While it's certainly not bad, it's got a very limited appeal outside of a certain core audience. But, at the very least, it fills a niche that the PS2 has been severely lacking in for almost its entire lifespan - and pretty well, at that.

The biggest disappointment, though, is the sloppy online play.

Even with its lumps, Steambot Chronicles is still full of lovable personality.

Outside of a perfunctory multiplayer mode that's cute so long as you have friends nearby with a 3DS (there's no online play) , Star Fox 64 3D is a fine diversion, but at its full price of $39.99, it isn't a must buy.

The Kore Gang as a whole is a fun, worthwhile experience. While flawed, it offers some truly interesting gameplay mechanics and thanks to an eccentric approach to design, actually manages to surprise.

Taken as a whole, Infinite Undiscovery’s a game with a bit of an identity crisis. When it’s acting like a run-of-the-mill JRPG, it feels clichéd, but reasonably enjoyable. When it tries to be innovative, however, its unsatisfying combat, superfluous subsystems and wasted ensemble cast make the whole experience feel half-hearted.

Its "Se7en" -inspired serial killer lunacy is good for a genuine chill or two. It ain't perfect, but it's different and interesting enough to be worth a good look.

Grounded has always been a solid idea on paper, but Obsidian brings that potential to full fruition for launch, delivering on the thrills and fun of its brilliantly Spielbergian conceit.

Tiny DS buttons make tight and efficient combos downright painful, and unless you set your sights on buffing your skater’s speed stats from the get-go, the pokey pace of play will put you to sleep.

Like the original game, Dragon's Dogma 2 excels when you're out in its open world with your pawn allies – finding hidden caves and treasure, fighting monsters, and generally losing track of time. Also like the original, it falls short in terms of quest design, convenience, and general polish. A somewhat conservative sequel, then, but one that retains the charm of its predecessor.

Not everything works well in Chorus, but its inventive, hectic space shootouts deserve to have their praises sung.

It's not complicated, but Frogger holds some serious reminiscence value for those old enough to remember the ancient quarter-muncher even if it doesn't maintain quite the addictiveness of newer casual games like "Zuma" or "Feeding Frenzy."

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed updates a 2010 Wii classic for a new generation, somehow packing in even more nostalgia and twisted Disney references than ever before. An engaging story, gorgeous visuals, and bags of charm make it well worth the wait, despite some technical hitches and gameplay frustrations that detract from its undeniable potential.

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes rides a great hybrid battle system while barely slowing down for its beloved characters.

Frustrating boss battles and cumbersome controls distract from an otherwise fun and isolating adventure.

There could have been twice as many puzzles and we'd still want more. Kororinpa: Marble Mania is just plain fun.

If you were a fan of Supreme Commander, you've probably already purchased this expansion and will surely be pleased with it. For everyone else, check out the original first or nothing at all; this is not the beginner's RTS game you're looking for.

Whether you’re dodging and jabbing in first-person to fend off wild predators, microphone-grunting to speak to a gorilla, recovering after a hurricane or earthquake, playing fire-making, harpooning, or milking mini-games wirelessly with another DS owner, making a necklace, or just discovering a new flower that you can use to flavor your food in the cooking mini-game, this is a different adventure, and one worth embarking upon.

Generally a polished and highly playable rhythm title that delivers in spades when it comes to play modes and options. We just can't help but feel like that titular revolutionary spark has faded in recent iterations.

If you want a free, slickly produced FPS with a neat twist, Splitgate 2 delivers. If you want a better but still free FPS, with the same twist but rougher edges, then the truth is you should check out the first game instead.

A successful sequel where it counts the most, only a few potholes slow The Crew 2 down in its drive to become the ultimate road trip.

Combined Assault feels more like an average expansion pack. The new multiplayer maps are welcome and well designed but there are only 10 of them, making it feel like you're playing SOCOM 3 1/2 instead of the legitimate sequel you paid for. Combined Assault does introduce a 4 player co-op mode into the mix, but why would you opt for that when 32 player matches are going on all around you?

Silverfall doesn't offer anything dynamically new, but it's a fun world full of things to whack with a satisfying storyline and well thought out characters and skill development.

No doubt a niche offering, but it does what it sets out to do really well and is perfectly suited to on-the-go gaming sessions.

Sackboy's Prehistoric Moves is a strange beast. It's too good to be a demo, too short to be a game, too outdated to be a preview and imbued with too much care and character to be passed off as a PS Move advergame. Ultimately, then, it's not a matter of if you should play Sackboy's Prehistoric Moves, but how and when you should do so.

In the end, you get six great games, and six mediocre ones. Not bad for 2,000 pennies, really.

If you can stand the slow pace and suffer through a few unfair puzzles, you’ll find Tengami’s breathtaking visual beauty and slick interface more than make up for any shortcomings.

Aliens: Fireteam Elite is a solid third-person co-op shooter that feels like it belongs in the franchise, but its replayability has yet to be determined.

The controls do need some work, but while Castle of Illusion is high on mechanical problems, it's even higher on whimsy. It's too charming to dislike.

Easily the weakest Live Arcade game to come out in the past two months, but that's not to say it's bad. At such a cheap price, it's actually a pretty nice package.

As a successor to Disco Elysium, ZA/UM's spy-fi RPG is a little too fearful to roll the dice on something new. But if the systems and themes are a little too familiar in Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, that does mean some of the old charm persists – and if you can look past the odd irritation, you'll find an NPC crew worth getting to know in Portofiro.

Other M divides its attention among too many viewpoints and gameplay styles to nail any one of them. Thankfully, the entire game soars so high in the closing moments that it ends up a must play for franchise followers.

Toukiden is fast and furious, but it also knows how to play up a complex leveling system to keep things fresh. It isn’t perfect, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a better Monster Hunter replacement in the interim.

The smooth-playing analog joysticks of the 360 controller lack the snappy response of the original arcade sticks; the result is a mushy feel that will mess with your sense of timing.

There's no getting around the fact that Tiger 08 brings very little to the table that hasn't been done before, though, so you may want to poke around for last year's version. You'll save some dough and hardly notice the difference.

Invizimals won't be toppling the house that Pikachu built, but it's at least an innovative competitor.

The Rogue Prince of Persia can be a bit too conventional for its own good, lacking any real unique qualities in a crowded market, but it's certainly good-looking and there's a fluidity to the platforming that will carry most players through to the end. I confess I hoped for more from the Dead Cells developer, but I won't say I'm disappointed.

This game is arguably the best attempt made by an indie developer to bring the roguelike genre into the mainstream thus far.

This is one of those games that brings about a party atmosphere whenever three or four people are going at it in the same room. Sadly, there's no online multiplayer, although you can connect to Nintendo's WiFi Connect service to add your top scores to the worldwide results ladder.

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is a pleasing amalgam of first-person dungeon exploration and role-playing elements that injects just enough humor to keep things fresh.

The story is entertaining enough, but gameplay's as linear as a ruler, and random exploration is basically out of the question.

There's something special with Innocent Sin, but only the most dedicated RPG fans will ever be able to truly appreciate it. At least they can finally experience the part of Persona 2 they never knew.

Great modding and a decent game engine can’t disguise the tired story and simplistic driving.

It's great that you can run and gun without too much squad-commanding hassle, but SW:RC's simplicity is its biggest problem. Gamers hoping to give their brain a workout will be disappointed.

Revenge of the Fallen lacks the polished sheen and balance of some of its competitors – its looks are average, and the level design and mission parameters are painfully typical. But when the Transformers themselves are freed from silly plotlines and allowed to stand or fall on their own merits, as they are in the multiplayer modes, their distinct set of abilities make them truly engaging.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is finally here after an 18 year wait. At its best moments, it feels like no time has passed at all, as I'm awed by the melancholy and mysterious vibes of this exploration-focused FPS. But, at many other moments, it's bogged down by odd new features that detract from what's almost one of Samus' best. Being so close to greatness can sometimes be the bitterest feeling of all.

Aside from the enjoyable and well-weighted multiplayer, pretty much everything around that core experience of destroying things with big weapons is flaky. Big time flaky. But thankfully, happiness really is a warm gun, even if it is on the 50th respawn before that damn warehouse.

As a solo experience, Dead Space 3 is the weakest entry in the series. The tension's still there, but it's the kind you can kill bullet by bullet until nothing is left except the dull pangs of tedium. But when you're dismembering Necromorphs with a friend at your side, it becomes a greatly enjoyable cooperative adventure. Just don't expect to feel much of that distantly familiar fear-based anxiety--in Dead Space 3, that's one terrifying monster that's nowhere to be found.

True to its central idea, Ball x Pit is a great blend of Breakout-style combat and frantic, Vampire Survivors-esque progression. At its height, it's a flow state-inducing assault on the senses that makes great work of its Evolution mechanic to craft deeply stylish builds, but it eventually grinds to a halt thanks to a bloated progression system.

WWE 2K26 is a brilliant wrestling game where it counts – but I recommend waiting a couple of months to purchase, to see how MyFaction and Ringside Pass rewards play out in the medium-term. For now, action in the ring is solid, and some of the best in the series, but it can sting when rewards feel so miserly and centered on monetization over skill.

The developers clearly realized that they had something special going and require online play if you want to unlock all 12 achievements.

Madden and PSP have gone together beautifully for years now, and for better or worse this season is no different.

Sacred Citadel’s obvious finale will leave you wondering why it shipped with a half-baked story. Thankfully, the enjoyable combat steals the spotlight, though it doesn’t come away unblemished.

Too bad it's only ad-hoc - a true online mode would have brought all the Ace fans together in a maelstrom of missiles and inappropriate language. Instead, we'll all happily settle for a portable version that, despite its flaws, is a rocket-powered ballet that'll ensnare new and old players alike.

There’s a fun little onling game here; and while it’s not quite as deep or engrossing as other titles on the market, it’s still a blast to create a character, dress them up and kill a lot of stuff in a group with other people.

Days Gone is a keen and engaging open world zombie adventure despite some issues.

This is still the best Dynasty Warriors out there, and still well worth playing, but there's just not much reason to buy it if you have even a single eariler entry in the series.

Encore is a solid sequel and an enjoyable experience, but in 2008, Karaoke Revolution is starting to feel a bit outdated compared to the emerging competition.

And while the core game is inviting, easy to grasp and simple enough for casual dabbling, there’s no sense of accomplishment as with Puzzle Quest.

If nothing else, this game proves that light gun games can be done right on the DS.

While we aren’t impressed with the changes (or lack thereof), with the price reduced to $29.99, current-gen gamers are still getting a great game, and for half the price of the 360 version.

Part mystery, part comedy, this is a classy point-and-click with dazzling art, charming characters, and crackling dialogue. Although slightly overlong and occasionally slow, it feel surprisingly fresh.

800 feels like a lot to pay for the sequel to a game that was free with your system, but hey, you can't complain that you aren't getting a lot of content for the cost. Just as long as you already loved the original game.

It's easily the most improved fighter in recent memory, and if you've got some local competition, it's a steal at 30 bucks.

Despite the addition of women players in HUT and tweaked mechanics like last-chance puck movements, NHL 23 barely feels it's changed from last year's offering. It's a fun but all too familiar hockey experience.

A solid RPG, but it's far from an excellent one. It's like the party you'll attend because you don't have much else going on.

Oh how we wish that the PS3 Madden were as smooth as its 360 cousin. It's not all bad, of course, and there's a bevy of stuff to do across scads of modes to take up plenty of time. Unfortunately, the distinctly inferior product for Sony's pricey console will likely serve as yet more fodder for never ending flame wars.

The bottom line is that NBA Live 07 is a pretty darned good hoops sim - once you adjust the wonky default sliders. Without it, the shooting doesn't give an inch, no matter how well you time your release.

A cute My First Metroidvania with charming characters, wrapped up in some fairly basic and uninspired platforming levels. It's not Illusion at its best, but should entertain kids.

We would have liked to see more inventive uses of the clingy-liquid properties of the element, but the game manages to fling a decent number of twists at the player throughout its generous helping of levels. This mercury may not heal your wounds, but it certainly won't poison you either.

Despite its frustrating enemy AI and the limitations of your arsenal, Call of Juarez has plenty of pistol packin’ heat for the average buckaroo, with a decent, profanity-laced storyline and a bevy of unique multiplayer modes.

It's a tougher recommendation if you're not into online play, since the other elements of the game are in sore need of a refresher. That aside, it's undoubtedly the most fun PES to play against friends in some time, and that's the reason you'll want to play it.

Doom Eternal is a smart iteration of what came before it that occasionally stumbles under its own desire to evolve.

You’ll need an appreciation for the cube itself to get the most out of this - and you may want to destroy whoever programmed the chirpy music and decided to call the cubes “cubies” and give them a story - but it’s a solid value for puzzle players.

Though the just-released Mario Party DS bests it with double the games, Wi-Fi support, and more robust single-card play, Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 succeeds with style, pizzazz, and humor unlike that seen in most handheld versions of console favorites.

Fortune Street is one of those games that isn't going to appeal to everyone, but those it does appeal to will be totally enthralled with it despite its handful of annoyances. If you like Monopoly but wish the strategy were a little more robust, Fortune Street is game you've been waiting for.

Mojang's smartly streamlined dungeon crawler makes for a more accessible alternative in the action RPG space.

It fixes lots of the little problems that plagued the first game, and it's just involving enough for a long flight or repeated visits to the DMV.

Despite its minor issues, Corpse Party should be played by those looking for a unique, chilling experience – there's really nothing out there like it right now.

If you're looking for an MMO with voice chat, heavy weaponry, and absolutely no elves, Auto Assault is likely the one. The game delivers on its promise of massive combat action in a twisted shadow of the world we know, albeit for a monthly $15 subscription fee and some steep tech demands.

Very playable, quite robust, and if you can't find a control scheme you like, you've probably never played a golf game in your life.

Encore is a solid sequel and an enjoyable experience, but in 2008, Karaoke Revolution is starting to feel a bit outdated compared to the emerging competition.

The whole collection plays out like the unlockables - tons of entertainment and worthwhile content that's slightly soured by the difficulty of getting to it.

Final Fantasy 14 Dawntrail is a slow start to the next narrative arc of the critically acclaimed MMORPG. Despite having a set of gorgeous new zones to explore, and some exciting new dungeons and Trials, the middling narrative holds this expansion back from being truly great.

Sea of Thieves is bursting with potential for storytelling in a watery paradise, but doesn’t have enough to keep players coming back.

It certainly isn't the first case of a game holding its player's hand too tightly, but thankfully it's a difficult one to dismiss or, indeed, to adjourn.

So what if Carbon isn't redefining the street racing genre - really, at this point, what could? It hits a sweet spot of intensity, danger, and style.

Some of Where Winds Meet's many minigames and stealth systems could use a polish, but it doesn't Suck-iro – this martial arts action-RPG is well worth your time. If future updates focus on its strengths and reign in the gimmicks, this joyous open world will be a pleasure to fight your way through.

Your brain won’t be incredibly taxed by the puzzles...but the game moves at the right pace considering that the plot is what’s most important here.

Project Cars 3 is a great way to get into sim racing for newcomers thanks to its overtly gamey career mode, but the move into proper ‘simcade’ territory feels odd and unfulfilling.

It's certainly got the "accessibility" part down, and – despite its lack of long-term appeal – it's a uniquely humorous city builder that's worth a look on the merits of its well-honed core mechanics alone. As a sequel, though, Tropico 4's just passable. If only its developers had time control powers; then maybe they'd have eased off the fast forward button and taken the time to flesh out their game.

Encore is a solid sequel and an enjoyable experience, but in 2008, Karaoke Revolution is starting to feel a bit outdated compared to the emerging competition.

As the name suggests, Rivals plays well against a friend. Racing the computer is cool, but costing your bud the race with a last-minute cheap shot is a whole lot better.

Tracks are banging, the peripheral's bold and performing feels brilliant, but TV mode is a bust, making you rent songs rather than own them outright.

It's not going to set the hardcore world on fire, but it's a nearly perfect party game, and there's room for that in this world.

PGA Tour 2K21 offers the best stroke play in years, with deep and rich shot and swing craft. Only a lean career mode proves its handicap.

We were amazed at how much time the game swallowed, meaning time was flying, meaning, well, we all know what that means.

There's more than enough in the game's Adventure mode to recommend Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 to the dedicated and the curious. While this falls firmly on the side of evolution, Skill Battles are a strong new addition to the game's lineup of modes, while the rat-a-tat joke delivery of the story adds a flavour that you just don't get in other puzzle games. This inexplicable cocktail remains potent for any puzzle lover.