Axiom Verge borrows heavily from the classic games of yesteryear, like Metroid and Master Blaster, but unlike so many other indie games out there, faithfully recreates the gameplay elements found in those titles.

Red Faction II does an excellent job combining the crucial elements of a first person shooter, but if you don't look at the box cover you could reasonably get this game confused with almost any other FPS in a modern setting.

2K seems very comfortable with their winning formula - they've got a game that plays and looks great that improves a little each year. They've succeeded in adding wrinkles that do what should be the #1 goal of anyone who makes sports games: They stay out of the way.

If you own a PlayStation, Dreamcast, GameCube, PS2 or Xbox, I can't in good conscience recommend this as a purchase, but THPS 2 is definitely recommended for those of you who only own an N64.

My personal favourite, though, was Survive the Internet, a game that takes internet outrage culture to new heights as you’re explicitly asked to put your friends’ words in the worst possible light. It’s the perfect set-up for players to say outrageous and inflammatory things, and I found that no matter who I was playing with, we’d invariably have to take breaks so people could compose themselves. In fact, here’s how much fun Survive the Internet is: if Jackbox Party Pack 4 only included that game, it would make the game worth picking up by itself. Add in three other ultra-fun party games (plus, admittedly, one dud), and you have a recipe for a perfect addition to Jackbox’s pretty stellar line-up.

If you haven’t checked the Mighty Switch Force games out yet then the Mighty Switch Force! Collection is a great way to do it. But if you already have access to them then it’s nothing to go out of your way for as it is just a collection. The fun factor is still here though so they’re still a good time even today.

The Angry Video Game Nerd 8-Bit is a love letter for fans of the AVGN series and character. If you aren’t a fan of his characters and style, naughty language, or find NES games too primitive then there is nothing here that will make you a fan, but this is indeed a super fun game that even non-fans can enjoy if given a proper chance. For everyone else, this is the AVGN game you have been waiting for, and it is NOT going to disappoint. If you want a challenging (and I do mean challenging) game filled with great action, classic graphics and fantastic comedy that will leave you giddy, then you NEED to download and play this! This is the best “modern classic” game ever to be released and needs to be an industry standard for all titles that try to recreate a retro feel. Fantastic job by everyone involved. Love it, Love it, Love it!!!

While it is an older title, I’m still surprised at the quality and general smoothness of Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage on the Switch 2. It plays incredibly well, the online is generally smooth, and runs pretty great. SEGA definitely took some care with this port and it shows. Between the ability to use handheld mode, arcade sticks if you get compatible models, and the ease of portability of the console itself, this might be the best way to play VF5 currently. Whether you’re a returning vet or looking to start with Virtua Fighter ahead of future releases, you probably won’t find a better option.

I really liked Nex Machina for the most part. We were given the opportunity to play it on PC and PS4, which had very little difference as far as I could tell, except that the PS4 has trouble loading some textures where destructible objects were at times. This is minor and will probably be fixed in an update. While not their strongest, this is another solid entry in Housemarque's lineage. Nex Machina holds true to their goals of enjoyable arcade shooters that sit a level above the competition.

It packs in a ton of characters, a lot of unlockable content that's actually pretty cool, and it returns MK back to its ultraviolent roots, something that was sorely lacking for most fans in the otherwise decent Mortal Kombat vs. DC game.

It also marks a great jumping on point for newcomers with a more balanced difficulty level and a decent checkpoint/continue system, but offers plenty of harder modes for the die-hard fans. Easily one of the best action games in recent years.

All in all Need for Speed: Most Wanted is the Need for Speed game that fans of the series have been clamoring for, for quite some time. It mixes a formula of both old school ideas and new ones, creating an experience that mixes well and will certainly appeal to a wide audience and gear heads. The game is fast, huge, and most importantly…fun, and part of its charm is not taking itself too seriously. Need for Speed is back, and we welcome you with open arms.

Overall, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is a fun romp through a little more of the Uncharted universe and I can't imagine that players invested in the franchise will disagree. Naughty Dog did a really nice job fleshing out a pair of once-supporting characters and made us care about who they are and where they came from, and not just because they are women and/or persons of color. Check it out.

Expectations for how much can be done to a franchise between seasons just went up.

Skate 2 is a must buy for fans of the first, and a give it a try for fans of Tony Hawk. Love it or hate it, it's the only game in town.

If you're a fan of the Alien franchise and pinball, this is a must buy.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D walks a tightrope of appealing to a brand new audience while also remaining true to the original that helped shape gaming as we know it today. This endeavor could have ended up a disaster in so many ways, but it ended up being nearly perfect. I fell in love with this series all over again and find myself more appreciative of the time-saving mechanics than ever. This is the best way to play one of the best games of all time, and it has catapulted my excitement for the upcoming HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest I & II into the stratosphere.

Technical sim junkies will have a lot to build, destroy, and monitor, but newbies might want to run for shelter.

An accurate, immersive, and extensible simulation of conducting a train that train fans and general sim fans will find simply irresistible-although it might not do much for the gamers not enthused about trains.

This is a better game than "Wave Race: Blue Storm." It may not have the wave physics that Nintendo's racer has (or many waves at all for that matter), but it runs away with the look of the water, control, and playability.

Slick looking, smooth playing masterpiece... The undisputed king of 3D Playstation fighters on the market today. [Gaming Age Score = 96]

It’s unfortunate that Nintendo didn’t release an all-new side scrolling Mario game.

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

Now where NBA Live 2004 excels is in the gameplay department. NBA Live successfully gives you almost total control of the game of basketball, crossovers, pivot moves, shot adjustments, and fade-aways, are all aspects of the game that EA has given you control of.

Wipeout 64 isn't a bad game by any means. It just doesn't have the same level of adrenaline pumping action and playability that Miyamoto's racer has.

Easily the best installment yet with slick and fast visuals, an awsome multiplayer mode and an enormous amount of modes, tracks and secrets to explore.

Bit.Trip Complete feels pretty much spot on to the WiiWare releases, but with bonus content to give previous players some incentive to buy it. Is it enough of an incentive to re-buy if you already own all six games? I don't think so. But it's certainly the best option out there for people that are new to the series.

Overall I’d reckon that Final Fantasy XVI’s PC port IS a good one, albeit with the caveats that it has some beefy requirements to run at higher frame rates and resolutions. It’s a phenomenal game that is now available to a wider audience, so I’d highly recommend checking it out if you’ve got the hardware. Otherwise, if you’re on a bit older hardware (such as myself) from early 2020 or before, I’d definitely recommend holding off and getting upgrades first, or deal with reduced visual quality, resolution, and framerates. I for one wouldn’t want to buy the game to have to play at 720p for 30fps in 2024. Final Fantasy XVI is definitely a great game and a great port if you’ve got the hardware to run it, though I do wish it ran better on slightly older hardware.

The essence of the Hulk – his chaotic power and affect on normal civilization – is captured perfectly.

After playing it for an extended period of time, I think it is a great game and would recommend it to anyone who is on the fence and loves racing games. Unfortunately, the candle on this game burns out a little too quickly, with only a few modes supported for online play.

If you’ve ever wished you could get that acceptance letter to Hogwarts – or even if you want a fun fantasy game you can sink yourself into for hours and hours and hours – this is what you’ve always dreamed of. It’s hard to imagine another game topping this one in 2023.

But for everyone else, Etrian Odyssey IV offers more of what you already love about the series, just this time it’s a little prettier in action.

Resident Evil Village is not a game for everyone, and I feel Resident Evil 7 fans will enjoy it much more than the average player — but having fan favorite Chris Redfield back into the story was a welcome addition (including the retcon of his appearance in RE7).

A pretty fantastic first entry into the series, and turned out better than I had thought. The controller itself feels well built, and I don't get the sense that it'll breakdown from any extended plays.

It's obvious a lot of thought went into every aspect of the game, from the unique look and functionality of each race to the incredible balancing that ensures each of them are on equal footing.

Bulletstorm, in short, looks good, plays great, and is fun as f**k to play. So put that in your pipe and smoke it Call of Duty fans...I come from the old school, and my friends of frag fest...this game is old school with a new coat of paint.

Whether you’ve never played a game in the Gradius timeline, or if you’re a shoot ‘em up diehard, I can’t see a reason not to pick this collection up. It’s a great introduction to the genre as a whole, and the emulation work put into this release by developer M2 is as amazing a job as anything they’ve produced previously. It’s an absolute must buy in my opinion, so definitely check it out.

Another amazing release by Vicarious Visions. One where they have not only gone all out with their effort, but have pushed what we can expect out of the system. It is easily one of the best titles to be released on the system thus far.

This is one of the few must buys for the year for anyone who owns a Kinect, and it is truly the first game to make me care about the technology.

The new kicking meter makes it way onto current generation, providing a ton of more control and consistency with the kicking game.

So, while the game can often feel like a buggy mess, I'm more than willing to forgive its shortcomings based on the actual fun it delivers.

Probably my favorite entry into the Dragon Quest series.

MonolithSoft has created an entire world to explore and dig into, and they put that world in an RPG that already feels like one of the most important RPGs to date.

The best flight title on the market to date on the consoles. You will have to boot up that PC to find one better that’s for sure, but the complexity that those games offer doesn’t measure up to the fun you’ll have with Ace Combat 5.

There's quite a bit of replay value involved, primarily when trying to get the three hidden characters unlocked.

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

It really is a remarkable game, and in a year that’s been blessed with way more than its fair share of standout games, I’d put Viewfinder on the same level as any of them.

Frictional Games are an ambitious bunch who hopefully continue to learn lessons about storytelling and when to leave behind the crutch of a past success. Their strong suit may have been in horror at some point, but sometimes moving forward means leaving something behind. In the case of SOMA, they've traversed far into the future without leaving the past where it lies.

All in all, I think Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined is a great representation of the game, but I still think the 3DS version feels like the more complete package. The cut content is disappointing, even though some of the early streamlining and quality of life changes are nice to see. It’s still a really fun adventure with a charming story and beautiful visuals, but maybe not the version of Dragon Quest VII that hardcore fans were hoping for. Everyone else new to the game will likely not notice the changes though, and considering the secondary market price point on the prior releases of Dragon Quest VII, this Reimagined version is the way to go if you’re wanting to jump in for the first time.

So what is there left to say except, if you call yourself a racing fan, even if you have passed on or hated the last few outings this Need for Speed series had to offer, this is a whole new game that feels fresh. To put it in simple terms, you "Need" this game in your racing library.

SR3 contains a lot off the wall violence that'll satiate your need for random video game fun for a number of hours. It's bookended by great opening and closing moments, and topped off by a competent co-op mode. You'll devote more time to the game than just the story fueled segments, and SR3 will certainly keep you interested past the end credits scroll.

You're doing yourself a disservice if you have unachievable expectations for GT5. However, if you take certain oversights into consideration when you first boot up the game, you'll probably be more than pleased. GT5 is not perfect, but it gets fairly close.

It takes strong foundations from both the genre and the source material, then layers things on top that make the entire game a solid, intense experience throughout. It’s amazingly fun, amazingly wrong in that Rockstar kinda way, and amazingly right in every fundamental design choice. In short, Rockstar has made a modern classic with The Warriors.

Skate 2 is a must buy for fans of the first, and a give it a try for fans of Tony Hawk. Love it or hate it, it's the only game in town.

Vicarious Visions have once again done an exceptional job in adapting a console game to a handheld system, yet for the first time ever, have made it virtually indistinguishable.

If you are a fan of turn-based JRPGs, games with a lot of customization, or a simple story done really well Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster is a great game that has a lot of great gameplay, a fun combat system, and a lot of different ways to be able to create your party if you want to replay the game. It is a game that has had such a consistent following for a very long time that I would keep on your radar, even if the midgame can feel a bit repetitive and grindy.

If you have the Atari 50 Base Game, then you MUST grab this add on! It is extremely fantastic to have these games in the already great collection and make the base game feel more complete. Despite any insignificant gripes I may have, this is a must own add on to an already fantastic collection! Download now and dive back into the world of Atari!

The multiplayer aspect gives it a lot of longevity, which is supplemented with New Game+ features as well. Mission variety is decent and enemies are well varied within their types, although the most addictive part of the game's missions will be the underlying RPG elements that allow further customization and adjustments throughout the length of the title.

Indigo Prophecy is unique, artistic, immersive and beautiful. There's no reason in the world why any self-respecting gamer shouldn't have this game in their collection.

It's a great spin on a tired formula, with some fantastic art design and a quality soundtrack to go along with it. Definitely pick this one up and you won't be disappointed.

If you have ever praised the sun, or if you have any fear of the old blood, Nioh is an absolute must play. A fantastic and deep combat system, coupled with great boss design and a difficult yet fair effort/reward loop put Nioh right up there with its not so distant brothers in Dark Souls and Bloodborne. If I were to assign a score to the game, simply for its content it would absolutely be a solid “A”. Unfortunately, even though it is the Complete Edition, this is not necessarily the superior version of the game. If you only play games on PC, this game is still a no-brainer to pick up, but if you’re like me and have consoles as well as a computer, I think the PS4 may still be the place to play Nioh.

There is so much to like and so little to dislike this year, that if given a chance, I can't see how any true football fan can't find a way to experience Madden football this year and have nothing but a good time.

At only $7.99, this is a great deal for those who are fans of the series, but as I stated before, the challenge here is no joke. First timers, you have to battle through the frustration and you may just find your new favorite title in the SEGA AGES line.

You’ll never get enough of picking up a soldier, watching him flail around, followed by throwing him into a wall. The rag doll physics help add to the diabolical pleasure as limbs fly all over the place when tossed from one part of the room to the other.

The only complaint that anyone could have about the game is that sometimes the battles can get so amazingly big that it is very easy to lose track of what one is doing.

I’ve never been a racing fan, but I’ve always had the impression that it’s a couple of steps above the likes of NASCAR and Indy car racing. That’s an impression borne out by F1 2019, and it means that anyone who wants a real racing game challenge would be well-advised to check it out.

It’s serious if they want it to be serious, but it’s also incredibly silly if you’re in the mood for that. Which ever way you choose to play it, though, it’s consistently fun, and that makes Hitman 2 well worth checking out.

A great expansion pack for one of the best strategy titles out there.

The game holds its own despite dated graphics and sound.

The controls feel precise and fluid as they react according to the situation you are in. If one thing that may be a downer to some casual gamers is the difficult A.I. in the game.

Even trivial things like the special effects for the Super Art have been changed, and like the new character voices, it's a small touch that goes a very long way towards making an attractive, complete package worth buying.

It's great to see expansions working on consoles where you don't have to own the original to play, and you still get a full helping of gameplay for only $29.99.

Ultimately Sayonara Wild Hearts will be a permanent fixture on my Switch console (as well as my iPhone, as this title is one of the launch titles for Apple’s Apple Arcade service). While the Fool’s journey is a relatively short one, it will be extremely revisitable as one can strive to get the gold rank scores as well as collect all the diamonds strewn across the levels. Why wouldn’t you, with an excellent soundtrack and superb visual design, I couldn’t find a better way to pass the time.

A SRPG player’s dream. A person could spend hours just wandering around the item worlds leveling up characters and items, or one could just go straight through the game without turning back.

Still, lovingly designed or not, it's hard to really get into a game where you die constantly and feel like you've got no chance — which is where the nostalgia goggles come in.

The world it presents is gorgeous, with some one of the most technically and aesthetically pleasing visuals we've seen thus far. Meanwhile, the revised and expanded battle system injects additional strategy while eliminating the issues that bogged down the previous game.

The complete lack of anything for single players hurts it a little bit, as does the unreliable stat tracking, though everything else is fine-tuned to near perfection.

I’d definitely say the good outweighs the bad with Madden NFL 16 however, thanks in large part to the excellent addition of the Draft Champions mode, and the overall positive changes made to passing and receiving.

FIFA 14 may seem like the same old song and dance on the surface, but once you get into the game you’ll appreciate what the developer has done to enhance the overall quality, even if the glitz and glamour suffers a bit by not advancing along the same path as the improved controls.

All in all, I found New Super Mario Bros. U to be a very rewarding, fun breath of fresh air for the series that does a pretty good job of showcasing new elements found in the Wii U system. It's certainly a step up in terms of visuals, and looks great both on the big screen and on the Wii U Game Pad.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a complete package of being the ultimate badass, with the impact and combat to really back that up. Combine that with a killer soundtrack and a surprisingly interesting story, and you’ve got a truly excellent action game package. It is worth a warning that some people might find the experience repetitive if you’re not a fan of this style of game, but if you’re a new player seeking an entry point, there really isn’t a better jumping in point than this new entry. If you’re looking for a “nothing but fun” game to start off the new year, look no further than Koei Tecmo and Dynasty Warriors: Origins.

Since this is technically a rehash of a game from 2009, the retail version can be had for a relatively low price of $40, with the downloadable upgrade (if you have another version of SF4 in your library) setting you back only $15. If you are deciding between download or retail, it basically all comes down to if you want the 100 costumes found on the disc, or if you have enough HDD space for the upgrade.

There's some interface stuff I'd like to see streamlined a bit, but the visuals are fantastic, the gameplay is certainly interesting and unique, and the overall presentation is spot on from what I've seen of UFC in general.

Whether or not the end game content manages to keep my attention remains to be seen, but so far this is easily the most polished MMO I've ever played within a month of launch, and I can easily see myself re-subscribing to it next month.

Of course, I can understand why Q-Games might not have wanted to mess around too much with Pixeljunk Monsters. After all, when you've basically attained perfection — at least in some people's eyes — there's not much to be gained by going in and making huge changes.

For the most part, I think you'll find Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward to be a step up from 999, and really, that's saying something considering how excellent 999 was. It's not flawless, no, but well worth your time, especially if you're the type of person that enjoys new gaming experiences that are far from the norm.

The story telling, unique environments, gameplay and amount of content included makes Bioshock The Collection a must buy.

It’s a satisfying conclusion to the overall arc, that will likely see you wanting to play through it all one more time, just to see what other paths you can take, and what changes those paths may make.

Easily one of the best games I've played this year, and while it's definitely early in the year to start calling out the GOTY, Child of Eden is certainly in the running.

Crow Country is clearly influenced by some of the scariest games of the ‘90s, but it’s good enough that it can be enjoyed today even if you never played those games the first time around (or even if you’re generally too much of a scaredy cat to play them).

Game play is spot on "NBA2k2," which is good and bad at the same time. The controls are tight and responsive, but the force field issue mentioned before makes the game feel constrictive in ways.

It’s this lack of real replay and major feeling of linearity that I feel many will be turned off sooner than later.

If nothing else you're getting one of the best games from last-gen on current gen consoles, and the HD upscaling looks fantastic.

If you thought it would be hard to screw up a port of Out Run then you’re right! Everything turned out just like you’d hope and it’s a great addition to retro games on the Switch.

All in all, this is a pretty great entry in the series for Splinter Cell.

If you’ve never played a Final Fantasy title prior to the PS1 era, or if you’re just a massive fan of these games like myself, I can safely say that this Pixel Remaster collection is certainly worth picking up. Whether you want the whole set or just want to revisit the entries that you love, you’re going to get a really great experience regardless of which title you go with. Definitely check this collection out when you get a chance, you won’t be disappointed.

Retro Bowl is generally worth it, if you’re a Switch-owning football fan who wants to play their favourite game on Nintendo’s system. It may not be perfect, but it’s miles better than anything else you can play.

My opinion on sports games comes down entirely to two factors: how good is the career mode, and how well does it represent the sport. And on both those counts, FIFA 18 delivers in spades.