What’s really striking about the two games in The Rebel Collection is that, like I said up top, unlike ACIII they’ve both aged fairly well. Both Black Flag and Rogue are excellent additions to your Switch library, and they’re well worth the dozens of hours you’ll get out of both.

The only thing that would have made the figure sets even better, would have been the inclusion of Star Wars, Tron and other series vehicles.

In the beginning, the lengthy and frequent cut scenes really started to grate on my nerves, but after the 6 hour I started to really take an interest in certain characters, and the game felt like it just took off from there.

This is the best version of Street Fighter Alpha 3 made. The control of the PSP however, hinders the title's gameplay and as such makes the game a must-buy only for those hardcore fighting game fans who must have every game available, or for those desperate for a fighting game fix on the PSP platform.

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.

Besides there being a complete lack of interesting characters to interact with, Invisible War’s plot unravels pretty quickly.

One of the most original titles ever crafted...But the title misses the mark by a tad.

If you have time and patience to balance Sim-caring and magic, this expansion is a keeper.

A high point in the series.

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.

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.

I think Yakuza Kiwami, and the original game in general, had one of the best Yakuza plots in the series, and that holds true even today. The sole focus on Kazuma as the protagonist makes for a more focused adventure than Yakuza 4 and 5, and it’s nice to see how Kazuma builds his reputation as the Dragon of Dojima with this game. I’m also a sucker for betrayal/revenge plots, and the original Yakuza has one of the best in all of video games. So do yourself a favor and pick up Yakuza Kiwami when it releases on August 29th, it’s certainly not a game to miss.

It doesn’t make a lot of significant changes to Far Cry 3, outside of streamlining some of the light RPG concepts in favor of something even more action-oriented. And it does a really great job of capturing that kitschy, hyper-stylized wave of 80’s nostalgia that few manage to get outside of the recent Hotline Miami.

Seriously, I don't think I can praise Hitman GO: Definitive Edition enough. It's perfectly suited to the Vita, and as I said, it makes me wish we had more cool little spinoffs like this one.

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.

For its price point, Sonic X Shadow Generations is a true value for hardcore Sonic fans and fans of platformers alike. With high replay value, and even with some control hiccups, Sega reminds us of what they can do with their blue hedgehog and his edgy counterpart.

I wouldn’t call MLB The Show 24 a disappointment overall, though. However, I also wouldn’t call it an unqualified success. It’s certainly better this year than it has been the past few years thanks to a few fun tweaks, but the bottom line is more or less the same as it is every year: if you skipped a year or two it’s a good place to jump back in; if you played last year’s edition your mileage will vary depending on how important it is to you that you get a new season of storylines, plus the ability to create a female player. Nothing in MLB The Show 24 achieves the same comparative highs of the franchise during its glory years from a decade ago, but it’s undeniably a very outing.

There’s something to be said for making players figure out and adapt to your quirks, I guess — and if you’re cool with that, then N++ has more than enough content to keep you occupied for weeks — but given the choice between a game that has solid controls and a game that doesn’t, I don’t know why you wouldn’t pick the former every time.

To be sure, Fashion Police Squad isn’t going to make you forget the games it’s borrowing from. But part of why it’s so fun is because it’s poking fun at a genre that can sometimes feel like it hasn’t evolved much since the original DOOM, and showing that there’s still room for it to grow and evolve. As Fashion Police Squad shows, there’s still some life – and some room to innovate – in the old genre yet.

Overall, if you have played the Disgaea games before, 7 won’t bring much new to the table. Its zany over-the-top characters are colorful, and fun. Spending hours leveling up characters and items can be a bit of a chore, but it’s also a part of its charm. If you have played Disgaea before, you will find a lot of comfort in this game, and if you have not, this is still a good entry to get started on. If you find you enjoy this one, I suggest picking up Disgaea 1 Complete to see how it all started!

I absolutely endorse picking up LEGO The Lord of the Rings, whether you're a big fan of the film series or the LEGO games. Your appreciation of the story will certainly hinge on whether you're a LOTR fan or not, but regardless of that you'll still have a whole lot of fun with this unique video game adaptation. It's a blast to play through in single player and in local co-op, and despite a busy holiday season for gaming, really shouldn't be missed.

Again, there’s absolutely nothing here that’ll derail your enjoyment of the series if you’ve enjoyed Etrian Odyssey for quite some time. And you’re not likely to find a more perfect jumping on point if you have yet to experience the series.

While not every event in the game is going to please you, I'm sure you'll find plenty of things to like, especially with a group of friends.

The biggest problem with a game this deep is that all the distractions prevent you from actually getting through the campaign, which I admit is fairly bizarre (and could be a very subjective criticism.) I kept thinking that playing through certain aspects were either required or would benefit me, when they actually weren't, and I could have just as easily blitzed through the campaign.

Game Arts has created a masterpiece for RPG fans with Grandia II. Even if the story is somewhat predictable, the gameplay and characters are just too much fun to pass up. If you are like me and are wondering what to do in this massive drought of good classic JRPGs this is a great game and shouldn’t be passed up!

Obviously, your feelings on Dariusburst Chronicle Saviours will differ from mine greatly if you're more favourably inclined towards shmups in general. If you like the prospect of getting a few thousand shots at refining your shmup abilities without the hassle of changing games, then this is absolutely the game for you. It's visually appealing, the controls are intuitive, and it's pretty well-made overall. Non-shmup fans, however, will probably find the experience much less worthwhile.

Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception may try and sell itself as a visual novel-SRPG hybrid, but that's not really an accurate description. Sure, it possesses a few SRPG elements, but in the overall scheme of things, we're talking about less than a quarter of the game. More than anything else, Mask of Deception (not to be confused with Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth, its sequel, which is due out in a few months) is basically a visual novel that just so happens to give players a little more opportunity for interaction than most of its peers. Actually, that's not the only way that Mask of Deception stands out from other visual novels. It also does that by being surprisingly good, with a some legitimately funny humour and interesting characters.

To be sure, none of this will be that new if you played Slayaway Camp. But this is one of those cases where that doesn’t matter. It basically comes down to “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” — only with the added bonus that everything that was broken when it came to Slayaway Camp is entirely fixed in Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle.

Was this title worth the near-decade wait? Absolutely! Like a Dragon: Ishin! delivered on story, gameplay and replayability. Despite my minor complaints about some quality of life issues, I’ve spent more hours than I needed to solving the problems of the citizens of Kyo, shaking down roaming thugs in hopes of extracting a much needed crafting material or perhaps recruiting them into my squadron. Western fans of the series are treated to a wondrous experience that they were deprived of and one would hope their support would give RGG Studios the will to bring other Japanese only experiences out to the west or remake other side titles. I’m looking at you Like a Dragon Online, the Kurohyō titles and of course Yakuza: Dead Souls.

Red Barrels is a developer that I hope to see more from, and to my knowledge, there's nothing currently like Outlast that doesn't freely give in to cliches on a regular basis (I have yet to play either Amnesia title), and that's enough for me to call it worth playing.

The framerate remains solid throughout, and seeing a giant tsunami rip through the world and completely submerge it is very impressive.

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.

I’m a simple man (not in game), give me a comic interpretation made by people who appreciate and understand the source material and tell a captivating story and you’ve got me hooked. There’s not much to do outside of the bit of collectibles and costumes after you beat the game but maybe if Guardians does well enough we’ll see some strong DLC content. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is built to be a holiday season blockbuster (I mean is anything else even coming out this holiday?), and all of its accessibility options make it the perfect gift for anyone.

I don’t think it’s a noticeable upgrade over last-gen though, and if you’ve already played or owned the PS3 or Xbox 360 version of the game, I don’t think this upgrade is a must buy. But if you missed out on the original release, and either enjoy the characters or fighting games, then you’ll find a lot to love about Injustice.

More a glimpse into how a real Army fire team moves and engages enemy forces than it is a challenging real-time strategy game.

A lack of selectable music and no graphical enhancements keep this game from breaking into the "A" grades.

I'm just trying to justify why I have no intention of buying Tetris, one of the best and truly ageless videogames ever made, on PSN at it's current price.

The problem with Renegade Ops is that it's all too brief; we're talking a few hours max.

While there are some flaws, I think you would be hard pressed to find a game with a larger fun to value ratio. Darwinia by itself would have been worth the price of admission but you also get the fantastic Multiwinia thrown in which makes this a great deal.

While it does suffer some faults, the magic is still there and the package is a solid purchase for those looking to relive the glory of RPG's gone by.

May not bring much new to the table for the genre, but the new additions offer enough of a twist to keep the game interesting.

If you enjoy hack and slash games you should have a good time with Crystal Chronicles...a great attempt at connectivity and a fun game as long as you have the massive hardware requirements needed to fully enjoy it.

Capcom vs. SNK may not have as an impressive roster or flashy supers but it does bring together the two worlds we thought would never collide.

Does it ever come close to matching Portal? Obviously not. But it doesn’t need to, either. Chromagun 2 may not do a whole lot new, but the fact that so many other games are out there now that are also copying Portal makes that easier to forgive.

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.

It’s hard not to recommend Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country to anyone looking for a great RPG experience on the Switch. It’s a great expansion for fans of Xenoblade 2 while at the same time being a perfect way for newcomers to sample the games without signing their life away on a full-length RPG. It also has one of the better stories in the series and to me it plays the best that these games have, so if you’ve been on the fence then definitely check this one out.

I absolutely recommend checking out Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time. It’s a great RPG with a lot of elements that come together really well, allowing you to focus on various professions that are sure to cater towards a variety of gaming tastes. The storyline is light and whimsical, not particularly deep, but fits the world and aesthetic of the game really well. The ability to play online with others is also great, allowing you and your friends to form up a party and take on a lot of the optional content as well. It’s a fantastic follow-up from developer Level 5, and shows that Fantasy Life deserves to be held up amongst some of the greats in its genre.

It’s hard to complain about the rest of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. On a lot of levels it’s a back-to-basics approach for the series that works, with an engaging, entertaining campaign, great visuals and voice acting, some classic Modern Warfare callbacks, and a strong multiplayer mode too. If you’ve been away from the series for a long time, this would make a pretty good year to jump back in.

Overall, it’s great to see one of my favorite franchises on the Nintendo Switch and able to play anywhere. The load times are frustrating, but if you are playing in burst sessions, it may not be that bad. If you only have a Switch and wanted to play the game, it’s totally worth it, just maybe not as a rebuy for someone that has played already.

Wo Long exists at an intersection between Nioh and Sekiro, and unfortunately falls short of both and fails to establish an identity of its own. While I enjoyed my time with Wo Long, and had a fine experience, it passed from my mind almost as soon as I was done with it. I still sit and wait patiently for the day that From Software announces a follow-up to the perfection that was Sekiro, and an opportunity to try out Nioh 3 is something I would not pass up. Wo Long simply fails to impress in the ways those games do, and ends up planting itself firmly in the “Good but forgettable” category.

Beyond one particularly challenging battle which takes place towards the very end of the game, Ascension is action-packed though not especially difficult. The boss encounters are definitely as epic as expected, even if they seem more few and far between in comparison to other God of War games.

Koei Tecmo has absolutely blown it out of the water with this release, so big props to the team behind it. When it comes to doing remakes well, I’d put this up on the pedestal alongside games like the Resident Evil remakes. It is an absolute must-play for survival horror fans, and if you’re curious on what survival horror looks like outside of your typical association, you’ll definitely want to check out Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake.

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.

Graphics are recreated to perfection.

There's enough built into these early episodes of A New Frontier to keep you coming back for more, and hopefully we won't have to wait too long to see how things pan out for Javier and crew.

It could have used a little more variety out of the box, in terms of gameplay types and topics, but what is included will undoubtedly last until the next full-featured installment.

If you're a fan of the LEGO and of TT Games' line of LEGO videogames, then LEGO Dimensions is a solid purchase even for those who have never touched a Toys to Life style game.

All in all the best of what fans have loved about the NCAA Football series has honestly only gotten better with age.

Overall, Gundam Breaker 4 is a fantastic game for fans of Gundam as a whole, whether you are or are not acquainted with previous entries of the series or even the anime. If you’re just a fan of the mecha genre in general and customizing your own mech, I don’t think I could recommend Breaker 4 enough. It’s got excellent customization, fluid combat with enough depth to reward you for getting a feel for multiple attack possibilities, and plenty of reasons to continue to play. The developers have stated that there will be free and paid DLC released throughout the game’s life cycle, so be sure to stay tuned for new updates.

The few detriments Eden has are hidden well and can be argued as an attempt to challenge the player, or simply as poor design choices. That doesn't change the fact that as a whole, it's a game that makes you feel thankful for playing.

Basically, if you have a PS Vita, you should buy The Sly Collection ASAP, because there aren't too many games — Vita or otherwise — that are more worth your time and money.

The number of options and unlockable goodies make it a very deep game, which will make it just the ticket for wrestling fans despite it’s shortcomings.

It’s a smart take on 2D action/platforming titles, with fantastic visuals and music, and a pretty humorous script to boot.

It’s got a tonne of fun, engaging content stretched out over its three games, and it’ll quickly be apparent why they garnered such a following on their original release. Not every game can feel so enjoyable decades after the fact, so for this one to do just that is probably a sign that it’s worth checking out.

Overall, I think creating an actual sequel to the existing dual releases seems to be a more interesting approach than simply crafting a third standalone game that offers up refinements but rehashes the general plot and setting, which is pretty much the way handheld Pokémon adventures have operated since the beginning.

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.

It’s not sim enough to match up with Sega’s offering, and Midway has a faster, more fun arcade hockey game in NHL Hitz.

Midway has come out of nowhere to create the most entertaining arcade baseball game in years.

It's nagging qualm falls in an area of utter frustration, but when compared to the great visuals, crazy multi-player action, wide range of characters and all the other positives, there is no doubt that "Fur Fighters" is an entertaining title.

Skate 3 is the best skateboarding game at this time. It is still fun, intuitive, and there is plenty to do and see. Toss in multiplayer fun for a group and you have yourself enough satisfaction to last you 'til the next incarnation of the series shows its face...probably a year from now.

It's one of the most original and captivating games of the year — on any platform — and for $40 you can't go wrong.

Between the plotting, level design, and gameplay, Tomb Raider: Legend does an admirable job of rescuing the franchise. Crystal Dynamics have torn down the franchise, consulted with the creator, and rebuilt it from the ground up as something significantly different…Something great.

All in all, as a digital re-release for $20, you can’t go wrong with Brutal Legend PC. At the very least, you’ll appreciate its soundtrack, characters, and metal-inspired world… The game could be considered a bonus and it'd still be worthwhile.

If you haven’t checked out one of these excellent SEGA AGES releases so far, Thunder Force AC is a pretty good place to start. It’s one of those games that rarely gets ported, certainly not to current consoles, and is a neat little bit of video game history in its own right. I would highly recommend picking it up when it hits the Switch eShop today.

The gameplay is solid enough, the audio is fantastic, and the visuals occasionally show off a bit of the next gen, but anyone even remotely interested in the movie needs to give the game a rental at the very least.

A game that could have easily felt like the final part of a trilogy now feels like the start of something more, and has laid the groundwork for potential Metro games to come.

This is a great set of 8 mostly classic Mega Man games and will certainly help get you reacquainted with the Blue Bomber leading up to his more retro return in Mega Man 11. The series started to tale off with the PS2 titles (horrible voice acting mixed with some questionable 2.5D designs), but I would love to see a resurgence in the X series like we did with the OG Mega Man series, just please do it in the 16 bit SNES style.

Again, this is still a great game, but it’s a port that unfortunately feels largely unnecessary.

Overall, I feel like Sleeping Dogs is the start to something that has the potential to get even better down the road. I really love the setting, characters, and hand to hand combat of the game, but the remainder feels a little recycled in comparison to other open-world games we've played so far this generation.

Increasing the longevity of the Lumines experience, Supernova also includes a sequencer where you can create your own tracks. It's pretty limited, but offers enough variance to make some pretty unique tracks.

A true upgrade to the previous years, and as I mentioned before, is possibly the best version of the series since its inception.

I wanted to love this game, I really did. The team at Gunfire Games clearly poured a lot of love and lessons learned into this game, and they were kind enough to provide us with 3 codes for Remnant 2 so we could get effective co-op testing in. Unfortunately, a combination of some mechanics pulling the game down, as well as one of the biggest years for new releases EVER lead to Remnant 2 falling behind and getting a bit lost in the shuffle.

For those that were disappointed with Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised here. It’s also a perfectly fine jumping on point for new players, and the online multiplayer component will likely give this game legs well past the initial launch. Finally, the VR really should be one of the first things you boot up, and stands out as one of the better VR experiences on the platform thus far.

Because there's such a massive disconnect in quality between the online and offline versions of MLB 15: The Show, I'm really not sure how I feel about it. The former is absolutely awful, so bad that if I weren't a massive baseball fan already it would make me question how anyone could possibly like the sport.

I played through 400 Days on the XBLA release of the game, and it’s worth mentioning that there are a few technical hiccups that persist from the original content. Some slight stuttering and loading hesitation when saving or transitioning from one scene that could clearly go in another direction is often noticeable throughout, and it’s something that I really hope gets ironed out for consoles before Season Two starts.

It might not be leaps and bounds over the original, but it’s enough of an improvement that I can’t see myself going back to the original Company of Heroes any time soon.

You're likely to come away from Rime thinking about how much (and, luckily, how well) it draws from gaming classics than you are to feel like you've just finished a classic in its own right. However, neither of those things are nothing, I've played plenty of games that neither offered a few moments of incredible beauty nor led to fond memories of other games. Rime does both, and for that, even if it won't be remembered in the same breath as, say, Journey, it deserves a closer look.

If you've had the hankering for platformers as of late, like I have, this set is an absolute no brainer. For $39.99 you get three of the best platformers ever made, and they're completely remade for the current gen… you can’t get a much better value than that.

There are over 30 different maps to try out in Ninjatown, and a decent multiplayer mode to boot, so there's plenty of content here that'll appeal to strategy fans.

This is a niche game. If you aren't into motorcycles, you can probably pass on this game without too much regret. If you are, you should probably rent it first to find out how it stacks against your particular preferences since it's got elements of simulation as well as elements of arcade style. As for me, it's a trade in.

If you loved Tony Hawk, you will definitely love Mat Hofman's Pro BMX. While it doesn't have the more extensive options and deeper mechanics of "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2," it has plenty of its own personality and depth.

As always, I’d love to see Telltale mix it up a bit more mechanically, introducing more player interaction other than limited QTE’s and conversation decisions, but compared to Telltale’s other offerings, I think Game of Thrones is right up there with the best. I look forward to seeing the series continue, especially after this ending, and hope we hear some news on that front sooner rather than later.

If you want a mind-bending puzzle game along the lines of, like, Portal or something, it’s not going to deliver that, and you’ll want to stay away. If, however, you want a gentle puzzle game with heartfelt visuals, that will remind you of life pre-gaming, then Gorogoa offers a solid — if brief — experience.

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.

It’s a gorgeous game that gets to the heart of why people get hooked on golf and, as I said, if you’re a fan of the sport, it’s a must-play.

As I said up top, The Artful Escape may not sound like much on paper. Its individual pieces aren’t anything special. But mix them together, and you’ve got an amazing creation, and one of the best games of the year.

if you're just after a game where the only goal is a high score and unlocking new guns, then Deadlink more than delivers on that. Not only do you have great weapons to start, your character flies with ease all over each room, and for the most part you do that without the game ever stuttering to catch up. Couple that with a pulse-pounding soundtrack, and it's easy to see how someone could get sucked in.

Overall, I think Promenade is a platforming adventure that’s definitely worth your time. It has a decent challenge curve, enough so that it might not be for everyone, but the difficulty never feels particularly unfair, and failing a tough segment generally only sets you back a handful of seconds. It’s also an absolutely beautiful looking game, well animated, and the various worlds and areas you uncover are often cleverly designed, especially compared to other likeminded platformers out there. I loved Promenade, and I think you will too, so check it out when you get a chance.