All in all, Aragami was an enjoyable twist to your classic stealth game. The gameplay was original, and the graphics and music were solid. I definitely had some minor issues with the game mechanics but nothing that would sway me from buying it. If I had to make a change in the game, I would suggest a more engaging story and a little more diversification when it comes to the enemies.

If you can deal with the randomness of enemy rolls and somewhat unbalanced gameplay resulting from that randomness, then you will find an entertaining and quick game with Legends of Kingdom Rush that does enough to keep your attention but isn’t meant for large bites of your time.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 feels like the hardest Sega has tried at coming up with a broadly appealing track and field collection since DecAthelete. The wide range of events and alternative control options create open accessibility while a handful of retro throwbacks and madcap minigames function as impressive novelties. Mario & Sonic’s limitations are still recognizable, but Tokyo 2020 feels like the farthest anyone can drag an Olympic videogame into the present.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is likely going to go down as one of the weaker entries in the franchise. Undoubtedly the quality fluctuates from player to player every year but key elements of Modern Warfare III don’t hold a candle to what most expect from a superb Call of Duty game. This is most apparent in the game’s lackluster campaign that injects far too much Warzone influence for its own good. Rather than a classic, bombastic narrative with diverse mission structure, we are left with an all too brief story that leaves players with little to latch onto outside of vaguely experimental open-ended combat. Zombies is as universally weird as ever but may actually be beneficial towards newcomers with its large map and mission-based approach. Thankfully Modern Warfare III‘s exceptional multiplayer feel and suite of popular maps, modes, and customization elevate this rough going. If Call of Duty needed a break, maybe this year should have been the one. But at 20 years old, the old chap still has life left in it.

To say that Trinity Fusion is missing the mark would be overlooking its other successes as a roguelite. It boasts fluid combat and platforming that keep its gameplay fresh. The weapon/spell management tied with the Amplification system creates a persistent set of variance that avoids becoming stale. My main two critiques of the game are that of its hazy progression system and its lack of a concrete pull that keeps players engaged for longer periods of time. I know that Angry Mob Games has additional content on the way, but waiting a smidgen longer may let Trinity Fusion hit its stride as a roguelite.

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.

Gundam Breaker 4 from developer Crafts & Meister has more depth in its customization than with story and entertainment. While the latter won’t grab you and keep you in the gaming experience, the former will certainly have you hooked on how far you can take your Gunpla’s design and customization. Gundam fans and mech model enthusiasts will adore this title more than gamers dying for a rich and full gaming experience based on the Gundam brand.

After spending several years on mobile devices, Growtopia is bringing its seemingly limitless worlds to consoles. In a game where everything grows on trees, young players will gobble the chance to punch and build while those looking for depth may come up short without searching for intricately crafted worlds.

Plants vs Zombies Replanted, from developer PopCap and publisher Electronic Arts, is still fun as hell to run through, and doubly so with co-op, mini-games, puzzles, and a new game+ built into it. It’s the complete package. My biggest issue is price point, as the main game from 2009 is a hard sell for me at $20.

Romancing SaGa 2 actually was quite fun. At the very least, it was nice to see an older game re-emerge on a next generation console and still be more fun than a hindrance. It certainly contains some classic structure, some unique gameplay, tough-as-nails enemies and some linear restriction to keep it all grounded back in 1993.

Merchants of Rosewall from developer Big Blue Sky Games is a complex take on shopkeeping simulators. It does well to combine storytelling, deep shopkeeping and crafting, and motivating goals to keep the player engaged. While the goals can be lofty and frustrating at times, the game is still fun to play.

Possessor(s) is many things: stylized, satisfying, occasionally frustrating, and short but sweet despite its large map. It’s a familiar yet solid gameplay loop with few frills, save for shirtless demon protagonists and neon stylizations.

Rust Console Edition is, simply, a console port of an 8-year-old PC survival game that has managed to stand the test of time. It may not perform as smoothly on console yet but the desperate fights for survival against hostile forces still remains.

All in all, Lego City Undercover is a good deal of fun that players from all ages will be able to enjoy. While the game is nothing challenging or revolutionary, it is nice to see a game as kid-friendly as Lego take tribute from a series that meant for adults. The overworld is large enough to where players will always have something new to discover while going after the criminals led by Red Fury. Undercover might be too easy of a challenge but that doesn’t take away from the overall wonderful experience players will have going through this delightful world.

Overall I was very happy with the game, as I honestly wasn’t expecting a whole lot from a developer who I had never heard of. Curve Digital has been around since 2005 but when I looked through their roster of games, I recognized not a single one. So cheers to them for this release, I very much look forward to see what they put out next after this success.

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is missing a little zest, something extra. When I dived back in after that first run, the fun and the warts and all were still there. Combat was a blast and my newly unlocked characters asked me to play the game in a different way and tackle its gauntlet of gangs in a different order. And much like the classic Double Dragon with its handful of stages, that’s eventually all that would become of it. Maybe the game needs permanent unlockable buffs, more levels, better ways to spend tokens, and more ways to tweak the difficulty. All games must run their course and, depending on who you are, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons will be a long ride or a short one. Thankfully either imperfect journey is still fun.

MARVEL Cosmic Invasion is an excellent excuse to play a satisfying beat ’em up with friends. It covers a wide variety of content and characters spanning the decades of comics and other media. By pulling well-known heroes and a few oddballs, Tribute Games offers a unique feel for each member of the roster. While the levels and bosses offer Easter Eggs for everyone, it doesn’t make up for combat that may eventually grow a bit stale for players who don’t find thrills in dropping into matches from time to time.

Even if ROTT does not stand the test of time as well as other classics of its day, I’m still happy that Nightdive and New Blood released the Ludicrous Edition. While not without its shortcomings, and honestly these are the same shortcomings its always had, the game remains pretty unique, challenging, and fun more often than not. I love that all three original Campaigns are included, as well as a big brand new one, and that several nice options are included as well that give players a more customized and slightly modernized experience. All of this for a very reasonable MSRP of $20 make ROTT: Ludicrous Edition an easy recommend for anyone that enjoyed it some thirty years ago or those that want to take on an old school, hyper-violent, and challenging FPS.

Edens Zero from Konami does a wonderful job of representing the source material it was born from. It comes with a meaningful and engaging story with great characters that are well-developed, while presenting an easy-to-jump-into gameplay design that is fun to dive into without much fuss. The hiccups lie with the lack of frequent enemy encounters and the choice of how you can play the game.

Sons of Sparta‘s heart still beats true despite these issues. It embraces the retro aesthetic and even brings Bear McCreary back for a chiptune score. It uses the Greek backdrop to inspire nostalgia for the series’ roots, paying respect with a new visual style. For many it will be the combat and exploration that bring up the biggest points of contention, not the youthful take on Kratos. But Sons of Sparta proves that PlayStation franchises can be iterated on in experimental, exciting ways.

What’s most important is that, in most cases, A Hat in Time is more interested in looking around than staring backward. This is a challenging exercise for a 3D platformer, and yet A Hat in Time keeps its perspective balanced between careful devotion and sensible progression. Being responsive to your environment, as it turns out, makes it easier to see where you should be going.

Anyway, there is enough separation here with the usual blueprint for this genre to make 99Vidas worth a go. As gameplay goes, it’s easy to pick up and play, as well as stupid fun from beginning to end. 99Vidas makes me want to break open my old Streets of Rage game and have another go with it. It shows that games like that still have legs and can be exciting to play.

SNK vs. Capcom – SvC Chaos from developer Code Mystics is an SNK-slanted fighting affair that shows off more of SNK’s flavor than it does Capcom’s. If you can accept those terms, then you’re in for a brutal fighting game that doesn’t pull its punches, nor does it apologize for how many times it takes you down, but it does create some good challenges. This is the SNK way and it works more than it doesn’t.

All in all, Bloody Zombies was a very good game at its price point. The game has everything you look for in a beat-‘em-up. You open the game and can begin fighting zombies quickly. The game provides a fun, casual gaming experience for someone who wants to play for an hour, but offers enough features to keep you invested in the game if you’re looking for a more in-depth experience. I would recommend this game to all zombie slayers and anyone who likes a fun, simple, arcade-style fighting game.

Another amazing platformer is now on the Nintendo Switch. Spyro the Reignited Trilogy is a wonderful remake of the original games that will leave you wanting more. It is a lot easier than the originals, but that should not stop old fans and new fans from playing the game. Its a good game for the Switch, but I would recommend just getting it on PS4 or Xbox if you want the traditional Spyro experience.

Gang Beasts' madcap brawling creates a dynamic alliance between conflict and chaos. It also enables human responses like surprise, merriment, revenge, and screaming. Driving a wobbly creature to comically murder another flailing mess, as it turns out, is a pleasant and repeatable practice. If only three of your friends could always come along for the ride.

Nier: Automata did not succeed because of its combat, and yet the preposterously named 3C3C1D119440927 is pure combat served with gimmicky restrictions. In remains, however, fabulously weird, and while player's takeaway won't reach Automata's profundity, it's still without a conscious equal in its medium.

I would recommend Red Faction: Guerilla to anyone who likes sci-fi and third person free roaming. While it lacks an intuitive story line, the gameplay makes up for that by being original and engaging. I did, however get bored after playing for long periods of time so I recommend playing in spurts.