A performance of power. Naughty Dog realizes their profound technical ability, showcases a relationship between gorgeous locales and engaging level design, and executes a progressive yet agile and animated narrative. The viability of Uncharted's action—safe but nimble platforming and brisk cover-based shooting parallel to limitless coincidences and explosions—can feel out of sync with 2016, but A Thief's End is easily the best it has ever been.

Exploring the destructive psychosis of a plaintive individual is a noble, if not precarious, responsibility. The Park, however, can't decide if its manic behavior is either a means of identifying with its troubled protagonist or a symptom of its own decent into chaos.

If a colorful, morbid, corporeal, dungeon-crawling Punch-Out!! isn't sweet enough to sell Severed, consider it a vision of a world where the PlayStation Vita remained a stronghold of original and endearing creation.

Looking for a fun, engaging racing sim? Look no further than Dirt: Rally. The game offers plenty of challenge, and even requires a new mental approach to racing games.

Dark Souls' tenacious pursuit of gaming idealism, even at three (or five) entries deep, remains a virtuous enterprise. It's also a show that, no matter how well executed, loses potency with each consecutive performance.

tar Fox Guard's class of tower defense is an exemplary validation of its platform's unique hardware. Like Super Mario Maker and Splatoon, it proves the Wii U's gamepad isn't a superfluous novelty, but a prudent force against an entrenched position.

While there’s a lot to like about Zero, its gameplay innovations seem sometimes obstructive and the presentation fails to impress in some regards. It’s still a great game, but measured against other timeless Nintendo classics, its shortfalls hold it back from standing in the company of giants.

Ratchet & Clank on the PS4 might not be an entirely new game given that it's based on the 2002 version, but Insomniac has done such a masterful job modernizing an already classic game that I would consider it one of the best releases of this console generation.

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.

Quantum Break is an enjoyable game with high replay value, but it underwhelms in several key areas.

Overall, Mario & Sonic Rio 2016 Olympic Games feels like many of the event based games that came before it: full of events, but shallow in substance. The lack of an online multiplayer mode, and the inability to play as any Mario or Sonic character in any event makes this entry in the Mario & Sonic games a bore.

Slain is what happens when naiveté and enthusiasm rampage through ability and execution. Unfortunately, it's the latter pair that measure proficiency, leaving Slain so hostile, broken, and boring that it's hard to muster a sympathetic response.

Catlateral Damage is a simple gaming experience that doesn’t offer up much variety outside of swiping items off shelves, but it does occasionally offer up some cute humor. Nothing really more or less than that, though.

Spinning back to Republique's greater problem; the whole project feels disconnected. Terminus is an OK episode with a generous amount of content, but that's all it feels like; content. It's absent. It's empty. There's nothing here. Releasing five episodes over two years creates problems that are impossible to solve, and trying to work a passable narrative inside a challenging game was a task too herculean for Republique's development team.

Tom Clancy’s The Division is almost everything that was advertised in 2013. While the visuals have certainly been pulled back a bit, probably because of hardware limitations, the gameplay has been delivered as promised.

A great game and a top quality remaster, consider it a must-have.

A clever premise and nice presentation along with sound point-and-click adventure design give Heaven's Hope good reason to belong in any adventure gamer's digital library.

Into the Stars is a fun adventure with a bit of everything (strategy, action, adventure). It would be just a bit better with improved UI, though. Regardless, it's certainly worth a look.

EA's second stint with UFC's license shows some positive growth.

Pokken Tournament is a well crafted, yet simplistic fighting game. It won’t compete against the Tekkens or Street Fighters of the fighting world, but it does enough to cater to the Pokémon crowd. If there was a bit more balance and a lot more characters, then this game would have been phenomenal. As it stands, it’s still a good fighting game with lots of potential for growth.

Hitman’s improved world, which includes smarter NPCs and versatile ways to complete goals, has brought the series onto a higher level of entertainment. Definitely worth a go.

Shardlight is another excellent point-and-click adventure game from the small but fiercely dedicated and skilled bunch at Wadjet Eye Games.

While Ori and the Blind Forest’s style and construction were unassailable, its subscription to its declared genre was prudent if not passive. Great art shouldn’t be afraid to go outside of its lines. Definitive Edition, arriving nearly a year later, expands Ori’s content but delivers a parallel message.

We Are The Dwarves is not the best RTS game out there, but its difficulty is addictive enough to suck any good PC gamer in for more than a few hours.

If you've waited this long to enter the tournament of Mortal Kombat, wait no longer -- MKXL is a stellar release, combining exquisite fighting with a massive amount of content.

Overall Klaus is a solid linear, story-based platformer. Hardcore players of platformers looking for a challenge should look elsewhere. From a mysterious story to solid yet fun gameplay, Klaus is a game that should be enjoyable for anyone.

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.

Its age is apparent in open-world areas and questionable pacing, but its clever puzzles and thick fan service are just as appealing now as ever.