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.

I may be overcompensating the other way a little too hard when I say that it seems like a perfect fit for anyone who likes their games to be challenging. At the same time, tough, given what I saw between very frequent deaths, I’m pretty sure it’ll be a great match for anyone who doesn’t mind dying a bunch.

A weak story and uninteresting side-quests and characters keep The Surge 2 from reaching true greatness beyond the original, but it is clear that the developers ARE learning and improving. Although it may not be a better game overall, the combat improvements go to show just how good a future title could be.

Maybe the most impressive thing about Clutchtime, though, is that you don’t need to be a basketball fan to enjoy the game. I’m sure that would help, but really, as long as you like deckbuilders, you should definitely give this one a chance to see how broad and varied the genre can be.

A solid game that unfortunately doesn't quite live up its PC counterpart.

It’s just shy of being the full package but it’s also exactly the shot in the arm this series needed and couldn’t have come at a better time than being on the Switch. I mean what’s more fitting for a console with built-in local multiplayer than “the” party game? Okay maybe Smash Bros, but that’s more apples and oranges. So if you’ve been waiting for Super Mario Party then it looks good to jump in, the water’s fine!

In the case of Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, it seems the real consequence of joining the franchises is that it makes for a game based on brevity and ingenuity — both of which seem to depend on the collaborative aspect of keeping the best and dispatching the rest.

The game has crossover appeal between PA fans and RPG fans, but the most accurate litmus test will be to see if you like their humor in the first place.

It's the kind of sequel that gamers look for, just as if you were to see a great horror film and then anxiously await the next installment to get all the answers.

The only thing that could be improved on for the sequel would be more songs and even more variety.

MLB 12: The Show on the Vita does a pretty good job getting the nuances right, but fails to deliver on the fluff that gamers have a chance to see on the PS3 version.

Overall, despite the lack of subtitles and some underwhelming uses for the TMD on the puzzle side of things, I still found myself really enjoying Singularity's campaign.

Running at about six hours, this game is a lot of fun with a decent story and some great action packed fights. If you haven't played either, I would recommend playing this first, then picking up last years release.

It does have a couple issues, sure, but overall I think it's worth checking out. Also, the online leaderboard function works great, and the game offers up plenty of chances to challenge yourself via speed runs if you're looking to compete against your friends list.

The battle system is entertaining, and the emphasis on the Judgment Ring ensures that things never get too monotonous. But despite being filled with loads of quirky characters and scenarios, the overall plot doesn't come together like one would hope, and the frustrations of a high encounter rate and unclear design don’t help to rectify the situation.

At this point you should be playing SideScroller, because despite it walking a well-worn path down shmup lane, it's just as compelling as any of Q-Games' more experimental titles.

While I am somewhat underwhelmed with the final product, I do recommend the title to anyone who enjoyed the first - as it does help to further the storylines of the quirky cast of Capcom's courtroom challenge.

If anything, the game is a tech demo of sorts for what is possible in online gameplay. It delivers a fun experience and whether or not that's worth the price of admission now or until the game drops to $40 or $30 is up to how dedicated the person is.

Its instant pick-up-and-play nature and non-stop action make it a worthy addition to anyone's Xbox library. Just be prepared for a fight.

While this incarnation of Sing Star is just an expansion of sorts, it is called Vol. 2 after all, that doesn't take away from the fact that this is great addition to the already fantastic PlayStation 3 game that came out just a couple of months ago.

It's hard to fault a game for being mediocre, but Ever Oasis never reaches the potential for ideas it brings to the table. If you're looking for a game that doesn't ask much of you, then Ever Oasis might be just the right speed. I ended up playing it to wind down in the evenings because the gameplay became so routine. Otherwise, you may end up getting impatient and moving on to something else in no time quick.

I should emphasize, however, that while these flaws exist, they're really fairly minor. They certainly didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of Rocketbirds and, I suspect, they won't hurt anyone else's enjoyment of it either. You'll forget about them pretty quickly, and you'll be left with the memory of a smart, funny inventive game long after you're done.

The sound and gameplay both hold up and there’s something cool about playing this on a Nintendo console after all the history shared between them and Sony. It’s also the same port we’ve seen with options to speed up the time spent in battles. So if it’s the first time you’re experiencing the game then you’re in for a treat and I’m glad to see it on the Switch, but at a current price just over $20 for those with other options you may want to wait for a sale.

With great visuals and gameplay, enjoyable multi-player modes, and the always fun to watch player reactions, Beach Spikers is worth at least a rental.

It’s definitely an improvement over its predecessor, but some annoying design decisions mean that it’s still not as good as it could be.

My final thoughts on my overall experience with Dying Light 2: Stay Human remains positive. Seeing some coverage come out and be turned off by the bugs and issues that were pre-release was expected, but disappointing since I had faith that Techland would stay true to the fans and make sure the experience is covered top to bottom with prime support for the players and community. I commend the entire development team including Lead Designer Tymon Smektala for being engaged with the community leading to the release and listening to what they all have to say. It shows in the final release and look forward to spending even more hours in Villedor for years to come.

Even if you don’t know who these players are, don’t follow college sports, but you do want a great baseball experience, MVP 06 NCAA Baseball fills the void, at least until the big boys start the new season. At only 30 bucks, you would be a fool to pass this up.

Even if you're not a huge racing fan by any means (I'm not either), you'll still get a kick out of the core game mechanic of this title. It's all about having fun, and Fury Pro offers a whole lot of that.

It’s one of those games that looked back and took notes from history’s best, simplified that, and sped up the pacing just a bit to keep players interested each time they turn it on.

Given the art design alone, The Pitt is an interesting addition to the Fallout 3 universe. Outside of that, it's half-baked and feels more like a leaked alpha than an actual retail game. Hopefully the third DLC, Broken Steel, is delivered with a little more care.

Like I said, the addictive quality of Hot Shots Golf is here in full force. It's a perfect game for travelling because you can knock out a 9-hole challenge in no time, and there's always new items in the shop that drives you play just one more round. Absolutely a great Hot Shots game, and absolutely a great game to pick up with your PS Vita.

So there you have it console gamers, a fully fledged Sims title without the dreadful feeling of missing something or not getting what the PC gamers have gotten.

Perhaps the nicest aspect of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is that it appeals to both those that played the first and those that've never heard of it.

It is very hard to stand out in this much crowded racing genre, but Need For Speed Unbound pulls it off. The title is easily the best entry in years and sets a foundation that can easily be built upon. After many years of having an identity crisis, I can see the game evolving from here. With a consistent 4K resolution and 60fps framerate NFS Unbound showcases what could be the future of the series.

Even if you're a bit burnt out on zombie related games at this point, at least BZB doesn't take itself all that seriously, and it's something that can be played and enjoyed in short bursts, which is exactly what I like to see out of these digital titles.

For gamers who just want to shoot, slam, and take it to guys in the paint, this game will more than meet your expectations. If you are looking for a game filled with strategy and intense pressure, you may want to get your hoops action elsewhere.

If you go into Heading Out expecting a driving game, you’re probably going to be sorely disappointed. It’s something entirely different from that – and, improbably (given the different genres being thrown together), it works incredibly well.

Obviously, the big draw in Kitsune Tails isn’t meant to be the gameplay – you don’t make the focus of your game a lesbian love triangle between two mythical creatures and a sorceress if you aren’t hoping to draw in fans who want a meaty narrative at the core of their games. But while that may be fine for a visual novel, if you’re trying to sell a 2D platformer you need good gameplay too. And even if Kitsune Tails borrows liberally from one of the best of those ever made, it doesn’t come anywhere close to living up to its inspiration.

Overall Far Cry Primal successfully uses the Far Cry 4 engine to create something new that is refreshing and original.

The game looks the part, is fun to play, extremely challenging, and offers a ton of bang for you buck.

If you are fan of Alan's painful journey, you've probably already downloaded this gem and know the greatness that continues to please fans again and again. If you have never played this title, I urge you to play the original to understand the story mode as this game does little to explain the past and expects you to already know the events that have happened.

It has all the charm and addictive qualities of its Sega-based brethren, with better graphics and more features, to boot.

There are plenty of objectives to complete and items to unlock, but ultimately the action can get a little repetitive and stale.

The real-time chat feature practically makes the game. There’s room for much more depth, but AFO is a great pick-up and play shooter, or 7-day rental.

Ultimately, if you played Days Gone and it didn’t click with you before, it probably won’t now. Like I said, it is not a perfect game. The story is not very deep, side characters can be a joke at times, the game tends to meander on its way to the real plot points, etc. None of this is changed with the PC release, but the performance is leaps and bounds beyond what it was on the PS4. If you never had a chance to play it back in 2019, or just skipped out on it for whatever reason, the PC version is the absolute best way to play Days Gone.

While I think Shattered Dimensions looks great (it really does), the substance found here is lacking. Combat is a little bland and repetitive, and stage design doesn't really allow for so much web slinging as it does web-zipping, by having edges or platforms that you can shoot across instead of literally swinging through a city, town or open area.

Wrestling games past and present have suffered from the same basic flaw: lack of depth. We gamers are a sophisticated bunch when it comes to our melee. We can handle it. Imagine us not as stupid cavemen wielding funny looking colorful misshapen clubs (read: controllers).

Anyone wanting a semi-RPG, semi-hack and slash, semi-historical epic, semi-action adventure game will probably find something to enjoy here. I was just never able to find that spark within Rise of the Ronin, and am glad that I am finished with it now.

Basically, if you loved DuckTales as a kid, whether it was the NES game or the T.V. show, or both, you should definitely pick this up. And if you never got into the show or game, but have some affinity for retro games, you should still pick this up.

In fact, nothing about Pikuniku bothers me. It’s a happy, fun little game that needs to be enjoyed by everyone who owns a Switch, and the world is a better place with games like this in it.

The main campaign is short on the standard difficulty, but it can become a frustrating experience on the Ultra mode unless you've got a buddy to help you out.

The game is sound on the technical side, and if you were still a big fan of the stuff, then I'd say Band Hero would be right up your alley once again. However, if you're feeling more than a little burned out at this point, and hoping for something particularly awesome from this release, prepare to be disappointed.

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.

The difficulty is perfect for the younger crowd, but late teens on up won't find much more than a 6-hour romp here.

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.

A mixed bag. It’s fun to revisit one of the first “looter shooters” for consoles again, and the mix of run, gun, and loot still holds up well despite its age. But this is hardly a perfect port/remaster of that game, and because of that, it’s difficult to really suggest picking it up.

It's one of those games that will get old fast when played alone, but with a bunch of friends will stand the test of time.

At the end of the day, Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare delivers on all its promises: it’s loony, hugely accessible, and has plants and zombies locked in warfare.

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

It's not going to be for everyone, the punishing difficulty you'll encounter by just hopping into Arcade mode can certainly be off-putting, but if you end up spending time with the Rising mode, you'll definitely find a lot to love.

The same goes for Heroes of Loot as a whole: it's very simple, but it works incredibly well. Bring on more twin-stick dungeon crawlers!

It's not often that a game will embrace its own ludicrousness and just be totally and completely ridiculous, but One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 does just that. These results are proof that it's not a bad approach for a game to take.

When the smoke clears, whether or not diving into the world of FIFA Street is for you will most likely already be known. It depends not only on your love of soccer, but also of this street style of game play that adds a bit of flare to the sport thanks to its bigger frills, smaller pitch, and aggressive scoring attitude. If you loved this series before, expect tighter controls, better combinations, cooler skill move sets and shots, and improved visuals overall.

So if you’ve always been put off by the micromanagement inherent in most RPG’s, Bard’s Tale may be just your ticket. If those aspects are part of what draws you in, the game will feel very shallow.

The combat, while competent, is hardly the selling point of the game. The mechanics in place here aren't the thing that causes Crimson Shroud to really stand out, despite its unique use of tabletop RPG elements that are rarely seen on the surface level of most video games. It's really the superb presentation, writing, and music that will sell you on Crimson Shroud, and make it one of the best E-Shop titles available on the 3DS.

As it stands, my early hours in Wild Hearts have definitely been enjoyable. Performance had some hiccups prior to the day one patch, which seem to have smoothed out a bit on Xbox Series X, so that’s off to a good start at least. Also, while my online play was limited prior to launch, the handful of team-ups I did have went smoothly, and the online multiplayer functionality here is pretty easy to understand, so barring any network issues I think it’ll work pretty well at launch. For the time being I’m calling this a review in progress primarily because I’ve not approached the end game content yet, which if you’ve any experience with Monster Hunter styled games like Wild Hearts, you’ll realize that can be a pretty major component. So for now I’ll hold off on giving this a proper score, but will say that everything I’ve played so far has been immensely promising.

Overall, Lemmings for the PSP is it still one of the best puzzlers of the sort around, and will keep even Lemmings fans busy for quite a while.

Project 8 hit at a time when I was really craving some Tony Hawk gameplay, and it felt a little more fresh to me. Still a good game, no matter how you slice it.

To say I was surprised how well NHL Slapshot turned out is an understatement. I was really just expecting a Wii version of the NHL Arcade game released on the XBLA and PSN last year, but to see that EA put a lot of love and care into this game and made it a game all on its own, without feeling like a dumbed down version of the 360 and PS3 games was very welcome indeed.

Overall if you’re looking for more Spider-Man, The Heist is a great beginning to the DLC storyline that will continue over the next two months. It’s critical that you know that you are playing DLC one of three when you play The Heist because it leaves you with a bit of a cliffhanger and it’s not a self contained story, as some might have expected. With the arrival of Red Dead Redemption 2, it’s going to be tough to escape the old west to finish out this story, but Spidey’s latest leaves you wondering where they will go next and what trouble New York is in for.

It surprised me by its visual quality, and how much fun I had with the combat.

They're fun, they play well, and they still feel like they're worth playing a decade after the fact. Throw in the whole on-the-go aspect you get with the Vita, and it makes it easy to recommend picking this up.

A surreal Viking-inspired experience that turns itself into is a somewhat simple hack 'n slash action game, but a very, very fun one, at that.

Control difficulties with multiple opponents may be too much for some to overlook.

Visually appealing and highly addictive

It badly needed some revamping, and that's exactly what has been successfully done here, without losing the magic that made Blitz what it was...it's the best extreme football game available today.

The PS2 port is an excellent adaptation of a classic fighter.

EndWar may not be the best RTS on the market, but it certainly breathes new life into the genre on consoles.

A reasonably deep and engaging experience that will please both advocates of "Diablo"-style hack-and-slash as well as fans of the anime series. There's a lot of solid gameplay lurking below the lustreless exterior.

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.

In other words, it’s a cross between Robo-Cop and Hotline Miami, thrown over whatever twin-stick shooter floats your boat. It doesn’t do much for me, and I suspect that, in years to come, if I ever try to recall Jydge I’ll have a hard time differentiating it from Neon Chrome, but if you just want a solid twin-stick shooter, it’ll do.

It’s still a great game – probably the best Mario Party game ever – and you’ll have a blast with the core game whether you’re playing it on Switch 1 or Switch 2, but the $20 upgrade pack that is Jamboree TV is nowhere near as essential.

Because Hero-U feels so heavily indebted to a particular moment in gaming history, it’s really hard to fully enjoy the game unless you lived in that particular moment (or, I guess, if you somehow developed an appreciation for the genre in the ensuing decades). If the idea of a point-and-click adventure that’s heavy on the puns and on the clicking sounds like heaven to you, then you’ll be in luck with Hero-U, but otherwise, you’ll probably want to skip this one.

At the very least, you have to rent this one just to experience the 50's B-movie hilarity.

The team at Eidos have one-upped themselves and made a sequel that outshines it’s already very good predecessor in every way. From the visuals to the immersive game play, to the addictive online modes, Battlestations: Pacific is another way to experience the overused WWII storyline, while still feeling fresh and exciting.

It doesn't advance the stealth genre in too many areas other than the aforementioned headset idea, but what's assembled here is such a strong core of atmosphere, gameplay, and overall tension that the game as a whole doesn't suffer as much for its linearity as it probably should.

Mega Man ZX features some amazing production values, great game design, and even some inventive and sensible usage of the dual screen format. Outside of the somewhat confusing world map, I just can’t think of a single complaint about the game—it’s solid on every front, excelling in a few key places.

Mortal Shell is a true love letter to Dark Souls and feels like a distilled version of the From Software masterpiece. Unique mechanics serve to separate it a bit and enhance the experience, but there is nothing here that will sell a person that just downright dislikes Souls games. Available for a modest $30, though, I strongly recommend it to any Souls fans or anyone who has ever been interested but hesitant to pull the trigger.

All together I found the first entry to be really enjoyable, and I look forward to checking out more of the episodes as they release on XBLA.

Needless to say, I really, really enjoyed Hyrule Warriors. As a fan of musou-style games, and as a lifelong Zelda fan, there’s a lot to love here.

Overall, I’d say The Crew Motorfest is a big step up from the prior games in the series, and gives some hope for additional variety in open world racers in the future. Granted, it sticks pretty close to the same formula that Forza Horizon has, but there’s enough differences between the two to make this still feel like a worthwhile use of your time. It’s a gorgeous game in motion as well, which doesn’t hurt. As far as complaints go, mine are pretty minor, in that I don’t care for the limited fast travel system that’s only tied to the intro areas for each Playlist, and I wish the server didn’t time out as quickly as it does when you go idle. Outside of that, I’ve really dug Ubisoft’s latest attempt at an open-world racer, and I think you will too.

It stays true to its original self, and even if the end results of that are a little spotty, it's still a solid enough game for anyone in the mood for an old-school platformer.

If I’d paid full price for it on release day, I’d be wondering why I paid so much money for a game that feels closer to EDF or Goat Simulator than anything else. Obviously, I had fun with it, so I wouldn’t say never buy it or never play it — but you may be better off waiting it bit for it to come down in price. Then you hop in, and start crashing cars and causing mayhem to your heart’s content.

True to Paper Mario's great sense of humor, art, and constant series revision, it should be no surprise to longtime fans that they're in for a treat one way or another. Maybe they'd like a return to form, but for now, to anyone who skipped Sticker Star, Color Splash is worth the price of admission just to luxuriate in what has clearly been a labor of love for the Paper Mario series.

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.

Despite the many faults of Summoner 2, I can’t stop playing. Given the several other RPG options available this fall, however, checking out Summoner 2 might fall on taste alone.

Veterans can complete this in one sitting of 4-8 hours if so inclined. Even with all the monotonous backtracking and escort missions, the game is far too short. The downside is comparable to seeing a great horror flick that is only 80 minutes long.

There is a nasty bug which ensures that you will hear the same song, over and over again, until you're ready to kill someone.