I have no doubt that in some alternate universe, Danger Zone is absolutely awesome. After all, it has a good idea at its core, and its development team has shown in the past that they're capable of pulling off that very same idea. In this universe, however, there's no getting around the fact that Danger Zone is, quite simply, terrible.

the story is actually interesting. In general terms, of course, the game is focused on the main character, Chizuru, romancing the various Shinsengumi samurai, but there's a clear plot beyond that: she's traveled to Kyoto to find her missing father. After she stumbles into a bad situation almost immediately upon her arrival (in which the Shinsengumi play a prominent role), everything that happens in the game is set in motion. It's appropriately mysterious, which makes this game much closer to an actual novel than most of its other genre brethren.

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.

The writing isn't half-bad, and Cassie makes for an appropriately spunky heroine. However, the crucial ingredient would be for the game to be on VR, where it could come closer to its ideal of sensory deprivation to offer a genuinely frightening — rather than frustrating — experience. However, Deep End Games have already nixed that idea, which means that what you're left with is a whole bunch of frustratingly squandered promise.

Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age gets its reputation from Final Fantasy XII being such a smash hit, along with incorporating the revisions in the International version. Add to that the updated graphics and orchestrated score, and you have what could safely be considered the definitive Final Fantasy XII experience. While not much can be done for the compressed voice work that was carried over, it's a tradeoff for having an updated version that offers a lot more than is worth getting hung up on part of the game's audio quality. I'd recommend this version any day of the week.

Do I think that Micro Machines is a must play experience for everyone? Absolutely not. It’s a OK attempt at modernizing a somewhat niche, but well-loved 8-bit game, and that certainly won’t be for everyone. And unfortunately, modernizing that experience doesn’t work out too well, especially the heavy online focus that is too reliant on other players with a community that already seems dead on arrival. But still, the more I played, the more I enjoyed. Once I felt that I had some level of skill when it came to turning tight corners and lining up kill shots on opposing players, the overall experience with Micro Machines certainly improved. I don’t think I’d suggest picking it up at full price, but it certainly might worth it at a discount in the future.

There is a lot to Antihero, and I could never explain it all in this small wall of text, so just do yourself a favor and grab it for their extraordinarily low price of $15 (or less). It is well worth the price they’re asking, and I would recommend dragging a friend in with you on the purchase so you can enjoy what I think are some of the game’s best qualities.

And really, when you get right down to it, the core of Farming Simulator remains intact. Farming Simulator still allows you to get in a nice, zen groove — you just need to look a little harder for it this time.

It's hard to fault a game for being mediocre, but Ever Oasis never reaches the potential for ideas it brings to the table. If you're looking for a game that doesn't ask much of you, then Ever Oasis might be just the right speed. I ended up playing it to wind down in the evenings because the gameplay became so routine. Otherwise, you may end up getting impatient and moving on to something else in no time quick.

In retrospect, that Akiba's Beat was going to be a bland mass of forgetability should've been obvious from just the name. Akiba's Trip doubled a not-too-subtle reference to what you were doing in the game: "Akiba strip." Akiba's Beat does nothing of the sort, and has only a tenuous connection to a not-that-interesting battle mechanic. It's a clear sign of how little this game has to say, and it should've served as a warning that anyone hoping for Akiba's Trip to have an equally bonkers sequel shouldn't bother looking here.

I get that I'm not the target audience for Period Cube. For all I know, otome lovers will be thrilled at the prospect of passively guiding a teenage girl through a world where she doesn't have all that much agency. Personally, though, I can state from experience that better visual novels exist, and that you'd be better off playing — or even replaying — those than you would be picking this up for the first time.

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.

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.

I know that a lot of people have already written off the Toukiden series as little more than a Monster Hunter clone. And I get it: you are, after all, hunting monsters. But Toukiden 2 shows that just because the formula may be similar, the execution is on a whole other level. It's a fantastic game, and if you want to hunt monsters in an open world, you don't need to wait around for Monster Hunter World — Toukiden 2 is already here.

Still, there’s definitely things that work in Drifting Lands, and I’d love to see this idea refined a bit more down the road. I think a lot of the ARPG mechanics are solid right out of the gate, but I wish the shoot-em up side of the game was just a little flashier, more diverse, and overall just more enjoyable to play. I’d still recommend checking out Drifting Lands however, it’s a neat concept and there’s enough here that you’ll easily squeeze some enjoyment out of the components that work.

I'm not going to pretend that Spellspire is a game for everyone: if you're not obsessed with words and spelling, it probably won't speak to you. Luckily, I am obsessed with words and spelling, which means that I've just found my favourite new game.

It uses the upgraded visuals of previous ports, and does feature multiple soundtrack options, but outside of that it’s essentially Cave Story as you remember it. Of course that is still a positive thing, but as someone who has played through the game a few times, I’d only suggest it to fans if you’re either dying to play some more Cave Story, or looking to scratch a Metroidvania itch on the Nintendo Switch.

In general, it passes by in a blur of jumping and shooting, and doesn't give any reason why it's worth your time or money.

Where Splatoon's motion controls elevated the game's precision as a shooter, the motion-based fighting in ARMS reveals that Nintendo doggedly pursued one core idea and built the rest around that foundation, whether or not it was an improvement on a pre-existing genre. ARMS is nothing of the sort. Instead, it's simply different; sometimes with frustrating compromise, and other times a refreshingly unique take on fighting games. Surprisingly, there are few surprises about how the final product turned out, so if you think this game is for you, it probably is. If not, it's worth a few rounds at a friend's place or a rental — if only to see what the latest idea Nintendo thought was crazy enough that it might work, dedicated to seeing through, and delivered as a highly polished product.

Under Pressure takes a more serious tone than Tangled Up In Blue and it has far less jokey dialogue options. The Rocket backstory alone makes this episode stand out over the first and the mystery of the Eternity Forge now has me hooked. Couple the improved storytelling with some refreshing cameos and Under Pressure really does a great job of setting the table for the rest of this Telltale adventure. I could use a bit more Groot (who doesn’t love Groot?) but besides that I’m satisfied with Under Pressure and eager to see where they go with Episode 3.

iO is not a memorable game. The good news, I suppose, is that being thoroughly forgettable also means that it's not memorably bad, either, but if that's the game's major selling point, it should tell you how far away you should stay.

If I were to compare Fate/EXTELLA to one specific Warriors game/series, though, it would have to be the One Piece Pirate Warriors games. While Fate/EXTELLA isn't quite as insanely over-the-top, it nonetheless shares with those games a fondness for vivid colours, distinctive characters, and a sense of fun that the Samurai/Dynasty Warriors games sometimes lack.

It may depress you, and it may leave you with tears in your eyes afterwards, but when a game tells a story as well as What Remains of Edith Finch does here, it deserves not just to be played, but to be remembered and discussed and considered long after you've set down the controller.

As sad as it is to think there may never be another new WipEout title ever, I'm still satisfied that Sony at least went through the trouble to remaster some of the better WipEout games for the PS4. But who knows… the series could have some life left in it, and hopefully long-time fans and those new to the Anti-Grav experience will at least get a chance to appreciate it at its best in WipEout Omega Collection.

I first played The Deer God a few months ago, back when it was free on Xbox One as part of Games With Gold — I playing it for about half an hour back then, got bored, and deleted it shortly thereafter. Now that it actually costs money…well, I played it for a lot longer than half an hour, but it's still a pretty boring experience that'll have you freeing up the hard drive space in pretty short order.

Overall, LocoRoco might be one of my favorite Sony first party titles of all time and I’m thrilled it’s seeing new life on the PS4 (which maybe means a new sequel someday). I still feel like it was perfectly built to be played on a handheld, the tilting just fits it more naturally, but since the Vita is all but dead, the PS4 is the only option we have, and that’s fine by me. Another PSP cult classic, Patapon, looks to be the next PSP remaster to come to the PS4 and based on the sales of these I’m hopeful Sony invests in more PSP titles that haven’t seen the light of day since the handheld died. I’m happy to recommend remasters of the PSP library if they're done with this much care and effort.

Just about my only criticism of Lichtspeer is that the Vita version doesn't take advantage of the handheld's touchscreen to allow for touch controls. If there’s one thing Angry Birds showed, it’s that physics-based games are made for touch controls, and they get a little more awkward when you have to use old-fashioned buttons and thumbsticks. Obviously, it still works well enough here, but that doesn’t make it any less of a missed opportunity. That’s the only area where Lichtspeer falters though. Otherwise, it’s a worthy successor to its noteworthy antecedents, and it’s a must-buy if you’re looking for your next addiction on the Vita.

The story here is exactly what you would expect from one of the creators of The Banner Saga. It is clear enough and interesting enough to keep you reading and coming back for more. The art follows suit and is a beautifully drawn world with characters that manage to convey a lot of emotion on the screen. Cutscenes are few and far between, but are always enjoyable. This is not a great game by any stretch, but you can clearly see the framework for one and with a little less grinding and some more mechanics at play I could see this being a truly special sim. As it stands, it is just a good, fun 9-15 hours depending on how you play.

At its core, Tekken 7 is the ultimate Tekken experience. While paying tribute to previous games in the series, it’s also made for the hardcore Tekken fan in mind. Newcomers will also love it once you get a feel for the unique fight system. There isn’t much I didn’t enjoy with during my time with Tekken 7, other than it makes me want a new Soul Caliber with the same TLC that went into this game. I highly recommend picking up Tekken 7.

Touhou Genso Wanderer is a middling dungeon crawler that wants to talk your ear off, and you're better off not giving it a chance to do that.

For better and for worse, it captures the feeling of what it's like to be sitting around a table, rolling dice and moving your token around a board. It's a pretty no-frills simulation, all things considered, but if that's what you're after, this will do the trick.

A solid conclusion to the season, and I definitely enjoyed the ride.

Atelier Firis represents the first Atelier game I’ve ever played that I wouldn’t be able to recommend. For a series that has long been known for meeting a certain level of competence, it’s a surprising letdown.

Despite the framerate issues, Mr. Shifty is a good time and well worth the price of admission. One of the better games on the Nintendo Switch. Maybe a patch can rectify my main concern with the game.

Without a doubt, I can recommend GG Xrd Revelator REV 2 to any fighting game fan. If you've played the previous versions of Xrd, there are enough additions and changes that make this upgrade worth it. If you've never played it before, this version is a great starting point. It is an absolute blast to play and even watch, and should not be missed. If you aren't a fighting game fan, I believe this game may just turn those who experience it. Definitely a Winner.

The price point is still tough, in my opinion, and while I don’t think I’m the target demographic, I think it’s going to be an uphill battle at the $40 price. Ultra Street Fighter II would have been a monster hit for Capcom at $20 and unless you're a die hard Street Fighter II fan, I would wait until it hits that price point.

Monster Slayers is a must buy if you are a fan of this genre. It is $9.00 on Steam and has DLC already out with more on the way. You can easily lose 20+ hours here if you allow yourself and that is only scratching the surface of the content that you can get into if you delve deeper. I do not know what the developers plans are moving forward but I will continue to support and play this game for as long as they release new content and continue with it.

The Surge’s biggest weakness comes from some pacing problems and a weak late game story. The beginning of The Surge is interesting and grabs your attention, but as you get closer to the end, those hooks start to lose their hold. It begins to feel convoluted just for the sake of being convoluted and feels like they lost direction a bit by the end, but it is never bad. The Surge feels like a learning experience and one that I hope Deck13 takes to heart and expands on with whatever their next title ends up being. I have enjoyed my time with this game and can honestly say that I am looking forward to whatever they release next.

Even if the voice acting sucks, even if the puzzles are blatantly obvious, I think there's a massive gulf between bad and unspeakably terrible. In fact, for the simple reason the game is completely playable, you could possibly even argue that Dying: Reborn (non-PSVR) edition is profoundly mediocre. That's not enough to make it worth checking out by any means, but it also means that the game doesn't really deserve the title of "Worst Game of 2017" quite yet.

There are significantly better Metroidvanias on the Vita, and whatever may be gained from the one twist here — the aforementioned double heroines — is more than outweighed by the overall lacklustre performance.

Atelier Shallie Plus is not all that different from any other Atelier game. There's a brief moment at the beginning of the game, when your characters are adrift at sea, when it doesn't seem like things will be proceeding as normal…and then you hit dry land, and it reverts to the same broad formula. If you've been desperate for the game to switch things up, the simple fact that you can make things move more quickly probably won't win you over now. But if you just want another Atelier game that delivers on the series' usual level of quality, you're in luck. Atelier Shallie Plus lives up to the standard set by its predecessors — for better and for worse.

Much of this will seem like a given to Switch owners, but it's still completely relevant in terms of what validates picking up this version of Mario Kart 8. It's not only the "complete" and current experience, but one transformed by its hardware. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the definitive version as we're likely to know it from now on, and thanks to the nature of the Switch, it's worth every penny.

All in all, NBA Playgrounds was a pleasant surprise. Post release support will make or break how the game continues to be and if players stick around with it. I’ve already recommended the game to some friends for some arcade style sports fun. At this point it’s tough to recommend the Switch version over the other consoles, based on what I mentioned previously, but IF all my issues were corrected, it could be the definitive version. Playing at home or taking it on the go while hanging out and tipping back a few “sodas” is what this genre is all about.

All in all I would definitely recommend Prey to anyone interested. It is very reminiscent of Bioshock with some hefty Dead Space elements thrown in and some solid Deus Ex mechanics driving it all. It is a well-balanced, lengthy game with a substantial story that is intriguing enough to keep you interested for an extended period of time. Lackluster combat can make some stretches a drag, but that next room to explore and that next secret to uncover keeps you going. If you are on the fence, I would suggest you pick this one up. In a year that seems to just keep on delivering, Prey is yet another success story.

If I had any complaint about Lego City Undercover, it'd be that it doesn't diverge too much (or, possibly, at all) from its original version on the Wii U. As I said up top, though, that means there are only about a dozen or so people who'll actually notice that. For everyone else, for whom this will be an entirely new, go out and grab this game ASAP, because it's well worth your time and money.

Given how complex a lot of modern RPGs can be, there's something refreshing about how straightforward everything is here. Asdivine Hearts won't turn any heads for innovation, but if it's just an old-fashioned RPG adventure you're after, it delivers that in spades.

If you're being charitable, of course, you may say that this is simply an example of Uncanny Valley moving at its own pace, or that horror works best when it draws things out and builds up the tension. However true that may be, if you're not feeling charitable — perhaps because you're bored out of your mind and tired of exploring the facility and hotel in which the game takes place at a glacial pace — then it'd be very, very easy to throw your hands up in frustration and move on to something that moves a little faster.

There's not enough here to justify playing it if you've already played the original, and if you didn't play that first game because you're not a fan of dungeon crawlers, nothing here is going to change your mind. The art style is still exceptionally good, and it reflects the tone of a game that's surprisingly mature in a contemplative, non-skeezy way. Overall, though, this very much represents an incremental upgrade — rather than a major step forward — over the Stranger of Sword City, and it should be received as such.

This is a disappointment for me, Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 is a game that I was truly rooting for this year. I have enjoyed the previous entries in this series and this one had the potential to rise up and make a name for itself among other powerhouse titles. Unfortunately performance issues and a weak story plague what is at its core a good game, built on solid mechanics. I feel that with time this could grow into the game that was originally anticipated, but the question will be whether bad blood is already present. If not this game, then perhaps the next one will take this foundation and truly grow it into a game that I can wholeheartedly support. Until then, go into this one with realistic expectations and enjoy the combat for what it is.

Telltale fans and Marvel fans won’t be disappointed with the first episode of Guardians of the Galaxy, but they might have expected more from it. The soundtrack is a perfect example of this; it uses licensed music just like the movie, but it almost seems like B-sides. Clearly the game didn’t have the same budget of the movie or the same people who picked the music, because it just doesn’t seem to be on the same level as the movie, and let’s be honest, these comparisons are inevitable. Telltale announced they would be working on a Marvel game nearly 2 years ago, and I guess they decided if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, because they didn’t take any chances with this release.

Dragon Quest Builders will undoubtedly scratch the itch of any Minecraft/Terraria fans looking for their next favourite game, but it's accessible enough that RPG fans should enjoy it, too.

Puyo Puyo Tetris is totally worth the $30 or $40 bucks for those who absolutely love either of the block dropping puzzle franchises and are looking for a fun and fresh twist on the genre.

In absolute terms, R.B.I. Baseball 2017 doesn't come anywhere close to looking as nice as MLB The Show 17, even when you play The Show in retro mode. This should come as no surprise, since R.B.I. Baseball doesn't hold a candle to The Show in any other respect, either. This year, however, marks the first time since its return that the franchise isn't a total embarrassment, either. Its improvements are modest — but when you've reached the depths that R.B.I. Baseball 2017's predecessors have, modest practically constitutes a miracle.

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

I’m very, very impressed with what KOEI Tecmo and Square Enix have managed to do with this sequel. I think it builds upon the first game in a really solid fashion, and does so while still feeling fresh and enjoyable to play. The A.I. can be really spotty, but overall that’s a fairly minor complaint for a game that honestly doesn’t have many issues to speak of. It runs well, looks and sounds great, and for Dragon Quest fans, you’ll be getting the appropriate amount of fan service here.

Admittedly, apart from that, Xenoraid is large what you'd expect from a vertical-scrolling shmup: you control a ship around the screen as you blast away at wave after wave of successive enemies. Your weapons, naturally, are upgradable, and the game is generally all about shooting as many aliens as you can. In other words, it's what you'd expect from a shmup, but for one minor deviation. But you know what? That one deviation may just be enough to make Xenoraid checking out.

This PC release brings with it a gorgeous graphic update, with smooth 60fps and 4K visuals you can see every detail the development team created for you. This is truly the definitive edition of this game, and one that you have to pick up if you are a PC gamer, whether you played Bayonetta when it launched originally or not. Bayonetta is a great hack and slash that takes what works in other games and adds its own unique flair and style, which pays off handsomely.

It'll be compelling to people who loved the world of the original Steins;Gate and are desperate for more. If you don't have that background, then Steins;Gate 0 will seem mostly incomprehensible to you. It makes the occasional half-hearted stab at explaining what you're reading, but for the most part, this story is all about moving things forward. Not only that, it does so through the kind of massive info dumps that tend to typify some visual novels — and your mileage will undoubtedly vary in terms of how much you like that sort of thing.

I’m absolutely in love with this game, and if you haven’t given it a shot yet, I think you’ll find a lot to love about Persona 5 too. It’s not a huge departure from Persona 3 or 4, but there’s been some noticeable changes and improvements made that do make a difference, all of which are for the better. The dungeon variations, the stealth mechanics, and even the ease with which you can navigate the overworld map are noticeably better than before. So even if you’ve felt a little lukewarm about the series up until now, I’d still urge you to give Persona 5 a try.

OMD:U is a game that really came out of left field for me this year. I was not anticipating its launch or really even aware that it was on the horizon, but I could not be happier now that I am playing it. This is a perfect game for coming home and getting in a few matches, since Sabotage is played in 20 minutes or less every time. The average game is around 8 minutes in my experience so far, and 20 is the far high end of the spectrum. This is something you can sit down and enjoy after a long day when time is limited and you just want to unwind, but also something that you can sink a substantial amount of time into if you choose.

Sometimes a rerelease collection can be a necessary evil and this is one of those circumstances. The Disney Afternoon Collection is an example of a retro collection done right, and one that more publishers should see as an example to follow. The games play exactly like you would expect, add with that; the rewind ability, save states, pixel perfect visuals, a few added on modes, and more, make this a must buy for fans of these classics or Disney fans that haven’t had the chance to check them out years ago. I’m hopeful this set is just the start of the Capcom/Disney relationship again.

As a game Bulletstorm: Full Clip edition still has everything that made the original great. Gameplay is still incredibly satisfying, gun-play is still nearly perfect and the arcade style madness is still, well, madness. I love all of that and I love this game, but I can’t honestly recommend it to anyone that has already played the original, which is a shame. I really enjoyed playing through it again and think that anyone who enjoyed it the first time will do the same. The other side of that coin however, is that if you have never played Bulletstorm, do yourself a favor and play this game. It really is unique and something that can just be enjoyed for what it is, mindless well made fun.

I mean, taken in isolation, it's not a bad game. The levels are quick and concise; it's literally just a matter of letting gravity do the work for you, and strategically killing a few monsters along the way. The levels are also procedurally-generated, which means every playthrough is different. Beyond that, different heroes have different strengths, and you can upgrade characters along the way. Rounding things out, the characters — to say nothing of the game world in general — are adorable without being too cute. The thing is, Vertical Drop Heroes HD doesn't exist in isolation, it exists in a world where other games do the same things, and do them better.

Chaos Code -New Sign of Catastrophe- is basically a re-master of the original 2013 release on the PlayStation 3. FK Digital spent some time on the balancing issues that plagued the previous version along with adding some nice play modes to keep you entertained. The inclusion of the Online Mode is fantastic, and I hope it gets continued support from the developer and fans alike! If you liked The original on PS3, then you may want to upgrade to this edition if you have a PS4! It's still not a groundbreaking fighter, but it can hold it's own with the best 2D fighters out there!

Old Time Hockey has all kinds of great ideas, and with a few more updates it might even get to a place where it lives up to what its creators intended to do. Right now, however, you're better off finding a way (legally or otherwise) of booting up Blades of Steel or NHL '94.

I'm not disappointed I spent those 20 hours with I Am Setsuna, but isn't a great game. It's one I recommend for sure, especially on the Switch, but the dated combat, meaningless and convoluted skill systems, and iffy story drop it down into an average RPG. There is room in this world for average RPGs, just as every book you read isn't a winner. I would love to see more games like Setsuna with a little more care taken with the combat and skill systems.

In my personal opinion, This is the Police has a good concept and a well-made story that is ruined to some degree by pointless choices that ruin immersion and rather repetitive gameplay. It looks and sounds nice, but that doesn’t make for a full feeling experience. At the very least, give the game a look and maybe you’ll have a different experience than I, as I think there is a good baseline running behind it that some people could catch on to.

It feels kind of weird to describe a Hyperdimension Neptunia game as being for fans only — since, after all, “being for fans only” often feels like the point of the whole series. In this case, however, it feels even more appropriate than usual, since Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls really is just for fans of both Sega Hard Girls and Hyperdimension Neptunia.

Yooka-Laylee is a great experience, and well worth playing if you are a long-time fan of the work that Rare did. This is a game for veterans and newcomers alike though, and there is plenty here to hook a new player or new generation. A lot of the mechanics are a throwback to how things were before, and I don’t necessarily mind that. Some people however may find it slow and tedious at times. All in all I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Yooka-Laylee and would recommend you give it a try if you are even the least bit curious about it.

In this day and age of remakes and annual releases, it's refreshing to see a brand new IP that happens to be a platformer. The frustration of the controls coupled with the camera just broke down my enjoyment and the lack of real replay value hurt my logic to push through the frustration. I should also mention the musical score is fantastic and feels ripped right out of a Donkey Kong Country game (which makes sense since it's the same composer). Overall I think Snake Pass is worth checking out but curb your expectations a bit. I'm sure if it sells well, Snake Pass 2 will correct my problems with this first entry and slither its way to a better grade.

I don’t want to overhype Bridge Constructor, by any means. It’s not a console-style experience, depth-wise (or in any other way, either). But you know what? On the Vita, it doesn’t need to be — it just needs to be a fun, addictive experience that you can play in short bursts, and it delivers on that front perfectly.

PaRappa the Rapper: Remastered deserves a bit more than what Sony gives it here, and that’s certainly disappointing for this fan of the original. Still, it’s a technically solid remaster of a really fun game, so I’d still suggest picking it up. Especially if you haven’t played the game in a while, or ever for that matter. It’s one of the more unique and charming releases from the PS1 era, and PaRappa the Rapper deserves all the attention it can get.

The episode does move the story along at a pretty good clip, and it feels like a pretty substantial and dangerous shift for the group as a whole. The ending has a big cliffhanger, and it’ll be interesting to see how that resolves in the next episode. Hopefully the wait for that isn’t too long, because The New Frontier certainly has its hooks in me thus far.

Nier: Automata is an easy recommendation, it's an open-world RPG with combat from an action game that plays like a dream. With solid art direction and a thoughtful story, it regularly turns genre conventions on their head in a way that few games ever manage to achieve. It's worth checking out if you've been looking for a substantial single-player experience that gives you as much to kill as it does to think about.

While Dynasty Warriors: Godseekers may streamline the action and make it much more manageable, it also makes things feel a little sterile, too. Points to Tecmo KOEI for trying something new, I guess, but at the same time, Godseekers is a good reminder of why "If it ain't broke" became a saying in the first place.

As it stands, it’s an OK representation of Othello in video game form, but it doesn’t really do anything else than give you basic video game Othello. It’s a little bland and by the numbers in that regard, which is disappointing considering it has been forever since I’ve played Othello in any format. Still, if you’ve got five bucks to spend, and you’re looking for something to play on the Switch, it’s not a bad way to go. You can pick up and play a round or two pretty quickly, making it a solid portable experience if you’re on the go. I wouldn’t highly recommend it by any means, but if you’re in the mood for some classic board game experiences, Othello can scratch that itch.

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

This is, in my opinion, the culmination of everything that has come before it. Boss design, enemy design, lore, environments, mechanics, it is all pulled from the games that preceded this and it all has its own unique spin. It is truly bittersweet to come to the end of this journey that started in February of 2009, but I can think of no better send off for the series than the one it receives in The Ringed City. This is a perfect piece of DLC to round off a great game and a once-in-a-lifetime franchise. I could not be happier with how everything falls into place at the end of the world, and I would highly recommend the trip to any on the fence about taking it.

For fans looking to revisit the series on their current gen console or a potential newcomer to the series, this is the ultimate compilation. Being able to revisit two of my favorites in the series, KH 2 Final Mix and Birth by Sleep Final Mix along on my PS4, reminds me why I fell in love with the series.

Of course, if I'm being honest, offline single-player is what I care about most when it comes to MLB The Show anyway, so it's not like multiplayer was going to change my opinion too much one way or the other. And from that perspective — that is, as someone who's probably going to spend a few hundred hours with the game over the next year, with 95% of that being in RTTS — I have to say that MLB The Show 17 once again delivers.

While I doubt that anyone will be classifying Mass Effect Andromeda as their favorite entry in the series, I’ve still enjoyed what I’ve played for the most part. Ideally, patches can iron out some of the rough spots, but if you’re planning on getting this day one, well, you’re bound to encounter an issue or two based on my week or so with the game. But if you’re willing to overcome some technical problems, and get past the somewhat boring opening hours of the game, I think you’ll get some enjoyment out of this return to the Mass Effect universe.

Of course, there's a huge difference between "not as good as Portal 2" and "not worth playing", not least because there's a good argument to be made that Portal 2 is the best game ever. Failing to live up to perfection is only failure in a very broad sense of the term, and The Turing Test hardly counts as a bad game. It won't make you forget that elephant-sized game in the corner of the room by any means, but if you're still wishing that, one way or another, GLaDOS and Chell could return, this probably counts as the closest you're going to get.

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands proves that Ubisoft has taken what they have learned from all of their previous titles and used it to work for the future. There are noticeable aspects from Rainbow Six, The Division, Assassin's Creed and Far Cry all at work here without ever making Ghost Recon feel like a copy. What may be lacking in the single player elements of the game are made up for over and over again when playing with friends. If you are on the fence about getting this to join with your buddies, bite that bullet and grab this game up. If you don’t have an online connection or anybody to play with, maybe hold off and catch it when it goes on sale.

I don't think target audiences get any more specific than they do with Demetrios – The Big Cynical Adventure. As far as I can tell, it's for fans of the Broken Sword series who wish that those games took themselves way less seriously and included way, way more scatalogical humour.

If you haven’t played Shovel Knight, Treasure Trove is an absolute must buy… and if you have, you already know that it’s a must buy.

It may not last long, but it is fun while it lasts. But if you're going in expecting anything substantial — or even anything you can play for longer than a lunch hour — you should know that your hopes are going to be dashed in a pretty extreme manner.

All in all, the game feels like it is very polished, and looks nice, with no visual or technical bugs or glitches in the gameplay and very few moments where the framerate dipped below 60. The game supports a gamepad on PC and seems like that is the way it is intended to be played since the overlay has pictures of gamepad buttons emblazoned on it. If you’re someone who is into anime JRPG games, then this is most likely right up your alley. If not, give it a look and maybe you’ll find something new you didn’t know you liked. Do be aware though that the game is entirely voiced in Japanese and has English subtitles.

I highly recommend Ghost Blade HD for fans of these type of shooters and even newcomers looking for a challenge. This is a great game and really captures the spirit of classic arcade shooters like Raiden, Giga Wing and others. I really had a surprising amount of fun with this one, and I'm sure you will do. Pick it up if you can, you will love it.

Spheroids is saved by that very first adjective I used to describe it: unassuming. If it were pretentious in any way, I could see how crashes and glitches could make the game unbearable. However, in this case, it kind of adds to the game's low-key charm. That doesn't excuse those issues, of course, and you'll want to temper your expectations if you play it, but all in all, Spheroids is enjoyable enough that it can make you overlook the odd crash here and there.

Supermagical is precisely what it looks like from the very first level. It's not going to set the world alight as far as innovation goes, but it's a decent enough timewaster if you need one on your Vita.

If you own a PlayStation 4 or are thinking about getting one in the near future there’s not many excuses to not pick up Horizon: Zero Dawn. The five years of time and effort that Guerrilla Games poured into the title is evident, and it’s certainly one of the best open world action RPG experiences in recent memory.

For Honor is a unique, one of a kind experience that pulls influence from some of the best fighters out there. Unfortunately it is a singular experience. After the 25 or so hours I spent in the game for the review I am quite done. This is not a game that you will be able to jump in and play unless you maintain a level of competency with the mechanics. This is not a Call of Duty where you can come home on the weekend and play for a while and be fine. You have to actually work to be and stay good at For Honor. I hope to be drawn back in later on down the line with something new or some added game modes, but for now I feel that I have exhausted all that there is to do in this world.

The Devil's Daughter feels like it never misses an opportunity to take you out of the game. Maybe if it weren't supposed to be a Sherlock Holmes game that wouldn't be as much of an issue, but if you're going to borrow from such an iconic character, it would make sense to at least try to get more of that character's essence right.

I wholeheartedly urge you to check out Halo Wars 2, whether it’s with the release of the Ultimate Edition this week or the standard release next Tuesday. It’s packed with content on both the multiplayer and single-player side, all of which is fun to play. It also has a pretty fantastic story attached to it, incredible cutscenes, and an amazing soundtrack to boot. Ideally we won’t have to wait another 9 years for a Halo Wars 3.

Overall, the game is on the short side, but the difficulty and having one life will help you time last. For a digital only game, it’s not too bad if you’re a diehard fan. Otherwise, you may find yourself getting easily frustrated.

Yomawari: possibly Japanese for "nightmare walking simulator."

Slain lathers on the gore with gusto, and everything is covered in a heavy layer of blood and guts. On top of that, it's got a very loud soundtrack that seems like it was tailor-made to score blood splatters and exploding bodies. That's not enough to make the game worth playing, though. Slain undoubtedly gets points for having a clear vision of what it wants to be, but all that is negated by the fact that it doesn't bridge the gap between its ambition and its execution.

Double Dragon IV is fun for a limited time. while it captures the look and feel of the classic games, it tends to get a bit stale and starts to grind on your nerves. Its awkward platforming and imperfect controls hinder the overall experience, while the lack of online play hurts as this game would be perfect for some drop in / drop out action! Overall, I still liked the entire package and can ignore its minor issues long enough to have a great time. New players may find it boring, while fans of the classic games will feel right at home. Pick this up if you want to try out what beat-em ups were like in the '80s!