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.

Frankly, I'd save the extra 20 bucks and pick up FIFA 2002 on the cheap.

Just about my only real quibble with Dojoran is in how it describes itself. It claims it’s a 1-bit platformer, but that’s kind of a misnomer. For me, when I think of those, I think of games like Zero Zero Zero Zero, that really do look 1-bit, to the point they could’ve come out on one of gaming’s earliest systems. Dojoran, by contrast, may have a black-and-white colour palette, but it still looks like a more modern game. As I said, though, that’s just a quibble. Dojoran is a fun platformer – whether you want to play it until the Platinum pops, or if you keep on playing beyond that point.

To be sure, it’s not perfect, and to enjoy Wrestling Empire you need to be willing to overlook a lot. Provided you can do that, however, you’ll find that you’ve got one of the most enjoyable wrestling games in years at your fingertips.

The price is right for what you get here, so if you are a fan of games like this, by all means give the demo a spin. If frantic combo filled beat-em-ups aren't your thing, then skip this one and wait for the 2D fighter.

I still love this game and it's over 15 years old -- if that isn't enough to make you want to try it, I don't know what else would.

It's pretty simple, if you like the "Kohan" series you'll probably enjoy this game. If you desire the hectic nature of more traditional real time strategy games, you may not appreciate the simplifications made here.

Sonic Team has worked their magic and put together a highly original, extremely fun game that anyone can play.

Warp Shift is only long enough to fill part of an afternoon, but as far as I’m concerned, at least you’d be squeezing a few hours of fun into that short time frame.

Mask of Mists is certainly nowhere near as good as its influences, but it’s still a pleasant way to pass an afternoon.

The RPG has all the subtle quirks that make a traditional RPG story fun to play and does it all with nice animation and sound.

If you’re in the mood for another open-world action game, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a fine choice. It is a little too similar in aspects to the last two games, making this feel like the point where Ubisoft may want to consider re-evaluating the series once again, but the settings, characters, and overall world are enough to overlook most of the repetitiveness. So provided you don’t have open-world burnout from the other like-minded games that released this year, I think Valhalla is certainly worth checking out.

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.

While much of the game play remains faithful to previous Mortal Kombat titles, the developers how gone to painstaking measures to bring new modes and interesting features to their franchise to keep it fresh like deli meat.

Most expect you to have honed your skills to perfection through years and years of playing other likeminded games; TorqueL expects nothing less than for you to relearn all your skills anew.

They have managed to bring some excellent Fleet-Based combat to a genre where games like Star Trek: Armada II have failed.

Despite the flagging pace towards the end, the presentation, engine and gameplay in Going Commando is tight as a drum, and Insomniac should be congratulated on a damn good game.

In other words, it does exactly what games like Trials HD and Joe Danger do to keep you coming back for more. That may not win Action Henk points for innovation, but you'll be too busy obsessively having one more go at each level to care.

While it may not capture the "feel" of surfing quite as well as its closest competitor, it makes up for it with better wave models and the incredible number of actions to perform on each wave.

The Evil Within 2 trumps its predecessor in every way, inevitably making this one of the best forms of survival horror in recent years. Dare I say? Evil Within 2 is Survival Horror, evolved.

All-in-all, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is probably the best game in the series with a nice selection of events, features and characters, and enough gameplay variation to keep fans occupied. It seems like it would have made more sense to launch closer to the actual Tokyo 2020 games, and it definitely has more replayability as a party or multiplayer game than as a single player title, but it’s totally worth checking out if Olympic-style titles are (or were ever) your thing.

I had a good time playing through all of the characters’ stories and didn’t have any other things that hit me in such a noticeably out-of-place way as the previously noted moment, so I can accept one off moment in a sea of otherwise excellent quality. Weird West was one of the more unique experiences I’ve had in a game in a while, so I certainly can’t hate it when the rest is there in such a heavy-hitting way.

While certainly not a successor to the main Tomb Raider series, I think both fans of action and platforming puzzlers will get some enjoyment out of this one.

It's a game that allows non-gamers to take part in the action. People simply want to try the game because the controller is so inviting to them. For the hardcore gamers out there, the game is a bit short and tad easy.

Along with the bright and colorful visuals, the music really plays a big part in de Blob as well.

It a shame it took developers this long to come up with a console RTS control scheme, but alas it is here and it is glorious.

The new kicking meter makes it way onto current generation, providing a ton of more control and consistency with the kicking game.

It's definitely worth checking out even if you were disappointed with Umbrella Chronicles, as I think the improvements made here actually work.

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

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

Equally fluid is the combat, which is what I'd describe as "Sands of Time lite."

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

A couple of annoying moments here and there can’t detract from an overall fun experience, so as long as you go into Bug Academy with that mindset, you should be able to enjoy it.

Even if you're not a big Dynasty Warriors fan, there's a whole lot to enjoy here, and while the combat can grow a bit stale, the way the touch screen stuff is implemented really speeds up the battles compared to the home console titles.

DICE did a great job of refining the Battlefield formula into a cohesive package that should tide fans over until Bad Company 2, or may create a whole new fanbase in itself under 1943's small-but-strong design philosophy.

You get a season's worth of fun for less than the price of a real bobblehead!

Whatever minor dissonance may be created by the occasional wrong note, it's more than made up for by gameplay that's simple, fun, and insanely addictive.

For fans of this racing genre, you will kick yourself if you don’t treat yourself to the best the sport has to offer. It’s deep, it’s fast, it’s authentic, it’s online, it’s fair, and it’s fun!

More car customization available before hitting the aforementioned gold medals would be nice, but for quick, dirty, racing action, there might not be a better choice on current consoles without firing up a retro classic.

Alone in the Vita library, it's a casual game that has a bit of depth to it, and it's a Japanese game that doesn't have all kinds of weird sexual issues (though, obviously, it's not without them entirely, as evidenced by the fact you can shoot upskirt camera shots during concerts). It's a light, breezy game that's made for a light, breezy time of year, and it's well worth an investment.

The mix of ranged and hand-to-hand combat is smooth, deep and satisfyingly challenging.

For newcomers, Tales of Symphonia Remastered is a great pickup but for veterans looking for more, you won’t find anything new here sadly. If you are collector of the Tales games it will be worth adding to the collection.

Hopefully next time APF will be a fully functional game, so we can focus our complaints on the important issues, like how in the world Bubby Brister made anyone's list of 'legends.'

You don't need to rush out and download it this instant, though. No, that's an honor you should give to Runner 2 — which, again, is a must-play for anyone with any of the many, many systems on which it appeared. The BIT.TRIP is more an after-dinner mint: it's certainly enjoyable, but not quite as good as the main course.

As we learned from another relic/artefact of the same era, great soundtracks can help overcome a lot of flaws. But at the same time, this is just a mindlessly fun game where you can run around chomping on brains, and that sort of thing never goes out of style.

Kalimba is hard, and it never tries to hide that fact. But I'm thinking that if even someone like me can enjoy the game, then it'll be even more enjoyable if you're made of even sterner (and, admittedly, more patient) stuff.

ent's Curse: Episode 1 continues on in this tradition, I say bring on the anachronisms. If they're all as well made as The Serpent's Curse is, then that's a throwback I'm happy to see.

Again, I don’t think Need for Speed Heat does much to re-invent the wheel when it comes to open-world racing games, but it does help reset the franchise in a way that felt necessary at this point. It’s an enjoyable experience throughout, the story is entertaining if maybe a little too serious, and the overall progression path is well realized. If you’re hungry to get behind the wheel of a virtual car this season, Need for Speed Heat is likely going to be the game for you.

SingStar for the PS3 shows the promise of what this series will be like and what imaginative ideas Sony has in store for it. Of course I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't mention they've finally added the feature that I've always knocked the series for lacking: the ability to turn down or off the main vocals.

Aside from my mixed feelings on A.I., which was never one of the series' strengths to begin with, and the length, the game has a lot of great action, well done atmosphere, and multiplayer to keep you coming back for more.

Sure, this is the first time they’ve graced a Nintendo platform, but that only means that if you’re in that elusive “Nintendo-only gamer who likes shooters” demographic, you owe it to yourself to pick up the Borderlands Legendary Collection. For everyone else, though, it’s harder to see the value proposition. Pick it up if you want these games on the go, but be aware that you’ve had up to ten years to play some of these games on other platforms, and this doesn’t bring anything new to the table.

It may borrow some obvious elements from much better-known (and, frankly, probably better-made) games, but if you give it a chance, Beasts of Maravilla Island should be able to win you over with its charms.

Will there be more, perhaps post-endgame DLC down the road? It seems highly unlikely at this point, but knowing that a new Zelda is likely pretty far on the horizon, maybe Nintendo can surprise us in 2018. As it is though, Breath of the Wild definitely benefits from this DLC pack, and while it might not be a big enough draw for players that have essentially wrapped up the main story, it certainly feels like a nice boon to those of us that have yet to 100% the game.

Even though it's fun, it's almost too familiar. But the inclusion of a fleshed-out and very entertaining online mode pushes this one over the top.

While it’s not bad on any level, SFV definitely feels unfinished and not as polished as previous games in the series.

Which, come to think of it, means that Table Top Racing is among the very best racing games on the Vita. True, that's not a huge accomplishment, since the full list of Vita racing games can easily be counted on two hands. Nonetheless, this is a strong enough game that it's easy to imagine Table Top Racing standing out even if that list was several times as long.

Anyone telling you that this game isn't different or changed from the first game is flat out lying to you. L4D2 isn't going to change your mind if you thought it was just okay or didn't care for it. On the other hand if you and a handful of friends enjoyed joining up to defeat the land of the dead and surviving the thought of being a smorgasbord for the flesh eaters, then you will have nothing short of a blast with L4D2.

The innovative parts of Fable surround what is a very solid, if traditional, role-playing game, and the whole package comes together exceptionally well.

Not as deep or as complex as some of the other competitors in the field, World Series Baseball 2K3 is the perfect blend of an arcade baseball game and a hardcore sim.

I’m not going to spoil anything, but between the myriad of weapons, Lo’s hilarity, the collectables/secret areas, and the simple but effective story, you’ll actually be pretty motivated to continue playing to the end, which says a lot about the game’s entertainment value.

It’s what you expected from Call of Duty. Nothing more, nothing less, and the world’s going to be fine with that.

While not as packed or well known as some of the previous SEGA AGES releases, G-LOC Air Battle is still a great addition to the lineup. If you like After Burner and Out Run, then you will feel right at home here. New players can also pick this one up and get the hang of it right away. It’s not a must own, but more of a quick pick up and play game. If you are looking for dogfight action found in games like Ace Combat, you aren’t going to find it here. Just a simple Arcade quarter-muncher designed to challenge and sometimes frustrate you. I say try it out, you may like it.

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

One of the best action-platformers ever. Not since the 2D Super Mario titles has a title captured technical jumps, tight balances, and split second timing so well.

The community aspect, the interesting use of newly added PS3 features, and the whole "WTF is going on" level of amusement is well worth the price of entry.

It’s too short. Sure, there are twenty-five levels plus hidden areas and bosses, but they're limited to variations on about five different time periods, and they’re very short.

The audio is stunning. From the Dolby surround ambiance, to the incredible commentary, NFL 2k2 has the best sports audio around…period...Gameplay is fantastic.

That may make Conception II one of the weirder (and arguably creepier) games to come out in quite some time, but anyone looking for an RPG with a unique personality need look no further.

Hey! Pikmin was surprisingly more fun than I expected it to be, although I can't really say what I expected. It plays at a quicker pace than it might let on, and keeps a lot of the mainstays of how Pikmin plays on consoles but without sacrificing the fun of a 2D game. I also like how the story is directed less toward Captain Olimar trying to get off the planet and more toward cute cutscenes that show how playful and silly the Pikmin are. This is a great diversion and I'm glad Nintendo is still experimenting with franchises, but after spending my brief time with Hey! Pikmin, I'm more ready than ever to see a Pikmin 4.

As a long-lasting time-waster Fifty Words by POWGI may have limited value, but if you’re just looking for a neat twist on standard word searches, it’ll do the trick.

Overall I’ve found The Expanse: A Telltale Series to be a solid attempt to re-establish Telltale as the king of adventure games once again. They were able to consistently hit their release deadlines for each episode, and with all now available, it’s the perfect time to check this one out. If you’ve ever had any affinity for the show, or Telltale’s prior efforts, you’ll likely find something to enjoy here.

It's essentially the same, full-featured game that console and PC owners have been playing, only with the added bonus of being able to take your terraformed world with you wherever you go, in addition to being able to bring it online.

The essence of the Hulk – his chaotic power and affect on normal civilization – is captured perfectly.

NCAA Football 13 isn't going to be forever remembered as the year EA shook up virtual college football by any means, but it may be the year that gamers look back to in the future when they realize that EA got everything right.

There’s no doubt Mathland is good as edutainment goes, and using math problems as a way to unlock more “fun” levels is a good way to make players stick to doing math (though, as far as I’m concerned, it was the math problems that were the real reward). It may not be the first game you give to a young gamer as they start playing the Switch, but it’s still worth getting it for them eventually.

The addicting, classic arcade gameplay and pseudo-retro stylings make it different enough than nearly anything else out there.

Here, nostalgia probably adds to your enjoyment, but even if you strip all that away, you’re still left with a pretty solid kart racer that adds one or two things to the usual formula.

In short, it's Monopoly, only prettier and easier to get out and put away than the board game. Now if you excuse me, I need to roll doubles to try and get out of jail.

I’d definitely say the good outweighs the bad with Madden NFL 16 however, thanks in large part to the excellent addition of the Draft Champions mode, and the overall positive changes made to passing and receiving.

The most innovative and clever thing to come to golf video games in a long while is Outlaw Golf's Composure Meter.

Gearbox Studios took a chance by giving us a sequel to such a critically acclaimed and highly regarded title. They delivered in giving us that same feeling we got playing Tales, a game with humor and heart. I enjoyed being able to play in this sandbox with these new characters and giving us one of the funniest games of 2022. Don’t let the lack of gameplay and stretched out story deter you away from the title. If you have never played the first Tales you’re in for a treat. I would recommend also circling back and playing the first if you have not gotten to experience it.

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

It's not going to be the best 2D platformer from Nintendo, but it's definitely up there with the other titles on the DS, and manages to stand apart from games like Super Princess Peach, New Super Mario Bros., and so on, enough so that it still manages to be good while doing something unique with it's overall play mechanics.

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.

Even with only seven levels, which are huge, it will take even the best shooter fan quite a few tries to complete this one to the end.

Every aspect of Project Gotham Racing 4 is top notch, yet it feels just a little too much like the same racer we've been playing for years, even with all the changes. There's a lot more racing competition on the Xbox 360 these days and PGR4 still performs well enough to race to the top.

Regardless of me being an old man yelling at the sky about the licensed presentation (or lack thereof), Madden NFL 23 is a win for console and PC. Now like I mentioned earlier, my PC use case is extremely particular, but I assume many players are now in a similar situation. Sports games on handheld have never been a great experience and Madden 23 is the first to really wow me, which is more of an example of how great the Steam Deck is, but I can’t hold that against Madden. As far as the current gen console release, Fieldsense is truly a game changer and made me think more about ball placement than I ever have in a football game. Dropping an over the should pass from Russell Wilson to Jerry Jeudy just feels extra satisfying, especially when it’s over Chiefs defensive backs. PC or Console, either way you’re a winner.

It's not the best in the genre, but it's a solid title with a ton of value for someone that's looking for something that'll last a while.

A brilliant game but as you know, no game is perfect. Sadly in the case of Sonic Adventure 2, there’s frequently the feeling of ‘Ugh what a set up!’; if you know what I mean.

As I said up, though: good unique? Bad unique? Even after finishing it, I’m still not sure. Still, leaving me feeling so uncertain must be a sign Heal is doing something right, and for that reason, I’d probably recommend puzzle fans check it out.

Military actions will no longer be made from the other side of the ocean, but where it really matters. Responsibility will be put into the hands of the men who represent our great country.

There’s just enough happening in each facet of pirate life to make it transcend the past days of simplicity, but not so much that you’d rather be playing it on your wide screen TV or monitor.

The sound is another area in which The Smoking Mirror excels. Although there isn't a constant soundtrack playing, haunting music often accompanies certain actions, much like the original "Tomb Raider."

All in all, though, Pneuma: Breath of Life does a whole lot more right than it does wrong. I don't think anyone's going to be shortlisting it for the title of Best Game Ever any time soon, mind you, but it's a solid enough game that it can be enjoyed on its own terms, rather than as just a lousy Portal clone.

To sum it all up, Nintendo has created a very fun and fresh take on the team based shooter genre, all while making it accessible to just about anyone.

The gameplay is easily as deep and challenging as "Links" and "Tiger Woods." Those games are traditional, while Outlaw Golf is irreverent and usually bawdy enough that it's best avoided by the faint of heart.

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

Sure, the gameplay is great, but at the same time, it's not the kind of game that you'd want to be caught playing in public for fear of feeling like you belong on a sex offender registry. In other words, the whole rubbing up and down motion is kind of appropriate since, like the action it simulates, it's something you'll most likely want to do in the privacy of your own home.