Unmechanical: Extended won't blow too many people away, but I don't think anyone can doubt its heart is in the right place.

I recognize, of course, that criticizing a game that sells itself as a tough as nails platformer for being too tough as nails is the very definition of missing the point. La-Mulana EX never pretends to be anything other than that, so whatever dislike I have for the game comes down entirely to my own gaming failings, not any failure on the part of the game itself.

It’s a clear improvement over a game that was already pretty damn good, and it offers up enough in the way of changes and additional modes to make it worth a second, third, or even fourth playthrough. I certainly enjoyed running through both the story and DLC content again, and I think you will too.

I will add here that if the game has one drawback, it's that you can't share your created tracks with other users. It feels like that's a wasted opportunity, and I say that as someone who generally doesn't care for user-generated content. It's a sign of how awesome this game is that I just want more of it.

It's not quite as great as Patapon was, but in the absence of such a game ever coming to the Vita, it's a perfectly acceptable substitute.

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.

That said, being more dynamic and more visually appealing is no small thing; whereas I wouldn't recommend anyone play Crimsonland, I'd say that if you have a deep desire to shoot some bugs, you could do a lot worse than Helldivers.

All in all, I can’t deny that Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a great game.

To be sure, I think it's neat that Q*Bert's developers decided to bring the classic game to a generation who've probably never seen it outside of being a side character in Wreck-It Ralph a few years ago. And I'm grateful that they didn't try and give it some insane makeover, a la Bomberman. But they also didn't demonstrate why the game had to be reborn — sorry, "Rebooted" — for the modern era, when everything about it makes it clear it probably should've stayed in the past.

As a moderate fan of the anime, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed XenoVerse, and I suspect you will be too, provided you have any affinity for the source material.

While issues certainly exist, for the most part it's a matter of just adapting to a different style of play, not overcoming insurmountable design flaws. If this were a lesser game, to be sure, adapting might not be worth it, but when the upside is getting to play one of the best games ever, it's a sacrifice I'm more than willing to make.

The production value on the voice acting, during missions and briefings are fantastic, and the game looks beautiful both during missions and during briefings. The story, with the threat of “the silent ones” hanging over all three races, is engaging.

Even with the development delay and push into 2015, The Order: 1886 isn't exactly the action-packed, cinematic masterpiece we were hoping for. On the bright side, it's a mostly enjoyable ride while it lasts and is most certainly one of the best looking console games released thus far, so it’s worth a playthrough during the winter game release lull.

The visuals by themselves are enough to make htoL#NiQ seem like a game worth investigating, but in the end, that's really all the game has to offer.

There will be (or already is) an upgrade version for DOA 5 Ultimate for the last gen consoles so if you still have your copy of that, then there is really no need to upgrade. But if you skipped playing Ultimate, or just have never experienced a DOA game before, then you owe it to yourself to add this to your library.

So unless you’re an absolute, die-hard, must own every Ace Combat release ever type of fan, then I’d highly suggest skipping this cash grab.

Obviously, being the best in a field of two isn't exactly a momentous achievement, so that label is a little hollow, but at the same time, Reel Fishing is a good enough game that it would probably deserve the title even against much stiffer competition.

In other words, Minutes is exactly the kind of game that should work on the Vita — the sort of thing you squeeze in between classes and during short commutes. But it just doesn't work that way.

If you're desperate for a little hack & slash action on your Vita, I guess you might want to think about Aeternoblade, but otherwise, you can safely miss it.

Still, despite my issues with the hunter role outside of battle, I can’t deny I’ve had some fun with Evolve. It’s certainly a memorable experience, more so with a group of friends working together, but still enjoyable with random online players in tow.

It may look like all the others that have come before it, but play it for any length of time and you'll quickly find that it's anything but.

Addictive, fun, and remarkably exciting.

Now, I know that some people have criticisms of this game: that it's too silly, or that it's too easy with those superpowers (to say nothing of all the upgrades you can make to your character). But you know what? I don't care. Regardless of what any sticks in the mud may say, as far as I'm concerned Saints Row IV: Re-Elected is just plain awesome in every respect.

All in all, Dying Light is a lot of fun, thanks entirely to the way it handles movement and city exploration.

Nihilumbra is proof positive that a game can be short and still be indispensable, and if you like platformers, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

When the rest of the game is basically just your standard dungeon crawler…well, it gets judged as a standard dungeon-crawler, and loses one or two marks for being kind of icky.

With the majority of the cast now established, we’re given more time to see their individual plot threads unravel, and the stakes continue to rise across all locations.

If you have yet to play Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, I’d urge you to check out the iOS version of the game. It’s not quite worth the jump if you already own it on DS, but it’s a cheaper alternative here than picking up a used physical copy of the game second-hand nowadays.

By any reasonable measure, it's a little (okay, a lot) lacking. A limited number of words, in a limited number of game modes, and not-so-great controls: that's about as incomplete a package as you could ever find.

It may be harder to appreciate now than it was when it first came out a couple of years ago, but that doesn't mean it's anything less than outstanding.

Essentially, then, what you're left with is a grind-heavy game with forgettable characters and even worse writing.

It's faithful, it's intelligent, and most of all, a well-designed trilogy that respectfully stands the test of time from when it premiered.

While Zen Studios' ambition may be misplaced in what CastleStorm is, it's a welcome quality in delivering this "complete" version of their original game.

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.

At its core, Rock Boshers DX is a retro-inspired twin-stick shooter, as I said. But it's also a lot more than that, and it's worth giving it a chance to find out.

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.

Clearly, that'll be cold comfort for anyone hoping for Diablo-lite on the Vita; as I said before, it's not that. But Pocket RPG is fun enough on its own merits rather than being disappointed by what it isn't, it's worth enjoying it simply taking the time and appreciating it for what it is.

Despite some of these issues, I still found Citizens of Earth to be largely enjoyable, and it does a solid job of capturing that 16-bit RPG feel the developers were clearly going for.

Gat Out Of Hell is a buggy, glitchy mess, and there's no getting around the fact it could — and probably should — be way better than it is.

A really great port of an already excellent remake.

However fun Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee HD may be to play — and again, it is quite good on that front — it's a lot less enjoyable to look at.

Still, it managed to come over to the Vita without losing anything that makes it special, and consequently it's a definite must-play.

If this game had been free to play, I probably would have dismissed many things and given it a higher score, but at $8.99, this is one you can definitely skip.

Chariot is one of those games that smartly starts out fairly easy, but continues to layer in new play mechanics and before you know it you’re swinging the chariot across the level like you’re Indiana Jones with his whip.

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.

Boss! tries its best, but unless you dressing up monsters in seasonally-appropriate attire is your thing, you'll probably find it to be a little lacking.

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

It's not going to evoke strong feelings in you, and it generally seems to exist just so other games can seem way, way better and way, way worse.

Storm Island provides added value for an existing game, filling out the edges of Forza Horizon 2 with lots of new content to explore both online and off, giving an ample number of reasons to jump back in with a game that’s likely been set aside for other titles released between September and now.

This just feels like the developers came up with a rough outline for for a concept for a game that they could play with their young children, and then called it a day. Unless you have a thing for wasting a lot of time and not having much to show for it, you'll just want to stay far, far away.

Tennis in the Face may not push the PS4 to its limits (I doubt the eventual Vita version will even do that either), but it's still a lot more enjoyable than any number of other more complex games — and quite frankly, I'll take enjoyable over complex any day of the week.

What we're left with is an idea that sounds silly, with a title that sounds silly, and a game that we'd be silly to give any more thought to.

Retro City Rampage DX knows which side of that divide it falls on, it never pretends to be more than that, and it's got enough non-stop action that it's able to pull that off with ease.

The Monopoly Family Fun Pack shows what happens, apparently, when you mess with success — and really, it's not pretty.

Because really, Super Mega Baseball is the sort of fun, easy to pick up diversion that video game baseball was at the very beginning of its lifespan — and if it's as great as it is here, there's every reason to believe it can still fulfill that function.

Tales of Hearts R works as a standalone game, and it doesn't ask that you immerse yourself in the Tales universe just to play.

Ultimately, though, it's the glitchiness that drops Never Alone from being a must-have game down to simply being a pretty cool achievement. The ideas are definitely there, and consequently I can't wait to see what Upper One does next, but right now, I can't honestly recommend Never Alone unreservedly.

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.

Firaxis' ambition may be great, but their inspiration seems to be left behind on our home planet. We've gone maybe out to Mars in this one, and it's a shame that Civilization's foray into the future is one that reminds us only of how inspired things were in the past. I'd love to see something more inventive in a full release, but maybe that will appear in a less fiscally-demanding expansion at some point.

And if you were hoping that Watch Dogs on the Wii U had resolved the game's fundamental problems, again, you'll be disappointed. If, however, you haven't played it yet, and you want to experience the game without sky-high expectations and a ridiculous amount of ad-driven hype, then now might be the time to dip your toe in the water.

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.

Yeah, you’ll still have to wade through that sluggish Roxas opening of Kingdom Hearts II, but past that point you’ll have a very enjoyable, and visually stunning, reunion with Sora, Goofy, Donald, Terra, Aqua and Ventus. So I’d certainly urge all of you Kingdom Hearts fans to pick this up, as it does HD justice to two beloved games in the Kingdom Hearts franchise.

I don't think that simply having good controls and an adorable premise is enough to make Aqua Kitty: Milk Mine Defender DX essential, though. Worth picking up for a few minutes here and there, sure, but if you're hoping for anything more than that, you'd better look elsewhere.

So seriously, when I claimed that Far Cry 4 is Ubisoft’s best release this year, I wasn't kidding. At times it can feel a little like Far Cry 3 in a new region with a different main character, and the co-op isn't as seamless as expected, but the journey is certainly an enjoyable one that is very much worth taking.

In a way, I guess, they're kind of a stand-in for Freedom Wars as a whole. They — like the game — may look nice, and they may be part of a story that's surprisingly engaging. But the moment they — or the game, for that matter — actually have to do anything, it all falls apart.

I feel kind of icky even suggesting it's not terrible, and I'd be completely mortified to play it in public…but deep down, beneath the stupid, juvenile exterior, there's secretly a game that's kind of worth checking out. But don't tell anyone I said that.

As I said at the beginning of this review, I've never been able to get into pinball, but Rollers of the Realm had me hooked. There's just something about replacing questing after a high score with a literal medieval quest that drew me in and kept me there…at least until the glitches became too much to overlook.

It might be hard to tear yourself away from Smash Bros., but Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker makes for an excellent holiday diversion.

Overall, I think that Tales from the Borderlands feels different enough from Telltale’s previous efforts to be a worthwhile experience, regardless of whether you’re a Borderlands fan or not. I’m hoping that the humor clicks a bit more in later episodes, but I’m certainly on board for whatever this season brings.

If you're not a fan of hidden object games, then I can't imagine that plot-driven hidden object puzzles are going to be what suddenly wins you over. If, however, the words "plot-driven hidden object puzzles" sends a shiver of anticipation up and down your spine, then yes, you'll want to download this yesterday.

I certainly enjoyed my time spent with LEGO Batman 3, and if you’ve enjoyed previous entries in the series, I see no reason why you wouldn’t find this one just as enjoyable.

It’s a good first try, but not the completely unbelievable release we all hoped for.

The single player GTAV experience is so fulfilling that I didn’t expect to ever really get involved much with GTA Online. It didn’t take much to suck me in though, and it can be an addictive and fun time waster depending on who you roll with. I’ve spent a fair share of time online, and although it’s been slightly shaky here and there, nearly everything that Rockstar Games has promised is more or less working.

NBA Live may still not be the best virtual game of basketball out there, but it is certainly worth a look if you are hoping to change up your game, as it looks great, has tons of modes, and is fun to play to boot.

Despite its small annoyances, Secret of the Nameless Kingdom is a blast to play, for gamers and fans of the TV series alike. It never gets boring, but also doesn’t get too difficult.

This is easily the most robust, addicting, and fun Smash Bros. experience yet, and if you have any love for Nintendo’s iconic characters, I’d urge you to pick up Super Smash Bros. on Wii U come November 21st.

But that repetition! No matter how innovative or charming a game may be, it still has to do something to mix things up a little, and Ring Run Circus just doesn't. It puts all its cards on the table right off the bat, and while that may make for a fun experience at first, it doesn't take too long for that to wear out its welcome.

All in all, I really enjoyed Assassin’s Creed Rogue, and think it’s well-worth checking out despite being the old-hardware release for the series this year. It’s a far better experience than Unity overall, provided you enjoyed Black Flag like I did.

LittleBigPlanet 3 is still a charming platformer and creative sandbox at heart, yet without the full attention of Media Molecule, it feels like it sorta lost its soul.

Much like like Pong, or Pac-Man, or Tetris, DDMR only really does one thing, but it does that one thing extraordinarily well. I mean, Don't Die, Mr. Robot is nowhere near as essential as those games…but at the same time, it's at least addictive enough that you can mention it in a not-too-distant proximity to them and not have it sound like the craziest thing ever.

All of which is to say: I may not have enjoyed MotoGP 14 all that much, but I'd still recommend it to racing fans who know what they're doing. You'll probably need a high tolerance for failure, but if you can get over that, you'll find more than enough here to occupy your time.

I found it to be a jack-of-all-trades, but a master of none. Because of this, you’re left having your attention continually and equally divided, forcing you to pour in tons of hours just to start feeling invested in the world.

It’s nice to see the series turn itself around a bit after the lackluster release of Ghosts, and if we’re going to continue to see yearly releases for this series, then hopefully more will turn out to be as fun as Advanced Warfare.

Of course, they probably don't want words like "charming" or "lovely" thrown around when describing a game that is, ultimately, supposed to be horror-ish, albeit in the absolute loosest sense of that term. But I don't care: I've fallen for Poltergeist: A Pixelated Horror hard, and I'm not afraid to say that it's charmed the pants off me. Give it a chance, and I have no doubt it will do the same for you.

Hopefully, for those that bought Halo: TMCC a permanent fix comes along sooner than later, or you can get some enjoyment out of the single-player experience for the time being. But it’s certainly not fair to wait for the product your purchased to work, and because of that, I want to be sure that my review score for this retail product reflects that.

I’d love for every iteration of Assassin’s Creed to be great, as I genuinely enjoy the series. Assassin’s Creed 2, Brotherhood, Black Flag…these are all fantastic games to me. But Unity doesn’t compare favorably at all to the better entries we’ve already seen.

It looks nice enough, I suppose, but not to the point where I'd say you must own it just because of the graphics. If you're looking for something that will help you pass the time in a bland, mostly inoffensive way, then this is the game for you, I guess, but otherwise, don't bother.

For now, Costume Quest does exactly what it needs to, giving us more of the same while letting us relive the spirit of Halloween and trick-or-treating.

It won't be the most essential purchase you ever make, but it will still be worthwhile.

Overall, it’s hard to find any issues that can’t be overcome when it comes to calling NBA2K15 a complete package.

For what it is, however, it's a pretty solid game, and for anyone wanting a genuinely strong Warriors/musou game on the go, Samurai Warriors 4 is definitely it.

Obviously, it's not the most complex game. But quite frankly, it doesn't need to be. Race The Sun is — and only wants to be — a simple, addictive game for you to pick up and play, and it's not hard to imagine that anyone who does pick it up will just end up playing and playing and playing it.

It's not going to win many awards for gameplay, but it should be cute enough to keep a smile on your face, and for that reason, platforming fans should definitely give it a whirl.

It's just too bad that the challenge will be so short unless you can find someone else to play with. Get that, and I imagine you could have matches that take forever, but in the best possible sense of that phrase. Even without it, however, Nidhogg still has more than its fair share of charms, and it's the kind of thing worth picking up if you're in the mood for something unlike anything else out there.

I certainly found Shadow Warrior to be a really fun throwback to not only the original game, but ‘90’s FPS titles in general.

It's never unfair, though, and that's what makes Stealth Inc. 2 so amazingly addictive.

Consider it only if you've got a captive audience, no internet connection, and some time to kill with friends — and, above all else, don't expect too much.

I for one found Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved to be a very enjoyable experience and one that I will certainly pick up from time to time even after the magic has worn off.