A more deeply developed plot and some tweaks to the control would have given more heart to this tin man.

A montage of innovation and disappointment. It brings to the table a mixed feast generously laced with Geo-Mod fun and decent gameplay, but the difficult control and platform jumping makes it harder to swallow. Still, this is one of few genuinely fun and exhilarating shooters out for the PS2.

While other games do their damnedest to make first-person football work, NCAA Football 2005 has changed the playing field by tying the college atmosphere into the gameplay, leading to a smart, well-designed sequel.

Simply put, Bungie did an excellent job at reading the faults of the original by making change where change was needed and leaving the successful areas alone... In the end, whether playing single player or multiplayer, Myth II offers the best real-time strategy experience in the industry.

Despite the unfortunate lack of online compatibility in both the Xbox and GC versions of NCAA Football 2004, this is still the premiere college football game and is clearly the best of its breed. If you also own a PS2, though, I'd go with that version instead.

If they can just clean up the fighting and add some extra fire to the Franchise, we’ll definitely be seeing this series' “A” game.

Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition is a fantastic example of developers going out of their way to ensure that a PC game is specifically tailored to work on consoles. It's also a great way to introduce console players to a challenging style of game they might not normally play.

Aside from some very minor bugs, Forbidden West was a treat to play and is an early contender for Game of the Year. Aloy’s journey across the West is a must-play for PlayStation owners and another reminder that Sony’s first-party studios are at the cutting edge of gaming.

Althought wrapped in a mediocre package, Final Fantasy Tactics is a stellar game. If Square Enix had spent just a bit more time on the in-game graphics, writing, and user interface, this could have been one of the top titles for the PSP.

An extraordinary hockey game. The action is hot and fast, and the intangibles and extras add quality on top of quality.

Terrific. It takes the most open-ended game around and adds more open AND more end, effectively turning a delicious double-scoop into a triple-decker.

X & Y are two of the best 3DS games available and succeed in making Pokémon feel next-gen.

Black Ops' minor flaws won't deter you from its gripping storyline and gratifying multiplayer modes.

Unfortunately, the weak recon missions made too easy by the lack of challenge from AI enemies, the small number of maps that are quickly mastered, and the limited variety in gameplay burdened by uninspired upgrades, ultimately prevent Deathloop from reaching the highest of highs. With online multiplayer enabled and embraced, however, it becomes easier to overlook the weak points and Deathloop comes out on the other side as a compelling lesson in how intimate multiplayer can greatly enhance the single-player formula.

Not what it could have been. As a story it's utterly bizarre, as a sequel it's sub-par, but as a stand-alone game it's very good. The simple truth is that regardless of the detractions, killing Nazis will always be fun...always.

As a single-playthrough experience, Ori and the Blind Forest is a wonderful example of sublime presentation, a simple but heartfelt story, and challenging platforming.

With the enhanced Campus Legend content, realistic momentum system, excellent "Get the Jump" mechanic and the tried-and-true core gameplay, this is another championship season from the official alma mater of college football games.

One cool feature in this game which really sets it apart from the pack is the Critical Hit system. If you hit someone in the head or just particularly hard, they flash purple and you gain health, giving you not only an incentive to kill your enemies, but kill them with style.

The gameplay is largely untouched if not just a smidgen faster.

Even with its flaws, The Witcher 2 is the best game that I have played in years and one of the best games I have ever played. As I mentioned before, though, it's hardcore, with a steep learning curve. However, that's an easy price to play for getting to play through one of the most intelligent multi-pathed stories in video game history. For fans of RPGs or story-based games in general, this is a must-buy.

Rockstar deserves props for miraculously cramming this much candy into such a small pouch without ripping a hole in the bottom, and while it doesn’t favorably compare to its older kin, it far outshines other attempts at shrinking GTA.

So far, Metroid Dread is a serious contender for my personal game of the year. It takes all the things that I loved about previous entries and streamlines them into a much more playable game. It’s the most accessible Metroid title to date, and it’s sure to win many new fans for Nintendo.

Despite some missed opportunities, Medieval II: Total War is still, hands-down, the best strategy game you can buy today. The scope is epic, the battles look legendary, and the increased use of non-military units and the smart incorporation of the politics of religion are welcome additions.

Super Mario Maker 2 is a joyous celebration of the intricacies that go into designing the perfect level. It’s a game where you can invest hours creating and playtesting one short section of one small level, or decide to do away with creation altogether in favor of playing through its ever-growing number of courses. Despite recurring technical problems that have become synonymous with Nintendo games, Super Mario Maker 2 is still an essential Switch purchase, building upon the groundwork laid by its predecessor and adding so much more.

You won’t want to invite the camera over for coffee or anything, as it can be quite unruly, occasionally getting stuck on terrain. The game also experiences some occasional slow-down and the very last battle seems a little unfinished. But make no mistake: Sly 2 is a great game.

It looks great, plays good, takes a nice 20 hours or so to complete and it's genuinely scary, which is all you really need to have a good time.

Its arsenal isn’t as robust as it could be, but it makes up for it with a flurry of awesome modes and some deadly fast gameplay.

The Stanley Parable is a game which isn’t really applicable to the standard rating system. It’s a game that achieves what it has set out to achieve perfectly, and though it could be longer and have more endings, it doesn't need them. It’s a thought-provoking and intelligent game which should be experienced by everyone, and one which will be referenced for a long time to come.