Hardcore platform gaming. If you don’t mind platforming where the odds aren’t in your favor, this is your game.

It’s exactly the same game as before, only with slightly different levels. Given that there was nothing wrong the last time around — and that the game is still less than $5 — that means that Birthday of Midnight is a pleasant enough diversion if you’ve got a couple of dollars and an hour to spare.

After "Bioshock" and "Uncharted," it's hard to imagine a game having an even better setting, but Assassin's Creed seems to have pulled it off.

If you're looking for a game that's fast paced and fun from the get-go, this isn't for you. If you're a couch jockey who enjoys a long day of a tall iced tea and the history channel... Well. Eidos has made the game for you.

I’m a simple man (not in game), give me a comic interpretation made by people who appreciate and understand the source material and tell a captivating story and you’ve got me hooked. There’s not much to do outside of the bit of collectibles and costumes after you beat the game but maybe if Guardians does well enough we’ll see some strong DLC content. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is built to be a holiday season blockbuster (I mean is anything else even coming out this holiday?), and all of its accessibility options make it the perfect gift for anyone.

The pet AI is a delight to watch. When the dog rolls onto his/her back when you pet her you just want to stare at the screen and say, “awwwww…”

If developers can figure out how to add some RPG elements into lightgun titles, then maybe they could earn an "A"...Overall, TC2 is a great arcade to home conversion, as well an excellent action-packed lightgun game that no one should miss.

Sure, it is more of a great game, but for only a couple of hours maximum of game play it hardly seems an appropriate price point.

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!

If you’re into puzzle games, Meteos is a fantastic piece of software destined to stay in your Nintendo DS for a long time to come.

While it is unfortunate that there is no online play or tournament feature included, the game still provides plenty of depth and fun for the whole family.

Aside from a few minor complaints, the game is all in tact-extras and all.

While Army of Two doesn't do anything totally revolutionary, it does deliver something that is seriously lacking at this time, which is a great game that two people can get totally engrossed in without having to join up with a large team.

Centipede Recharged is a good example of bringing back a classic game for a more modern audience. The changes they have made are welcome, and don’t take anything away from the core gameplay. On the flip side, there isn’t much here to get excited about if you are not familiar with the classic game. Most modern gamers may not click with the simple gameplay and the “one life, one chance” concept. For fans of the original or classic games in general, you will have a blast with Centipede Recharged. For everyone else, I say give it a try and you might like what you experience.

It's hard to describe exactly, but there's something about Rez that just hooked me into replaying it more than Child of Eden has.

A lack of selectable music and no graphical enhancements keep this game from breaking into the "A" grades.

It is a slower methodically paced title that demands patience and the ability to command squad units to be successful.

PC owners should be quite pleased with the latest installment of the game. Given all the improvements between Underground 2 and "THPS4," fans of the series should be quite happy with the end result.

The controls are smooth and consistent, the graphics are sharp and the fighting is satisfying once you put in the practice.

Red Barrels is a developer that I hope to see more from, and to my knowledge, there's nothing currently like Outlast that doesn't freely give in to cliches on a regular basis (I have yet to play either Amnesia title), and that's enough for me to call it worth playing.

Puyo Puyo 2 is a simple puzzle game that contains enough fun inside to keep you entertained. Not much else can be said about it, other than it’s extremely addicting and you will find it hard to put down. There’s very little depth or sense of progress outside of honing your own skills, and very few accomplishments outside of getting revenge on certain characters (or players) that destroyed you in previous games. It’s cute, funny and great for a quick challenge or for sharpening that hand/eye coordination. A really good fit for the Switch!

Visually the game lies somewhere between the PS2 versions of Volume 2 and 3 of the famous NBA Street series.

If you’re someone who plays RPGs for the challenge, Bonds of the Skies will leave you feeling a little unsatisfied. And, for that matter, if you play them for a unique experience, you won’t get that here either, since it’s the same as at least a half-dozen other Kemco RPGs in the PlayStation Store. But if you just want some quick and easy (very, very easy) RPG action on the go, Bonds of the Skies will deliver that in spades.

It's definitely worth picking up for not only shooter fans, but those that enjoy a little bit of strategy with their action. You won't get away with run and gun tactics on this title, and it's easily one of the better representations of squad based combat I've seen in a game since the original Brothers In Arms.

With a wide variety of options, fish, lures, modes, and lakes, Sega has done it again by producing a fun and addicting title for fans and non-fans alike.

On default, I did notice that the A.I. will make some dumb mistakes on offence and defense, but with the friendly help of provided sliders, you can customize the game so it plays perfectly to your particular standards. Once you have the game set up to your liking, the game plays brilliantly.

Sure, the game is open ended and non-linear, sure, you can mercilessly pummel citizens, and sure, you can hijack cars when you need to get somewhere. The controls take on a new way to perform most of these familiar elements and expand on the experience, which puts the Godfather into a class all in itself.

Rez Infinite makes a good case for virtual reality. It’s not a game designed from the ground up for the technology, but it’s a perfect fit and really does a fantastic job of surrounding the player in its world. The blisteringly fast gameplay combined with a fantastic soundtrack and unique graphical style make Rez Infinite one of the best reasons to pick up a PSVR.

There's a lot of throwback cool to it, but with some decent kart racing gameplay to back it up.

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

A game that could have easily felt like the final part of a trilogy now feels like the start of something more, and has laid the groundwork for potential Metro games to come.

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

The huge cast of characters and unlockable extras helps push it over the top.

NHL 17 continues the trend EA has been building lately, and it’s another quality title in the franchise. The problem I have with it is, I don’t see the game as an every year investment, unless you're a true diehard hockey fan.

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.

Cotton Fantasy is a fantastic addition to the franchise. It’s completely new, but feels more like a classic Cotton adventure with some nice added features. If you are a fan of “Bullet Hell” horizontal shooters, they you will be right at home here for as long as the experience lasts. It’s a little on the short side, and offers a challenge that is a bit over shadowed by an unlimited continue system, but it’s still absolutely fun to play. Even if you aren’t familiar with the Series, this is a great game that almost anyone can jump into and play.

Game play in the first NFL Street hampered on the difficulty on playing defense. This has all been fixed in NFL Street 2 as there are a larger amount of both offence and defensive plays that not only give you a chance of catching a player off guard for the easy score, but for that quick sack as well.

R.B.I. Baseball 19 is probably never going to match the polish of one of PlayStation’s flagship franchises. But, for the first time ever, it’s solid enough that baseball fans who just have an Xbox or a Switch don’t have to feel totally left out for yet another year. It may not be the greatest game ever, but neither is it anywhere close to being the worst — and seeing as some of its predecessors actually have a legitimate claim at that worst title, R.B.I. Baseball 19 represents an enjoyable and welcome step forward.

The challenge is pretty high, but the sense of accomplishment you get from finally figuring out a level is great.

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

It may not stray very far from its influences, but considering how well it borrows from them, it hardly needs to. This is an adorable, easy-to-love game, and it's well worth a play.

Fobia – St. Dinfna Hotel provides some pretty solid chills. It’s not the sort of game that will wow you unless you’re already a fan of survival horror, but if you are a fan, it serves as a pretty solid reminder of the good things the genre has to offer.

Despite the overall solid control, Rayman 2 still suffers from one of the original problems with 3D games: the erratic camera. Although it manages to keep up pretty well in wide-open areas, enclosed and semi-enclosed ones frequently cause it to misbehave.

Beyond: Two Souls is a great interactive action-adventure game that I really should have played sooner. It does feel like you do a bit less actually playing than Quantic Dream’s other title, Heavy Rain (which I am a huge fan of), but I never got to a point that it annoyed me.

It's fairly priced and deserves to be enjoyed for all of its arcadey goodness.

It is as true as possible to the franchise's humble beginnings, which is a good and bad thing. In my opinion, it's a good thing because I love a game that can put me through the wringer and back-but still be fair about it.

Once thing is certain, some of what MVP does has never been seen before and it may not be too long before EA or someone else who ‘borrows’ the ideas will show up in the big leagues.

The complex inventory and quick enemies might have you screaming, but most of the time it’s in a good way.

It’s the sort of game that, at least to me, feels tailor-made for playing on a handheld, and once you get past the loading screens, it runs pretty smoothly (a stark contrast to Civilization Revolution on the Vita, which chugged as you got closer to the endgame). If you’re a Civilization veteran wondering whether you invest in the Switch version, I obviously can’t help you, but everyone else should find plenty here to like.

Whether or not the end game content manages to keep my attention remains to be seen, but so far this is easily the most polished MMO I've ever played within a month of launch, and I can easily see myself re-subscribing to it next month.

With it’s unique story and presentation and over the top gross factor, Pig Eat Ball is somewhat of a hidden gem. Most players may pass right over this one but I do recommend at least taking a look at this one. I was skeptical at first, but once I started playing I was really liking what it had to offer. It does need a few updates for the sporadic control issues and to fix up some strange glitches, but it’s extremely playable and fun. Don’t let the name prevent you from playing this very unique title.

If you can tolerate subpar visuals, you’re still getting a full-featured baseball game you can bring with you anywhere.

Overall Wulverblade came out of left field and was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. It cartoony art design is quite pleasing and the gameplay is solid. Though who would enjoy history will find a bevy of content after all the battles are done. This title will surely find it’s place in history.

Quest progression is fantastic, the presentation is top notch, and there's plenty of side stuff to distract you from the main game if you so choose.

So whether you have to pay the 560 points or use your freebie, you will be pleased either way, if for any reason to continue the insane story line along with the man called Alan Wake.

Active Soccer 2 DX obviously has its share of flaws, but it has plenty of good points, too. Even though it’s lacking in bells and whistles, it’s still a solid game — which, when you think about it, is more than can be said for any other soccer game on the Vita.

All the little things that game incorporates into combat, like the drop ship spawning, the customizable load outs, the base control with automated defenses, and the various modules, keep Section 8 from being a bland multiplayer shooter, and help it stand out against the pack of Halo's and Call of Duty's that currently populate the system.

More than starting out on the right foot, I think NBA Inside Drive runs away with rookie of the year and is among the top console basketball games available.

There is plenty in NHL 14 that will satisfy each and every fan out there, and in the end that should be the ultimate goal.

It's still not entirely perfect, but as far as ports go this comes really damn close.

Milo’s Quest is a pretty solid way to kill an hour (or, likely, less), and if you go in not expecting too much out of it, you’ll probably enjoy it.

The title uses several techniques to enhance gameplay, and for the most part, pulls it off with flying blood splats.

They definitely did put an interesting spin on the beat’em genre with things like the increasing length and difficulty depending on the order of selection, the crowd control system and the rogue-like elements. If you’re a connoisseur of the beat’em up genre, these boys are on the rise and they’re definitely worth a playthrough.

All the Simpsons references in the world would be a waste if the game play were trash. Just ask "Simpsons Skateboarding" on that one. Thankfully the game play is very tight, responsive, and easy to maneuver for rookies or vets.

Online play is a blast.

Awesome Pea 2 works just as intended — apart from that weird thing about saving progress — and it does so in a way that makes it genuinely enjoyable. There are certainly tonnes and tonnes of other retro-y platformers to choose from, but this one does enough right that you certainly couldn’t go wrong in playing it.

So while yes, these are three games that Mario fans around the globe will likely love, it’s also a little hard to wholeheartedly suggest rushing out to pick up this collection simply because it feels like a barebones kind of thing, especially for a franchise and anniversary milestone that deserves better. The ports are well done, the emulation feels spot on to me, and it’s fun to go back and revisit all three of these games. But I don’t think it’s unfair to expect a little more from Nintendo as the owner and caretaker of these historic titles, and would hope that we see big improvements on that front for future collections.

So if you've been disappointed in the past with previous versions of Wheel of Fortune, then your puzzle solving prayers have been answered as this is indeed the most faithful and accurate port from the TV show to video game ever. There is nothing that was left out, and if the promise of providing more puzzles with downloadable content comes to fruition, then not only is this title worth the $29 price tag (or even less), but could easily be a steal to diehard fans of the game show that gamers of all ages can enjoy.

An encouraging sign that good Sonic games can still be made. I had a tremendous time exploring the different stages and the skill points add a bit of depth to an otherwise straightforward game.

I have to give Astral Chain a lot of respect. It’s a concept, a theme, and a design philosophy that feel a little dated–but are delivered really well. A rare breed, and one that’s welcome.

Outside of the server issues, I’ve certainly enjoyed my time spent with Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville. It’s a solid follow-up to a unique shooter series that I don’t think gets enough attention, and if you haven’t given this series a shot yet, this would certainly be a good jumping on point. It’s a nice alternative to the more serious multiplayer shooters out there and even serves up a solid alternative to more like-minded games like Overwatch. You may want to give it a little time to iron out some flaws here and there, but definitely check it out when you get a chance.

Sure, it is more of a great game, but for only a couple of hours maximum of game play it hardly seems an appropriate price point.

Jeopardy! is definitely the egghead's game show, but there is a reason it's been around longer than me. It's not only fun, but you just might learn something. Just like Wheel of Fortune by the same dynamic duo released at the same time, Jeopardy is easily the most faithful and accurate recreation of the popular game show over to don a console. If you are a fan of game shows and especially Jeopardy, this game's under $30 price tag is as simple as "What is a Steal?"

Urban Chaos brings together some solid gameplay that integrates the gimmick as well as can be done. Over that lies a layer of old school sensibilities and a feeling that'll have you jamming to Team America's infamous "America, **** Yeah.” Put all of that together, and you’ve got a killer game.

Age of Booty gets huge points for common sense multi-player options and for being an entertaining, polished strategy game that's perfect for a quick or medium length game fix for small groups.

If you haven’t checked the Mighty Switch Force games out yet then the Mighty Switch Force! Collection is a great way to do it. But if you already have access to them then it’s nothing to go out of your way for as it is just a collection. The fun factor is still here though so they’re still a good time even today.

The positives in Shantae: Half-Genie Hero ultimately more than outweigh the negatives. Again, you'll probably like the game much more if you're going in as a Shantae fan to begin with, but this game is enjoyably pleasant enough that that's by no means a prerequisite.

The only problem I see with BloodRayne: Betrayal is that it will alienate fans of the 3rd Person 3D games that the franchise was built on.

To enjoy Space Hulk, though, you have to be willing to sit through all kinds of wait times. That's pretty much non-negotiable. Personally, I think the waiting nearly — but doesn't totally — negate all the good things the game does, but your own experiences will be dictated largely by your level of patience.

It wasn't the visuals that impressed me the most; it was the design of the audio. On paper, the audio might scare someone away as it only has one basic tune through the entire game. Yet that one tune never becomes tiresome.

The incredibly fun combat system and the sheer amount of customization options make this final entry in the trilogy well worth seeking out. If you’re coming into this with the hopes of seeing the story turn itself around then you’re going to leave disappointed. But if you enjoyed the refinements made in Final Fantasy XIII-2, then I think you’ll find a lot to love about Lightning Returns.

It might just be the best of the current batch of Lovecraftian games. While a lot of them have visual horrors, few of them are scary. By contrast, Omen Exitio: Plague only has a few sketched drawings here and there, but it captures the creepiness of its influence spine-tinglingly well.

Still, it’s hard to deny that Disney Magical World has a remarkably addictive quality to it. This is clearly a title aimed at a younger crowd, but I think there’s a fair amount here that adults can enjoy as well.

For an expansion pack, there is plenty to do and see and it adds a completely new level of variety to your Sims' already busy life.

What it all boils down to now, as far as I'm concerned, is performance — how efficiently does the game allow me to dispatch those untold number of Warriors? And on that score, Samurai Warriors 4-II simply delivers.

No, this is a game that's perfect for the Vita. The controls align exactly with the its strengths as a handheld, while its content is tailor-made for quick sessions here and there. To make it even more appealing, the game looks beautiful, its bright colours and cute designs really popping on the Vita's OLED screen. Add it all up, and you've got yourself a nice little time-waster.

Hand of Fate is a great example of how seemingly hidebound genres can be shaken up and made to appeal to people who might not otherwise give them a second look.

Roundguard will feel awfully familiar to anyone who’s ever played Peggle (which should be everyone, because it’s an amazing game). Everything from the way your hero bounces all over the place, to the layouts of the pegs, even to the way the game slows down and zooms in as you near your final obstacle in each level — all of these things feel straight out of Peggle. Seeing as we’re eight years out from the last proper Peggle game, though, that’s not a bad thing. It’s a great formula, and if EA aren’t doing anything with it, it’s nice to see Roundguard pick it up and give it a whole new coat of paint. It may not be the most original game, but it sure is a lot of fun.

Red Faction II does an excellent job combining the crucial elements of a first person shooter, but if you don't look at the box cover you could reasonably get this game confused with almost any other FPS in a modern setting.

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.

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!

After the Fall plays great on the PS5, I have no complaints about the performance or visuals at all. It is thoroughly engaging, addicting, and a blast to play from start to finish. And “finish” isn’t even the right word, as the horde mode and additional difficulties available make this a game you could potentially stick with forever. With an incredibly strong line-up of launch titles on the PS VR2, After the Fall earns itself a spot in your library.

Traditionally tabletop games are getting more and more attention on screens, and Blood Bowl is one that benefits from the evolution.

If Jedi Outcast was on Xbox Live it would be among the best games of the year.

It's easy to pick up and play, but there's enough depth and customization here to make this the only alternative to the more simulation-based hockey games available.

If you like Left 4 Dead, heist movies, or multiplayer, you should be checking out Payday. The potential will be instantly obvious to you and it's well worth the $20 for the amount of replayability the game has.

It's not a must-own game, but it is a very, very good one, and you could do far, far worse than it if you're looking for something fun and inexpensive to pass the time between those must-owns.

Sometimes more of the same is better than nothing, but PJS2's core gameplay will need some serious experimentation if the series is to continue any further; because as awesome as manipulating the geology and chemistry of your environments was in the beginning, it doesn't take long for it to run its course without feeling a little thin in the end...For now though, it's just right.