Fueling creative energy with frayed Neuromancer paperbacks and worn out Terminator VHS tapes doesn't typically qualify as a safe investment, but Blood Dragon absolves its endearing risk by leveraging Far Cry 3 as its base and then running away to celebrate 80's cinematic excess. Ubisoft wins, Blood Dragon's creative team wins, Michael Biehn wins, and, most importantly, the consumer wins. Why can't all games be like this?

While lacking a few key wanted features (new level cap and weapons), Zombie Island still brings enough to the table to make a solid first expansion.

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.

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.

Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack is an apocalyptic experience that performs its duties not under the harrowing death rattle of humanity, but alongside a gleeful creature with an insatiable and literal appetite for the material world.

Fortnite: Battle Royale is now on mobile and it is not what we need. The subpar graphics, eh gameplay and the fact that you should play it on computer or console totally ruin the experience. Fortnite is the HOTTEST game in the world right now, moving it to iOS and soon Android is not going to make it any better.

Assassin’s Creed Origins sets a new bar for the series. It brings a taste of tomb raider mixed in with the girth of a Horizon Zero Dawn and wrapped in a traditional Assassin’s Creed structure. It will exceed gamer expectations and set a new standard for a series that needed life breathed into it.

Overall, Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition is an ok game. The fun characters and story are engaging but the game does feel old. For fans of the original version, this game will be great for you. For new players, this game will test your patience.

ROBOBEAT is an exciting FPS because of how it weaves a killer soundtrack and punchy combat into its DNA. Firing to the beat of a suite of incredible tracks and sweeping across a techno playground is one of those simple joys in life. While players shouldn’t expect deep roguelite progression, the tools on hand are meant to fuel the frenetic pace, throwing players into a madcap state of sublime shooting.

Project Soul got a lot right with SCV, and I enjoy it, I just wish there were more content, specifically more offline modes of play. I find myself bouncing back and forth between offline and online play, slowly becoming content and fatigued with both.

Sprawling, addictive, and finding a potent balance between suspense and fun, Wasteland 2 fits great in any PC gamer's collection.

Muramasa: The Demon Blade is most certainly a unique experience with its beautifully hand drawn environments and visual perfection. If you're an action fan and you don't mind fairly repetitive gameplay, Muramasa is one of the most beautiful games you'll ever play.

All things considered, Have a Nice Death excels on just about all fronts as a roguelike. Playing as Death himself lets the player experience power with the sheer number of combinations spanning weapons and spells. The fact that these combinations allow for seamless chains of attacks is the icing on the leftover cake in the office fridge. Its charm and writing are fantastic, and I cannot help but want more from the world of Death Inc. Magic Design Studios’ appreciation for a good roguelike is evident here, as I am struggling to stop playing this game. If you’re looking for something incredibly refreshing to play while on the job, look no further than Have a Nice Death.

SIGNALIS from Humble Games is a horror fan’s dream. It’s simple and deep, contains a hefty amount of horror in its atmosphere, narrative, and design, and will keep you entertained from beginning to end.

Momodora: Moonlit Farewell is beautifully simple, perhaps to a fault. Switch owners who take the chance on this 8-hour metroidvania will enjoy its fluid combat, glittery spritework, and mild platforming. I’m sad to see the Momodora series conclude, but I have hopes that developers Bombservice continue to design gorgeous metroidvanias.

Ultros is a psychedelic cosmic loop of a metroidvania. Its combat is approachable and simple, while its gardening encourages creativity and problem-solving that is rarely seen in the metroidvania genre. I had a good time playing Ultros; it mystified me while giving me room to stress-test its cosmic universe and fully explore its boundaries. While I wanted more complex combat and intentional varieties of color, I was quite satisfied with my journey to warrant a play in the future. Ultros is a trip worth taking at least once.

The Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy from Capcom is an outstanding release that shows off some of the best games in the Phoenix Wright series, as well as some extra goodies that make the return journey worth your time. The trilogy also highlights the high points of new gameplay tools in relation to the logic puzzles that separate this trilogy from previous games in the series, while also showing some of the gameplay tools that didn’t work. Regardless, it’s still a solid trilogy.

Far Cry 5 offers plenty for fans of the series, with a few new fun additions. The mission design is a little underwhelming, but it's a lot of bombastic fun. Eden's Gate and Joseph Seed are the best villains in the series to date.

Pepper Grinder‘s unique drilling mechanic and sheer variety of levels do well to distract from its paper-thin length. Players looking for a different type of platformer that is one-and-done outside of crunching for better times should enjoy this brisk grind.

Generally speaking, there is very little not to like about Fast RMX. If you dumped a lot of hours into Fast Racing or Fast Racing Neo, ok, maybe there’s not enough content here for you to warrant a re-purchase, but I don’t think anyone is seriously in that boat. Instead, what you have is a really compelling, slick racer that gets the core gameplay done right and does it in style. For Switch owners, consider it a priority release.

Given the content and the price, I feel comfortable recommending this to previous players and newcomers alike.

While RAGE does have some issues here and there you can rest assure that it does deliver in the end. It has a solid mix of good first-person shooting action, fun driving moments, and solid multiplayer modes. Add to all of this the fact that you're seeing one of the more gorgeous games produced in this generation, and it's a tough deal to pass up.

Dragon Ball Genkishin Squadra, from developer Ganbarion and Bandai Namco Games, is a surprisingly solid MOBA game. It takes the Dragon Ball universe and merges it beautifully within the MOBA genre without losing the essence of the IP.

Constance wields an emotional story, layered action, and incredible style to become more than just another derivative Metroidvania in a sea of heavy-hitters. Genre stalwarts aren’t going to find anything drastically different in its quest for explorative abilities but Constance has heart and a deft gameplay, making it a title that shouldn’t be brushed aside.

Battlefield V is full of a lot more content than people might be expecting. War Stories contains meaningful experiences in short spurts, the maps in the game are huge and well designed, the modes of play raise the entertainment bar when compared to Battlefield I, and the customization/progression system will keep people occupied for a while, as well as provide motivation to keep playing. This feels like a Battlefield game, which should tame concerns of lack of launch content.

One of the best games in the first person exploration genre has a comfortable home on the PS4, although it seems like a missed opportunity to have not made this more of an extended edition of some kind.

Eventually, the subtle mechanics and stylish maneuverability of My Friend Pedro will become intrinsically linked in your brain. This game controls so well and so fluently. It even breaks up the action with small platforming puzzles. And eventually, you and your banana friend will become masters of death and frying pans.

The Komplete Edition shines on PC other than Story mode cutscene quality and, more importantly, some annoying online lag issues. Neither is a deal-breaker for me though, and at $30, I have no problem recommending it for purchase.