Under Night IN-Birth Exe:Late may have a confusing name, but it is an awesome fighter that deserves your time.

Overall I would highly recommend checking out both games in this collection, whether you’re picking it up as a bundle or as separate releases. Both games are great, and even if Monster Hunter Stories is a little dated compared to the sequel, it’s still a lot of fun. Even if you’ve never played a traditional Monster Hunter title before, Monster Hunter Stories Collection offers up such a different take on the series that you’ll have no trouble starting here. It is very much its own thing, and something that I hope we continue to see more of in the years to come.

Given its absurdity, it would be easy to look at Untitled Goose Game and simply dismiss it as a joke taken way too far. But the reality is far different. This is one of the most enjoyable games I’ve played this year, and it’s well worth checking out.

After I situated myself in the controls, leveling and managing my squads, and making my way through some missions, Fortnite works. Missions are fun and engaging, rewards are plentiful, and it feels good to shoot things. Replayability is there too, as the enemies and resources are randomly placed when you load a mission. Forntnite may be slightly repetitive at times, but is overall an enjoyable experience.

Toy Soldiers: Cold War feels just a tad bit hollow to me as a game.

After "Bioshock" and "Uncharted," it's hard to imagine a game having an even better setting, but Assassin's Creed seems to have pulled it off.

It might be hard to tear yourself away from Smash Bros., but Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker makes for an excellent holiday diversion.

The game seems earmarked to become a cult hit...and with another game on the way in Japan, I can only see the series getting better.

So basically, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team is worth picking up, but you’ll definitely need some patience to muster through its early hours. I think it compares favorably to early entries in the series, but doesn’t stand up as well against Bowser’s Inside Story if you’d like a direct comparison.

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

A great collection for nostalgic fans and newcomers alike. None of the spin-off Mega Man X titles are included in the package, but what’s included is more than enough to keep any player blasting for more.

There is more freedom in career choices, less intense caretaking, plus a few console specific features. But the gameplay is old hat for previous console players.

Fly Together! was clearly meant to be played, well, together. And I have no doubt that it’s even more fun when you play with people. But the fact is, it’s still totally worth picking up, even if you just want to play solo.

If you’ve been on board so far, A House Divided gives no reason to stop now.

You get a decent amount of forward progression on the story side, the introduction of two new characters on opposite ends of the good/evil fence, and some familiar faces for old-school Borderlands fans. So if you’ve been on board with Tales from the Borderlands thus far, episode 3 will give you no reason to stop playing now.

If Jedi Outcast was on Xbox Live it would be among the best games of the year.

Visuals are just as refined and gorgeous as previous versions of the series, with new and subtle differences added to give the game increased flare and a more appealing look to the eye.

Outside of a sluggish opening hour, wherein you might struggle a bit getting used to the controls and traveling mechanics, this is one hell of a console exclusive. It’s bright, loud, and occasionally funny, but more importantly Sunset Overdrive is a ton of fun to play.

Once again Tribute Games does another master course on how beat’em ups should be created. If their work on Shredder’s Revenge is a predictor for the trajectory of Cosmic Invasion, I expect there to be post release modes and characters (If Dev Diary #4’s background comic selection isn’t a teaser then I don’t know what is.) to come for the next year and change. Marvel Cosmic Invasion asks What if beat’em ups were good again and in this story, the answer is yes…yes they are.

Another one of the game's strengths lies in its presentation. Everything looks good! And not just for an XBLA title, but by any standard.

Life is Strange: True Colors is a unique game, unlike anything I have played before. It is a departure from the other titles in the series, while also retaining the soul of what made people enjoy those games so much. With a stronger focus on interpersonal relationships and genuinely empathizing with those around you (both friend and foe), it feels like the series is finding its footing and pushing forward to bigger and better things. The decision to switch from the episodic format to a full upfront release pays off and I think Life is Strange: True Colors is much better for it. Once I got invested in the story, I did not want to stop playing, and I think a lot of the decisions and connections you make would start to lose their meaning if there were an extended break in between chapters.

These two episodes start off strong, the new cast additions seem solid, and I'm excited to see where this entry takes Clementine.

If there was one major criticism I'd give the game, it's that the stealth aspect is almost completely debunked by the AI's ability to single you out of dense jungle.

Like Hotline Miami a decade ago it stretches the limits of what a puzzler can be into some bloody places, and it pulls it off so well that you can’t help but enjoy every minute of it.

It easily blows the first game out of the water, and puts the gameplay in titles like Grand Theft Auto to shame.

Rage starts to wear out its welcome about 3 to 4 hours in. That's the point where it started to feel like the promise of an open world shooter was more of an illusion than reality.

It's a lot of fun – a keeper – no doubt.

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.

Disappointment with the Dojo mode aside, Samurai Shodown is an extremely competent title. It is not a difficult title to pick up. Matches manages to capture the tension of a life or death duel, where one errant move can mean being cut down. Visually it is probably the most vibrant the series has seen, with some stages which are breathtaking. This release is welcoming to newcomers as well as veterans to the series. Hopefully this title will lead to a renaissance for this series and there will be many more ways to embrace death.

Probably one of the most addictive games on the PSP, and even those who have no interest in the real sport should find it enjoyable.

It is by far the best of the series thus far and is a great building block for future versions. Just bear in mind that the multiplayer experience gives this game a much higher score than the single player, so if you don’t plan on playing online or with friends, you may want to just check this out.

All the Simpsons references in the world would be a waste if the game play were trash. Just ask "Simpsons Skateboarding" on that one. Thankfully the game play is very tight, responsive, and easy to maneuver for rookies or vets.

There is more freedom in career choices, less intense caretaking, plus a few console specific features. But the gameplay is old hat for previous console players.

Offers enough newness for a purchase, but fans that have been there from the beginning might begin to wonder when the series will take that next step in evolution.

The whole 16-bit SNES thing may be a little overdone these days, but Terraria captures the vibe of that era so perfectly that it's almost impossible to not love its aesthetic. A pleasing aesthetic, however, does not a great game make. You need to have compelling gameplay as well, and — while I can certainly see where some people may disagree with me on this — Terraria just doesn't have that.

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.

There's some serious challenge to the game if you take the time to find it, and that holds true with the 3DS version as well. Also, the game is well suited to portable play, as each mission only takes about 5 to 10 minutes to complete.

At the end of the day, your mileage with Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO will vary. I found myself bored as often as I was excited and frustrated as often as I was exhilarated. For fans who simply want to relive the glory of their childhood with Budokai Tenkaichi, there might be enough here to draw them in. For folks looking for a continuation of the depth that FighterZ added or the beat-em-up fun of a Kakarot or Xenoverse style game, I do not see Sparking! ZERO scratching that itch for you.

Overall I'd say that Goldeneye is more than worth your time, in fact, it's probably one of the best FPS titles on the Wii at this point.

With fantastic level designs, great enemies and power-ups, as well as the addition of some fun and entertaining multiplayer modes, Kirby is a must have.

The story is weird, but the solid mechanics and playful nature of indie games is laced throughout the title and contrasts nicely with the prominent aesthetics of the game. If you can get past the Hot Topic makeup here, you'll find a very rewarding arcade game in Vampire Smile.

Luckily for me, I didn’t go into Shadow of War wanting to re-live Lord of the Rings, I wanted to hunt some orcs. And this game delivers on that in more ways than I can possibly count — and it does so in a way that doesn’t require to spend one extra cent, near as I can tell.

The missions aren’t the same and the soundtrack is vastly different, so I don’t know if I’d call Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 specifically a remake as much as I would a reimagining, but it’s still a great game nonetheless. If you’re expecting a 1:1 remake of both games, you’re effectively there when it comes to levels, but it’s not perfect. If you’re not concerned with the faithfulness to Pro Skater 3 and 4, these games are bigger and better than 1+2 and well worth it.

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.

If you’re in the mood for some retro-infused 2D ninja action, Cyber Shadow is highly recommended. It’s a really enjoyable experience, with an absolutely fantastic soundtrack, and certainly worth checking out on any available platform.

I will not pretend that Marathon is a game for everyone. I don’t even think it’s a game for most people who enjoy FPS games, but… that does not stop it from being a great game in the end. Marathon offers a lot to give people the ability to experience a hardcore looter shooter in a more well-designed and refined environment than has otherwise been available before its existence. Tarkov or Delta Force might look good, but what they are both missing is that casual friendly polish that you can only get from a studio with a long history like Bungie. In my opinion, both of the aforementioned games suffer from being unpolished in the grander view in a way that, while not necessarily making them bad, definitely makes them hard to approach. Marathon’s UI might be a bit wild, but it’s not the crazy patchwork that you’ll find in its competitors. It does what every other extraction shooter before it has done, but more polished and cohesive. There’s always clear goals and expectations, and upgrades are easy to understand and progress. Marathon is, in my opinion, the clearest winner of the genre to date that offers the kind of experience it does.

Catherine: Full Body is a remake that adds an enormous amount of value and gives audiences who missed out another opportunity to enjoy this title. It’s accessible to all players regardless of skill level and has a story which is riveting and poignant. For players who have played the original release, now you have an opportunity to take a new branch as well as take on the world to show your climbing skills. One would say this title has definitely aged well and can be considered a fine vintage.

Visuals are just as refined and gorgeous as previous versions of the series, with new and subtle differences added to give the game increased flare and a more appealing look to the eye.

The best addition, outside of the Hero class to Patapon 2, comes from the somewhat unexpected multiplayer mode. Unfortunately, it's only a local wireless mode, but I wasn't really planning on seeing it in the game anyways, and the way it's implemented works quite well

All told, Convergence can be beaten in just a few hours, but it offers a lot of replayability and additional exploration which I think is fantastic. In my conversation with Rowan, we touched on the goal that Riot Forge has which is to ensure that these games being published in the League of Legends universe strive to be great games on their own, separate from that massive property. The games should be approachable for folks like myself who have no real familiarity with the overarching franchise or narrative. I felt that Convergence was a complete, standalone experience that left nothing out for me. As Riot Forge continues to grow and allow stories to be told inside the League universe across different genres, I look forward to seeing what the next few years will bring.

If the mundane enemies that populate the world brought a little more challenge to the table, and if the basic environmental kills consisted of more than just impaling or beating someone to death, then I would have had much more interest in the title than just the boss fights and Bloodbath events.

It may be harder to appreciate now than it was when it first came out a couple of years ago, but that doesn't mean it's anything less than outstanding.

It's a mix of Battlebots and Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots, with guns. The only thing dragging it down is the monotony in the later levels where the fighting starts to feel a bit old and the personality starts to wear off.

Still, despite the flaws, Final Fantasy XV is worth checking out. You can easily get lost in the open world and side quest portion of the game, which you’ll gain access to pretty early. There’s a lot of stuff to fight, the combat system is fun, and the game looks pretty amazing for the most part. And despite the last quarter of the game being lackluster, you’re not locked out of the side content or open world areas, so if you need a break from that stuff you can easily put the story on pause and move on to something else for a bit. Is Final Fantasy XV my favorite in the series? Not hardly. But it’s a much better game than I expected it would be, and certainly something I’ll play again in the future.

If you enjoy platformers and you have an inkling of interest in learning more about Japan, BAKERU might be the perfect package for you

Genshin Impact is part of a wave of titles from China that is slowly eroding the bad stereotype that Chinese devs are devoid of creativity and skill. While the initial comparisons are there, Genshin Impact does go beyond to distinguish itself…now if only the gacha rates and the free primogem are better I would have no hesitation recommending the title.

No longer can you "Happy Gilmore" your way onto the tour, you have to earn it with patience and skill. Golf fans rejoice, your virtual messiah has arrived and it is the UCAP version of Tiger Woods.

There's plenty of differing modes of play so even the most jaded gamer can find something to like in this package. It comes, highly recommended!

Skulls of the Shogun offers up a fairly unique take on what we’ve come to expect from turn-based strategy titles, and its use of a unique movement structure and simplified unit types makes this a far more accessible venture than most titles in the same genre. But that accessibility doesn’t come at the cost of challenge, which later stages certainly prove. Combine that with a fun, but bare online mode and you’ve got a new XBLA title that’s definitely worth a look.

After "Bioshock" and "Uncharted," it's hard to imagine a game having an even better setting, but Assassin's Creed seems to have pulled it off.

Which, I guess, is the best way to describe Superbeat Xonic as a whole: it's nice enough to look at, and it does what it does with an expected degree of competence, but you wouldn't mistake it for the best the genre has to offer.

Even for players that are new to not only this series, but to JRPGs as a whole, Revenant Kingdom has something to draw you in and get you hooked. The world, the story, the combat, the base building, something here will grab you and keep you. There is plenty of content to dig into, and you will not find yourself bored for quite a while with all that Level-5 has given you.

Firaxis' ambition may be great, but their inspiration seems to be left behind on our home planet. We've gone maybe out to Mars in this one, and it's a shame that Civilization's foray into the future is one that reminds us only of how inspired things were in the past. I'd love to see something more inventive in a full release, but maybe that will appear in a less fiscally-demanding expansion at some point.

Don’t get me wrong, Marvel Midnight Suns fits squarely into that lineage, but there’s also much more to it than simply getting your squadmates into the right position. It’s an interesting mix, but it’s also one that the game more or less pulls off pretty well.

There are better platforms to have this on, sure, but if you're looking to try the game out for the first time there's nothing wrong with choosing this as your platform of choice.

No matter how odd it may seem, as soon as the opening notes of the very first song ("Ievan Polkka") kick in, you're probably going to get hooked.

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.

If you own a Wii and you are a sports fan, this is one game that utilizes both controllers and shows off why the Wii is so innovative.

I can't say my feelings towards Risk of Rain ever went beyond mere appreciation, though.

Jurassic World Pinball offers a decent collection of tables if you are a fan of Jurassic Park and you’ll definitely have a good time with them. Another recommended addition to Pinball FX3!

The gameplay and modes are identical to the PS2 version in every way I can think to evaluate them. The minigames are completely worthless, but they don’t really get in the way of the actual game so I’m going to pretend like they don’t exist and treat the game as if it was an exact PS2 port.

Ninja Gaiden II Black is absolutely the definitive way to play the classic and challenging title. With the stigma of how Unreal Engine 5 can treat modern releases, it is outstanding to see a game utilize the technology to recreate something lots of people have fond memories of that runs seemingly flawlessly. With availability on all modern platforms and the inclusion of its release on Xbox Game Pass, everybody has the chance to play it. Other than the camera still being quite whack, it’s a genuine must-play, especially if you’ve never had the chance before now.

A fun take on the series, especially if you can overlook some of the poor judgment in the control of the game. With how good the game looks, and all of the different types of espers that can be recruited, players can get really creative with their armies.

In a lot of ways, Swords & Soldiers is like any other satisfying RTS game... just bite-sized.

Unless you're a pool devotee that's been waiting for a chance to play the game on your PS3 or 360, you'll probably only find Pool Nation to be a light trifle of a game, fun for a couple of games here and there — but sometimes, that's really all you want.

Much like the story of the man it is “based on”, I think people will be unaware of this extremely competent title. It’s a tad short for my liking, but it is an otherwise complete experience. Hopefully the game’s marketing team will find the right influencers to champion this title. Those who do find it will get a chance to experience an enjoyable game and learn about the colonial history of an area that increasingly finds itself on the world stage.

In the end you can't go wrong if you are a fan of the game. Just don't expect to be wowed by any aspect except the online and offline dynasty modes as they have shown the most attention to features in the game. The rest is just window dressing.

This is a game that is especially good for traveling since the levels are somewhat small and can be beaten in a few minutes instead of hours.

This is the definitive Mortal Kombat title. You have more fatalities, self-fatalities (hara-kiri), stage fatalities, more characters, four deep modes of play, unlockable Krypt items, and online play.

It has an awesome single player experience, decent multiplayer, steady frame rate and an extensive array of weapons and gadgets.

Just about the only complaint I could think of for the game is that its online multiplayer isn’t well-populated given that it’s not exactly setting the charts alight – but a) it’s fun in single-player, and b) that’s the sort of thing that could be fixed if Sackboy had the popularity it deserves. Do your part to help with that by checking it out, and get a pretty wonderful 3D platformer in the bargain.

All together, if you own a Wii, you should definitely plan on picking up Muramasa: The Demon Blade. It's easily one of the best third party titles on the system, and it's certainly the best looking 2D game I've seen in quite some time.

The Castlevania Anniversary Collection is a great selection of games and will make its reputation on M2’s emulation and another neat Bonus Book but the lack of ability to remap buttons and issues with screen options are more annoying than you would expect. If these things were changed then it would be an easy recommendation but for now it’s still a pretty good and only way to play these games on modern consoles. I’m hoping Konami stops dropping the ball on the presentation and options in any future collections because more are on the way and these are bringing down what are quality collections!

Fares poorly compared to other genre offerings, and I’d be hard-pressed to recommend it.

The biggest change from 2K7 to 2K8 is 2K Share. Getting rosters should have been this easy ever since all our consoles used the Internet out of the box. For some of us, that one feature will be all we need to hear to commit to another version of College Hoops.

When the force awakens, it does so for everyone – good and bad. Just as the next generation of Big Deals in the Star Wars galaxy includes players on both sides, the new tables for Zen Pinball 2 include one for the good guys and one for the bad.

Basically, I really enjoyed Midnight Club LA, but I was hardly amazed by it. It's a really solid arcade style racer with a lot of flashy stuff going for it, but it doesn't really do anything new or exciting, and it's not going to be the game to replace a couple other high profile racing titles on the 360 or PS3.

It’s certainly one of my favorite Switch games of the year so far, and an excellent RPG altogether. Even if you’re not the biggest Monster Hunter fan in the world, I think you’ll find the unique monster gathering mechanic to be quite addictive, making this a hard game to put down.

Again, it’s hard to say that The Outer Worlds 2 is a bad game, or one that doesn’t offer players plenty to do. It’s undeniably a well-made game. But that doesn’t make it particularly compelling. It offers players plenty to do, and I fully understand how anyone could sink a couple of dozen hours into it – but the whole time you’re playing it, don’t be surprised if you feel like you’re going through the motions rather than feeling super inspired by any of it.

While the two maps and the skins are nothing fantastic, the addition of the new mode is certainly welcome.

It’s not going to make anyone forget about the existence of Pokémon Snap, but it certainly does enough to justify picking it up.

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.

Far Cry 5 is hands down the best yet for the series, and may be the best Ubisoft title ever.

1001 Spikes definitely feels much more like a genuine game from the 8-bit era. By this, I mean that I could totally imagine playing this on the NES. The graphics, the music, the way the (surprisingly deep, plotwise) cutscenes are animated: all of them are straight out of 1988 or so, to the point that I could get in a time machine, show the game to 8-year-old me, and have 1988-Matthew think the game was just like everything else he/I was playing at the time.

Is Ni No Kuni II better than the first game overall? It’s quite possible — the slight difference in graphics is more than made up for by the improved combat and deeper gameplay, though much of that can also be written down to personal preference. What I know for certain, however, is that if the first game was an impressive achievement, this one is too, and, like it’s predecessor, Ni No Kuni II is a worthy addition to any Switch owner’s library.

A good game. A fast game. A beautiful game. It is also a short game - I beat it within a day. Now, keep in mind I've had more speeding tickets than you've had hot dinners.

The mission variety and complexity, with multi-tiered goals and mixtures of dog fighting, bombing and strafing, make Secret Weapons Over Normandy a long-lived, rewarding experience.

Parasite Eve has been one of the only RPGs since Final Fantasy 7 to genuinely deserve any kind of hype, or at least anticipation.