVR, but it needed just a bit more variety to make it fun and engaging. The initial structure of the gameplay is spot-on, but the enemies and level design are just a bit too stale.

Seasons After Falls tries so very hard but falls short of being truly excellent. The repetitive puzzles hinder things enough that, if you're like me, you'll end up playing in small doses.

Overall, Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee is a classic game that might be stuck in 2001 visually, but still is fun to play thanks to the story and characters.

As it stands, Galak-Z: Variant S is a simple shooter that is fun in short stints. The controls are fun, the level design is outstanding, but the motivating factors of the game, which include upgrades, needs to be improved a little before it becomes great. As it stands right now, it’s a good space shooter with some potential for improvement in the future.

Overall, if you’re looking for a solid experience that keeps going and motivates you to keep going through rewards and short missions, then you’ll enjoy Defiance 2050. It’s a solid title that does what is advertised. Just excuse those last generation cutscenes.

Right now, Curved Space is a good game for those looking for an arcade shooter with leaderboard support that has a handful of new things to offer. If the action was dialed up and a few gameplay tweaks made it less exploitable, I may have wanted to stick around longer.

Overall, the hours you want to spend in Shenmue I and Shenmue II will be there. The amount of patience you have with the controls and visuals will depend on your expectations of these releases. For me, it was nice seeing the games in full form on a modern system. I just wish there had been improvements to make it feel like a current generation release. As it stands, you get classics, and a hopeful outlook there is more to come in the third installment of the series.

Overall, Little Dragons Café is enjoyable, but it has its quirks. It takes some time to get used to the controls and pacing of the game, but when you do, you will find that watching a dragon grow and taking care of a café is a great way to spend some time.

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.

Beyond: Two Souls' ideas are occasionally inept, sometimes brilliant, and often an unstable in-between overloaded with emotional ephemera, predatory clichés, and unconscious behavior. At the same time, Beyond exhibits a willingness to generate an impassioned response from the player, and it sees that missions through to its conclusion.

Destroy All Humans (2020) is a fine offering by updating a fan favorite PS2 game for the modern era. Technical issues plague this remake from being the perfect 1:1 recreation, but what is there is fun enough to warrant a few hours of destructiveness. Fans of the series will surely find a lot to enjoy with Black Forest Games’ remake, but Destroy All Humans doesn’t offer enough actual new content to bring new fans in on the invasion.

The most rewarding and commendable component of ACV is its multiplayer offering. If you can get into that, especially with some friends, it's easier to forgive the flaws and have fun.

The original Dirt Rally sits above its sequel as to go-to rally game for console gamers however, if you do decide to pick up Dirt Rally 2.0 you’ll still have one heck of a time.

Katana Zero’s blade isn’t sharp enough to cut through its self-indulgent idiosyncrasy. Inventive action sequences that neatly divide improvisation and orchestration and a novel time-rewinding mechanic both suffer under an overwrought style miserably impressed with its own posture. Katana Zero works best when it’s not auditioning to change its title to Edge Lords.

Miracle Cure is a few healthy refinements away from the category of controlled substance, and purchasing it won’t require your driver’s license. But purely as a source of unique puzzle entertainment, it has all the active ingredients of an addictive puzzler—just with a few unwanted side effects.

A well-executed mashup of two genres that's worth checking out if you're a fan of either.

It's a little pricey to recommend for purchase at face value but either a used copy or a drop in price might warrant a purchase (especially for fans of the series).

Return to Grace from developer: Creative Bytes Studios is a short and sweet once-through experience. It has nice dialogue but is more for viewing than interactive gameplay. As a game tagged to be known as a “Walking Simulator” I believe this is the pinnacle of the genre. With its beautiful local, interesting in-game history, and clever dialogue Return to Grace is a great pick for a narrative-driven game to play all in one go. While the gameplay isn’t exactly my go-to first choice of gaming, after completing and experiencing everything the game has to offer, I can recommend this to those gamers who enjoy this type of gameplay.

Overall, the anime-inspired graphics, fantasy storyline, polished visuals, and various features could allow Chain Strike to become a go-to escape for gamers on the go. However, the expensive micro-transactions, long tutorial, and grindy nature of the game might put off some gamers as well.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition, from developers SneakyBox and Relic Entertainment, feels too much like the Anniversary Edition released a few years back. While new gamers of the series might enjoy what this title has to offer, as it does bring some solid action that mimics the chaotic nature of the Warhammer world, seasoned fans of the series may not get enough out of this release to justify another purchase.

Gestalt: Steam & Cinder is a good metroidvania for those wanting a middle-of-the-road metroidvania. Its steampunk aesthetic makes for a gorgeous and audibly delightful tale, its combat is as fluid as it they come, but my biggest concern is that it doesn’t take a big swing in innovation or set itself apart from other metroidvanias in a big way.

Fans of the original will certainly adore the upgrades in controls, visuals and the addition of Bowser’s Minions, which adds some more gameplay to the package (though, honestly not as fulfilling as the main adventure). They will certainly want it and endure the shortfalls of the gameplay. If you’re new to the game, though, and a young gamer, the controls might be too frustrating to enjoy. I had a helluva time with the controls and could not really get on track with the gameplay because of it. And I’m a seasoned gamer. Anyway, for young gamers there are probably better options out there to start your 3DS adventures on before you hit a challenging game like this.

Duck Paradox is a unique gem, featuring an adorable charm and highly replayable loop that feels like an old-school platformer more than a modern roguelike. Steep bullet hell difficulty aside, it deserves more content to keep players saving the day with an ever-growing waddling of ducks alongside of Dr. Paraducks!

All in all, Super Bomberman R is one of the most interesting releases on the Switch so far. That said, unless you have a core group to play lots of local multiplayer with or expect the online community to thrive, it’s hard to give it a high recommendation at $50. Then again, if you’re a fan of the series and are starved for a new experience, SBR makes a lot more sense at face value.

In the end, Doom VFR leverages extant resources to construct an intimate sensation of murdering hell demons in virtual reality. Dealing with Satan entails a short list of sacrifices which Doom VFR obliges through its compressed experience, inadequate control options, and risk averse experimentation. Safe and sensible, however, are sufficient labels for Doom VFR’s pledge of menacing intensity.

Fallen City Brawl won me over on vibes and thematic. Its gameplay, while frenetic and fun, needs more depth to exceed the current gold standard utilized by recent additions to the modern beat-em-up genre. It’s great for a quick afternoon playthrough, especially when played with friends.

WRC 6 may be the rally racer you’re looking for if you thought DiRT Rally was a bit too hardcore and you’re unsure what DiRT 4 will bring this June. That said, this isn’t a sport or series I’m familiar with or particularly enjoy, so it’s hard for me to give it a firm recommendation either way.