Overall, it comes down to this; should you buy Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon if you already bought and played through Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon. The answer is an emphatic yes. There is a lot of new content in these Ultra versions to warrant an all-new playthrough, not to mention the swathes of improvements and other changes to the games. Considering how good Sun and Moon were, these new Ultra versions improve upon those games noticeably.

Those who will patiently (and happily) put in the time to building their ferries and cooking for their spirit friends will be rewarded with snippets of story that might stay with them longer than they expect.

Aspects of WWE 2K25, like The Island, won’t be for everyone, but with professional wrestling going through something of a renaissance spearheaded by WWE’s jump to Netflix, this game at least has something for every type of wrestling fan.

In today’s game industry, the argument can be made that playing old games lacks appeal. I’d never make that argument, but plenty of people do. However, releases like the Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection prove that maybe the missing ingredient for a lot of folks is just context. If you didn’t live this era of the game industry, then you don’t have personal nostalgia for these games. But a package like this, which treats the material with reverence and respect, can make a new fan out of anyone.

Gris is a wonderful, gorgeous puzzle-platformer with a unique art-style, a phenomenal score and a powerful yet subtle message. I was engaged from start to finish, unable to set it down (though I hadn't planned to play through an entire game in one sitting.) The ending is surprisingly poignant for a game with no dialogue and no text. The journey to that ending is endlessly creative and fun.

By accentuating its prior positives and offering real and tangible improvements to gameplay, FIFA 18 excels and is slightly better than last year's solid entry.

After spending more time with the game, I’m willing to declare that on the whole, Genshin Impact boasts an entirely better combat system than Breath of the Wild. Simply put, it’s more action-oriented, more diverse, more strategic, and more fun. [Impressions]

For the past three years, Konami has placed almost all of its focus on gameplay. That's a smart strategy, but the time has come for the developer/publisher to fatten up the other areas of their game. Were this review based purely on gameplay, the score would be much higher. As a complete package, PES 2018 is good, but still incomplete.

If you're only here for the campaign, there's no reason for you to buy Black Ops 4. But if you're a multiplayer gamer and enjoy battle royale games, there's plenty of great, addictive content to keep you playing for months on end.

From the trailers, we always knew Ghost of Tsushima would be pretty. But I was not expecting a combat system this engaging and fun, or a story this gripping and emotional. It is easily one of the best games of the entire PS4 generation, and given its competition, that’s saying something.

When I heard EA was bringing college football back, I was fully prepared to play a game of Madden with college uniforms. In all honesty, I would have played it and been mildly satisfied. EA delivered a much deeper experience that easily carves its own identity in every way possible. Once EA learns its way around the restrictions of the NIL situation, the series will go to an even higher level.

a very involved game, both functionally and narratively, but on each count, these aspects of the game can be awkward and difficult to fully understand, especially for newcomers. If you are one of the many people that have waited patiently for this installment and the chance to stick it to Xehanort, then you will definitely enjoy yourself a great deal.

Overall, Operation Night Strikers is an excellent collection of shmups from Taito’s glory days in the arcades. It’s a shame that the console ports are an additional DLC pack, but the core collection of games is still handled excellently by the retro game masters at M2.

With many of the smaller gaps filled from last year’s game, this is yet another championship-caliber season for Sony San Diego Studios. MLB The Show 20 does so much right that it’s foolish to spend too much time lamenting it’s flaws. Gameplay, visuals, improved customization and depth; it’s hard to ask for much more.

Madden 17 scores in many ways, and there’s more to like than there is to hate, but we can’t ignore the flags on the field. Gameplay, presentation and customization have taken strides, but there’s still work to do.

A very solid and engaging game. While the narrative is not all that involved, the combat and world exploration are a great deal of fun. My only hope is that more developers are allowed to explore similarly different approaches to gameplay, as this game only goes to show how much more gaming has to offer and that the Switch’s real strength is in encouraging functional rather than technological innovation.

Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse has some small hiccups here and there. But much like its predecessor, it’s a gripping visual novel with waves of reveals that come crashing down. It’s not as frightening, but you’ll still be swept away by the currents of its raw and moving story.

MLB The Show 25 is REALLY good. It is stacked with options and well-fleshed-out game modes that will keep users’ attention for months individually and all year as a total package. While there are still a few elements that I’d like to see added, I feel comfortable saying this isn’t just the best version in the series—MLB The Show 25 is the best baseball video game ever made.

In the same way that Fortnite perfectly captures its objective with visuals, SMB 3 nails their comedic caricatures on the diamond.

FIFA 19 is visually stunning, fun and deep. Aside from a few small issues, it delivers the goods and firmly establishes the latest version and the franchise as the one to beat in the virtual pitch wars.

A very good role-playing game and one that not only is a proud addition to the Xeno series but also adds another great game to the library of the already buoyant Switch. That said, the discrepancy in performance between the docked and portable versions of the game is somewhat unfortunate and may limit your enjoyment.

Overall, Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is an excellent collection and remake of a pair of highly regarded Game Boy Advance strategy games. This game may look cute and simple in terms of its artstyle, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth in terms of its technical and exacting strategy-based gameplay.

Overall, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a stunning rebuild of a classic PlayStation role-playing game. The stop-start aspect of the short story structure is still there, but definitely improved. However, despite its technical brilliance, it feels a little soulless at times and doesn’t hit you the way most Dragon Quest games do. So I can only really recommend this to die-hard fans of the original game, who will no doubt love it.

I feel like this game is just…a bit much. A bit much so soon after Odyssey, and a bit much where it literally takes almost 60 hours to complete all four main questlines and hit level 50. That’s without 100%ing the map in the least, which would take a few dozen more hours I’m sure. For some, especially the “dollar per entertainment hour value” crowd, that’s a good thing. For others, this may be a game that you may not finish by next summer, given how much time it requires. For me personally, it was a tad exhausting.

It’s a vibrant world, more upbeat and less cruel than what we usually see in the genre, and its main characters finally seem like they’re having fun as a goofy group of hackers should. Combined with improved gameplay systems, and you will also be having fun eventually. It took me a few hours to realize that Watch Dogs 2 really had turned a corner, and after a full playthrough, I went from high skeptical to undeniably impressed.

Vampire Crawlers is an exceptional game that manages to retain its progenitor’s frantic gameplay while putting an invigorating twist that’ll keep you glued to the screen. Its simple mechanics are surprisingly deep, but also quite easy to get a hang of. There are so many secret unlockables which will keep players busy for a long time, and every second is just a joyous bloodbath of pixelated fun.

Black Ops 6 innovates in incredibly effective ways with the Call Of Duty formula, while returning to many of the foundations that made the series great to begin with: A strong campaign, well-crafted 3-lane maps, excellent gunplay and round-based Zombies mode. Most of all, it’s really fun.

While combat could still use some fine-tuning, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is a master class in turn-of-the-century-esque exploration awe, and I hope this serves as a springboard for Lara into the next generation of gaming technology.

F1 2016 succeeds where many racing titles fail because it effectively weaves in some personality to accent the hardcore racing details and car mechanics. The gameplay is phenomenal and the presentation is the main positive that drives the aforementioned personality.

NHL 19 is still a fun virtual hockey experience, and that’s the biggest thing. The World of CHEL adds a much-needed layer of personality, playability, and lightheartedness to the franchise. The depth of each mode goes a long way toward meeting almost every virtual hockey fan wherever they are with their fandom. On the downside, there is a lack of customization, some collision-detection issues, as well as some dated and less-than-impressive presentation elements.

As someone who plays this genre more than any other, there is too much that The Division 2 does right to ignore, and it’s doing it right from launch, which is a mountain of points in its favor. I have sunk in 60 hours in a week and a half and I have no plans to stop playing any time soon. This is a big win for Massive, Ubisoft and players themselves.

This feels like a missed opportunity and while the respective games are great to play, the collection as a whole feels somewhat lacking in a technical sense. With any luck, Nintendo could patch the collection to have all the games run at 60 fps and at 1080p, but I am not holding my breath on that one.

It’s been an absolute blast playing through these games again, and it’s also served as an extended gaming history lesson.

Visually, Dirt Rally 2.0 is stunning in most areas. The cars have excellent weight and feel, and while the feature set isn't stacked, including a limited online multiplayer suite, the cupboard isn't bare. Dirt Rally 2.0 is for hardcore fans of rally racing who demand the most authentic experience from a video game that dares to emulate their sport.

There is no such thing as a perfect game, but there can be a perfect experience with a title because the slight issues you may experience don’t drastically hinder your enjoyment. The latest UFC game is very close to that rare benchmark. In this day and age where release day is just the beginning of the game’s journey through patches and tweaks, EA UFC 4 is perhaps an update away from its own brand of perfection.

Yes, there are many frustrating elements, amplified by the fact they feel unnecessary and out of character for the series, but the journey this game takes you on is a worthwhile one. Unlike any other series of games I know, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus and now The Last Guardian each give you a real sense of place in a foreign landscape and you always come away from that feeling, “you were there.” In this day and age, that is still special I think but I genuinely hope the next game in this series doesn’t take another decade to make.

EA College Football 26 won’t be judged as softly as last year’s game because fans aren’t simply fired up to have college football back. That said, EA’s dev team hasn’t rested on its success, and they’ve delivered a strong follow-up with noteworthy improvements. The issues are mostly out of the dev’s hands and based on the handling of legends or legalities that limit in-game customization.

There are a few desirable features missing when you compare The Show 18 to other sports video game titles, but if we were to judge the features and core gameplay that are present, the latest entry to the series maintains its impressive hitting streak. The game looks better, plays smoother and is easier to navigate behind the scenes. Despite the missing pieces, it's still a winner. There's just too much to like for it not to be heavily appreciated by baseball fans.

Overall, Octopath Traveler 0 is a worthy prequel to the first two games, and the new town-building setup is an engaging addition to an already very solid role-playing game.

Whether you're a person who plays single-player, multiplayer, offline or online, this is the most complete sports game I've ever played. There is no such thing as a perfect sports game, but this is as close as it gets.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard may not be worth an entire decade-long wait, but it's very fun in its own right and a unique exploration of the world and a new set of memorable characters.

This is a really good football game that you will probably enjoy, but you will also likely still have some gripes. Madden 18 takes noticeable steps in gameplay and depth, but it's still teasing us with true greatness.

This is still the fantastic game I remember playing back at the start of 2016 and one that works brilliantly on the Switch.

Ninja Theory, you moved me. Hellblade’s gameplay is polished, the writing is fantastic, the acting is superb, and the ending managed to make me cry. But even then, all of this pales in comparison to everything this art piece truly represents. What you’ve built, what you’ve accomplished here, is extremely important. It’s probably the most realistic portrayal of mental illness I’ve yet seen in a video game, and it works its magic without being patronizing, without stooping to exploitation or condescension.

Overall, this is a great platformer done better than most of the competition out there.

While it's not a full-fledged AAA title, SMB 2 blurs the lines with its fantastic gameplay and mode depth.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is one of the best Star Wars games I’ve ever played and one of the best “Soulslike” games out there, surprising as that may sound.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection delivers a grand adventure while building upon its predecessors to create something that not only will appeal to fans of the genre, but one that stands out amongst its contemporaries. With a touching story, charming cast of characters, in-depth combat, and crunchy RPG mechanics, this is the best entry in the series so far.

Superchargers is the moment we really see Skylanders deliver on its potential. It’s not the cheapest game to play with your family but it delivers a huge amount of value.

It’s a gripping, compelling story set in a truly beautiful world that’s worth exploring. Just go in with your expectations clear. This is a relatively short game that’s almost entirely about the story, which consists almost entirely of two people talking over radios to one another. You play a chubby guy in his forties talking to, presumably, a woman of a similar age who you never see. There’s really nothing else like it I can think of, which makes it all the more rewarding...I loved Firewatch, mostly, letdown with the ending notwithstanding

This year, Madden doesn't break any new ground or fix all or most of the nagging issues that have impeded the series in the past. However, it does deliver an absolutely stunning visual experience, decent gameplay and enough options to keep most fans occupied.

Overall, this Saturn Tribute version of Assault Suit Leynos 2 is a mecha gaming classic through and through. Not only is the game influential across other shmups and mecha games, but also a really well-wrought game in its own right. It’s definitely difficult and technical, but like most good old mecha games, that’s almost always a sign of excellence.

Borderlands 3 does not feel like a total transformation for the series, just an evolution. And that may leave some part of it stuck in the past, but overwhelmingly, it’s a game that’s still a blast to play, particularly for those into the loot shooter genre.

Gransys is a fascinating, starkly beautiful world. Character customization, combat, and the weird story and brilliant end-game all make this one of my favorite action-RPG’s of all time. Meanwhile, the Dark Arisen changes make the game somewhat more traversable and streamlined, turning a fun but frustrating game into something far more enjoyable. There’s nothing really new here, but it’s great to finally have the game on PC.

Mouse: P.I. For Hire is a bombastic shooter with a charming cast and a gripping story. Sure, its gameplay is basically a carbon copy of Doom’s but with a 1930s rubber hose aesthetic. However, the execution is well done and it still has plenty of other aspects that differentiate itself. Jack isn’t going through Hell on Earth, but he’s determined to go to Hell and back to uncover the corrupt underbelly of Mouseburg.

Assassin’s Creed Origins improves from its past few installments in almost every way, yet it never quite reaches the heights of the games it tries to emulate. Its combat isn’t Dark Souls level. Its quests aren’t The Witcher 3 level. Its open world isn’t…well honestly, this might actually be one of the most impressive virtual spaces I’ve ever seen, so credit where it’s due there. I do have to imagine that if you ever have loved a game in the Assassin’s Creed series that you’ll enjoy what Origins does here, but also if you don’t have 60+ hours to sink into a game as absolutely massive as this one, I don’t blame you either. But I enjoyed my time with it, more so than I was even expecting, having thought I had burned out on this franchise for good.

Overall, Skyward Sword HD is a wonderful remaster and is a joy to play. However, it requires more effort than your typical Zelda game, not least due to the new control options available, but with diligent practice the game opens up into something genuinely beautiful.

Modern Warfare gets the series back to its roots with plenty of nods to the 2007 original, but it also does enough to keep the game fresh and exciting, and it looks simply stunning on both console and PC.

Far Cry 5 is a chaos simulator with a preposterous story, tons of quality of life improvements over past games and an enormous amount of content. It's a blast if you let yourself just accept the silly premise and not invest too much in the politics of the game, or lack thereof.

Stellar Blade is a good game, not a (don’t say stellar) fantastic one. Its peers do a lot of the things it does but better, though that doesn’t mean it’s not enjoyable in its own right. Don’t go in expecting a revolution, but this may be the start of a solid series and could make Eve a Bayonetta/2B-esque star. The ensuing discourse about this game is going to be exhausting, as it has been already, but divorced from that, the game itself is solid, and that’s what matters the most.

While both the story and the multiplayer will likely be divisive—we’re a long, long ways from Modern Warfare or the original Black Ops here—I’m glad to see Treyarch taking risks, trying something different, and impressed that even with all the changes, the core game still feels very much like Call of Duty.

If you ever wondered what made the Ray series of shmups so special, then this collection should hopefully help you with that, along with an abundance of homing lasers.

In my time with my review copy of Lost Ark on the PTS the past few weeks, I’ve gotten at least 40 hours in on a single character, more than enough to make a judgement about my potential future with the game. It’s trouble. This game is trouble. And I mean that as a compliment. ["Positive" review in progress]

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is a gorgeous game full of industry-best visuals and cast performances. It is also not terribly fun to play.

Just when it appears as though NBA Live has closed the gap, the sheer immenseness and refined quality of the 2K experience shows us that there are levels to this game. The development team and visionaries in charge of the creative direction of the franchise have created a new layer where they alone rest in the sports video game universe. Just like LeBron James, NBA 2K18 isn't perfect, but with its ambitious new additions, refined gameplay, and a truckload of options, there's no question, it's still the best in the world.

If you like your shoot-em-ups to unleash hell at an insane pace but all the while expect you to keep your head, then Dariusburst: Chronicle Saviours is definitely the game for you.

I suppose we can now venture into the old “is Guardians worth $60?” debate. If you miss hyper linear story games with no live service BS, and are a big Marvel fan, then this might be the game for you. If you are hoping for Devil May Cry level combat and God of War type puzzles and exploration within a linear story, you will be disappointed. But I can safely say this is probably a better end product than most people were expecting, and that alone is a pretty big win for a game that felt like a bit of a risk and like it’s been lacking in buzz leading up to launch here. It has issues, but it gets a lot right, and pushes storytelling in ways I haven’t seen in this genre before.

Your entire playthrough should take 4 hours, but Oxenfree’s story unfolds briskly. As do the stakes. There’s no filler here, just an increasingly fascinating, emotional story steeped in the paranormal. Night School Studio’s first effort is a brilliant one. Not perfect, but absolutely worth experiencing.

In an already crowded it stands out from the crowd by taking the toys-to-life genre another step in the right direction.

NBA 2K21 on next-gen delivers a fun and deep hoops package unlike anything else we’ve ever seen. It’s not just about enhanced visuals. There is more under the hood in almost every area. This isn’t a perfect game. There is room for improvement in multiple areas, but what it does excellently far outshines the smaller, and much-easier to absorb shortcomings. 2K has again set the standard on a new console, and everyone else is playing catch-up. The fact that this game was developed during a pandemic is inspiring.

Overall, Neon Inferno is a fantastic run ‘n’ gun shooter that’s dripping with style and gritty edge. The stages are beautifully designed, the art style is immediately impressive, and the gameplay is sharp and balanced. Even the soundtrack sets the tone perfectly with incredible synth rock music.

While it still doesn’t justify my purchase of PlayStation VR, it does dramatically change how Ace Combat 7 plays, not least for how you track enemies and, most importantly, acquire missile locks.

A fantastic sequel to an already very good and interesting Vita game. Due to its unique gravity based mechanics, there are still some teething issues but the game remains eminently playable and fun with it.

It’s only through a combination of rich, collaborative, and altogether interactive elements that something like this can be born, a piece of software that shirks tedious story and plodding industry conventions in favor of pummeling sound and pure, unadulterated gameplay. In that regard, Aaero is exclusively, utterly, and unapologetically ‘video game’. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to the delectable, relentless wub wub inside my television.

Pokémon: Let’s Go is definitely something fans of Pokémon will have fun with and will also be familiar to newer players who have enjoyed Pokémon GO. However, don’t be fooled by the sweet looking presentation, as there is a solid challenge to be had here.

At the end of the day, it’s just not innovative and fun enough for me to heartily recommend it, and that’s largely because of the cost.

From exploration to puzzle-solving to the charming story and lovely graphics, King’s Quest: A Knight To Remember is a delightful game.

Keeper doesn’t revolutionize itself from other indie darling games like Journey or Inside, but it doesn’t need to. These kinds of games are all about atmospheric storytelling and having a relaxing time, and Keeper nails it. Keeper just has a noticeably higher production budget due to its vibrant visuals and Pixar-like smooth animations. It looks like a surrealist painting come to life.

It’s going to be the best kids game of the holiday season and no doubt a great gift for kiddos everywhere. But there’s plenty here grown-ups will enjoy as well. My advice? Play it with your kids. It’s best that way.

Rock Band 4 may have lost a few features (some temporarily, some permanently) in its transition to Xbox One and PlayStation 4, but the core gameplay is dramatically improved by allowing us to be more expressive, while preserving the older mechanics for those resistant to change. It’s player choice at its finest, and a welcome return to fake plastic rocking.

Overall, Shadow of the Ninja Reborn is much more than a remake. This is an all-new and lovingly crafted game that is both refreshingly technical and gorgeous to look at. Whatever they are feeding the team at Tengo Project is clearly very special. I just hope the powers that be get out of the way and let them make more games as good as this.

If you’re looking for something a bit different to play this summer and have a Tony Hawk-sized action sports itch you need to scratch, Rollerdrome is absolutely worth checking out.

Overall, Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe is a very nice remaster of a solid Wii game that had a great deal of affection from longtime players of the series back in the day. This remaster also runs very well on the Switch and is definitely worth picking up if you are a Kirby fan. However, if you are new to Kirby and want to experience the best of its 2D offerings, then I would have to recommend Planet Robobot instead.

Prey is genre-bending in a way I haven’t really seen before. You can compare it to a half dozen games, but it still manages to feel unique from almost all of them. It won’t be for everyone, but it’s a great single player experience you can get lost in for a week or two easily. Prey has come out of relative nowhere to be a truly great campaign experience that succeeds despite some of the game’s more muddled aspects. I’d recommend giving it a shot.

I’m sure it won’t be for everyone, but if you enjoy horror movies like Scream and want to experience the genre with some agency in the story’s outcome, Until Dawn is a great choice.

Overall, New Pokémon Snap is a relaxing but still a quite involved game There’s a lot to do in the Lental Region and the game definitely turned out better than I ever expected it to. While it can get a bit repetitive, there are enough surprises to keep you engaged.

Pokémon: Let’s Go is definitely something fans of Pokémon will have fun with and will also be familiar to newer players who have enjoyed Pokémon GO. However, don’t be fooled by the sweet looking presentation, as there is a solid challenge to be had here.

For all its faults and missteps, Pacer is a strong, gloriously addictive debut; all R8 Games needs to do is iron out its issues with a few patches, then hit us with a killer sequel or two–just like Psygnosis did with the immortal Wipeout 2097 and Wip3out.

What Lunar lacks in gameplay complexity it more than makes up for in wonderful animations, captivating characters, and riveting music. You’ll absolutely feel the surge of excitement as you set out on these adventures, letting the whimsical charm sweep you away.

R-Type Delta is one of the finest shmups ever made and obviously needs to be widely available across modern hardware. I just wish this new HD Boosted version had more to it, and M2 had been hired to handle the game in the same way they made G-Darius HD.

I love the way PES 2019 plays. The gameplay is the biggest selling point, but not the only thing that matters–especially in the face of formidable competition. Konami can't escape the negative effect of losing the licensing battle, its shallow modes, and bland presentation...Those things keep a good game from being great.

The thing is, the UI is so tiny in handheld mode I can barely read the words and button prompts. It's pretty easy to just miss button prompts altogether. When docked to a TV, this isn't a problem at all, but it's quite frustrating on the go. I can only imagine how difficult this would be for someone with worse vision than my own.

Overall, Super Robot Wars 30 is an excellent tribute to the 30th anniversary of the series. The new mission setup is a bit daunting at first but works well on multiple playthroughs and with the new DLC. Considering the challenges the development team must have faced during the pandemic to get this game done, it’s remarkable how well it all turned out.

FIFA 20 is fun, which is the most important thing. The developers in charge of gameplay have done just about all they can do to make this title a joy on the virtual pitch. It’s shortcomings are because of a lack of innovative improvements to core modes. That keeps it as a really good game, but a notch below great.

It's all very retro and very fun and, for me at least, not just nostalgic but sort of joyful, like seeing an old friend again after many years. Other old games, like Super Mario Bros, I've played many times over the years, either on virtual consoles or on the original systems, but this has remained a lost gem. I feel pretty lucky to be able to play it again, and in such a loving rendition. Lizardcube has crafted something special here. You should play it.

I give Rainbow Six: Siege a Hold on my Buy/Hold/Sell scale. It’s a great multiplayer game and well worth playing, but it certainly won’t hurt to wait a bit until the price comes down. Better still, if you wait you can go and buy two or three copies with friends and play it the way it’s meant to be played: As a team.

At launch, Overwatch 2 is a launchpad for something much, much grander. It’s rough around the edges, but the controlled chaos of the actual gameplay is right up my alley. Given the live service nature of the game, it’s something I’ll likely re-review every so often. Still, Overwatch 2 is in pretty great shape overall.

Despite the game's flaws and inexcusably rough launch, I've been very happy with it and absolutely recommend it to anyone who's been sitting on the fence. For those of you who haven't touched a Call of Duty game in a while because of the sci-fi stuff, now's a good time to get back into the fray.