Filled with innumerable challenges, likable characters and a high production value. But beneath the surface, the lightweight story and characters combined with the almost rigidly episodic game flow still hold it back.

Grid hits all the basics just right and tops everything off with a shiny, grease-covered bow. With a little more fine-tuning and some added variety, the follow-up could easily be the leader of the arcade racing pack.

Although Pandora Tomorrow’s single-player game is hurt by the PS2’s hardware limitations, it still represents an excellent stealth experience coupled with one of the best multiplayer modes around.

Kingdom Hearts II is a blast - playable by nearly anyone, smarter than you'd expect, and built to a consistently impressive standard. Cartoon and RPG fandom isn't even required, as the story is outlandish and creative enough to ensnare even those wary of Disney.

Half-life itself is over three years old and the engine it runs on is even older, so it's no wonder the graphics and textures look extremely bland and dated . Even with the new PS2 hi-res upgrade, father time has inevitably brought out those wrinkles.

From the demon rock musician, I-no, to the back broken zombie, Zappa, there is something unmistakably Japanese in the extreme garishness of it all.

A hard game. Those without degrees in strategy gaming will find their task daunting and, in many cases, too hard to accomplish. Lucky for me I'm well versed in the ways of the special forces.

An action game fan’s wet dream. Despite a derivative structure and a few technical stumbles—like occasional slowdown and frequent screen tearing—Bayonetta takes everything that’s good about every other combo-heavy action game, cranks up the intensity, fine tunes the combat, and bundles it in a single, sexy, “au naturel” package.

If you’re completely new to the series, here’s one of those sappy-but-absolutely-true game-reviewisms for you: This is one of those games about which, not too far in the future, I’ll probably be thinking, "I wish I could play that game again, for the first time." Maybe, someday, there’ll be a mod for that, too.

Just plain fantastic... One the best Japanese ports ever.

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.