I almost literally played through the entire game in one sitting, which isn't something I do often, and I didn't feel my attention waver throughout the eight or so hours it took to finish.

If you're into the storytelling style – which you'll get a taste of in the first few minutes – you'll probably enjoy it. There's just nothing exceptional about any particular element of the game.

Metal Gear Acid 2 is over the top, with its visuals and substance. Fans of the original will like the new additions and expansiveness over the first, but there isn’t enough here to draw haters of the first game to try it.

Unfortunately, due to the hardware requirements of the title it might not be an option to some of those out there with an interest in playing it.

At first glance, it appears to be a shallow, silly game with lots of action and eye candy. But it's also a relatively complex sports game requiring just the right mix of skill and reflexes.

The steering feel[s] somewhat awkward at first as well as stiff. This to me interrupts the smooth control design of the original game and complicates it for no other reason than to be complicated.

I’d say Judgment is worth checking out, and certainly marks the best jumping on point for the world of Yakuza since Yakuza 0, even if it isn’t technically a Yakuza game. A whole new cast, new story threads, new mechanics, and more, mean that everyone can give this a shot without being bogged down by 6 or more games worth of 40+ hours of storytelling. So if you’ve ever been on the fence with the series, I’d say give Judgment a shot, and if you like it, go back and check out the Kiwami remakes or Yakuza 0 for a very similar experience.

This game is designed to get you to pay out as much money as possible, as often as possible, and it just so happens to be built around basketball. Admittedly, the basketball here is quite solid, but more often than not it feels like an afterthought to the main, casino-tinged event.

The fact that it costs half of my proposed cost-against-value, it's impossible for me not to recommend any fan of platformers or 2D games to wait any longer to play it.

I can't really consider Absolution to be a must buy sort of title, but it's worth checking out as a curiosity rental at least. There are elements here that I like, and things that do harken back to the traditional Hitman experience, but this is about as far off the rails as the series has managed to get. Hopefully the next entry tries to reign in the foreign concepts a little more, because this hardly feels like the right direction to take the series in.

I definitely enjoyed this year's version of the Smackdown vs. Raw series, but I still think that it's time for a serious change of pace.

The inclusion of Crash and creating your own Skylanders just took it to the next level for me.

Worthy expansion/ Just as good as Broken Steel/ With more atmosphere.

The throwback to classic RE featured in the Mansion and Underground sequence is a nice change of pace from the rest of RE5, and while the story revelations aren't earth shattering, there's enough revealed that lore hounds will find something interesting.

There's so much optional content involved that you'll be able to keep yourself busy for a long time, and most of the mini-game like activities, like the approach to golf found here, are actually well implemented and fun.

The gameplay isn’t as deep as expected and most average gamers will have no problem cruising through the entire game in a few short days. Regardless, the colorful, lush visuals, dramatic soundtrack and variety filled gameplay should provide a pleasant next-generation fantasy romp for most gamers.

It’s all pretty low stakes, and it’s extremely low stress. But that’s the point — it’s designed to be a relaxing game you can finish in a single sitting. It’s not about the change the world, but it should be enough to put a smile on your face…and yes, maybe just make you want to go camping.

Overall, I thought Escape Academy was a great game, and does what it wants to serve you very well. The puzzle design is excellent and the wide array of environments keeps things fresh. The only complaint I could give is saying I wish there we more, but the quality of what is here makes it hard to complain.

FIFA Soccer on the PS Vita is a welcome launch title, and if you fancy the sport at all, it should be a must buy.

It’s been a pleasant trip down memory lane with both Pikmin 1 and 2, and if you’ve never had a chance to experience either game, I’d say they are both highly recommended and stand the test of time quite well. Neither game is particularly long, and while 2 can be challenging at times, both are pretty friendly to new players and work as a solid primer for the upcoming release of Pikmin 4. Definitely check them out when you get a chance, you won’t be disappointed.

Even with it’s very basic presentation, Firewall Zero Hour really delivers on every front. Minor issues aside, you will definitely have a good time with this. Keeping in mind that this is a completely online experience so, if you are a shy one who doesn’t like interacting or working together with friends or complete strangers than this might not be the game for you. If you like other tactical shooters like the Ghost Recon Series, then this will be right up your alley!

It's a gorgeous looking fighter that's pretty unique and fun to play, even if you're currently bogged down in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, SSFIV Arcade Edition, Blazblue, Tekken or whatever.

Still, the bottom line is that both Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris and Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light are good games, regardless of whether you’re playing solo or (locally) with a friend. They were a breath of fresh air for the series when they first released a decade ago, and The Lara Croft Collection is a great opportunity to discover them, whether it’s anew or for the first time.

Console pinball is really not where it's at, but in this portable fashion, it is probably about as good as you can get.

I know I’ve probably done a horrible job of capturing what makes Indivisible so wonderful, but you’ve got to believe me: it really is a fantastic game. If I can love it despite it featuring a whole bunch of elements I usually dislike, I think that speaks to just how good it is — and it means that you already are a fan of anime-inspired graphics, metroidvania platforming, or turn-based combat, then you should find even more to enjoy here.

I’m still jugging through the story and exploring Yara and having a great time. It’s a good time to invest in a game like this when there aren’t too many new titles in the genre coming soon. The shortcomings are minimal and I’m sure I have a lot more to discover. Fans of Giancarlo Esposito will enjoy his inclusion, as he does a fantastic job of playing a villain you love to hate.

As it stands it's a largely enjoyable and well-made SRPG that represents the SMT style extremely well, but if you weren't blown away by the first title, the second entry will do little to change your mind.

A glorious sendoff for the venerable series, and an absolute must-own for any serious fan. While it ultimately fails to match up the strongest entries in the series – the original "R-Type" and the fantastic "R-Type Delta" – in terms of stage design and challenge, it compensates with the vast wealth of playable craft and subtle nods to its own spectacular lineage. [Import]

The bottom line is how much you'll enjoy mastering the tricks of killing as many undead as possible without succumbing to their relentless onslaught. Playing Hunter: The Reckoning is a skill more than an experience, not unlike the arcade classics of the past.

The graphics are some of the most impressive available on the console, it's certainly darn addictive and while there are a few nuisances here and there, TXR2 is a worthy purchase for racer fans.

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.

Waking Violet is by no means a bad game, but if you’re not a particularly patient person, it might be easy to mistake it for one.

I’ve really had a blast with Valfaris. It looks and performs really well on Switch, and I’d imagine that’ll be the case for the other platforms it’s available on too. The metal soundtrack is fantastic, and the overall visual design is unlike anything I’ve played this year. With the recent announcement that Doom Eternal is delayed into next year, I think Valfaris will easily be the most metal game you’ll play this year. It’s absolutely worth checking out when it launches on Switch and PC on October 10th.

Star Wars: Squadrons is a tight, laser-focused experience that knows exactly what it is and exactly what it isn’t. This focus causes it to be a little bit light on content, but with a launch price of $40, it is a much easier pill to swallow. I can say that the flight is just as enjoyable on hour 20 as it was on minute 1, and if you are looking for a gorgeous flight simulator, without the in-depth knowledge and practice that a game like Microsoft Flight Simulator demands, Star Wars: Squadrons is it.

Street Fighter X Tekken on the Vita is certainly worth picking up if you're a Vita owner and a fighting game fan, and continues the excellent port work put forth by Capcom with their Marvel vs. Capcom 3 release when the Vita launched. It's still a really fun fighter in its own right, and while I could certainly do with them ditching the tedious and unbalanced gem system, the rest of the package is a fun romp through two fighting game worlds.

The Metronomicon: Slay the Dance Floor went from being a game that wasn’t on my radar, to being one of the more engrossing blends of video game mechanics I’ve played all year long. The stellar soundtrack combined with a solid base of RPG trappings makes for a really enjoyable time, and something that I doubt many developers could stick the landing on as well as Akupara Games and PUUBA have done here.

There isn’t much else to say about Space Invaders Extreme, except playing it is a whole lot of simple fun, and will trigger your nostalgia greatly. It takes a formula that worked in the 1980s and added just enough spice to give today’s gamers a thrill. At $19.99, it may be a little expensive to some who have never heard of the series (or played it on previous last gen platforms). If you haven’t, I highly recommend playing the original game, then once you are accustomed, jump into Extreme with both feet and have a blast. For those who love the series already, this is a no brainer. Space Invaders Extreme is a must own for your Steam library!

Even with touchy fielding and no stat tracking, the BIGS is the best baseball game in years.

While EA Sports MMA won't be an instant success due to the overwhelming popularity of the UFC name brand, I can honestly say that EA has made a more accurate and solid version of the shoot fighting sport than THQ.

There's a lot to be mined out of the core gameplay mechanic here, and I think everyone will find that Scribblenauts does wonders for your imagination.

It’s meant to be pleasant and cozy, and everything about it – from the folksy characters, to the fiddle music, to the lovely voxel art – is designed to be as warm and upbeat and wholesome as possible. And more often than not, it succeeds at being a pleasant experience. You wouldn’t think a fishing game, of all things, as being cuddly and cozy and inviting – but Moonglow Bay proves that it’s not just possible, it’s also pretty fun.

NHL 07 is fun, fast, addicting, plays well, and eats up your free time even better...While the competition plays a fine game of hockey, it felt too much like the same old song and dance to recommend over EA’s brand this year.

So while this first episode is a bit light on the adventure game tropes you might be familiar with, and certainly doesn't require much head scratching in the puzzle department, I think it still serves as an entertaining introduction to what could possibly be Telltale's best work yet.

There are downsides, like the Akrid's lack of any sense of self-preservation (and strict attack patterns) and a heavy dependence on mechs which are not as much fun to control as in other, mech-centric games. But the biggest drawback is the lack of options and reliability in online multiplayer, which may hurt the game's long term popularity.

Combine all those things – the unique visuals, the packed world, and, above all else, the fun platforming – and you can see why I’m so fond of Ruffy and the Riverside. It’s a 3D platformer you need to play if you have any kind of interest in the genre, and it’s good enough that even if you don’t, you may want to give it a try.

Easily one of the most graphically intensive Xbox games to date and, unlike earlier titles that garnered this title (I'm looking at you, "Wreckless"), it's actually fun to play.

A title that fuses together a fresh premise, the most remarkable draw distance out there and addictive gameplay that makes a habit of making you come back for more.

Overall I came away from Eternal Sonata feeling pretty impressed. 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.

The animations are incredible, the textures are fantastic, the stadiums look like cathedrals, and the new menus are slick and very easy to weed through. But alas, you still don't have a full integration of the ESPN license, the presentation is lacking with no pre-game studio views, ala current gen, and there is a few hiccups in the frame rate when scoping the entire field.

The graphics are the crowning achievement for the game after plays and during replays, but it looks pretty rickety in motion during the actual game play.

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.

Slight edge might be given to the Xbox because of its superior dual analog sticks, but the GCN yellow c-stick isn’t too troublesome.

If you’ve never played the original games, or you’re just a fan of beat ‘em ups in general, I’d absolutely suggest picking up The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors on the platform of your choice. I played through on the Nintendo Switch, which has been an excellent platform for the game, but I’d imagine you’d be fine from a performance perspective on PS4 too. It’s a real gem of a game that’s long been overlooked and is certainly worth your time.

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

Overall, while the game is still a great Mega Man title, it doesn't nearly live up to the fun of its predecessor.

Jazzpunk clearly and proudly isn't a game for everyone, but for anyone who shares its developers' collective mindset, it's likely that there'll be a lot more hits than misses, and that by the end of those three hours, you'll be desperate for more.

Control issues aside, I still wouldn’t say that Stories Untold is a bad game. Indeed, if you like emotionally heavy games with interesting, underutilized mechanics, you’ll get that here — you’ll just have to go in understanding that, without a mouse and keyboard, some of those mechanics don’t work the best.

If you have any love for any of the old Genesis games or the system itself, $30 is a very fair price for Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection. In fact, if you look hard enough, you can find it for a little less, which comes out to be like 65 cents a game. Quite the deal.

Normally this is where I’d note some flaw or issue that stops Kaze and the Wild Masks from being absolutely perfect, but I can’t think of a single complaint. It’s just a phenomenally well-done that captures its influences without being completely indebted to them, and it’s one an early contender for one of my favourite games of the year.

What probably makes this game so interesting as an action game though is the ability to play up to four players cooperatively. Even better is how seamless they make this experience.

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.

So while I do tend to be pretty positive about the LEGO series as a whole, it's also easy to see that this is the best effort Traveler's Tales has put into the franchise as of yet.

Monday Night Combat is a game that doesn't take itself seriously, nor is the game bogged down with a ridiculous story line. This is a balls out, frenzy of fun that will appease any twitch shooter fans out there as well as those who enjoy class-based multiplayer.

A damn fine game.

This is a fantastic, gorgeous experience, and if you have a Nintendo Switch, you should definitely give these islands a visit.

How did Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn stack up against the original? Well being a port with some added features and missing the co-op from the original it’s not really definitive. It’s just here on a handheld and not the Switch. So if you’re not planning to play with a friend then it might be a good bet, but it also reminds me how much I enjoyed the original and both have their merits. But for what we got it’s in a weird place that makes me wish we got a ground-up sequel or remake instead.

It’s pretty much what you’d expect from a 2D Kirby game – but seeing as the baseline for those is “cute platformer that won’t tax you too much and that you can play with pretty much anyone,” that’s hardly a bad thing. Add in a few new elements, and you have the ingredients for a pretty solid remake.

A great game. Anyone who is a fan of RTS games should pick this up or at least give it a try. Hours will be spent on playing through the story and bonus missions and almost every detail is carefully considered, from the graphics and sounds to the balancing of the different enemy forces.

Puzzle Bobble EveryBubble! is a fun little game that can bring some serious challenge the longer you play. The extra Space Invaders mode is a super cool addition that can challenge even the biggest Puzzle Bobble pro. The super cute presentation may turn off some players, but fans of the series will feel right at home here. A nice and cheerful puzzle game that can be enjoyed by anyone of any age and a very good addition to the Puzzle Bobble franchise!

Well worth picking up for fans of the original and newcomers alike, and I think it'd be a perfect introduction to the genre for just about anyone.

Once you settle into Yoshi’s Crafted World there’s a good time to be had. It feels weird to call it a mixed bag in the visuals and gameplay department but it’s a mostly good bag with some stuff you just have to get through to enjoy more of the good stuff. Like Chex Mix! And with lots to do after the big boss there’s a good amount of value past the main game. But if you’re unsure then there is a demo on the eShop and you can decide for yourself if it’s worth a whole $60. I just hope if we have another adventure with Yoshi maybe he returns to his roots.

With the Masters as the game's primary focus, honestly you can't use another name as Tiger has had more accomplishments and Masters Moments than any golfer. So the choice was easy, has been made, and the result is near perfection.

Fall of Cybertron feels like an actual love letter to the series, and puts the right amount of emphasis on individual characters and their traits and mixes that with levels that make use of those particular skills and abilities. It's just a real joy to play, and I'm glad to have in my hands an actual, fun Transformers experience in video game form.

With more polish and character balancing, Midway could have crafted one of the best pick up and play fighters in existence – but combo timing issues hurt the overall score and that’s a shame.

It will probably come as no surprise, but Pokkén Tournament DX on the Switch is the way to go. It offers everything from the original, but with added content and a much better platform to play it on. Yeah they probably could have spent more time with technical improvements like a higher resolution, but we also didn’t get a disaster on our hands as some ports can tend to turn out.

I Am Your Beast hardly breaks the mold as far as frenetic first-person murder games go. But it’s still a fun, stylish take on the genre, which means that you could do a lot worse than giving it a go.

I definitely think Wipeout 2048 is worth checking out, and from what I've seen it seems to be the racing game to beat amongst the Vita launch titles. I've heard and seen dubious things from both Modnation Racers and Asphalt (and Ridge Racer is MIA at the moment), so if you need to get your racing fix this seems like the way to go. It's a legitimately great experience on the new handheld, and looks absolutely fabulous on the OLED screen. I highly recommend picking it up.

As someone who’ll take a concentrated dose of exceptional storytelling over an endless slog of repetitive tasks and quests, I can’t say that the brevity or the lack of replayability bothers me all that much. All I really want is to hear/read an incredible story — well, that, and a genuinely great follow-up to Thomas Was Alone. Luckily, Subsurface Circular delivers on both.

The "crash and bang" gameplay translates well to 5-on-5 gameplay, and with the rules turned off and the addition of online play, provides a great arcade-style alternative to the ESPN and EA series.

Fans of the series will applaud this, but most who have already seen "Bust-A-Move" a dozen other times won't find much new to keep them amused.

The main problem with EDF6, though, is that there’s simply too much of it. The base game includes 147 levels, each with five difficulty levels if you really want to be a completist. While it’s undeniably fun to blast away at aliens, bugs, and robots, at a certain point it all feels a little repetitive. The game starts to feel like a slog of explosions, no matter what the setting is. Still, that’s always been the ethos at the core of the Earth Defence Force series: blowing stuff up in the service of a story that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. It’s a mindset that, for better or for worse – largely for better – is alive and well in Earth Defense Force 6.

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.

While Orcs Must Die! isn't a perfect tower defense game, it's certainly a solid entry, and a great starting point for anyone who still hasn't caught on to this wild and crazy genre that is being ignored everywhere.

Every run in Dicefolk brings new adventures, and it’s a sign of how well it’s put together that you’ll definitely want to go on run after run after run.

I genuinely believe that Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail is a phenomenal start to a new story, and that I am very excited to see where the dev team takes us next in the post-expansion patch content. From adding in more EX trials for mounts, new dungeons, raids and more, Final Fantasy XIV fans are feasting with yet more great content from Yoshida-san and the rest of his team.

Even with the limited multiplayer, the Tour mode will provide you with over 30 hours of slope conquering action.

Playing fighting games offline was the way of the world a few years ago, but now it's disappointing that this collection is offered only on the Playstation 2 with its minimal online tendencies.

For gamers who just want to shoot, slam, and take it to guys in the paint, this game will more than meet your expectations. If you are looking for a game filled with strategy and intense pressure, you may want to get your hoops action elsewhere.

I can't say, in all honesty, that it's an approach that speaks to me (I like my games to be obvious and linear, darnit!), but I can say that if you're the type of person who can appreciate the journey as much as the destination in a game, then Knytt Underground should be well worth your time and money.

When The Past Was Around finds a way to include some interesting puzzles in the mix — but Florence found a way to be interactive without letting its little challenges get in the way of its story. It’s like that at every turn, in every respect. When The Past Was Around is good — but it’s no Florence.

Its fun, it'll help you pass some time while you wait for the game, and it does a solid job of introducing the new character and new weapon system, without giving too much away prior to DR2's release.

If you are opened minded to a non-traditional gaming experience and enjoy horror games and/or movies, I would highly recommend giving Until Dawn a try.

The Arcade mode and local 2P action is great, just what I expected from the game, and while the visuals could do with a little sprucing up in comparison to the arcade stuff I've seen, it's not that awful. Not quite as stylized as recent console fighters, but not bad enough that it put me off of having fun with the game. However, if you're going in for story/scenario mode and online play, neither is worth picking the game up for at the moment.

The collection is a great entry way to get some underrated portable fighting game, however the genres being represented are a bit lopsided. The presentation is somewhat underwhelming but you can’t deny the value of the collection versus buying these titles piecemeal. That said there’s still some gems in the NEOGEO Pocket library and let’s hope volume 2 will include a certain crossover card game, that’s all I ask!

If you consider yourself a series NASCAR fan, you must own NASCAR 06. This is the game you have been waiting for and offers more game play options than you can handle. Casual racing fans may be confused by the concept and might want to consider this a rental at best.

For one of the rare games that actually made me feel like I wasted my time after playing it, I did enjoy the ride.

But overall the game performs on the PS3 without much issue. It's not the best looking game on the market, but I enjoyed the brightly hued color of the stages, despite some of the more repetitious environments that divide the rooms.

LittleBigPlanet 3 is still a charming platformer and creative sandbox at heart, yet without the full attention of Media Molecule, it feels like it sorta lost its soul.