As much fun as I had with Rain On Your Parade, however, I still keep going back to how the game’s desperate desire to be liked was somewhat off-putting. It’s unfortunate the developers didn’t have more confidence in their abilities to make a fun game without all the viral bells and whistles, because even without them, there’s something here that’s well worth playing.

Whatever problems there are in the one player mode, the party games more than make up for them.

Terminal Velocity: Boosted Edition may not feel as cutting edge as it did when it was first released (assuming it felt that way even then), but the passage of time hasn’t made it any less enjoyable.

I was very impressed with Mundaun from the beginning, and despite that impression faltering a bit while I got my bearings and came to grips with some of the wonky controls and design choices, it ultimately delivered an experience that was beyond what I could have hoped for. I was drawn to this game from the first announcement, mostly because of the unique art-style and intriguing story, and it really managed to deliver above and beyond the initial promise. Stick with Mundaun past the growing pains, and I think you will really enjoy it too.

Like I said, the combat was outstanding, and the world in which it takes place is gorgeous and vibrant. Not only that, as a Vita diehard, it pains me to give an exclusive for the system anything other than a rave review. But I have to be honest here — and the unfortunate truth is, as good as Severed may be, it's hard to shake the feeling that it could've been even better.

All together, especially if you already know you enjoy Puzzle & Dragons, I think this is a package worth checking out.

Is Star Wars Battlefront the first-person shooter that’ll carry me into the early parts of 2016? Probably not. But I’m definitely enjoying the time I’ve spent with it so far, and I’ll be curious to see what the inevitable DLC brings outside of the upcoming Battle for Jakku map.

It might not be the next Pushmo, but it's certainly a title that shouldn't be overlooked.

Although a little something gets lost in translation from the small to big screen, LCS is nearly as good as it was on the PSP, and is undoubtedly a solid entry in the GTA timeline.

While these Recharged games do not really set the world on fire, they are super fun to play, especially for those who may have not played the originals. If you are familiar with the original game, you will love what Sneaky Box has done here. The extra gameplay elements don’t really change the overall feel of the game at all and are welcome additions. I would really like to see some online modes, but I suppose those can be added in the future. I can highly recommend this and pretty much every Recharged game as a classic game fan and a gamer in general. Try this and any other game in the series out if you have the means, you will have a lot of fun!

Couple that with Kung Fu Rabbit's bright, visually appealing visuals and a perfectly reasonable price tag of $4.99, and you've got the recipe for a fun game.

The lighting effects and polygonal detail has been kicked up a few notches, and for those of you who don't like your grapplers dipped in corn oil, HCTP has the best looking character models on the market - more realistic in motion, musculature and personal detail than Raw 2's sweaty oafs.

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.

The colorful visuals, well-paced gameplay and smart dialog came as a bit of a shock. Even more surprising was the part where I kept playing, not because I had to review it, but because I wanted to.

On the whole, though, Eternights feels like a fairly original game. It’s always nice to see a game try out some new genre combinations – and, as this shows, it’s especially fun when the game in question mostly pulls off the combo.

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.

If you don't have the ability to play Tropico 4 on the PC, I think the Xbox 360 version of the game is certainly suitable enough. It's still a better experience on the PC, especially when it comes to both controls and visuals, but the 360 does the job, and the controller set-up is easy enough to learn.

Crime O’Clock shows that even within a genre like hidden object games, evolution is possible, and the end result is a lot of fun.

Addictive. I've had this game in my possession for a little over a week now, and have logged over 30+ hours into it.

It's a pretty over-the-top fighter, with a heavy emphasis on flashy supers and specials more than a complex combo/counter system, so it's not going to be for everyone to enjoy. If you're an old fan of the game though, you'll know what to expect.

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.

With BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle Arc has delivered yet another enjoyable experience which cements them as a premier fighting game developer. The game manages to be simple enough that beginners can enjoy, but supply enough systems to sate veterans of the genre. Unfortunately the Switch is not the hardware where you would get the most out of this title.

A fun little bowling title with a nice amount of "game" and an attractive price. Really, all it's missing is online play, and I guess there's always the possibility of patching that feature in later on.

A fantastic looking title with a pleasant mixture of traditional and non-traditional RPG elements to create a refreshingly new gaming experience.

The most original game of the year, and also one of the best.

Provided you can get past the fan service, I think you’ll still really enjoy Dungeon Travelers 2 as an engaging, challenging take on the first-person dungeon crawling formula.

I’m a sucker for the LEGO games and toys, and of course Marvel, so this release is a no-brainer for me. While I’m disappointed that characters were removed from the first game, they still fill the gaps with plenty of Marvel characters, even if some of them are questionable (Carnom). The cookie cutter formula of taking popular franchises or movies and making them LEGO games still works and until they don’t sell and/or play well, Warner Brothers will keep churning them out. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is better than the last Marvel LEGO release (LEGO Avengers) in almost every way. If you’re a fan of the LEGO Marvel games you will enjoy this release, but probably not as much as the first LEGO Marvel Super Heroes.

Not only that, but a great Alien game, which isn’t something I expected to be saying this soon after Colonial Marines. Creative Assembly has done a great job of delivering a game that pays appropriate homage to the original film, while once again breathing life into the franchise

While some gamers will be turned off by the lack of total simulation, they still may be intrigued by the extras EA threw in for good measure such as the deep dynasty, slam-dunk contest, and three-point shootout.

It feels like a comfort food RPG for Shin Megami fans, one that you’ll likely enjoy while waiting for the next big thing, but not one that’s going to come close to dominating that #1 RPG spot on most lists for the year. It doesn’t take a lot of chances, and instead just tends to lean into the elements that people already enjoy from other Shin Megami games. As such, it’s not going to really bump the Devil Summoner subseries to new heights, and I suspect it’ll be a while before we see another entry in this particular series, but overall Soul Hackers 2 is a solid bit of fun, and easy to suggest to anyone that has any sort of affinity for these games.

All together, I found Monsters vs. Aliens to be a fun game, something that could easily appeal to adults and kids alike, whether you were a fan of the film or not. The gameplay is addictive, great to sit down and play in short bursts, and there's plenty of unlockable content to keep you busy after you've finished the main story.

I think that Rocket Knight is a great attempt at revitalizing the character, and while I know there are people put off by the new design and the use of "2.5D" instead of traditional pixel work, I think the game looks great in action.

As Switch Galaxy Ultra shows, that may not be the perfect formula, but it's enough to make an alright game.

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

It's Madden's inherently deep replay value that makes the game a real value for the dollar. Couple that with excellent pass execution, solid football strategies and integration with rosters from the graduates of NCAA 2002 and you have very deep, solid, although somewhat aged game of professional football.

I can still go either way with advising people on whether NHL 19 is a buy or not.

However you play, the amount of crimes you can accomplish in this game is fabulous, and it never gets old.

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.

But still, it's definitely worth checking out. Hopefully the server and connection issues can get ironed out over the next couple weeks, because this is a multiplayer experience that I'd like to see continue on for a while, and can see myself jumping back into whenever I have some free time. Despite some of those issues, I definitely think it's worth the asking price, and think you'll find that it is too.

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.

I am extremely happy with the direction that EA is taking this series, and if EA brings back the real time calendar, course creator, and adds many more courses and options, this may tie up my gaming time between rounds of real golf.

The most eclectic soundtrack known to man.

To The Colonists’ credit, it does a fairly good job of helping you create your settlements exactly as you want them. It can be a little annoying to place a pathway just so near the end of the fishing pier or the defensive fortifications, but when you take the time to plan things out, it’s still neat to see how it all comes together.

It has a distinctive, sepia-toned art style that really makes it stand out from most other adventure games I’ve played. The game is built around an office worker trying to grab a bright orange light flitting around the screen, and the contrast between the brown/white/black colour palette and the orange really pops off the screen. Even with less distinctive graphics, however, The Office Quest would still stand out, because, as I said, it’s loads of fun, and it does what it sets out to do with a minimum of fuss. It’s not going to convert people into adventure fans, but if you like a good point-and-click game, you should definitely give this one a shot.

With the enhanced visuals, the wealth of gameplay provided by both MGS and VR Missions, and the simple fact that MGS is fantastic title in the first place makes this a pretty smart buy for any PC gamer.

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

Titan Souls is a tough game, but it's also one that's both simple and fun.

A great-looking, incredibly deep and satisfying combat role playing game. It's complicated and has a steep "getting started" curve, but the investment of patience pays off.

So if you’re even partially interested in seeing what all the fuss is about, you should definitely give this HD compilation from Square Enix a shot.

The biggest drawback to NHL 2k8 is the new controls. Even if you want to grow into them, it’s not worth it. Fortunately, you can turn them off and get on with your day, so there’s not much downside. 2k8 still plays a smooth, exciting and fun game of hockey.

The bottom line is that 2K11 is better in the ways we wanted it to be, so it's a keeper.

It's definitely one of the best first person shooter experiences out there, and while it more of an expansion pack to MoH than an all new game, that doesn't detract it from being a must own for fans of the genre, the original game, and gaming all together.

At this point it’s fair to say the HD port of Shenmue I & II is in better shape than its release and would now be considered acceptable to play. Save data transfer and cutscenes were a big problem, and major bugs seem to be patched out. Both games are here in all their glory and probably the best way to spend your time with Ryo as he follows his journey. Veterans will be happy with the ability to play on modern platforms and newcomers finally have a chance to experience what Shenmue has to offer while Yu Suzuki is hard at work on Shenmue 3.

On the whole, however, Smart As is a fun experience. John Cleese is, as you'd expect, an absolutely fantastic narrator.

With all the mixed reviews with some saying "ESPN" is the best, and some saying Madden is the best, this reviewers money is on Madden this year as to me it is worth the extra 30 dollars for what you do on an off the field.

Provided you’re either willing to put in the work in hunting down additional players, or have a few friends interested in joining you, I think you’ll enjoy Dragon Marked for Death quite a bit. As a solo experience it can be a little less compelling, but still enjoyable enough to check out.

"Diddy Kong Racing 2" it is not, but for many gamers out there, that might very well be a good thing.

The bottom line is that 2K11 is better in the ways we wanted it to be, so it's a keeper.

The only other complaint I have is that the menu system is clunky, hard to navigate and often does the opposite of what you expect.

This game comes in a very…and I mean a very close second to "Outlaw Volleyball" in terms of great game play and lasting appeal.

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

Critter Crunch turns the traditional chain-crazy puzzle genre onto its organic head for a Tropicana of colors and need to feed, with enough substance to call it smart as well.

On the whole, though, I have to think that what you see with Volgarr the Viking is exactly what you get — and if you're the type who looks at ultra-hard platformers and sees something you like, then you'll really like what you get here.

To be sure, I wouldn’t say that Steam Tactics is a GOTY contender or anything. It’s far too simplistic for that. But when that simplicity is enough to keep me going back to the game again and again, even when there’s plenty of other stuff I probably should be playing instead, that’s more than enough to make the game worthy of a recommendation.

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!

This is as good as a nostalgia collection gets.

A great-looking, incredibly deep and satisfying combat role playing game. It's complicated and has a steep "getting started" curve, but the investment of patience pays off.

You want depth, well this year you have two huge game play options that will take you deep into 2011.

In short, Rock Band Blitz is a musical bargain.

There are plenty of environmental puzzles to be solved, but they pretty much all involve picking the right words in order to progress — whether it’s stepping on the right highlighted word, or picking a word like “repair” in order to fix the path ahead. There are only a couple of places where you’ll need to pause and think about what you’re doing. But, I mean, that’s kind of the point of any good fiction, right? If you’re actively taken out of a story by thinking about the mechanics of it all, then the story hasn’t done a great job of hooking you in. Lost Words may not be the greatest fiction you’ll ever read, but it will keep you hooked from the first to last page, and in this case, that’s enough.

In the end this isn't the SSX you grew up loving, but this isn't just another snowboarding game either. This is a reboot of a franchise that feels not only fresh and original, but has enough depth and difficulty to keep gamers constantly wanting to learn the drops to increase scores, and completing those drops is a challenge in itself.

Artistically, however, the game is one of the most interesting and most well-done games of the past decade. While other games have taken on the idea of a game emulating a certain type of film, Wet is the first to truly embrace it.

Syndicate may not be the game that fans of the original were hoping for many years later, but sci-fi and shooter fans will be pleased with the overall execution of not only the story, but also the weapon techniques, game play, and co-op fun. It will provide them with enough depth and complexity to the FPS genre that it will make its own mark among similar games and never be mistaken for just another sci-fi shooter. The story may not be fresh and original, but the game play ideas, co-op action, and visual stylings sure are, which at least deserves your attention and admiration even if you haven't had this title in your sights.

The game sucked me in and made me feel like these patients’ lives really depended on me.

For me, I chose NBA Live 09. Not only has EA brought legs back to this franchise since struggling its first two years out on next generation platforms, but they have delivered a very strong outing last year and now this year as well.

The game has tons of options; it looks and sounds fantastic, and with a minor quibble here and there plays a great game that walks the line of die hard sim and casual baller.

Some of the story is a bit contrived and the game may give players a bit of "been there, done that", but it's a very fun game to play through. There are enough twists in the story and surprises to be seen to keep Mario fans playing until the very end.

Despite the show only being on for 3 seasons, the universe is already pretty large with plenty of fan theories, it’s just a tiny (Rick) bit disappointing how short and limited this title is. As a die hard I would kill, Krombopulos Michael style, for a Rick and Morty RPG in line with the South Park series. For now, if you own a PSVR and consider yourself a part of the council of Ricks, this is a must buy.

Zero Zero Zero is about as niche as it gets, but if you’re into that particular niche, you should really enjoy it.

Axiom Verge feels even more like a definitive version being on the Switch. I’m seeing a trend of games finding a solid home on the platform and they just feel right at home here. If you haven’t checked it out, then this is a great opportunity to do so. Tom Happ brings a unique twist from a developer’s perspective and brings it all together in a classic genre that’s worth taking a look at when done well.

It took a while, but MLB 2K10 has fixed enough, and added enough, to be an excellent way to play a baseball game on your TV. The multiplayer issues need to be fixed as soon as possible, but we're looking forward to the series using this year as a foundation for the future.

If you don’t mind paying a Switch Tax, there’s a lot to like about Strike! It’s more or less a straightforward bowling game with a couple of minigames thrown in to pad out the game, but that doesn’t make it any less fun — especially if, like me, you’re playing it solo in handheld mode. It’s there that you see the game as it was designed to be played, with touch controls on a vertical screen, and it’s really easy to get sucked in to game after game. It’s intuitive and it’s addictive, which are two very good qualities for a game like this to have.

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers could have gone horribly wrong. I mean, yes, the series was starting to feel a little stale, but at least it was comfortable. Trying something so new could have been a huge misfire. In this case, though, it’s not. World Brothers takes the series in a somewhat new direction and it mostly succeeds in what it wants to do, which means that it’s worth playing whether you’re a newcomer to the series or a grizzled EDF vet.

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.

The Wolf Among Us continues to impress visually, echoing its comic book roots without sacrificing animation.

When all is said and done I like the Warmind expansion more than Osiris. It features more likable characters, a more entertaining story, and way better post-game activities. It probably won’t change anyone’s opinion of Destiny 2 – so if you like the gameplay, graphics, sound (amazing score as always), and the story up to this point, Warmind does a great job pushing that experience even higher.

NEOGEO Pocket Selection is a good collection for those who were fans of the System and those who are curious about the system. While the selection is a bit lacking, all of the games play well and offer great fun and challenge. It’s lack of extras and bare bones presentation may put off some, but many should be able to look past that and enjoy the games they have included. Some games like Dark Arms and Crush Roller are a miss, but others will keep pulling you back even after you beat them. Even with its shortcomings, I can recommend this collection to anyone looking for some nostalgic challenge.

Even though Steins;Gate has some interactive components that allow you to impact the story's outcome, it's important to know that it's possible to go for hours at a stretch here and never have the opportunity to do anything more than press X to advance the text.

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

What D4 does incredibly well is provide gamers who loved Deadly Premonition with another tale of weird and wonder while at the same time giving day one Xbox One owners a reason to use their Kinect rather than controlling their cable TV.

While there is no "real" narrative throughout the game, dialogue, or story to be told, some of Epic Quest's advanced ideas that do work well make for a nice foundation for other games like it to come in the future. For a $2.50 you'd be a fool to pass up not only a new way to play the game of pinball, but a solid and addicting table to join the already impressive assortment created by the Zen Studios team. Well done lads, you've done it again.

Encompasses fantastic graphical prowess with equally fantastic gameplay and depth.

A fine racing game indeed. I only wish there were more Road Rage modes and other varieties spread along the map as I would say a good 65% of the modes are races. While this is fine and certainly fun, I don’t buy Burnout titles to race, I buy them for the carnage.

It might still have that infamous bumpy frame rate, but basically the game is a great amount of fun, and ranks up there with "Perfect Dark" and "GoldenEye" in terms of best first person shooters on the machine.

All of that said, if you haven't played it yet, the $20 that Capcom is asking for RE4 Ultimate is well worth it.

Those like me that are a sucker for a card game are getting one hell of a deal.

That is a lot of boom for a very little bit of Shakalaka if you know what I'm saying. This is the definitive version of the series, not only as it has up-to-date visuals, rosters, and modes, but it is about as complete as you could hope from this series.

Silent Hill Origins may do a few things that fans may love or hate, but what it does well is allow you to play the events that lead up to the first game and solve some of the mysteries and questions.