If you like that in-depth type of football/soccer gameplay, then you're going to find a lot of fun with Pro Evolution Soccer 2014. Just excuse its outer wrapper, which needs some major work.

There’s more to Pepper Grinder than just digging. Ahr Ech successfully managed to cram fluid platforming and free-flowing traversal in ways that make its hallmark digging mechanics joyous while innovating in using the drill for other utilitarian purposes. Its 2D platforming is refreshing and rewarding when you settle into the groove of being able to move in every direction. I truly dug Pepper Grinder, and I sincerely hope that Ahr Ech continues to make fantastic retro platformers while also expanding the current universe of narwhal pirates. Hopefully those games come sooner rather than later.

Overall, I’m torn about Everhood 2. Its rhythm-based battles are unlike any RPG I’ve played before. Its soundtrack is incredible. Walking through emptiness and seeing delayed payoffs from the worldbuilding side, though, makes the game feel less fun than it should be. I enjoyed Everhood 2, but I wish that I spent more time in the rhythm battles than exploring.

EA Sports UFC 4 shows that the quality of a sports game is far more important than the amount of quantity in it. UFC 4 improves and adds areas that needed work. It brings in new systems and tighter control designs to make the experience for more entertaining than previous years. This is the best of the best in the UFC series right now, and there is still good room to grow it.

Scouring Abzu's marine paradise opens an argument for emotive communication and softened storytelling. Too often, however, Abzu is less a defense of its beliefs and more a negotiation out of a cornered medium.

Narita Boy is an explosion of 80s-inspired excess, splattering the player with a viscera of technobabble and cathode rays. Yet after peeling away the fragmented flesh, some may find the splendor of nostalgic reverence does not supplant equally memorable gameplay.

An excellent 'western' fighter that is more about accessibility and fun than mastering techniques and detailed strategies.

After the Fall from Vertigo Games is a wonderful jumpstart to the PSVR 2 starting line-up. It has some fun zombie shooting times, great upgrades, and reasons to revisit the game, but falls short in substance in some areas. It is worth your time if you’re looking for a good VR experience.

King's Bounty: Crossworlds is the best version of the recent revival to the 20 year old strategy game. While it does provide a good amount of gameplay additions to the picture, the lack of a new lengthy campaign makes the game hard to replay for those who've already experienced Armored Princess.

Everybody's Gone to the Rapture's take on interactive fiction is admirable, even in its struggle to manage personal discovery alongside narrative composition. I love its calamitous tranquility, I identify with the plights of its characters, and I'm enamored with its confident storytelling, but its reluctance to disclose its disposition adversely affects its capability.

Horizon Chase Turbo is simple fun that doesn’t offer up an overbearing challenge for its racers. It contains some good rewards, which help keep the player motivated, but needs to be just a bit deeper in the physics department. All in all, though, it’s a fun arcade racer.

These maps are pretty impressive and very well-designed. They range in size from small to large, and contain a lot of unique details. If you are considering expanding your Black Ops experience, the Annihilation Map Pack is the way to go.

Overall, I enjoyed the game quite a bit. I think that there was a great amount of effort put into creating this jRPG and I really appreciated the intricate artwork throughout.

My Brother Rabbit is a pleasant surprise, a welcomed departure from the norm (for me), and a game I’m happy to recommend.

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die from developer Stormteller Games is a wonderful game on the Nintendo Switch 2, if you can get used to the Switch 2’s controls that come with it. Beyond that minor hiccup, the game still brings the same addictive gameplay experience and presentation as the bigger consoles. Having the game on the go is a huge plus as well.

As far as remasters go, R-Type Delta HD Boosted adds very little in terms of new content. There’s the new soundtrack (which is fantastic), the supposed graphical boost, along with the Practice Mode, and…that’s it. It’s a smaller offering than what some of the other remasters of this year have brought to the table, but it successfully manages to preserve the refreshing yet frustrating experience of its source material.

Elden Ring Nightreign is a thrilling rush. FromSoftware has taken their masterclass gameplay and constructed an entirely new and exhilarating loop. Despite forgoing familiar elements that made Elden Ring truly special, Nightreign maintains the essence of its wonder, empowering players by fulfilling their dream of an onslaught of challenging, brilliant boss fights, only prohibited by your own skill, ambition, and deadly efficiency.

Although there isn’t much more to the 3DS version than there was to the original releases six months ago, Mega Man Legacy Collection nevertheless remains the definitive compilation of the NES originals, bolstered by wonderfully accurate emulation and a nifty host of nostalgic extras—not to mention a great value.

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

I am thrilled to see the Mega Man Battle Network series return with more content than ever, and the Collection makes an incredibly easy recommendation for something to play this Spring: If you’re looking to get your hands on a collection of classic titles remastered in all the right ways, look no further than the Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection.

Accessible, addictive, and loads of fun, Starhawk gives you plenty of reason to jump in and stay hooked.

While it has its share of bugs and is qualitatively a mere expansion of the original in many ways, Skylanders Giants is still a full-blown sequel, featuring more Skylanders, more in-game collectibles, and larger and arguably more robust levels (albeit fewer) than the original. If more Skylanders is what you're after, this is what you've been looking for.

Capcom and Pipeworks did a great job with this HD Collection and it shouldn't be missed by anyone who enjoys third person action.

Fundamentally sound gameplay, revolutionary control scheme, awesome Career experience, and expansive online offerings all make this game one of the best sports games of the year and is neck and neck with UFC Undisputed.

Combining the maddening and dedicated labyrinths of Etrian Odyssey with Mystery Dungeon's ode to indifferent but committed variability would seem to be the videogame equivalent of pushing an immovable object against an unstoppable force. It's an attractive paradox, and, rather than explode on contact, both series' unique strengths coalesce into a grueling exploration of applied skill and tough love.

Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium is a spectacular follow-up to its predecessor. It is packed full of different arcade experiences covering a variety of genres and years, while also introducing some new features that help bring a bit more fun to the journey. As with any journey, it’s not always smooth sailing, but for the most part, it’s good.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble from Sega is a good game that brings more of the same Monkey Ball fun with its single-player experience, but switches it up in a fun way with its online gameplay modes. It’s a solid party game that needs more baking on the server side but delivers when it counts.

I can’t say that my time with Apollo Justice has been a fantastic intro to the series, but I’m glad I did finally jump in. I’ll likely seek out the Phoenix Wright Trilogy sooner than later though, mainly to see if it’s better than Apollo’s outing. This isn’t a bad game to be sure, and while the 3DS re-release doesn’t offer a huge jump from the original, it’s notable for previous owners and those who are eager to check it out — especially at $20.