Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash!’s Space 39 miku Pack is one level from Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash! with an insert of Hatsune Miku. This seems like a reductive description but it is in fact a rational observation. The Space 39 miku Pack is for superfans of Space Channel 5 and Hatsune Miku and proudly, absolutely nobody else.

Funky Barn is addictive, and might keep you playing for a several hours, but it's not satisfying or memorable. That's a characteristic I often associate with mobile and handheld games, the latter of which this game is derived from.

Payday 3 suffers from a lack severe lack of refinement. Payday 2 was cooking for years. It makes little sense that Payday 3 suffered such significant problems. There was a blueprint in place that wasn’t followed and for what specific gain? A year from now this review will likely be completely irrelevant as I must believe Starbreeze will fix the game, add content to its current sparse pool, and make the experience better. But for players who purchased the game in its current state… Well that’s simply not good enough. Right now there is no quality of life. Not even a patch to fix the numerous glaring problems. Will players stick around or come back? Or will Payday 3 disappear to time like my words? Only time will tell.

Unknown 9: Awakening from developer Reflector Entertainment and publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment is a game more about what could have been rather than what turned out to be. With a better story that builds out the world, its characters, and more interesting enemies, the game would have been more of what it intended. It had the makings of a good fantasy/sci-fi action adventure but just didn’t make it there.

In sum, it seems like the vision of State of Mind was bigger and more robust than its end result. The core idea is interesting, but the execution fizzles out early and doesn’t recover. Still, if you’re into sci-fi and are looking for a game to roll through on a lazy Saturday, you could do worse than State of Mind.

Chapter Three is ultimately a letdown all things considered, but as a whole, The Raven - Legacy of A Master Thief is still worth checking out if you enjoy point and click adventure games and a good "whodunit" style mystery.

If you’re looking for a nostalgic way to get your Rogue Trooper Redux fix, then you might be better off looking at the PlayStation 4/Xbox One releases. The Nintendo Switch keeps up with them in terms of visuals and gameplay mechanics, but falls behind in controls and aiming. The controls simply don’t make the gameplay experience comfortable enough to enjoy the game.

Overall, Metropolis has the bones to be a great game, however, the slow pace, lack of instruction, and lengthy dialogue made it frustrating to play. While the interactions, visuals, and storyline are amazing the gameplay and mechanics were lacking. If there were more instructions or hints this game would have been a home run. If problem-solving is your jam, then this game is perfect for you. However, if you don’t like having to figure out every small detail of a game, then you should probably skip this game for now.

Mr. Shifty begins in the same place it ends; by punching a man through a window. Defenestration is appealing, especially when it’s preceded by short form teleportation, but the first instance is more gratifying than the last. Mr. Shifty deals in scale, quantity, and strategy in the wrong order, assuring its sharp edge dulls after an auspicious opening.

Two out of the three games are fun to play and can help you pass a few minutes of your time. It's not built for longevity but even so, it will most likely become a forgotten game of your collection once you've completed the games a few times.

Sonic: Lost World is yet another disappointment considering the premise and games it was pulling ideas from.

Dirty Bomb is a nice shooter that is a perfect F2P alternative to a lot of the major FPS titles out today. The game is still in beta however, so there are a lot of features to be added and a lot of flaws to buff out. Hope that the devs can fix what needs to be fixed and polish this game to fulfill the potential it shows.

A well priced rhythm game that has its issues, but is worth a look for anyone with a passing interest.

I think Danger Close definitely upgraded the series in some places with Warfighter, but regretfully took more than a few steps backwards in most of it.

I had high hopes for Ride, but they've been dashed by some major controller issues.

Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable is the equivalent of a gun safety demonstration where the instructor accidentally shoots off a finger; it's still a lot of fun, often in spite of itself. For better or worse fans of the original cult classic will find their game 100% intact, but with minimal upgrades and an insane price tag it's tough to recommend to any audience.

EA FC 24, the revamped FIFA, brings a breath of fresh air with its dynamic menu, "precision pass," and reintroduction of female athletes in Ultimate Team. However, it grapples with lingering connectivity troubles and a lack of innovation. On a positive note, the elimination of position-altering consumables, in Ultimate Team, and the introduction of "playstyles" offer enhanced gameplay depth. All in all, EA FC 24 caters to football enthusiasts, offering a small blend of new features while still wrestling with the same gameplay formula.

Iterations of Detached have been floating around on other virtual reality platforms since 2016. This clarifies its position as groundwork instead of structure. It was a step that needed to be taken in search of higher ground. Virtual reality’s second and third generation of software, with games like Moss and Tetris Effect, are better aware of the platform’s strengths and limitations. Detached can impress newcomers right away. More practiced enthusiasts will quickly look in other directions.

Immortals of Aveum is a blockbuster action game. Much like superhero movies, it excels in combat but loses its heat in the story with lackluster dialogue and a hurried narrative. The cornerstone of Immortals is its graphics. The characters and environments were expertly crafted, highlighting the strong motion-captured characters. It was always refreshing to see how all the colors were utilized in each mission of the game. Excellent level design and fast-paced gameplay made a wonderful pair.

A visual novel on mobile platform seems like a match made in heaven, but Disgaea Infinite's cumbersome interface and reliance on repetition render it more flawed that fascinating.

Running on a treadmill and Days Gone are very similar experiences. You put in time and effort, yet you remain in the same spot. Thrilling gameplay and crazed “freakers” cannot save this game from its LONG, uncompelling story. Ultimately, the number of hours invested in Days Gone do not pay off. This is not a full throttle Sony exclusive that we’ve come to know and love, it’s miles away from that.

Star Wars: Battlefront 2 feels lackluster and dull in so many categories. Besides the entirely too short story that adds very little substance to the Star Wars universe, the progression system is so infuriatingly bad that I found it hard to continue. Yes, the game is gorgeous, and the actual gameplay is passably fun when it works; especially Starfighter Assault. But that can’t overcome the fact that the rest of the game is pretty boring/forgettable to play.

Guilt Battle Arena is a fun game with a simple yet innovative combat system allowing everyone to enjoy it. While there is not much depth to the game, it will definitely be a fun one to break out at gatherings and rage at your friends with for a little while.

As designed, Sable is a freeform journey across gorgeous landscapes in pursuit of self-discovery. Agency is at a premium and the player can go as far as their initiative can take them. As executed on an Xbox One, Sable is a devastating technical calamity unfit for basic service. It was a cruelty to observe the heights Sable was capable of reaching and yet not be able to experience them for myself.

You know what they say about movie games... seriously though, 007 Legends, while a neat idea, doesn't capitalize on the potential. Instead, it's an unpolished shooter that most gamers can safely look over this holiday.

Mafia II is the opposite of Portal, taking no risks, putting forth no new ideas, and settling for the status quo. Mafia II didn't have to reinvent a genre, but it could have avoided littering itself with such dreadful mission design that is sometimes void of refinement and full of average mechanics.

Oninaki is an abundance of compelling ideas enveloped in a fog of stammering expression. An extensive progression system, myriad combat options, and a sincere and original premise aren’t enough to overcome the rote execution of its world, characters, and basic combat. Oninaki’s only viable curiosity is what kind of game it may have been with more time, budget, and expertise.

Little Racers STREET strikes a great a balance between depth and accessibility, but squanders its potential as soon as progression starts to favor rote upgrades over applied skill. That being said, it's an eight dollar game in an uncommon genre and loaded with options - and for some that may be an acceptable compromise.

DariusBurst Another Chronicle EX+ is as thin as $40 can stretch the fifth iteration of its namesake. Its cumulative and sweeping arrangement of DariusBurst’s horizontal shooting excellence is, objectively speaking, worth an investment of time. Its position against Dariusburst: Chronicle Saviours in the same marketplace, along with its own slapdash assembly, weakens its necessity in any enthusiast’s collection.

Overall, Rocket Arena is a very young battle arena shooter. It is off to a decent start, though the pain points of the game are blatantly obvious. Its intentions are to capture that Fortnite crowd with its personality but definitely falls short with its delivery in certain gameplay areas. There is hope for this game and I can see it succeeding with updates and expansions, but right now it’s a tough sell when compared to its competition.

In a world full of remasters, Need For Speed Hot Pursuit doesn't get first place. The adrenaline that goes into each race or chase is super high. But the lows of the game loading and car handling weigh the game down. Hot Pursuit stays true to its roots and to that it deserves a nod. It's a fun racing game the developers can hopefully improve upon for future remasters.

NBA Live ’14’s dribbling mechanics (bounceTek) is done well, but the rest of the game needs some work. Bad A.I., dragging controls and subpar next generation looks really don’t do much for a series trying to make a comeback.

80’s Overdrive asserts that Out Run’s combination of breakneck racing and frantic traffic negotiation will fit neatly inside the progression-focused model of a modern game. It doesn’t, and 80’s Overdrive almost runs out of gas before it reaches a comfortable destination. All the lavish neon and thumping synthwave in the world can’t help 80’s Overdrive make twenty minutes last six hours.

As a commemoration of style and simplicity, Spectra speaks in the dearth of speedy arcade racers. Regrettably, Spectra's ambition, like its appeal, doesn't stretch beyond austere representation.

XBlaze Lost: Memories pushes the series forward and offers a solid value for those that become invested in its story and characters, but getting to that point is not a given.

Magnetic works best as a platformer, which may be disappointing for those who wanted intermediate to advanced puzzling.

You get a teases of such fun, but all too often, it gets lost under the cloud of rigidity.

Banned Footage Vol. 2 is a more conservative approach to Resident Evil 7’s post-release program. It plays in the same space as Vol. 1—both are insistent and diverse recasts of Resident Evil 7‘s components—but it exchanges chaos for stability. Eccentric blackjack, exacting resource management, and a condensed, comfortable reprise of the proper game are suitable, if not safe, slices of content.

Madden NFL 22 has some good parts to it, mainly the usual suspects, but falls flat with Face of the Franchise. I know Face of the Franchise is a key part of Madden’s success and what fans look forward to as a main piece of the Madden pie each year, but honestly, it has so many glitches in it that at times it is unplayable. Could these be fixed, and this year’s title saved? Most definitely, but as it stands at launch, the game has issues that need rectifying.

It's great that Team Ninja made a new Ninja Gaiden, I just wish they stuck to what had worked so well in the past rather than try and take the series in this awkward new direction. It's still worth considering, just check your expectations and hopes at the door.

Tank! Tank! Tank! is a simple and fun idea that is hindered by some poor gameplay design which ultimately leaves a lot of potential unrealized.

If you're into these types of heavy management and sim games, Nobilis has put together a potentially compelling package for you at a good price.

Dangerous Driving bets that spurned fans of Burnout still want more Burnout made by the only people they would trust to make more Burnout. It’s a skilled recreation, albeit one that forgets wild innovation and grinning novelty were as important to Burnout’s identity as racing and smashing up outrageous cars. Dangerous Driving, ironically, is defined by familiarity and comfort.

Korra's fiction and Platinum's development lineage impart a veritable dream team of narrative and design, but neither party seemed to bring the necessary hardware to live up to their respective and respected standards.

PlayStation VR Worlds is intended to raise belief in its accompanying hardware. And it does; once for each of its five technical showpieces. Afterward that high is only reached through a vicarious transfer from newcomers, positioning VR Worlds' potential as a dramatic flash instead of an imposing statement.

Call of Cthulhu is an emphatic character sheet fed to a game deficient of opportunities for self-expression. Imagine if, instead of a dramatic exploration behind the power and poison of enlightenment, Lovecraft only wrote a flat outline. Call of Cthulhu is eldritch horror without emotion or agency, and its madness is entirely mundane.

Tennis World Tour 2 isn’t necessarily the most robust or enticing offering when it comes to tennis games, but it’s one of the only simulation games out there. If you’re a die-hard tennis fan, it’s worth a shot to see if it can keep your attention. But casual fans should consider looking elsewhere.

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.

Ultimately, God’s Trigger’s grindhouse kitsch is effective because you can believe it was made by deeply inspired people who barely knew what they were doing. Blundering adrenaline has an unconscious authenticity which, by its nature, translates to a gnarly player experience. Misadventure is technically still an adventure.

Yoshi's New Island follows a similar formula as previous Nintendo remakes/reboots but ultimately falls short of recreating the magic we expect from Nintendo platformers.

It's fun, but the fun is short lived. Dreamkiller is a copy-cat game that tries to emulate Serious Sam but places Sam in a cube.

Overall, Vancouver 2010 is an okay game, but it's very shallow. It borders on just being a collection of mini-games in some regards, but it is more than that -- just not a lot more. Good for a weekend rental, but very hard to recommend, even at $50.

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.

Despite another year of development, EA FC 26 remains plagued by bugs. The main menu continues to give me issues. At times, I’m unable to navigate it at all because it simply bugs out. Considering how often this issue has been raised across multiple installments, it’s frustrating to see so little progress.

Sixty frames per second in 3D is indeed a marvelous technical achievement and Tekken 3D: Prime Edition deserves praise for reaching that goal. It's just too bad the game never bothered with building a deck around its ace.

Taiko no Tatsujin’s return to the western hemisphere should have been cause for celebration. Instead it’s a capable but antiquated rhythm game that feels lost and out of place without its natural hardware.

By tying humor and outrageous context to its moving parts, Saints Row The Third and Saints Row IV became viable systems in the modern open-world paradigm. Gat out of Hell (mostly) forgets all of this, sheds (mostly) all of its psychotic humor, and bolts on (mostly) dated mechanics.

Superfluous violence and clumsy gameplay soil much of the goodwill made by Warp's inviting premise and clever ideas. It's not that Warp is an especially weak or offensive game, but rather its coarse missteps leave a stronger impression than its careful and crafty moments.

A mediocre experience made a little better with co-op play. Possibly a good weekend game with a friend or two, especially during a new game release lull often seen in December and January.

I commend 2Dark for tackling a tough premise, but it’s one I could have just as well left alone, too. The gameplay combined with the presentation just click with me, and it made this one a chore to play. If you’re into stealth and horror, especially top-down, retro-themed ones, there could be definitely be something here for you as some of 2Dark’s mechanics are sound. Otherwise, it’s probably safe to wait for a deep sale or a pass on this one.

Uncanny Valley thrives in the unknown and dies in the familiar. Playing is a push and pull between two opposing conditions, and in time perseveration shoves mystery over the edge and becomes a dominating force. Consequence, the commanding authority of Uncanny Valley, is resistible when it's ultimately undermined by routine.

I Hate Running Backwards is a challenging shoot 'em up with roguelike elements that will keep you up late into the night with it's one more round gameplay. Although the game is fun, there could be several changes to the special weapons and perk system to make each round feel more unique and enhance the replayability. If you are a fan of the Serious Sam series, you will enjoy playing with familiar characters in the same chaotic environment Serious Sam is known for.

To say that Warp Frontier is a letdown would be mostly glossing over how it succeeds as a point-and-click, but saying that it’s an indie gem would be overlook some of the more critical issues that exist in-game. The world and story of Warp Frontier are well developed, yes. The voice acting and soundtrack are icing on the imaginary cake. But, this sci-fi cop drama of a point-and-click is best saved for a PC-playthrough, as the Switch’s hardware and controller limitations make some of the game’s annoying puzzles into frustrations. I would highly recommend you play this on PC, as your experience will be marred by the Switch.

I wouldn't call Adrenalin Misfits a must own, but I would strongly recommend a rental for any Kinect owners looking for a decent board racing experience, especially if you have some young gamers in your household.

In the end, Heavy Fire: Red Shadow definitely harkens back to a time period where point/shoot had a different meaning in an arcade experience than it does now. The game maintains a nostalgic design, which certainly makes sense for the experience, but the experience’s longevity will be questioned depending on player expectations. This goes back to what you understand about a game’s intentions. If you know going into it that you’re going to get an arcade shooter, then you may not be disappointed. If you’re expecting a deeper experience than just point/shoot, then you may not find it here.

All in all, this Secret of Mana HD remake is a mixed offering. Opportunities to take an aged classic and keep the best parts and refine the not-so-great parts were largely left undone. The result is a game that still carries a lot of merit, but has enough flaws and setbacks that hold it back from realizing it’s full potential, and it makes it a frustrating choice for consumers. Perhaps if the budget and desire are there — and I’m not sure they are — some patching could go a long way to making this remake more robust.

For all but the most passionate Spider-Man fans, TAS2 is one you can safely skip or get by with on a rental.

Not A Hero absorbs Resident Evil 7's discordant third act and recasts it in the mold of a conventional action shooter. While a sharp focus (and a welcomed protagonist swap) aid Not A Hero's general coherence, it's a vision of a life the seventh Resident Evil chose to leave behind. A safe move isn't often the strongest.

Cost and access aside, having played both this remaster on PS4 Pro and the original on PC, there is not a clearly compelling reason for me to recommend jumping to the remaster. With some patching, perhaps this release could get a nanosuit-like boost in value, but as is, it’s too rough to earnestly recommend.

Lord of Arcana is one of those games that you probably either love or hate. If you like this specific JRPG genre, you should definitely give it a look. But if you don't, there isn't anything about Lord of Arcana that will change your mind.

In the end, Dark Void's final product didn't live up to the potential that it had going for it. It was a great concept with some cool moments, but those moments were far and few between the unfinished control scheme and other flaws that plagued the title.

Right now, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City could have used a few more months to work some issues out in beta testing. I know time is money in business, but Resident Evil fans need a more put together title than what REORC offers. I love the arcade feeling to it, but the execution could have used a bit more work.

Unfortunately, "Digimon: All-Star Rumble" is merely okay.

An intriguing set but one that is downplayed significantly due to the controls. Your tolerance may vary though, so it's not a bad idea to rent this one to get the full experience for yourself before buying.

For every tiny victory over the failings of the original, the sequel commits a massive oversight leading to even bigger problems. And in spite of the undeniable appeal of its twisted interpretation of all things Disney, what ultimately sinks this sequel is the sheer absence of fun in its formula.

The Smurfs 2 provides all the right elements for a platformer, but the gameplay and level design are just too darn shallow to make it a worthwhile gaming experience. There are other platformers out there that are better and cheaper.

Even had Bladestorm: Nightmare came out several years ago on PS3 I don't think I would have enjoyed it much. But, for those who like Dynasty Warrior-esque games and want more unit control and strategy, Bladestorm is worth checking out.

Inversion had a neat idea, but the execution is lackluster at best. For genre connoisseurs, it's worth a look, but most can safely pass this one up.

Time will tell if God's Acre is the portion of Republique you skip over before getting to its fifth episode. Before—and, hopefully, after—Republique has done much better.

You have to applaud Drawn to Life’s developers for at least attempting to push a unique concept. While it’s fun (initially) designing your playable character and various elements of the world around him, however, The Next Chapter’s novelty quickly fades.

Not unlike a poorly done Blu-ray release of a classic film, the Marvel Ultimate Alliance release on current-gen is just disappointing. The games are still great and fun, but this new release is off the mark in several major ways.

This isn't a bad game, but it's not good either. Some die hards might find something rewarding about experiencing a new set of stories. But from what I can gather, most fans would be embarrassed that this low level of writing has the NCIS name on it to begin with.

Phantasy Star Portable 2 meanders in mediocrity while trying its absolute best to pass itself off as a fresh product.

To sum it up, Flashback 2 was worth a playthrough, and as a fan of the original, I had fun with it. It’s probably the easiest Platinum you can get, too. But the experience is tainted by lots of technical bugs and very linear, flat gameplay design. At its launch price of $40, I’m hesitant to recommend it to anyone that isn’t an ardent Flashback fan who might be more forgiving of the flaws. Whether any more patches get released is anyone’s guess, but even if the technical bugs get ironed out, the gameplay is still thin and pretty lackluster.

I would certainly purchase Gang Wars before Time Soldiers. BUT! If I was looking for an arcade shooter with a large amount of challenge to it, then I would probably hit up Time Soldiers.

Aside from the obvious benefit of being able to play with your characters on the go, Skylanders Giants for 3DS provides very little to convince that it's worth the time and money. Its little triumphs are far overshadowed by its unfortunate oversights-to the extent that even hardcore fans will find it difficult to justify.

A disappointing release, partially in terms of content, but primarily in how the ports were handled. Altered and missing content plus major technical woes are highly critical mistakes to make. I hope Konami revisits the idea of a true Silent Hill HD Collection in the coming years.

This makes for a great weekend rental, but it's hard to justify the retail price of $50 for the brevity and simplicity of this experience.

Super Monkey Ball 3D's total longevity for most people is likely to hover around 2 to 3 hours, and that, along with the uninspired level designs in comparison to the console iterations, is by far its greatest flaw.

Fans of the Monkey Ball series are sure to classify Step & Roll as a regressive leap, and newcomers won’t find much to appreciate, either. The balance board controls are simply too imprecise and illogical to play the foundation of a game wholly dependent upon precision.

Breach has some great moments, but it suffers from too many noticeable flaws.

I have played a few local battles, but have not put much time or had much luck finding any games online. There is also a My Room area where you can review your stats for the game as far as number of times having played each mode, number of panels flipped (gets into the thousands fairly quickly), and how often you have visited the three arenas. Flip Wars is very basic title no matter how you slice it. From the ho-hum presentation to the lack of any real depth in any of the modes, this is a borderline textbook casual mobile game. It doesn’t do much for me, but if you’re into this kind of game, you could spend $10 in less enjoyable ways.

For the diehard Nintendo or Mario Tennis fan, Ultra Smash is worth a look, but if you're looking for a satisfying new Wii U title this holiday, this probably won't do it for you.

If you're considering playing Battle of Z, it's probably because you're already a DBZ fan. If you also have some friends to team up with, Battle of Z can be pretty fun despite some flaws, but otherwise, I'm not sure it offers enough compelling new content that other DBZ titles haven't already provided before.

It's fun at the beginning and fun online, but the flaws soon catch up with it and hurt the experience. With some updates this game could be really good, but right now there's just too many flaws to enjoy it.

NASCAR 21: Ignition is a new start for the brand. We need to remember that. That being said, this is a very disappointing launch for a game. The overall gameplay lacks in many ways, the AI is incompetent at times and struggles to understand, there are some larger glitches that can easily take you out of the game and ruin the experience as well. The paint booth and career mode are very good and fun to go through. That is about it. I want to add that other users and players are reporting that playing on PC is bringing a bit better of an experience so if you are looking for the game, that might be your best bet as of now. I still think there is a lot of hope for the franchise. There are some things here that are positive foundations. However, NASCAR 21: Ignition has just missed the racing line and slammed the outside wall.

Fallen Earth suffers from the same problems most MMO's face. Billing it's self by not having "elves and wizards" just takes away the fantasy veneer and replaces it with fresh thin coat of post-apocalyptic paint.

Blood Drive gets some things right in its attempt to combine two older vehicular mayhem games, but it ultimately falls well short of being great. That said, if you love SCEA's Twisted Metal series, this may be worth a rental.