But taken purely as a game, this one could use some radiation treatment.

With its excellent graphics and myriad game modes, ESPN NBA Basketball is a good, strong title. The gameplay quirks like rebounding difficulty and the canned animations are there and can be frustrating, but are easily overlooked when you take in the big picture.

Jumping right back in the flow of NBA 2K shouldn’t be a problem for past fans of the series. There are plenty of new moves and plays to delve into, though new players may have some time getting used to controls, as the way the game moves can be somewhat of an acquired taste.

Fallout 4 is a roaring response to criticism that the series has ignored its qualities as a shooter in favor of its deeper and stronger RPG roots. Nearly every design change in Fallout 4 poises the game as a more streamlined modern shooter with high production value across the truly open-world Commonwealth wasteland.

Overall, Armored Core 6 is excellent for newcomers and longtime fans alike. It serves as a great introduction to the series, and you don’t need to be familiar with past entries to have a great time. On the flip side, the gameplay and mechanics are familiar enough that you’ll feel instantly at home here if you played AC5 or Verdict Day. Given the positive response to AC6, I hope we see more of the series sooner rather than later. It deserves to be one of FromSoftware’s cornerstones as much as the studio’s Souls games do.

I don’t know that diehard Borderlands fans will appreciate this series’ approach, but it’s worth a shot if you’re into the story more than the shooting.

Even if you are one to scoff at how quickly LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias might last you, it's definitely one of the best games you can get for 1,000 Wii Points (US $10) on Wiiware.

Gone Home will make you question everything, including how you react to certain key events within the game world. It was a lot like the feeling I get from watching a really amazing episode of The Twilight Zone, where the eerie story serves a greater purpose than just scaring the crap out of you. There's a message behind the mystery of the house on Arbor Hill that may reveal as much about you as it does about Kaitlin's missing family.

Kirby's Epic Yarn delivers fun, solid platforming with incredible style. The presentation and lack of difficulty may be a turn-off, but any platforming fan would do well to get wrapped up in this ball of yarn.

The HD remaster in particular does wonders for the series and makes Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection an easy recommendation for PS4 owners.

We expected to have our sanity challenged by talking dogs and barking women, not game breaking, data corrupting bugs. Still, those of you without corrupted save files might consider a trip to the land of madness – it is a strange and bemusing place, and at least it’s more Oblivion.

Rocket League is a fast, frenetic and addictive game, and playing it while on the move ensures that you won't feel compelled to put it down until your Switch's battery runs out. While this isn't the best-looking port, its smooth and stable performance makes up for it, and being able to play it on the move is a great twist on a winning formula.

While heavy on the system requirements, Supreme Commander is simply a terrific, well designed game.

This game has got it all - sophisticated strategy, awesome gameplay and well-placed humor.

The warm, fuzzy, post-apocalyptic world has all the little details and exactly the right tone. The immersive story has kept me up until the wee hours of the morn on many occasions.

Go buy Silent Hill, pour yourself a strong drink, turn out all the lights, and immerse yourself in the sickness. It's a hell of a lot better than going to see the latest Wes Craven movie.

Simply one of the best DS games released thus far and an easy choice for DS owners griping about the lack of strong software for their tech-heavy handheld.

Taken altogether, New 'n' Tasty still makes the Oddworld experience totally worth it.

The only other notable problem with Burnout Legends is that it doesn’t really offer anything new to fans of the series. If you’ve played "Burnout 3: Takedown," expect a remarkably similar game.

Its world has been expanded with new areas, enemies, and group content that surpass much of what the original game offered. Leveling suffers from repetitive quest design and its zones are troublesome to traverse until you can fly, but these issues are soon left in history as you plunge into Heavensward’s magnificent story conclusion, and engage in its wonderfully composed group content.

When you combine the depth of gameplay, breadth of modes and quality of delivery with the salary-cap friendly $19.99 price tag, it’s easy to see how ESPN NHL 2K5 stays on top of its division.

While the physics system is itself a marvel of gameplay finesse, Fight Night Round 4 also utilizes consistently awe-inspiring animation and stunning musculature on the boxer models.

If "MVP Baseball 2004" was Alec Baldwin, MVP Baseball 2005 is Daniel – mostly the same, but a little bit sleazier.

It delivers unbelievable graphics and more cathartic chaos than you can shoot a luger at, but has something of a dumb head on its shoulders, an overly simple control scheme and busies itself providing greater densities of the same old content without doing anything new.

From its amazing level of detail to its fantastic game engine, this is one that fans of strategy should not miss.

Its amazing graphics and fun gameplay make this one of those games that you need to experience. Just watch out for those damn zombies.

The vast-majority rest of the time, Valkyria Chronicles offers a unique take on RPG-strategy, a truly involving story, endearing characters, and a chance to reflect upon—or wonderfully, hopelessly anachronize— whatever sense of real-world history you may still have in your head.

A solid game with great multiplayer, but nothing wholly unique in and of itself.

When you walk away from Total War: Warhammer, you’ll feel like you’ve played yet another decent Warhammer game. It has the attention to detail and adherence to lore that fans of the IP look for, but without many of the compelling qualities that are needed to substantiate AAA games in a release-heavy year like 2016.

At least the game makes you feel more like a quarterback than ever before, and that's reason enough for one hell of an end-zone celebration.

Don’t expect anything revolutionary. Sunbreak builds on a firm foundation and caters to those who conquered the base game. However, I see those who played tens of hours of Monster Hunter Rise feeling a bit weary when they boot up Sunbreak. Especially given its slow start.

While BlazBlue is unabashedly brutal online, there’s more than enough offline content to keep beginners busy until they feel skilled enough to brave online play. BlazBlue doesn’t apologize for its complexity, but it does make everyone feel welcome.

Even if you're an old hand at Most Wanted at this point (my SpeedPoint total across Xbox 360, PS3, and PC versions was already a ridiculous amount), the ability to control the traffic or cops, and the ability to easy locate hidden cars are worth revisiting Fairhaven. Criterion's also used the extra time to make the Wii U the best-ooking console version, complete with textures from the PC release and a few tweaks to the way night and day look in game.

With everything running at 1080p, this is certainly eye candy. Just be sure to keep up, because neither Dante nor Virgil, or the demon horde for that matter, is going to drop the action because you're a little rusty.

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.

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

But if you can handle the constant exertion meter management, sharpen/recharge/reload your weapon while surrounded, and chase those damn beasts down on foot alone or with friends, you should be able to weather the storm of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate.

A treat that is as deliciously unique as Rez or Okami comes around once every few years. That one has appeared for the handheld and lasts well over thirty hours is a feat in itself, especially for a $20 budget title.

Beyond the Sword presents a lot of additions to what was already a great game. It's a good expansion, and capitalizes a great deal on fixing some of the weaknesses of the original.

I’m ecstatic that Square Enix took a gamble on this series. Dragon Quest is one of the oldest and most popular JRPG franchises, and its a perfect vehicle for this sort of gameplay. It’s colorful and friendly while still having enough adult themes to keep you hooked. I was glad to see a lot of the issues from the first game were rectified, and I can’t wait to see where the series goes from here.

Even with its graphical hitches and proverbial chinks in its armor, and though the story may not move you by virtue of its resemblance to The Lord of the Rings, Dragon Age: Origins creates a comprehensive story-world that lives and breathes with the best that epic video games have to offer.

All in all, this is a very solid entry for the franchise, with enough new features and assets to please loyal fans and with enough improvements to attract initiates.

NBA 2K16 is full of features and detail. It’s possibly the most complete game to the series.

Death Stranding doesn’t try to imitate other games, and it’s not for everyone. However, it’s one of my favorite journeys in video gaming history. I feel I’ll return to again and again as the years pass.

If you want something more from your video games or if you want to be transported to another dimension to learn the true role of an intergalactic soldier, you should probably hit the books. If Titanfall is representative of man’s aspirations, we’re going no where fast.

This series is better than it has any business being. If you’re tired of the cookie cutter, hum-drum crap coming out of big studios, Yakuza 0 is the prescription for you.

Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix had an undeniably heavy burden in modernizing a character born from an immature, male-oriented fantasy, but no matter your gender, if you're a gamer, you should play Tomb Raider. It combines high-levels of interactivity, excellent pacing, and a true bond between the player and the character on screen.

Silent Hill 2 Remake sets a new golden standard when it comes to remakes. The story is carried over completely intact, honoring the original narrative while adding depth where appropriate. I absolutely loved exploring the expansive, redesigned environments, which are more immersive and atmospheric than ever before. The enhanced graphics and excellent sound design contribute to an experience that is both haunting and beautiful.

With all the challenges and brilliantly designed tables, it's hard not to push just about anyone into playing Marvel Pinball.

As an action game, as a PSP game – hell, simply just as a video game – Ghost of Sparta is entertaining and well worth a play. As a God of War game, though, it's a reluctant step backward, in its linearity, sparse bosses battles, and lack of weapon and magic options.

RedLynx might just have hit the jackpot with Trials HD as the longest lasting game in the Summer of Arcade lineup, rivaling even 'Splosion Man in terms of length with its level editor.

From the music to the controls and Doc’s worthless advice between rounds, everything in Punch Out!! hearkens back to a time before bump-mapping and load screens, a time when games didn’t have to rely on downloadable content or pre-order bonuses to be great.

Although it has some technical issues and has some dated gameplay features, Suikoden III's enormous breadth, creative triptych storytelling approach and monstrous character list give it a distinct edge.

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm is conclusively a must-have for anyone who wishes to continue being relevant in competitive play. For casual players who merely enjoy building a base and waging war in sci-fi space, it’s a worthy, although non-groundbreaking, expansion.

Dishonored 2 will successfully function for both fans of the series and those who pick it up for the first time. With a robust side-quest system, you'll find the game has much to discover. That, and the ability to play the game how you want and rewarding you for taking a more challenging course, make Dishonored 2 a rousing success. This game isn't hard to pick up and play, but it will be almost impossible to put down.

Dungeon Siege's monumental ease-of-use is particularly impressive to me.

The set pieces are gorgeously done and the pacing is perfect, even if it breezes by rather quickly.

The once-impressive engine is starting to waver and there really isn't a great deal of new material here despite a good year and a half since the original game stormed shelves.

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.

An exceptional blend of gaming styles filled with enough irreverent humor to please old and young alike. It could stand to be harder and less linear, but in the end this marks another winner for the mustachioed mascot.

Compared to the hundreds of hours you might spend in Modern Warfare 2’s brilliant multiplayer mode, the few hours you might lose to its painful singleplayer game will fade like a bad memory.

In one swift blow, Mortal Kombat reminds me why I dressed up as Sub-Zero for Halloween when I was six: It's brutal, aggressive, and awesome. The blunders with the auto-difficulty, story, and online can be easily patched or passed over by the return of the franchise to its arcade roots - where it belongs.

You know that feeling when you pull away from the last page and feel as though you've experienced something nobody else has? If you're paying attention, that will happen with Brothers. Sure, it doesn't take long to complete the whole experience and see everything there is to see, but the story is told in such a way that it takes just as long as it needs, taken directly out of Portal's script-writing playbook. On that same note, this too is an experience people should be touting as a beautiful demonstration of video games as art.

It's odd new modes and lackluster character creator leave something to be desired and the game still isn’t playable online. Hopefully the next blade will be a bit sharper.

Player interaction has to be the best feature of actual gameplay.

It is as streamlined and pretty as its older brother, plays just as well, and still gives you that unique college ball experience. NCAA Football 11 will not be riding the bench this year.

An acceptable port, which simply adds online features (no duh) and some extra unlockable artwork. However, its strength is mainly carried by the smooth, solid gameplay already inherent in Third Strike and not by its newfangled embellishments.

It’s gotten the loving, reinvigorating treatment so many other entries in the series deserve, so if you’re hoping to see more of this kind of the thing in the future, it may be in your best interest to make sure Square Enix knows you’re interested with your wallet.

About as slick as they come, with a presentation and verve that supercedes cutting-edge. It's a short one, but good things do come in small packages after all.

There's so much in this game to like, I almost feel like a jerk having to complain about its myriad bug issues, but a final release with this many problems just isn't acceptable. If it were any other type of product, from a television to a pork chop, I'd return it to the store.

After three years, a major hardware shift and a hungry audience, Animal Crossing: Wild World doesn't add anything new to the great original formula.

DmC doesn't feel old and stale. It feels new and fresh and furious, eager to prove itself and more than capable. If you're an old DMC diehard, this new vision won't disappoint, it'll delight.

Overall, Elite Force screams quality gaming, though perhaps a little short of quantity.

As many may know, "Gran Turismo" ain’t much in the way of thrilling action or multiplayer (It’s not extremely fast and there are no real crashes or damage). In the end, High Stakes is just more fun.

The additions to combat, varieties of gameplay, and throngs of enemies who are serious about doing you harm make this infinitely more playable than most of the self-styled "survival horror" games.

As a follow-up, Medal of Honor: Underground missed my high expectations, but only because the first one was such a great start.

It's unfortunate that its online component is unnecessarily complicated, making players jump through hoops in order to go head-to-head against one another, but there's a healthy amount of offline modes tucked away in here that combine to form one helluva package.

An acceptable port, which simply adds online features (no duh) and some extra unlockable artwork. However, its strength is mainly carried by the smooth, solid gameplay already inherent in Third Strike and not by its newfangled embellishments.

Forsaken is a bit of a reset for pretty much everything about Destiny 2, and it’s one that gives me hope that the franchise is making a turn for the better.

The disconnect between the mystery story and the puzzle gameplay is not a damning curse for the Professor Layton series, this game included.

Just as addictive as its crackhead father. Like any good drug, the entry fee has gone up (to $30, still fairly cheap), but you don’t get any significant gameplay additions for that. Instead, you get another mellow jaunt through one of the two weirdest and entertaining games released for the PS2.

If you enjoyed the original, don't hestitate to pick up the new game and import your songs over. But don't buy a Kinect just for Dance Central 2. Don't run out and pay full price for the game if you're only going to enjoy it during a party. There's sure to be a sale sooner than later.

An outstanding platformer. It looks sharp, it's easy to pick up and it's a lot of fun.

Fight Night Round 3 may not have a spotless career, but with such hard hitting graphics and intense Vs. action, we're willing to forgive its foibles and trumpet its unparalleled successes.

You won't be thinking so much as grooving - your fingers just race through the key presses on their own.

Bastion advances video games as art. In the same breath, it can challenge your thumbs and make you wonder about the possibilities of its world.

Dirt 3 is the reliable weekday car that you aren't afraid to take into the mud every once in a while. While it doesn't have the precision or style of some of its high-end peers, Dirt 3 has more than enough personality and moments of exhilaration to make up the difference.

Thanks to a recent patch that fixed the majority of performance issues that I was having, I can happily call Returnal on PC the “definitive version.” It has the looks, the performance, and the best controls, ready to reward those who waited for the PS5’s timed-exclusivity period to end with a compelling, mysterious story and top-tier bullet hell gameplay.

Like the Kevin Smith version of A New Hope I imagine almost daily, Sonic Mania is a game made by fans, for fans. And that's not a bad thing. Newcomers may be turned off by the intermittent difficulty spikes, but others may finally understand why many childhoods were spent looking for a kid who had a Sega Genesis.

There's no question that The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures handily trumps "Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles" as the best example of Nintendo's connectivity plan and serves up some fun multiplayer gaming.

I'm the type of player who has a threshold of patience when it comes to trial and error games, and Joe Danger doesn't come close to crossing it. Far from it.

Unfortunately, even great length doesn't entirely offset the boring story arc and occasionally frustrating gameplay. The game seems intent just sticking to the dungeon/town/dungeon theme and tossing one fantasy RPG cliché after another at you, which does grow a little tiresome.

It's bland food that is only slightly improved by the huge portions.

That you can only tweak the Ford Focus and drive only as McRae in the Championship mode is a little silly, but the game still kicks ass and is a lot of fun to play. And that's what really counts in my video game drawer.

The bevy of new moves and increased difficulty will surely please fans, though more work could have been done polishing the graphics and smoothing out some of the gameplay quirks. As it is, this is a solid drive to the basket.

One of those great arcade games that doesn't make the journey home very well. Although the Dreamcast version does have most of the features of the big arcade machine, it's missing the essential multiplayer fun. I think I'll save my quarters and pay a visit to the local bowling alley instead.

There’s really nothing else out there remotely like it, and if strange Japanese things are your bag, you simply cannot do any better than Katamari Damacy. It’s fun, weird and fabulous - a sickness certainly worth catching.

The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar isn’t the best MMORPG I’ve ever played, but I’ve played <I>that</I> one to death. With strong classes, tons of content, and some imaginative little features, this game is worth a trip to Mount Doom. Or at least the toy store.