Windjammers 2 is what a sequel should be. Updated visuals, added bonus games, and new characters, all without ruining the core game play. As I have said, Dotemu did a remarkable job with this release just as they have with their previous classic sequel efforts. If you are a fan of the original Neo Geo game, or if you want a fun game with a lot of challenge, than look no further than Windjammers 2. We may actually have a contender for 2022 Game Of the Year on our hands! I cannot recommend this game enough to every gamer out there, it is truly a super fun time!

Retro Goal is just a really fun game all-around. It captures not just the spirit of the sport it’s trying to emulate, but also the essence of what makes a great soccer game. It may not look like the new standard for soccer games on the Switch, but if you pick it up, you’ll soon find it makes a very convincing argument.

Overall I was surprised by just how much meat there was to Theatrhythm's gameplay, which ends up being a lot more than just tapping along with icons on a screen. The whole concept of building a party, outfitting them will skills and equipment, and leveling them up over the course of 40 plus songs is really a lot of fun, and insanely addictive.

While Donkey Kong Country doesn’t have the ageless appeal of say, "Super Mario World," it still holds its own. The game would have scored higher had Nintendo added more new features to the game.

As it stands, I think it makes for a great rental, or maybe a discount pick-up in the future, but it's not something that Wii owners could do without.

Overall, I think there’s a lot of good here. While the gacha system itself could use some work, the bones of the game are excellent. Strong combat, an open world, and complex factory systems offer a lot to spend your time on, and very little of it felt like filler. I hope to see Arknights: Endfield take off and expand in the future, and hopefully they take some community feedback on the few systems that need work. I’ve already seen a lot of commentary on this and the game isn’t even out yet. Otherwise, if you are interested in a high-quality gacha game with space-age anime girls with a pinch of Factorio, this might be the only game in that niche you’ll find. Give it a shot, it’s a lot of fun.

Overall I do really enjoy Dune: Awakening, and while I still think the fact that it’s always online takes away from what it could be a bit, it doesn’t bring it down so far as to being unenjoyable. The framework is very positive and I had fun with my time in the game. I am intending to continue playing after writing this review, so I know it’s definitely good. I would recommend it to anyone who already knows and enjoys the world of Dune, but am not so sure people who aren’t otherwise would have the same ease of drop-in enjoyment I’ve gotten. It is one of the few games on the recent pattern of releasing at a lower price than average, so you can pick it up for only $50 if you’re wanting to try it! Dune fans, get in on it: you will enjoy it.

A pretty solid, if somewhat plain vanilla Snowboarding title. It looks good, plays well, and offers plenty to see and do.

The graphics are great, the music is awesome, and the control I surprisingly found, not as annoying as the previous RR titles.

With the exception of some minor A.I. issues, specifically with your troops and the enemy units staring into each others eyes until you get close enough for them to start combat, DW4 is a near flawless game, with airtight controls and beautiful graphics.

Doesn’t stray from the original. Here is classic 16-bit action at its best, but it’s nothing new to scream about.

The link feature is great, but the online play is wonderful. It’s a shame there isn’t a server to allow people from all over the world to play against one another.

Golf Peaks isn’t that far removed from actual golf, given that people always rave about how great the sport is for being calm and zen and whatnot. While I can’t speak to that, never having been anywhere more than a mini-putt place, I can confirm that Golf Peaks is just as good for getting you into a zen puzzle zone, too.

My affair with the Tomb Raider trilogy is one I am disappointingly glad to be done with, and I'm sure my individual scores will baffle fans of the games.

Overall, I think there is fun to be had with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, but the lack of meaningful exploration and the meandering desert stretches from one zone to the next really drag down what should have been an amazing return to form for the series. How much of this came from the prior development issues the game faced I’m not sure, but something about Prime 4 feels really disjointed and not nearly as polished as the original trilogy. I hope Nintendo does give the Prime series another chance, maybe this time without all the starts and stops that Prime 4’s development had, which will ideally give us the next-gen Metroid Prime game I was hoping this one would be.

A no-brainer recommendation. The story moves along nicely, and the battles load quickly and provide you with enough strategy to stay reasonably interesting.

As far as I'm concerned, buying the game means you get one of the most consistently fun games ever made — anything more than that (in this case, Fibbage XL and Drawful both being enjoyable) is just a bonus.

G-Darius is classic Arcade shooting action at it’s very best. Combining great gameplay with fantastic visuals and audio, you will have a blast even if you are not that big on horizontal shooters. Fans of the series will be right at home with the gameplay, while new players will get the hang of things very quickly. No matter where you stand, you will find a fun and challenging game that will keep you coming back for more. Out of all of the games in the Darius series, G-Darius might very well be one of the greatest. Other 3D incarnations would come to home consoles over the years, but they don’t come close to the original. It may not be a complete Darius Collection, but it certainly belongs in your library.

Everything about Gori: Cuddly Carnage is simply amazing. It delivers absurd, over-the-top action in a package that’s tailor-made for anyone who holds a soft spot for ‘00s gaming, and as far as I’m concerned it’s one of the best games of the year so far.

Xillia is not as good as Symphonia or Vesperia, but it is most certainly worth the journey.

Like all Karaoke titles, this is a must buy for anyone from the tone deaf to the singing experts.

The only downside for me is that this is a universe wholly dedicated to the spirit of J-pop and idol lifestyle, where I would hope to see a little more variety in the tracklist, or more imaginative minigames in a future iteration. That said if you're interested in any aspect of J-pop or rhythm games, The Project DIVA universe is a great little corner to spend some time in.

If you like LEGO games, you’ll love it. If you like Star Wars. you’ll love it too. If you like LEGO and Star Wars, you might be blown away (like Greedo).

If you’ve never experienced Burnout Paradise before — or even if you just want the convenience of having an all-time classic racing game with you everywhere you go — you’re in for a treat with this Remastered version on the Switch. It may be more than a decade old, but time hasn’t diminished it in any way, and it’s still a must-play for anyone who likes a whole lot of destruction in their racing games.

Even if you've never played a strategy RPG in your life, Arc the Lad is the perfect starting point: it's not overly difficult, it features an easy-to-use battle interface, and the variety of gameplay increases with each chapter in the series.

There are very few gripes here and there; camera issues and confusing career for newbies, but this is undoubtedly the best FIFA game in many years and seems ready for taking on "Winning 11" this season.

If you’re like me and just enjoy having games on the Switch over a different platform, then this is the best version of Resident Evil Revelations part 1 and 2 to have. Revelations 1 is broken up into chapters like a good portable game, and Revelations 2 is similar with its episodic structure that games from 2015 loved to release. Both are a great fit for this device. What I’m really looking forward to is more support from Capcom on the Switch, and hopefully this is a sign of future ports and original games to come.

It’s hard not to feel the rush of nostalgia as Sonic and friends race through the Green Hill Zone – and I mean that in a good way. If you can ignore everything that came after these games – some good, lots of bad – and just focus on what’s here, it’s not hard to understand how these games became so iconic, and why Sega has spent so many years chasing after these same highs. The four games in Sonic Origins are clearly some of the best platformers the early ‘90s have to offer, and there are just enough tweaks and additions that even if you’ve given up on the series ever reaching these highs again, there’s still ample reason to revisit them one more time.

I wish it had a little more going for it when it came to the whole use of Pirates, but as a new adventure in the Two Worlds II universe, there's plenty to like about it. If you've been looking for an excuse to jump back into the game, I can't think of a better reason than picking up this expansion.

But to start an RPG from the beginning just to save your experience is overly tedious. And starting from a save points at a loss of your stats is equally lame.

It’s certainly different from what we’ve come to expect out of Mario vs. Donkey Kong, but if you’re interested in a Nintendo themed puzzle game with some actual challenge, look no further than Minis on the Move.

Instead, I was thinking, "This game is so awesome." That, or silently cursing Curve Studios for making a game that's equal parts insanely addictive and fiendishly difficult. That's a dangerous combination if you ever want to put a game down — though why you'd ever want to put Stealth Inc. down, I don't know.

All together, it's a simple, fun entry into the series, and while the only real interesting feature comes from the addition of online play, it's still worth picking up.

The simple fact is that games like Bejeweled are available in far more convenient places than the Xbox.

New game modes pack Tiger 07 with great depth.

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.

It’s a solid collection of classic games that are pretty well represented here.

It’s a fun title that boils down to good old-fashioned board game fun that just happens to be on a DVD.

I love the action, the character development, and the mature themes that help separate it from the pack. At the same, the battle system is different yet comfortable in its turn-based approach.

This is as good as a nostalgia collection gets.

A departure from the revival of the series, "NFS: High Stakes," but in no way is it a disappointment.

The addition of the new play styles, attitude, and story mode only enhance this great title. This is easily the best of the Blitz titles, and Midway has given fans a truly fun and entertaining football game that is not hindered by rules and penalties.

As it is, it’s a competent action-platform game that is enjoyable to play, but won’t ever reach the status of a triple-A must-play experience.

Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk succeeds as a visual novel generally and an otome specifically because it ignores its genre conventions in favour of telling a compelling story, with largely decent characters and enough content to keep you interested all the way to the end. I’m not sure what Aksys’ goal with the Summer of Mystery was, but if it was to showcase just how impressive and engaging the genre can be, I’d say it succeeded beyond any shadow of a doubt.

Basically, I’m just happy that Journey to the Savage Planet on the Switch finally has it living up to the potential the game showed back when it was first teased. It’s kind of ironic it had to be visually downgraded to achieve that, but if I have to sacrifice a bit of performance to get a lot more fun out of a game, that’s a trade-off I’ll take every time.

Haven is the rare game that excels at making its characters seem believable and human, especially when it gives them nothing more to do than just being themselves. The end result may feel a little familiar for anyone who’s lived through the past year, but that doesn’t make the game any less worthwhile.

Once Upon A Jester isn’t like too many other games out there, but if you’re willing to give it a chance, you’ll find that it does what it sets out to do incredibly well.

In the end, the fact the story and the characters are so well done win out over any quibbles I may have with details. Killer Frequency is an excellent game that takes a neat approach to both horror films and walking simulators, and it’s well worth checking out if you’re a fan of either. (But seriously, how did these people all have cell phones?)

Patapon 1 + 2 Replay may be throwbacks to another time, but their gameplay is pretty timeless, and whether you played them the first time around or not, it’s a good time to go back (or go for the first time) and lose yourself in the rhythm.

This is the very definition of a killer-app in regards to the Wii U library, and deserves every ounce of support the gaming community can muster up.

It’s an interesting title full of whimsy and charm that targets a specific style of audience, but when it’s with that audience, it really clicks. If you’re seeking a fairly mindless fun time but aren’t sure about the full release, feel free to check out the demo before you buy.

The delicate mix of three genres has never been pulled off as well as this before.

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

Not short on content, delivering a robust Mario Golf experience, and implementing the Mii character in the Castle Club mode lay down the groundwork for what could be the most complete Mario Golf experience so far. Whether or not that's your cup of 'tee' is up to you, but I've found a decent bit of distraction from my normal Hot Shots hold.

The gameplay is dead on in "Third Impact." It’s one of the most well handling fighting games produced, with every move coming across to the screen at the same split second rate as player input it into the control.

The track list is lackluster and I could’ve gone for some more content in the box, but outside of these concerns, Rock Band 4 is a good return to the rhythmic music genre. I recommend it for anyone with an existing library of songs and people just looking to rock out.

No matter what your ability is, there is fun to be had by all and adding the popular show tie in only makes for more enjoyable experience than before.

It's quickly shaping up to be one of my favorite games available on PSN at the moment. It's a great multiplayer title, with a solid online community already established, and some simple, but entirely addictive gameplay behind it.

In a nutshell the quality of a port we got with Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen on the Switch is very much what fans could hope for. The whole game is here and plays great and for $30 is a steal even today because of the quality hours of content here. For those looking to revisit the game they will be happy with Capcom’s effort and those looking for a world to rival the playtime of their biggest Switch selection will find a very fun and rewarding gem they can dig into.

As I said up top, despite all my complaints, I’m not going to deny that MLB The Show 21 is a solid, well-made baseball game. If you haven’t played the series in years, or if you’re coming to it on Xbox, then it’s probably a must-play. But if you’ve been sinking years into it already, there’s not much here that will make it worth playing.

With big budget games relatively few and far between on the PS Vita at the moment, even if you don't fancy yourself a FPS or Killzone fan, I would say that it's a game worth adding to your library. Now bring on Killzone: Shadow Fall.

Because it’s a) from Devolver and b) insanely violent, I can imagine that My Friend Pedro will get at least a few Hotline Miami comparisons. And while there’s certainly a hint of that game here, make no mistake: My Friend Pedro is its own beast — one that’s gloriously over-the-top, full of well-designed levels and good controls, and, above all else, ridiculously fun.

If you’re a fan of the series then this is another solid entry. Will it be your favorite? That probably depends on the person, but there’s definitely something here for everyone who has liked any version up to WarioWare Gold. If you missed the tilt controls or wish we had another stylus version, this is where you can enjoy an encore of series past with the largest collection of migrogames yet! Me personally, I’m not complaining about WarioWare being back in our lives.

Sure the game has its hiccups like the aforementioned lack of running game, no roster updates, and no adjustment to the quarter lengths, but the game's roster could be 10 years old and the game would still be fun as heck to play. If you want realism, stick to Madden, but if you want pure and out adrenaline, then download NFL Blitz on XBLA or PSN as it may be simple, but it still is extremely fun to play. Now only if EA would bring back Mutant League Football and Road Rash, the circle of great redo's would be complete.

The key to enjoying Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is to think of it not as an open-ended sandbox, there for you to discover all kinds of secrets, but as an intricate diorama, just waiting for you to set things into motion. You may not get the same kind of satisfaction of figuring out inventive ways to solve problems, but you will get to look at a game that’s simply beautiful – and all things considered, it’s a fair trade.

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.

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

It may be a little short on originality, but all in all, it’s fun enough that it’s pretty easy to overlook that.

M2 did a marvelous job porting Shinobi to the Switch. Everything feels like you are playing the original arcade game with nothing removed. The game has been ported to many platforms over the years in many forms. This one really does feel like the best port out of all of them, though as I found it hard to put it down long enough to write this review. The addition of AGES Mode is great for new players who have never seen or heard of this game before, but most classic gamers will prefer the challenge of the original.

Vertigo Games has made a fantastic remake here. All of the updates, DLC packs and fixes found in the sequel are all here in one great package, and I wish my original experience was more like this when I played the first release. I was unable to revisit the original due to not having a PSVR system when they finally decided to patch things up. I am so glad I was able to check Arizona Sunshine Remake out as it has completely erased my original experience. This is a great title for the PlayStation VR2 (and other VR platforms) and should more definitely be in your library alongside the fantastic sequel.

It’s a pretty good game for anyone who misses the days when games like What Remains of Edith Finch and Firewatch were gracing best-of lists. Return to Grace is probably a little late to get the same kind of widespread acclaim and reputation, but if there were any justice, it would get both, and deservedly so.

Even long time fans of the series will find plenty of new and exciting things to do to last you another full year.

If there is anything to complain about in Burnout, it has to be the audio.

Brandish wants you to sweat a little. It also wants you to stick with it, though, which means that it has a pretty delicate balancing act. Luckily, it's an act the game pulls off with aplomb.

If you like a good story, mixed in with breathtaking visuals, magnificent audio, and extraordinary game play you’d be a fool to miss out on this sleeper hit of the year.

Not the huge advancement many might expect from a new year and especially a year when they are the only game in town, but the game still plays solid, the rosters are updated, and the new modes may appeal to those coming over from the competition.

Whether you enjoy the story and characters is very subjective and will probably drive how much time you're willing to put into the game. For most with a sense of humor and a thirst for destruction, A&D is well worth the time.

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.

What is the most disappointing in 20-04 is the lack of real additions. Sure a fun HR derby was added, as well as a custom replay option, but what else? Oh yeah, a create-a-team! If that's what you want to call it.

It is true that HOI is not for everyone, but fans of RTS, Risk, or just War aficionados, will appreciate the level of authenticity and freedom that this game has to offer.

The wonderfully impressive developers at Rainbow Studios have dazzled us once again.

Unless you are a fanatical college football fan, there is no reason to own both NCAA 2K2 and "NFL 2K2." NCAA 2K2 is merely "NFL 2K1" with A.I. improvements, and a new coat of paint.

The story is weak, boss fights are hard, but the action is extremely enjoyable and in a game where the main focus is the action, which is all that counts.

NHL 06 is as good as it gets in console hockey.

RIGS: MCL is the very best VR experience that this system has to offer. The level of intense action, overall comfort while playing and the feeling of complete control round out a stellar VR package.

It’s far less insidious than any of the myriad match-3 games that clog up Apple and Google’s respective storefronts, but it’s also not all that fun unless you really love grinding your way through match-3 puzzles. It could be a lot worse, and kudos to the game’s developers for resisting the allure of monetization, but Puzzle Quest: The Legend Returns’ appeal will definitely be limited.

There aren’t really any other games like this on the Switch, so as long as you’re okay with — or at least willing to tolerate — visuals that pale in comparison to how they look elsewhere, then you’re in for one of the last gen’s best zombie games.

Forget debating whether video games are art – here’s a game that asks whether art are video games, and then shows that the answer is a pretty clear yes.

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.

I'm really happy with Crimson Gem Saga. It goes right up there with Jeanne d'Arc as far as PSP RPGs go.

The PS4 is now fully loaded for all the interactive drama adventure genre games you could want. I would probably put Until Dawn at the top of the list of games in the genre, but Heavy Rain still holds a red balloon in my heart.

It's one heck of a compelling story, which means that all of them do their job. In fact, everything about Root Letter seems to do its job of making it a good, worthwhile game…which, in turn, is why it's most definitely worth a look.

Overall NHL 2K7's new features are a lot subtler than "NHL 07's." In a lot of ways 2K7 is what I had hoped 2K6 for the 360 would have been.

It's no Dead Island, but it's on par with other zombie survival games and can provide you with a nice challenge.

The big problem with Psychedelica of the Black Butterfly is that it contains a lot of fluff. If you want to advance the story, the game forces you to watch bonus episodes that consist of little more than Beniyuri and co. sitting around the mansion. It adds nothing to the story, and, to make matters worse, you have to replay chapters over and over in order to earn points to unlock the bonus chapters. The story would’ve been worked just fine without it, and it all just feels like a bunch of unnecessary padding.

Overall, Retro/Grade is a wholly unique experience in both genres that it represents, and is well worth your time. If you have any interest in rhythm games or shoot 'em ups, you should do yourself a favor and check this out.

The umbrella that’s also a gun concept does a great job of carrying the game along, making it a joy to play and navigate across the 6ish hours or so it’ll take most to complete the game. The story is weird and interesting enough to also keep you entertained, which certainly helps make Gunbrella feel fresh despite there being a number of retro-themed action-platformers on the market today. I’d highly recommend checking out Gunbrella when you get a chance, you won’t be disappointed.

NHL 06 is as good as it gets in console hockey.