Spelunker Party, much like the original game it's based on, can be a hard game to love, but if you're prepared to dig deep with some friends, it can be a gem.

Shadows of New York has dramatically increased the quality of its backgrounds from the first game, with more details and animated elements. They look excellent, and while there's a lot of repetition (and many returning locations from the previous game), the strong art and great, distinctive character designs help to keep the game engaging. The soundtrack, composed by Polish artist Resina, really stands out, too. It's equal parts gorgeous and menacing, and the brooding, moody tracks that play under all the game's beautiful images set the tone beautifully. The music is used to great effect, setting the tone and making it easier to picture actions that are being described in the script but not depicted. Every time I loaded the game up, I'd take a moment to enjoy the tremendous main title theme before starting.

Only about five hours long, which is probably for the best, since the storyline is so nonsensical and the action is so repetitive that you'll quickly be begging for the game to end.

This ambitious racing game delivers a rewarding off-road experience provided you make it past the initially steep learning curve.

Brave finds some decent variety with its standard action adventure format, but it's neither a particularly challenging nor ambitious game.

An oddball attitude, some decent variety, and a dip into the surreal spice up Rango's otherwise tame action.

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men has a lot of promise, but nothing in this game works out nearly as well as you'd hope.

Tedium and aimlessness cast a shadow on Opoona's glowing charm.

Blacksad: Under the Skin works, it's a solid detective game that serves up a case worth cracking, a charismatic lead whose character you can shape in meaningful ways, and an investigation method that successfully wraps you in a brown trenchcoat. But when it doesn’t work you'll find yourself bogged down in the tedium of traipsing around another uninspired location, searching for that final wayward hotspot, and the atmosphere is sucked out of the room.

Divekick's single-player game is lacking, but this two-button brawler turns into feet-flying fun with friends.

Monopoly Streets admirably brings the famed board game to life, but annoying characters and poor pacing keep this outing from rolling doubles.

This is instantly one of the better party games on the system and, because there are so many questions, it's likely that you'll be coming back again and again.

This compilation of arcade driving games proves that you can take the game out of the arcade--it's just not much fun.

It's a lightweight package, but UEFA Euro 2012's great presentation captures the grand atmosphere of the tournament.

Though not as expansive a collection as the title might suggest, Capcom Puzzle World is worth the price of admission for "Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo" alone.

Corralling livestock is a fun new way to solve puzzles, but some agitating quirks will push the impatient away.

If you're a console pool shark, this one is worth picking up, but it doesn't do anything to distinguish itself from other recent billiards efforts.

Unquestionably the best-looking light-gun game ever released, as well as a game that will seem instantly familiar to "House of the Dead" fans while still pushing their skills.

The game's frustrating reliance on awkward platform jumping and its poor camera keep it from being recommendable to anyone at all.

BloodRayne may feature the va-va-voomiest bloodsucker in gaming, George Romero-style gore that includes lots of decapitations, and everyone's favorite goose-stepping bad guys, but gameplay is so predictable that you'll be stifling yawns even as you tear open jugulars.

It's not the best Resident Evil game, and it isn't a stellar light-gun game, but Dead Aim creates an interesting, unique hybrid of the two, and that is a commendable feat.

State of Emergency isn't exactly the deepest game on the market, but with its timers and its high-score lists, the game is definitely shooting for shorter, arcadelike play sessions.

It's technically competent in the end, and many of its little touches are quite impressive, but there are clearly more memorable shooters of its kind already available.

The interface and poor control are bigger enemies than the game's Iraqi soldiers ever are, and in the end, this is a game you can surely live without.

While the idea of playing as these wrestling legends is certainly appealing, Legends of Wrestling sadly doesn't follow through with a game that's as good as its concept.

Doesn't do much to set itself apart from the competition, and, additionally, it has some rather problematic flaws that deteriorate its gameplay to the level of subpar, at best.

A potentially fun, but ultimately frustrating, entry in the series, and fans of the Battle Network universe would be much better off sticking with their GBAs.

There's a pervading feeling of trying to keep yourself busy (almost like a cat playing with a mouse) than being kept on your toes by your foes.In the end, Yoshi's Story is good for a rental at best.

The addictive and fun head-to-head gameplay takes some time to wear out its welcome, and the new options included in the game will pacify NBA Jam veterans enough to warrant a rental.

The sterile presentation and lack of options certainly don't help matters, either. While it has its highlights, the party is over before it can really get started.

What it lacks in variety and narrative, Darkspore makes up for with fun cooperative combat and character customization that deepens the more you play.

There's not much to Defend Your Castle, but it does have some entertainment value.

Shipwreck Showdown improves upon Feeding Frenzy in almost every way, but it's still too easy and too short.

Incompetent AI, grind progression gameplay, and a limited vehicle roster make SuperCar Challenge more lemon than hotrod.

Risen 3: Titan Lords is not the studio's grandest gesture, but the tendrils of this fantasy saga still grab you. The glitches and irritations poke at your patience, but the promise of buried treasure on a distant beach still compels you. Risen 3 has the potential to sweep you away, provided all that driftwood doesn't keep you at shore.

An eclectic mix of platforming and combat mechanics help compensate for Explodemon's mundane inclinations.

The most disappointing part of Dr. Luigi is that it doesn't give the Dr. Mario formula that shot in the arm it needs to feel magical again.

It looks nicer, it plays faster, and with its lower barrier to entry, Armored Core 4 should appeal to more than just the series' faithful gearheads.

NASCAR 09 isn't a tremendous step forward for the series, but it's a solid effort.

Mazes of Fate has a great premise and some interesting ideas, but it never leaves the trappings of the old-school dungeon crawlers it's based on.

Nintendo last explored this franchise in 2006 with Yoshi's Island DS, and though that game had its own problems, it also had an identity. By introducing new babies with different abilities, it provided a fun and unpredictable sequel to the Super Nintendo original. Yoshi's New Island has no such identity.

Revenge of King Piccolo is more successful as a Dragon Ball primer than as an actual fighting game.

Skelattack moves quickly toward its conclusion, with the adventure to stave off the invasion winding down in about four hours. There's nothing wrong with short games that can be played in an afternoon or two, but what's here never becomes a fully realized experience. The length wouldn't be a problem if Skelattack delivered a fully realized experience, but it fails to do so. Skelattack has flashes of excitement and delight, and there's no denying that it feels good in motion, but lackluster level design and inconsequential combat let its sound platforming down. Unlike the inhabitants of Aftervale, Skelattack lacks soul.

Judging by Obscure, a survival horror throwback best described as "Resident Evil" in a high school, French developer Hydravision is stuck in 1996.

Underwhelms with an extremely brief story, overly simplistic platform jumping sequences, and repetitive gameplay...Suitable only for children.

The game is wildly unorthodox in almost every conceivable respect, though its aesthetics and mechanics are awesomely polished and inventive.

Overall, Off-Road Redneck Racing is a fun game, and its low price makes it especially attractive for fans of arcade-style racing.

Gladiator does have some shortcomings, as its simplistic and frequently flawed gameplay can prove to be problematic. However, some excellent production values and an intriguing plot ultimately make the game most certainly worth checking out.

It's a fairly sturdy, combat-heavy platformer with a good hook, but it lacks a real distinct attitude.

Younger players will enjoy the variety and sandbox-style freedom of Bee Movie Game.

NHL 08 offers up a few control tweaks and minimal updates to the dynasty mode, but that's about it.

Shallow, mindless hack-and-slash action makes this a crushingly tedious slog through an anachronistic version of 16th-century Japan.

Many games try to test your skill, but Super Runabout works to exercise your sense of frustration.

Wonderful renditions of "It's a Small World"; "Yo Ho, a Pirate's Life for Me"; and "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" await those who play the game.

How to Survive: Storm Warning Edition rewards the procrastinating zombie enthusiast who’s been curious about the game and its add-on content.

There are lots of other puzzling decisions. Why no minimap? Why have a tether skill for field movement and puzzles that require summoning Einherjar when they're so rare and arbitrarily placed? Why do I have to replay a whole ungodly long chapter if I missed a Verdant blossom I want to collect? But ultimately, they're minor annoyances compared to the main problem: Valkyrie Elysium is a mostly technically competent game weighed down by the dullness of its story, setting, and strategy. There are glimmers of fun in the combat and some of the dialogue--the rare mid-level Einherjar banter is always welcome--but it's not enough to overcome stifling mediocrity. Valkyrie Elysium is a mere pretender to the glory of this series' past endeavors.

This gory, gorgeous action game has plenty of flaws, but it will still satisfy your thirst for blood.

Rehashed gameplay and poor controls...make the game feel like just another console-to-PSP hack job where the makers of the game were just trying to make a quick buck.

This game covers well-trodden territory, but the way that it tracks your performance and the performance of your friends makes it a fine fit for the Xbox One's launch lineup, and a pleasant way to spend some time.

Despite solid driving physics, WRC 2 fails to make significant improvements on last year's game, or keep up with its racing rivals.

A focus on intense combat makes this brief return to the Sprawl a satisfying one.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is short, clocking in at about 15 hours for 100% completion--though it probably could have cut a few hours of side-questing out and still wound up being a fine little adventure. Despite enduring a fair bit of filler, I don't regret the time I spent playing the game, and am interested to see how the characters and setting play into the bigger Eiyuden Chronicle world being created. It might be flawed, but Rising accomplishes what it sets out to do: whetting players' appetites for a grand adventure down the line.

By now, those who have played Supermassive's interactive horror "movies" since 2015 know what they're getting with The Casting of Frank Stone. If you only want to play the next great version of that formula, this isn't it. But for Dead By Daylight fans looking to fill out their lore bibles, prospective fans looking for an introduction to the multiplayer game, or horror obsessives who are ready to carve pumpkins and dive into a pile of crispy orange leaves, The Casting of Frank Stone is a flawed but fun horror romp just in time for spooky season, the likes of which Supermassive and I may be destined to experience together forever.

Tekken Hybrid is a shallow collection that doesn't give Tekken Tag Tournament the rerelease it deserves.

It's a better hack-and-slash experience than Brotherhood of the Blade, but The Warrior's Code is still only suitable for dedicated fans of hack-and-slash dungeon crawlers.

A new campaign featuring orcs and dark elves is the only noteworthy addition in this expansion for Warhammer: Mark of Chaos.

So if you're a shooter fan on a budget, Delta Force Xtreme isn't a bad way to go.

Depth is the closest I've come to experiencing the kind of fear a game about killer sharks should generate since my younger days of playing Jaws on the NES. Future updates that clean up bugs and add new content could help it breach the surface and approach greatness. Until then, however, Depth floats listlessly in the ocean current.

Stylish combat and white-knuckle driving make this an enjoyable James Bond adventure, despite some pacing issues.

Mystery Case Files: The Malgrave Incident is a captivating mystery hidden in a sometimes frustrating point-and-click adventure.

Pathologic 2 is the product of a perverse design philosophy. It's alternately intriguing and off-putting; it draws you in with its eerie, dreamlike setting and cast of unnaturally eccentric characters, but then it pushes you away with its nagging, mundane demands. In the end, I was resigned to let failure take me.

Despite its attempts to add a unique spin to the genre, Daemonica is generally a tedious and unappealing adventure game.

It may be a change of scenery, but the final Fallout 3 downloadable content pack ends the saga on a low note.

The game does have a solid and innovative franchise mode, but given the available choices for football sims on the console, it is tough to recommend.

While GC introduces some new gameplay conventions - such as the customizable weapons and controllable vehicle - that weren't attempted by the original Half-Life, it's nothing that prior user-created mods like Chemical Existence haven't done before.

At least the PC version is easier to play, thanks to the wider array of control options offered by the keyboard and mouse.

If you're a fan of futuristic racers, there's probably nothing in Drome Racers to enjoy that you haven't already seen in a better game.

On its own merits, this expansion is a reasonably good deal, but it's best suited for the hard-core Disciples II fan who wishes to play every single official scenario for the game.

A pretty dry game that's a little too light on the action for people who don't like an equal dose of slowly paced strategy, but if you're as much into customizing your own ship as you are blowing other ships to pieces, Naval Ops: Commander might be for you.

If you can forgive the game's dated-looking graphics, its rather basic gameplay model, and its comparative level of ease--which is, admittedly, a lot to forgive--you can have a good time with Serious Sam: Next Encounter.

Blazing Angels has a decent campaign and a fair amount of online options, but its standard gameplay and a lack of online competition prevent it from being very exciting.

Seasoned fans of the freestyle sports genre will whip through Razor Freestyle Scooter in an afternoon, no questions asked. It doesn't offer up any real variety in its challenges.

Despite these shortcomings, it's still Mega Man, and the gameplay is still entertaining, making X6 an attractive package for hard-core Mega Man fans.

Tetris Worlds does what countless iterations of the game haven't managed to do in the past--it actually breaks Tetris.

A solid puzzler with an almost impeccable presentation.

Laying waste to cities is fun, but frustrating objectives and stiff difficulty prevent Eat Them from being a monstrously good time.

Despite the game's less-than-stellar visuals, budding paleontologists and Pokémon fans alike should find an enjoyable and lengthy romp through time in this handheld adventure.

The single-player portions of the game are ridiculously easy, even on the hard settings. Only a few campaign missions are remotely challenging, and even these cases are due to poor AI with Allied forces.

Journey of a Roach is a charming, worthwhile adventure with some clever puzzles and a nice cast of characters, though you may wish for a longer adventure for the price.

MotoGP 08 is meat-and-potatoes racing with enough challenge to keep two-wheeled gearheads busy for a long time.

Takes the basic concepts of the original arcade game and adds a few gameplay elements that, ultimately, don't fit together all that well. The game plays well enough, but anyone accustomed to the simplicity of Dig Dug might turn their nose up at this one.

Shotest Shogi is a challenging experience that relies on you having at least a passing familiarity with the tabletop game that it's based on.

What The Infamy promised, The Betrayal fails to deliver due to a glacial pace, repetitive missions, and an inconsistent new power.

There's too much detritus to dig through in order to get to the fun bits.

Battle Princess Madelyn looks and sounds fantastic, and half the game is a delightful spiritual throwback to a beloved action game series. It's a shame that the other half drags down the whole package--and performance issues on Switch like slowdown and stalling when moving through menus don't help, either.

While the motion-sensitive controls don't fully justify the Wii version's higher price tag, they do make a fun sandbox game seem even more engaging.

A platformer, characterized most notably by its fusion of classic Pac-Man moments and generic platforming gameplay.

Super Motherload somehow makes alienation feel like a warm embrace.