Still, if you're not really one for MMOs or you won't have the time to level up a character, please move along. The Force is strong with this one, but not so strong that you should throw away your console and invest in a beefy PC.

Between the open environments and multi-branching plot of its story mode and designable maps for multiplayer, there is a ton to do and be seen in Ubisoft’s latest endeavor. So pack your bags and get ready for your trip to the motherland.

There’s so much to Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time and so much that feels like a miracle. Many sequels this far after a series’ prime can feel like they’re stuck in the past and are merely mining nostalgia. Crash 4 does do a bit of mining, but it also strikes gold in how it impeccably balances respect for the bandicoot’s history and modernity. Crash Bandicoot 4‘s stellar level design, responsive controls, deep replayability, and superb animation all come together to create such an outstanding experience that not only brings this bandicoot back to life, but also removes it from the dusty shelf where all the other taxidermied ’90s platforming mascots go to be forgotten.

By virtue of its impressive new control scheme and solid delivery, Fight Night 2004 doesn’t really have any peers and by default can be declared the unanimous champ. However, it still needs a much better single-player Career mode before it can stand toe to toe with other, deeper sports games.

A deep puzzle game, and is in many ways better than "Myst." It takes the genre one step further, upping the ante if you will. If you enjoyed Myst, or are just yearning for a good puzzle, you'll love Obsidian.

It won’t change the way you look at platformers, and it won’t inspire a generation of young gamers. But it’s a well-done, good-looking, and most of all fun game, and it really shows off what the PSP is capable of.

If you're after a deeper football game or something that you can play alone, getting Blitzed isn't the right choice (the right choice is NFL 2K).

Even though Treyarch took Dad’s precious wheels out for a less reckless spin this time around, World at War is still senselessly eating away at Call of Duty’s mileage.

Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom is a game that is built on extremities. Its weaknesses are extremely flawed, but its strengths are profoundly great. The story and characters are woefully brought down by such uneven pacing, which is unfortunate given the relevant commentary that is sprinkled throughout.

Plenty of side quests.

I simply cannot wait to see the conclusion, and am already hoping Season Two comes along sometime next year.

There are DS games out there that I can only call 'must-have', and Peggle: Dual Shot is the newest member of their ranks—a rocking 'port' with faithful presentation (right down to the glorious burst of 'Ode to Joy' at the successful completion of each level, which really makes you feel like a by-God winner), a literal double-shot of two complete Peggle games with DS-exclusive coolness to boot... and all of it jammed onto the same tiny cartridge, with no compromises.

Disgaea can be on the tough side, and the 'game over' screen will come up often, but with the Item World, the ability to continuously develop new characters from a pool of 150 and characters that can level up in four areas, the advantage is on your side.

A pretty solid, compelling take on the inner and outer workings of the deliciously corrupt film business and should satisfy most who audition - until they invariably freak out and seek rehab, that is.

While most FPS like CoD series or Halo do improve in each iteration, this is one of the few games that dramatically enhances its previous installment. This is the new FPS, the thinking man's FPS, and I can't wait to get my second playthrough started.

Rare Replay is a momentous celebration of gaming history. The package has been constructed with care and attention to detail, offering gamers of all types a glimpse into the past of one of the industry’s greatest studios.

A fun, inviting sim game that manages to do away with the hob-snobbery that usually surrounds golf. It's cleverly designed and is a good choice for strategic simulation fans.

There’s plenty in FIFA 2004 to keep you happy until next season, when hopefully we’ll finally able to execute some plays of greater skill and complexity.

It's a much slower-paced affair than most other recent RTS games like "WarCraft 3" and "Impossible Creatures," but the slower movement makes for a more strategic game.

The best part of Hordes of the Underdark turns out not to be the new campaign, but the extensive online support and terrific response to its dedicated fan base.

Certainly a big game, but the gang at Pandemic has seen fit to provide even more in the form of unlockable goodies. More weapons, more vehicles and even a few more characters (this is a LucasArts game after all) are tied to the free-standing bounties, extending the game’s already long shelf life.

The game feels like a return to what made "Street Fighter 2" such a blast back in the day.

OlliOlli World finally sees the series’ visual style matching its frenetic, fun gameplay. Mostly every new feature added by Roll7 works in its favor, providing a satisfying and impressively deep skateboarding game with immense replayability, tons of customization options, and a fun multiplayer mode. OlliOlli has always been slept on as a series, but with World, this could — and hopefully will — all change.

Middle-earth just wants the player to explore it like a playground. You can climb up structures, leap from them to tackle a wild creature of the land, and even enlist your own group to drive the dramas that ensue. Shadow of Mordor paints the pictures that rest somewhere between bookends.

It seems like the kind of game a child could share with a parent, although there’s enough sugar here to please anyone with a sweet tooth, and a sour sense of humor.

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With the Pokémon series moving to the Nintendo Switch, we'll be entering a new era. Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon may be the last purely handheld Pokémon games. It's fitting then that these titles are two of the best Pokémon games made.

Shin Megami Tensei 5 brings back the things that fans love about the series. Its biggest sin is that it doesn’t do much to innovate. Fans that were expecting to see a brand new vision for SMT will be confused because this is essentially the same demon collecting dungeon crawler it has always been. However, the quality of life improvements and the more expansive environments do add some new spice into the formula, and I had a blast fighting my heart out. It’s the archetypical JRPG, but that’s not a bad thing.

While Starfighter is without a doubt a solid game, I can't help but wish for a more dynamic storyline or level structure. The ability to progress in the game without complete success would definitely boost the depth by leaps and bounds.

In its effort to contend with the Rock Band franchise, Guitar Hero World Tour takes several leaps forward, though it falls in some holes already made by the first installment of Rock Band.

Vets, however, might find it hard to overlook the lacking A.I., inability to jump and brief Story. The future looks good, but far from perfect.

Horizon Zero Dawn for PC earns a great score as it still does so much right, easily deserving the attention of any curious PC gamers who feel as though they missed out, and for anyone who’s happy to jump in at that $50 launch price.

PlanetSide 2's uneven execution makes it fall short of what it aspires to be: the well-rounded MMOFPS many have been craving. It's fun to squad up with friends and make an impact on the game world with class synergy and the potency of vehicles behind you. However, sequences of enthusiastic, large-scale combat are marred by lag and frustrating bugs. It gets the FPS part right, but misses the mark with its shallow MMO qualities. If nothing else, PlanetSide 2 is a free-to-play game that can spark moments of excitement, but just don't set your expectations too high.

Planet Coaster isn’t just a wonderful game, it’s an important one. It’s effectively resurrected a dead genre, providing an act to follow that is as inspiring as it is fun to play. At a reasonable price point, it’s a great pick-up for anyone who enjoys the process of creation and management.

If you’re already a fan of Yacht Club’s charming 8-bit franchise, there’s little doubt you’ll want to pick up Specter of Torment. Its story angle alone as a prequel renders it unique, and encountering familiar characters and bosses from the perspective of a baddie is the sort of script-flipping that makes this universe worth perpetually hanging around in.

It's great to see yet another great downloadable game come from Twisted Pixel that not only brings something fresh to the table but does it with style.

Beyond Good & Evil gives gamers a timeless cast filled with originality, depth, and memorable lines including the "Chili con carne" battle-cry.

Perhaps the biggest problem with Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition is the car control, which once again is just too simple.

While not the graphical grand-slam 3DO promised, High Heat 2003 is a fresh game, a better game than its predecessors and a worthy contribution to any digital slugger's collection.

Overall, FIFA 17 performs well and keeps the trophy for football greatness, but it can certainly do better. But with the exclusive licensing and creative game modes, it's tough to beat. However, Pro Evolution Soccer is making great strides in competing against EA's series this year.

When all is said and done, Maximo just doesn't provide any staying power. If you've got all four special kisses (you'll have to find out about that for yourself) and pass the game, you'll unlock the art gallery. But since when has art ever been a highlight?

There is an endless amount of replay value, thanks to the brilliant tracks the community is already hard at work on. The simplicity belies a brilliance developers have yet to touch on Sony's new handheld platform.

Champion mode is so good, in fact, that the more traditional Legacy mode feels hopelessly archaic and soulless by comparison.

If Resident Evil 5 is a new flavor of game for the long-running franchise, it's also a strong, spicy one—with occasional chucks of co-op wasabi to goad your inner action hero into fits of running and gunning... albeit, not at the same time.

From the small screen to the big one (well, your television), God of War: Origins Collection won't disappoint. Though it's just yet another collection, it's hard to argue with two solid titles for $40.

Playing this game is kind of like getting into a good book. The first few hours may be boring or even painful, but once you get into it, you'll be up until the wee hours of the morning flipping pages (or pressing buttons) trying to find out what happens next. And let me tell you - the story is first-rate and the plot gets thicker than a pint of Guinness straight from the tap.

Tetris DS scores its biggest points for doing so many things with a pretty small number of shapes. Though most of the new modes are novelties, the nice variety coupled with great LAN play makes this some solid methadone.

Just a polished version of an already great game, but for me, it was a bit more special. With the technical issues eliminated, Dark Souls can shine and is a much more satisfying experience.

Without question, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor is a solid reworking of the themes of the Shin Megami Tensei series on the handheld, yet has a spirit and style of its own.

We're glad to see Ubisoft spare their Prince from becoming a pauper by ditching the dreary aesthetic, but the minor improvements along with too many familiar gripes keep this game from being king.

The foundation for the UFC Undisputed series has been remodeled so thoroughly that faulting UFC Undisputed 2010 for its optional Career mode and its questionable online business practices would almost be missing the point.

Irrespective of these minor interface wobbles, Monster Hunter Tri is undeniably addictive. It has arguably the most up-to-date online mode on the console. And it’s the friendliest to newcomers that the series has ever been.

Frankly, this game is heroin to its fans. Though seemingly simple, its complex depth will lead to many lost hours.

And what I really appreciate is having everything spoken to me in Japanese. It does wonders for authenticity.

While not totally original, it's got enough intensity and excitement to have even the most jaded real-time strategy gamer glued to his computer for hours. Death to the American dogs, comrade.

The single player is okay, but it's really all about sticking with a friend and coordinating offensives with your fellow teammates over Xbox Live. This one should keep you in the field until "Counter-Strike" and "Halo 2" make their way out of developer boot camp.

The ability to explore and choose how you want to approach each obstacle is great, albeit a bit simpler this time around. It’s also much shorter, clocking in at around 15 hours, but again, you can play each level in various ways.

Both unique and well-developed and will leave you wanting more. If the seven-hour main campaign isn't enough, you can go back and play any number of Outland's inspirations.

Essentially the title is two full games (well, since the second one starts on Tuesday instead of Sunday, I guess it's more like one and three quarters), and well worth the pick up for anyone who may have missed this spin-off of Shin Megami Tensei.

I might have my issues with the second half of the campaign, but I did like the return of Marcus Fenix.

I strongly believe that anyone who has been hesitant to buy DLC for Mass Effect 3 should consider giving this add-on a chance.

A fantastic rally racing game that aims to be a fantastic all-around off-road experience, but like internet porn, next time it needs to get a little dirtier.

If you’re looking for a frag-fest, plus all the enticements of the new Warzone mode, Halo 5 is a must-own. All the new abilities and maps are terrific. Those who care about the single-player campaign might not find the story to be as compelling but will appreciate the treatment of lore and production value. Either way, In the coming months, Halo 5: Guardians will undoubtedly have both supporters and detractors playing and commenting about it for years.

The load of modes and options will keep you easily entertained until next season, and the new animations and context-sensitive controls add a never-before-seen layer of realism, even if you have seen everything else before.

This is the most complete NBA game out there, dominating the court with its new control options, good A.I. and strong delivery.

If you love the Switch's handheld mode, and want a great game that will last you potentially over one hundred hours, then Skyrim is pretty much second only to Zelda: Breath of the Wild when it comes to action RPGs on this console.

Devil May Cry 4 is riddled with too many flaws to really enjoy completely. It’s disheartening – there’s a kernel of a good game beneath all the terrible writing and poor design decisions.

Sure, the Hulk is really just a one trick pony of destruction, but what a satisfying pony ride.

Guitar Hero: Metallica is exactly what you expect it to be: a solid, offhand reworking of Guitar Hero World Tour with a bunch of Metallica songs.

If you thrill in playing games that represent the sweat and tears of a developer, Gorogoa is a great game to purchase. It's absolutely gorgeous, and I found it supremely meditative.

Same great dialogue and voice acting.

And while the gameplay and puzzles are streamlined, the unlockable content massive, and the flying modes excellent, the best part about the game is its snarky humor and feel-good satire.

Fortunately, the 360 version is blessedly free of the slowdown and Civilopedia bugs that mar the PS3 version, leading to a much more relaxing experience.

Spore is the most fantastic game you’ll ever avoid playing. I can easily guarantee you will find something upsetting about the end product; the game is riddled with flaws small and large, and though there is a lot of impressive tech backing the whole product, it does not have the kind of polish we so arrogantly expect from our entertainment.

Freestyle control is the same as it ever was, which is a good thing as it still trumps "ESPN" as the better, more responsive control system.

A kick with its sharp visual style, crisp sounds, and thousands of tasty, violent, obscene morsels which are sure to stimulate your psychic sweet tooth. A strong game to be sure, but not the sequel it could have been.

This is officially a budget title. Despite its small problems and lack of online play, that’s just insane. This is a well-rounded game that would still be recommended if it cost full fare, so race to the store and pick up a copy before they come to their senses and sell it for what it’s worth.

Considering it's a port, I would have been much happier if more attention was given to the audio and video.

Definitely not the groundbreaker that Gran Turismo was, it is indeed a solid racing title with plenty of replay value to keep the engine warm. Dreamcast race junkies, this one's for you.

Perhaps the biggest problem with Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition is the car control, which once again is just too simple.

Its approachable, eye-catching flair matches most of the hype and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, though veterans may feel slighted by the simplified control scheme.

The Metro Redux edition is a compilation of two solid FPS games.

At times Most Wanted elicits the hungriest of addictions, feeding on the player's desire to beat more and more friends. While a few gamers might find the ride too fast or too arcade-y, racing fans of all shapes and sizes will find hours and hours of fantastic rivalries.

Though the story could have brought more attention to the ending and more fully developed the character relationships in the game, the environmental storytelling and exploration through the city of Prague is intricate and memorable. The stealth-based first-person gameplay, paired with the flexibility of the augmentation system, remains as one of the best in the business.

If you're a Resident Evil 4 veteran that has played through its many reissues over the years, there's not really much to be impressed by this release on the current-gen consoles. Even so, Resident Evil 4 is still a terrifying ride, especially if you missed it the first time around and would like to experience one of the most influential games from the past decade.

In trying to be all things to all gamers, Guerrilla has lost sight of what they do best: letting you shoot interesting enemies with cool weapons in beautiful environments. By filling Killzone 3 to the brim with extras, they've let the core game suffer. And while the well-designed multiplayer has been left largely intact, the changes will certainly irk fans of its predecessor.

While F1 die-hards will no doubt spot inaccuracies or missed opportunities, as a casual fan and observer of the sport, I was impressed by it. If you have even a passing interest in Formula One, or happen to be a race sim junkie looking for your next hit, F1 2012 won't steer you wrong (see what I did there!?).

Wargroove is a gorgeous example of high fidelity pixel art, even when you’re fully zoomed out during gameplay. The battle scenes are vibrant and energetic, although they do take a bit too long to play out. There’s nothing in-game quite as pretty as the fully animated cutscene that starts everything off, but we can’t have everything.

The cutscenes are just as fun to watch as the game is to play.

Battlefield 1943 is an impressive feat - it's a fun and gorgeous-looking downloadable game. If its rigid online structure can somehow be made more user-friendly in future patches, it'll be even more of a sure-bet that many of us will be playing for a long, long time, especially if this type of co-operative unlocking of features becomes a standard in future content.

F1 2011 is full of detail but keeps things simple, a solid racing title across the board.

In the end, I was left with a surprisingly good feeling about Devil May Cry 3, despite my idea during hour 5, still on the second level, of breaking the disc into tiny shards and sticking them in my eyes. The latter part of the game becomes quite enjoyable.

The level of execution and polish in Axiom Verge makes it seem as though it came from a well-established studio, let alone a single person. There's a confidence in the design that channels the best parts of successful Metroidvania games.

A predictable and challenging sequel. It has a nonchalant appeal that can capture anyone’s heart. And good news, as far as the sequel... wait, solve this puzzle first.

Great action and great weapons carry this game far.

A terrifying, chilling, disturbing, and in every sense scary psychological horror game.

The sound effects are unbelievable in both versions, conveying a sense of impact completely unique to Round 3. Staggering punches don't just look painful, they sound painful.

It’s more immersive, experimental, and enjoyable thanks to its suite of big and small changes. Sure, there are areas that Sports Interactive needs to improve upon. Those will come with time and future updates. But as it is, Football Manager 2020 is a solid entry in the series. It isn’t visionary, but its fresh approach and tweaks are enough to make it worth your time.