Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate truly is, an Ultimate experience, a must buy!

Pretty much all of what worked for de Blob originally on the Wii still works, just to an even greater degree today. The vibrant graphics, the fun gameplay, the sense of humour — they all combined to make the game an underrated gem in the previous generation, and they’re all in full effect on current-gen systems, too.

The end result though is a very playable method of swinging through the city yet at the same time looking flashy and a lot like the way it was done in the movie. You can imagine the final few seconds of the first movie to get an idea of what you can expect, except you'll actually be doing it.

Running at about six hours, this game is a lot of fun with a decent story and some great action packed fights. If you haven't played either, I would recommend playing this first, then picking up last years release.

Ratchet and Clank might have some of the most impressive environments yet in a game of this type.

Overall, despite a small number of flaws, Borderlands 2 is well worth picking up. It provides the same action packed, RPG style experience found in the original game, spread across a larger world with lot more stuff to do and explore.

Whether you’ve been playing the series since it began, or this is your first entry in the series. I think Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is certainly worth your time.

Yeah, it’s a full-priced, online multiplayer game (which can be a tough sell), but it’s one that’s jam-packed with content from a developer that’s been typically generous with delivering new updates and support.

The PSP version seems more forgiving than the PS2 version when it comes to collisions with other drivers.

If you’re looking for a very classic and fun arcade game then you will be very satisfied with what SEGA AGES Space Harrier has on offer because this is one that should not be missed. And I love that we have it on the Switch and my only wish is that M2 will start to bring new games instead of these greatest hits we’ve seen on multiple platforms already!

I really enjoyed inFamous First Light on a number of levels, and if I had to compare it to The Last of Us’ Left Behind expansion, I would give the edge to First Light just for its additional challenges and replayability.

All in all, this game has really stepped up and maybe outshines its football equivalent. It didn't have to sacrifice much on graphics to add the new features, which is nice...oh so nice.

All together, Star Ocean: The First Departure is a great remake of a title that we've never had released here, and it's a welcome addition to anyone's PSP RPG library.

Of course, I still maintain that you'll only want to play Three Fourths Home once. But believe me, that one time is totally worth it, with every aspect of the game being done so well.

Resogun is small in scope, which means everything about it needs to have staying power. The gameplay certainly does, but the soundtrack is lukewarm.

A fantastic RPG for the PC. The opportunities for character creation are endless, letting you make that sword-wielding, fireball-flinging thief you always wanted to be.

There are many hours of play in Sonic Superstars and whether you play mostly single-player like me, or co-op, there is fun for every Sonic fan and I feel the fans will be happy with this one. Even with Super Mario Bros. Wonder around the corner it’s going to be a great gaming holiday season for platformer fans. Sonic Superstars comes highly recommended.

Incredibly distinct and interesting, priced right at $9.99, and is absolutely worthy of much more attention.

Visually, Crimson Skies is a great looking game, and definitely a step up from the PC original. Absolutely huge environments, with impressive undulating environments, deep canyons, congested cities full of skyscrapers, and those amazing trademark Xbox water effects in the ocean, ponds and rivers.

It’s a great addition to a fun game and I like seeing this little port get continued support. Still it might be nice to see a full-fledged sequel if the team comes back with more ideas.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a fantastic remaster of a game from the golden era of JRPGs. The newly arranged music is great and the voice acting is good as well, and the improvements to the battle system from the original to this one is leaps and bounds better. The graphical choices made in this remaster is spot on with a nod to the original sprite graphics mixed in with more modern environments. Anyone looking for a classic-style JRPG to play should pick this one up.

I feel UT is the more polished title, even though "Quake (3 Arena)" may have it beaten on a creativity level. I'm sure I'll return to my "Quake" world in the future, but honestly you can't go wrong with either title.

All things considered, Super Mega Baseball 2 is, as I said, a very, very good arcade baseball game. It may not have the depth of an official MLB game, or the out-of-nowhere shock that made the first game such a pleasant surprise, but it works, and it’s fun. Compared to its competition this year, that makes for a monumental achievement.

An awesome Castlevania game and an awesome game on its own. If you're a die-hard fan of the series or just a fan of challenging 2d action games, don't miss this title.

The graphics of this game are pretty phenomenal considering the game is being displayed by the Wii.

Playing BIT.TRIP RERUNNER has made it clear to me just how much my gaming tastes have changed in the past decade. But that’s very much a case of “It’s not you, it’s me.” RERUNNER shows the series has got as much life in it as it ever did, and if you’re in the mood to be challenged, it’s worth your time and money.

Siren: Blood Curse is one of the first great survival horror games to come out of this new generation. Even those gamers who don't care for the genre may actually get drawn in thanks to the serialized, episodic pacing and well-presented mystery waiting to be solved.

As a whole, this is a set of games that is really a must have for Vita owners. Whether you're starving for content on the Vita, or feel pretty satiated with the current slate of titles that have released over the past couple weeks, having both of these games on a handheld platform is simply amazing.

Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened is one impressive achievement, and probably would be even if it wasn’t developed as bombs were raining down on the developers’ homes.

With a game that is so much fun to play single player or even better in multiplayer, Valve has a huge hit on its hands. Toss in the possibility of DLC and you got yourself some replay value that goes through the roof!

Assassin’s Creed Mirage continues that run of solid games, without question. It doesn’t break new ground – by design, I would argue – but it shows that around twenty games in (counting spin-offs), there’s still plenty of story for the series to delve into. Assassin’s Creed Mirage is an Assassin’s Creed game, for all the good and bad (mostly good) that entails.

The Outer Worlds is an absolute steal if you’re opting to go the Xbox Game Pass route, but even at $60, it’s well worth your time. It’s exciting to see a viable alternative to the Fallout series, which is exactly what Obsidian has created here.

Whether it is unraveling the mystery of the disc, trying to last over 20 seconds each room, or completing it’s Pokedex-ish compendium of discs, or completing the 8 hardcore challenges Disc Room packs a lot for a variety of players. It seems Devolver Digital has been a beacon of light in an otherwise dreary 2020, putting out another title which will likely land on my personal year end list. So let’s hope we’ll see “the scientist” cross over in another Devolver published title where he’ll be grabbing a crown.

If you’re a Switch owner who is still a little sore that Capcom never ported Monster Hunter World to the Nintendo console, then I’d argue that Monster Hunter Rise is a really great consolation prize. I’d even argue that Monster Hunter Rise might actually beat out World in a number of ways, and I’m glad to have a new Monster Hunter game to sink time into as we roll into Spring. It’s a really fantastic experience, and I’d highly recommend checking it out if you haven’t already.

In other words, all things considered, El Hijo – A Wild West Tale is pretty enjoyable. In fact (and please forgive me for the terrible pun I’m about to inflict on you), you might even say it’s a stealth game that stole its way into my heart.

If you have any affinity for the Final Fantasy brand, you’ll absolutely love Bravely Default.

Not only is Paper Mario a superb RPG, but it's also another quality N64 game that simply shouldn't be missed.

Where Zelda is all about combat and the story, Yonder is a much more relaxing experience. It wants you to simply settle into the rhythms of living on the island of Gemea — and it’s a testament to how good it is that, given half a chance, it’ll have no problem sucking you in.

As it stands, the old tried and true “fans of the series will like this game too” is honestly pretty accurate in regards to Borderlands 3. I’d say it’s a better game overall than The Pre-Sequel, and roughly on par with Borderlands 2. The post-game/end-game content is sufficient to keep you entertained well past the story, and the overall feel of the gunplay and looting is improved enough to make a difference. But if you’ve never enjoyed the series, Borderlands 3 won’t change your mind. Personally, I’ve really enjoyed my time with the game outside of the aforementioned technical issues and menu problems, and certainly suggest checking out Borderlands 3 if you haven’t done so already.

I honestly wasn't expecting much, but the precise, enjoyably implemented motion controls and event variety totally sold me.

Outside of that, this is another solid episode in the series, and I’m as interested in what comes next as I’ve ever been.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the greatest games of this generation, and this PC port is no different after a solid month of stumbles and patches. I am excited to see what the future of Red Dead Online holds, and excited to see how people continue to interact with this game in the future.

If you're absolutely new to the game, I think you'll really enjoy this title, especially if you're on the lookout for a fun, new puzzle game, and I highly suggest picking it up.

A fantastic game, and definitely what I was hoping for when I first saw those initial screenshots a while back. The capturing mechanic is fun and interesting, while at the same time being tied into familiar third person controls for shooter fans, so there's nothing here that takes a lot of time to get used to.

Atelier Totori Plus is one of the deepest, most enjoyable games I've played on the Vita, and that's all there is to it.

It's definitely fun to play with others, as the only real issues I have with the game is that the AI difficulty is a little lame, but the campaign is still worth a run through if only to unlock the additional maps and see the new objectives put to work.

The more I play The Amazing Spider-Man 2, however, the more I'm viewing it as a superhero game that just happened to have come out at the same time as a movie wih the same name. Obviously, there's a little more corporate synergy at work than that, but it's a sign of this game's quality that it 100% stands up on its own.

Even if you don’t know the world of Batman or its characters, you will enjoy what Rocksteady Studios has created!

So I definitely think Guacamelee! is worth picking up if you haven’t done so yet. If you missed out on the PSN version, or hell, just want to play through the game again, it’s well worth checking out. This remains one of the more impressive independent releases this year, and certainly makes me curious to see what developer Drinkbox Studios is working on next.

It may look, sound, and play like the previous game, but it offers up pure, unadulterated fun like so few games can ever hope to achieve.

Extremely addicting. This is the type of game that you get up early and stay up late for just to see what will happen next.

It truly feels like a throwback to classic arcade brawlers in both play and design, and Castle Crashers is a fantastic inclusion for anyone's XBLA library.

An amazingly well put together role playing adventure that is easily one of the first candidates for game of the year.

Easily the best racer of this year, Sega GT 2002 has also become a serious competitor to reigning king "Gran Turismo 3."

Rabisco+ is a simple game with all kinds of inventiveness, and plenty of charm to boot, which makes it well worth investigating — short Platinum or not.

Sports gaming is on the brink of a new age with the coming of new consoles, so here's hoping the 2k series continues to raise the bar by producing the best game on the market, as they have – again – with NHL 2k6.

Bury Me, My Love is such a harrowing experience, it’d be understandable if one or two playthroughs was enough for you. Even with those flaws, this is an excellent game that doubles as a fascinating learning experience, and if you’ve ever wanted to see a genre venturing off into new, relatively unexplored directions, it’s well worth your investment — both financially and emotionally.

Besides the sometimes crazy amount of time spent in inventory management, and the distinct lack of non-player characters to interact with and real towns, Vagrant Story is a Top Notch, Grade A, Action RPG.

The end result is like a weird take on Cold War spy movies, with a jaunty soundtrack, competing global organizations, and lasers. Obviously, given we’re talking about a subgenre within a subgenre, Blind Men isn’t going to be for everyone…but for those to whom it even sort of sounds appealing, it’s well worth your time.

The game is a must have for fans of the genre; it's very good looking, the music is excellent, and the game is just all around fun. Make sure you pick this one up to save France... again.

I mean, the whole game leads to moments of hilarity; that’s the point of Jackbox, after all. But The Jackbox Party Pack 8 may be better than most of the other entries in the series — and seeing as we’re talking about a series that has produced some amazing games, that should tell you a lot.

Still, for the initial purchase price of $20, Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid is a really great fighting game, and can easily hold it’s own with other popular 2D style fighters on the market. Even if you don’t have a great deal of love for Power Rangers as a franchise, like myself, I think you can still appreciate how solid the mechanics are here. The season passes are also reasonably priced for the amount of characters they provide, and again the netcode for online play has been near flawless for me so far. So if you haven’t checked out the game yet, I’d absolutely urge you to do so.

Clearly, that'll be cold comfort for anyone hoping for Diablo-lite on the Vita; as I said before, it's not that. But Pocket RPG is fun enough on its own merits rather than being disappointed by what it isn't, it's worth enjoying it simply taking the time and appreciating it for what it is.

Incredibly fast, outstandingly brilliant, and wonderfully rewarding to play. The intense difficulty curve only adds to the gameplay experience. Each race that is won feels even more impressive because it had to be earned.

It's a great game for the DS, and well worth playing. Avoid the Wii version though, I can't really stress that enough.

Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology is a great example of time travel RPG done right. Figuring out the puzzle like systems and how to most efficiently eliminate enemies makes the battle system unique and enjoyable. On top of that, finding the correct path to get to the end of the game can make for a lot of exploration. If you are a fan of RPGs, puzzles and a good story, check this one out!

It'll really only appeal to you if you've got an insatiable appetite for the deepest minutiae of baseball stats, but if you've ever debated WPA, wRC+, or fWAR vs. bWAR, then OOTP 17 will once again be occupying a significant chunk of your time this summer.

A couple of hiccups, but they don't stop Spawn: In The Demon's Hands from being one of the best multiplayer games on the market.

It’s a sign of how addictive Reigns is, though, that powering through without any breaks feels like an inevitable outcome. It’s designed to suck you in, and if you want to discover a unique experience, you’ll give in and let that happen.

Even though the overall look and presentation has not received a glowing amount of attention, it is what EA has done as far as tweaking the controls, A.I. and adding a monster amount of modes and options that will keep fans of the links playing for another year to come.

This chapter, and the last chapter for that matter, have felt pretty polished overall on PC, which certainly helps. I won't argue that the engine being used here is getting a little dated, and the overall mechanics of the series are starting to wear a little thin, but the story and characters introduced within A New Frontier still make it worth checking out. "Thicker than Water" is another solid chapter in the series, and helps propel the game towards what I'm sure will be a bummer of a conclusion in the near future.

I would absolutely suggest checking out Blood & Truth if you’re a PSVR owner, it’s certainly one of the most fleshed out action experiences available on the platform, and features some of the best weapon handling mechanics I’ve seen in VR altogether. It has a fun, action packed campaign mode along with just enough additional features and reasons to revisit completed stages. Definitely one of the best games available on PSVR, and certainly not one you should miss.

I really, really dug my time spent with Arcade Paradise, and thought the sheer variety of arcade games was pretty impressive, as was the actual amount of upgrades and story content available. It took a lot longer to complete than I anticipated, right around the 20-hour mark or so for me, which makes for a pretty hefty “arcade” experience to be sure. My only serious complaint is the sheer number of bugs I encountered while playing. Nothing that was necessarily game-breaking, but I did have a lot of recurring issues while playing through our review copy on the Switch, which has not been fixed yet. However, a PC patch was just made available this week that does seem to address the bugs I encountered, and my understanding based on the official Arcade Paradise Twitter account is that this patch should be going live for consoles next week. I would advise holding off on purchasing the game until that patch goes live, assuming you’re considering a console version of the game, but outside of that, I think Arcade Paradise is well worth your time.

Horizon Chase Turbo may occasionally be infuriating, but it’s a whole lot of fun much more frequently. If you’ve ever yearned for an arcade racer that genuinely feels like it comes from the early days of home consoles, you should most definitely check this one out.

As it stands, I’d absolutely suggest checking out Dauntless if you haven’t done so already. It’s an easy access free-to-play title with crossplay built-in for all platforms and doesn’t immediately try to nickel-and-dime you to death with add-ons and other items. The stuff you can buy is purely cosmetic, and there are plenty of earnable options available without needing to spend anything upfront. Also, it’s really fun to play, and as a big Monster Hunter fan, it’s nice to have a viable alternative to spend time with.

If you are not a fan of the racing simulation genre, sadly Project Cars 2 will probably not convert you. It’s a very robust and packed game with thousands of options that will intimidate if you aren’t into this type of experience. Couple that with the slight difficulty using the standard game pad, and you’ve got a game that may not appeal to many gamers. If you are a fan of sims though, than you can probably do no better than Project Cars 2. Even though I am not a fan, I did have fun playing and am looking forward to dive deeper into the title. It’s definitely not for everyone, but I still recommend at least checking it out.

It would make a great gift idea for anyone who has yet to experience this venerable classic.

Forza Horizon manages to feel like something completely different, while retaining enough of Forza's core identity to make it fit really well into this established franchise. I'd highly suggest checking it out whether you're a Forza fan or just a racing fan in general; I doubt you'll be disappointed.

I'm absolutely addicted to its gameplay, and still find myself going back to it and fine-tuning my current army.

Overall, I think Pokémon Sword & Shield is a great entry in the franchise, only brought down by its lackluster storyline. It’s certainly new player friendly, but also has enough going for it that long-time Pokémon fans will likely enjoy the new features too. If you have a Switch, and you’re even remotely interested in the series, I’d suggest checking it out.

Despite the sometimes-baffling challenges (which, in all honesty, are pretty typical to the genre), EMI delivers exactly what the Monkey Island name promises-a lighthearted, entertaining, and well-written swashbuckling adventure game.

All in all, Broken Steel winds up being a great diversion and a good excuse to re-visit the Capitol Wastelands. Between the continuation of the storyline, the tougher enemies, and the great amount of action given, it's well worth the $10 to take a ride with the Brotherhood of Steel one more time.

Puts the word sequel to shame. Rockstar Games has really taken the time to put together a game that not only fits in perfectly in the GTA universe, but ups the ante for itself and others as well.

Overall, I think Pokémon Sword & Shield is a great entry in the franchise, only brought down by its lackluster storyline. It’s certainly new player friendly, but also has enough going for it that long-time Pokémon fans will likely enjoy the new features too. If you have a Switch, and you’re even remotely interested in the series, I’d suggest checking it out.

I'm really impressed by how well realized Uncharted: Golden Abyss is on a handheld. I had been a little skeptical at how well the series would translate to the small screen, but I've found myself really enjoying this game. It does lose a little bit of the scope, especially compared to the Uncharted 2 or 3, but I feel like that's to be expected here. Still, the excellent third person gameplay is extremely strong, and the game actually paces its combat and exploration mechanics better than Uncharted 3 did. I definitely urge new Vita owners to pick this one up; it deserves to be a marquee title for the Vita.

I found myself hopelessly addicted to this pseudo-dungeon crawl, and I have a feeling it isn't just me.

If you are or ever was a fan of the show, you absolutely can’t go wrong with The Fractured But Whole. Licensed games have come such a long way and I’m so happy to see the time and effort put in to a franchise like this and it truly pays off in the end. So warm up with a shake weight, rock out to some Lorde, put on your favorite Columbus costume, maybe snack on a little Crème fraîche (enough Randy references?) and enjoy one of the best licensed games of all time.

Overall, I think Pokémon Sword & Shield is a great entry in the franchise, only brought down by its lackluster storyline. It’s certainly new player friendly, but also has enough going for it that long-time Pokémon fans will likely enjoy the new features too. If you have a Switch, and you’re even remotely interested in the series, I’d suggest checking it out.

Minus a few hitches here and there with presentation, commentary, and no online leagues, this may be one of the best Madden titles in recent memory, and easily the best on next gen platforms.

These games still hold up today, and while the visual improvements do not make the games feel “Next-Gen”, they definitely bring the games up to date and make them more than playable. The Mass Effect Legendary Edition is the perfect way for both longtime fans and series newcomers alike to experience one of the finest franchises in gaming history.

The GC version gets a better graphics boost than the Xbox counterpart, but both versions pack the same great gameplay.

So all-in-all, Horizon Forbidden West is a very satisfying, extremely impressive if somewhat predictable sequel, to one of the best original titles of last generation. It’s a showcase for the PS5 platform (and not exactly a slouch on the original PS4 and PS4 Pro amazingly), and definitely worth the price of admission.

It doesn't have the polish that GTA IV has, but at the same time I just felt like I was having more fun here than I ever did in Liberty City. The sheer amount of freedom in how you do your missions (and the lack of scripted set-ups) is one of my favorite aspects in a sandbox environment, and right now, Saints Row 2 honestly serves up the best experience when it comes to just having some fun in a big city with no rules for a few hours.

Where this game really shines through is in its sense of humor. While there are many situations that feel like they have a serious undertone, the loudest aspect is the way your character acts as your favorite, cheesiest '80s action cop. He'll push people around if you want him to, or be the nice guy, but who would want to do that?

Music aside, overall this year’s madden is a definite buy if you are a fan of the series or a fan of the NFL.

But this one offers more than eastern art for the sake of pleasing those who prefer it. It's a compelling, unique experience that can be appreciated by just about anyone.

The amazing thing is how great the covers are. Except for a couple of noticeably different sounds from the Incubus and Queen songs, they all sound just like the real tracks. With songs ranging from David Bowie to White Zombie, it’s really a credit to the performers to be able to not only recreate the music, but the voices as well.

You can build to your heart’s content, devote hours upon hours to building a great theme park, and, best of all, you can make your dinosaurs wear hats. There may be a few better management sims on the Switch, but Parkasaurus makes a solid argument for being counted among them.