Presumably the game goes easy on players so they can focus on the unfolding story (pun not originally intended). However, if you hate the story as much as I did, that’s not a good thing. Again, I’ll freely admit that if you don’t spend too much time thinking about any of this, A Fold Apart is a mildly charming puzzle-platformer. But beneath that brightly-coloured surface, there’s a pretty noxious message.

The other standout here is demake of 2007’s Pac-Man Championship Edition. It’s probably a little unfair to compare it to any of the other ten games on this compilation, seeing as its design has the benefit of 30+ years of hindsight, but it’s still an incredible take on an incredible game that feels alive in a way that none of the other games here do. Is it enough to singlehandedly make Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1 worth picking up? Probably not…but it’s good enough that I’d at least have to think about it before answering that question. At the very least, it justifies the collection’s existence, even if the rest will probably only appeal to you if you want another version of games that, mostly, have been available elsewhere for decades.

You can easily get by in this game with just sailing around, enjoying the wide open spaces and getting lulled into a meditative state, and every so often picking off an easy ship when you stumble across one. That may not be the point of the game, but it certainly made my experience a pretty good one. Does that mean I played King of Seas wrong? Probably. But I’ve always thought that one of the signs of a good game is that it allows you to play it your way — and there’s no denying King of Seas gives you freedom to do just that.

It’s about as relaxing as skateboarding games get, so if you just feel like losing yourself and forgetting your worries in a sun-bleached world, this is the place to do it.

If you haven’t picked up Madden in a few years, there’s nothing glaringly wrong with this year’s release and I would recommend it. On the other side of the coin, if you’re a diehard and you play every year and might even have the free next gen release from last season, I’d say this year is a safe skip and just download this season’s roster.

It definitely shows promise, and if it were to add in more objectives for solo players or game modes for multiplayer I could see it achieving that promise. At the moment, it’s definitely not there, but it may be worth keeping an eye on the game to watch how it evolves.

So basically, Lollipop Chainsaw is a game that's certainly worth your time and money. The overall game, on Normal, is pretty short, but there's a whole lot replay value packed into the experience that actually makes that short game time a lot more feasible than you might expect.

It was one of my favourite games of the generation back when it first came out on PS3, and after sinking many, many hours into this version, I suspect it’ll wind up being one of my favourite games of whatever generation the Switch falls into, too.

With a plethora of routines and motions to do, music to keep you engaged, and an easy and simple way to track your progress, I genuinely think that Fitness Boxing 3 is a great way to work on yourself and have a bunch of fun doing so. Game-ifying workouts is a surprisingly unique concept, and it’s good to see it’s done as well as it is here. If you’re seeking an entry into working out and improving your body, especially with a fun methodology, I don’t think there’s a better option.

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands proves that Ubisoft has taken what they have learned from all of their previous titles and used it to work for the future. There are noticeable aspects from Rainbow Six, The Division, Assassin's Creed and Far Cry all at work here without ever making Ghost Recon feel like a copy. What may be lacking in the single player elements of the game are made up for over and over again when playing with friends. If you are on the fence about getting this to join with your buddies, bite that bullet and grab this game up. If you don’t have an online connection or anybody to play with, maybe hold off and catch it when it goes on sale.

Overall Thief is an enjoyable experience that deserves to be played and explored if you are a fan of stealth games. Trying to figure out a creative way past the guards can be very fun and satisfying, and replaying missions to find all of the collectibles can be quite challenging and rewarding.

But at no point does it feel like anything but an old fashioned arcade shooter with a few more controls. When there are so many first person shooters available that offer opportunity for strategy ' with wide open levels and options for how to approach an objective ' it's disappointing that Killzone is so thin in that dimension.

It's hard to be definitive with SEV2 because it does fall victim to its own unique premise and gameplay speciality. It's somewhat limited, but adding more whiz-bang and flashiness would only dilute its core sniping gameplay, which is exactly what makes it stand out from the crowd.

Here's how much I love Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires: my only complaint is that there's no autosaving, which meant I once lost about half a continent. I figure that any time my complaints can be totally chalked up to user error, that speaks volumes about how good everything else is — and it explains why I think that if you're looking for one Warriors game that shows everything the franchise does well without getting bogged down by any of its weaknesses, Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires is the one to get.

A fantastic console experience and it comes highly recommended. It does have flaws, and some strange graphical bugs that pop up from time to time, but despite all that I look forward to playing the game for months to come, and I think 360 and PS3 owners should absolutely plan on either playing, or picking up, this action RPG.

The addictive qualities of "Z" are still there, but the passing years have made the underlying gameplay of Steel Soldiers boring, old and passé.

Gamers who have been versed in the worlds of Sly Cooper, Jak and Daxter, etc. will find the new Pitfall entry with little to offer. It sports solid, loosely Pitfall-inspired gameplay, there is just nothing new about it.

Don’t get me wrong, the game tells an interesting and emotional story, and the acting is top notch, but it does aimlessly plod along here and there. Thankfully, Quantic Dream ensured that Beyond: Two Souls would wrap up in an amazing, thought-provoking way which does make the ride very much worth taking.

Still, I'm not really in love with the actual game, and after finishing everything (the achievements/trophies are really easy to get by the way), I find myself more interested in the concept than the actual execution.

Add those drawn-out, repetitive encounters to a world that’s kind of empty, and you can see why Strayed Lights is a difficult game to love. It looks and sounds nice, and if you’re really into dodging weaving rather than charging into battle I could see how it might be interesting in small doses, but as it stands, it doesn’t feel like there’s enough here to really make for a satisfying game.

To me the stale dated visuals, boring audio, and updated game play features didn’t win me over this year, and if more gamers are like myself, this game may fade faster that the Detroit Lion’s franchise.

Technical issues may mean that doesn’t like up to the standards of the games it’s trying to emulate, but even so, there’s a lot of good stuff going on here, and if you can look past those issues (or even wait for some patches), there’s definitely something here worth playing.

I would recommend that you buy Highwater for the soundtrack alone if anything else. The moments I got to sail around and just listen and take in what was happening around me were fabulous. If you can get past the very sobering fact that we are currently dealing with a climate crisis in real-time, I would give this one a try.

The Gex Trilogy is a faithful adaptation of three fun games from a company with a storied history as Crystal Dynamics was involved in games like Legacy of Kain and Tomb Raider. It can take some getting used to, but Limited Run Games are dedicated to keeping the original experience as close as possible to the original. And although we did get a nice improvement with the ability to reverse time, there are still some improvements I would like to have seen in these games such as that full free roaming camera, but I do understand them wanting to keep to the original experience as much as possible.

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.

It's far from perfect, but even further from broken. Alice looks good, plays good, and has a very decent length that should appease any diehard fan.

Batman has had many games over the years, mostly trash and a few quite memorable. Telltale Games has knocked it out of the park, and if episode one is any indication, I see a solid contender for Game of the Year right here.

Because there’s such a disconnect between what it wants to be and what it actually is, it’s hard to know whether to recommend Glyph. It doesn’t come anywhere close to achieving what it sets out to do, but it still offers enough that if you can overlook its failures, there’s a decent enough game hiding underneath.

The Final Station doesn’t break any molds, nor is it revolutionary in its gameplay or ideas, but it is fun. It is good old fashioned, quality fun.

I think that Rocket Knight is a great attempt at revitalizing the character, and while I know there are people put off by the new design and the use of "2.5D" instead of traditional pixel work, I think the game looks great in action.

The soundtrack for Metal Slug 7 is definitely a winner.

Being a big proponent of console RPGs and console games in general, I highly recommend this to curious PC owners.

What will keep you playing isn't the gameplay, or even the story, exactly, but just wanting to figure out what the hell is going on. Let it take you with it and you won't be sorry.

While Vexx builds adequately on the 3-D trail blazed by Super Mario 64, there are others who have taken the next few steps.

You'll see a lot of poor passes (regardless of your quarterback choice), poor tackling (even for a computer-controlled player), hot and cold A.I. and many, many wide open receivers dropping balls. This is probably the most frustrating aspect of NCAA 2k3.

By not providing more details on where to find the items needed to progress fully, however, it just becomes an exercise in frustration and drags down what could have been an above-average title.

I can’t really argue for Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate as a must-play Musou title for fans. I think developer Omega Force has certainly done better work in the past, and I’d be willing to bet you’re better off holding out for One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 in the near future if you’re looking to get your fix. Still, there are certainly dozens upon dozens of hours of playable content here, so if you’re jonesing for a mindless button masher, Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate can likely satisfy that itch.

The moments where everything comes together and the game genuinely feels fun are far too rare. Obviously, given it’s from Nintendo, you know that Mario Golf: Super Rush will be competently made, and you could never describe it as a bad game. But there’s a difference between not bad, and genuinely good or enjoyable — and it’s a gulf that Mario Golf: Super Rush never quite manages to get out of.

There’s more depth here than in most rhythm games, which means that it’s awfully easy to get sucked in — and provided you don’t mind hearing some of the same music over and over again, that’s definitely not a bad thing.

So get your group of friends together, throw a party, or just get wasted as singing is something everyone loves to do, it just takes a little motivation to get some of your friends to sing along, but you'll get them there one way or another.

While this game is a little rough around the edges, what do you expect from an XBLA/PSN RPG game? If you like turn based, strategy type games and can overlook cartoony graphics, I suggest you pick this game up.

With great multiplayer and fun play styles, I have a new found favorite rhythm game but with the lack of songs I have a feeling I am going to tire of this one quickly unless I pour more money into it.

It is true that NCAA Basketball 09 isn't a perfect basketball sim, but what it brings to the table is pure enjoyment for any fan that enjoys watching these kids bust their butts every week and not get paid for it.

Homefront is a decent shooter but with a short play through time and limited online multiplayer, not to mention no offline multiplayer, it just doesn't seem worth full the retail value.

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.

Probably the biggest problem with the game is that battles play out almost exactly as you'd expect and it gets old-hat almost immediately.

Overall Rainbow Moon seems to fall flat on the fun scale. The fights are rather boring once a player understands the enemy AI and the controls. Overall, it's a SRPG that leaves much to be desired. Did we find gold at the end of this Rainbow? Unfortunately not.

There’s a world of difference between pretty cute and worth playing. Fe does a tremendous job of the former, but as far as the latter goes, it leaves quite a bit to be desired.

So while I’m not quite ready to slap a score on this just yet, I will say I’ve had a lot of fun with Aliens: Fireteam Elite, and I’m hoping the online experience holds up really well at launch. As a fan of the films, I’d like to see this one do well, and it’d be neat to see what the developers could potentially introduce in future updates considering the foundation of the game is so solid at this point.

Overall, the Until Dawn remake is a stunning game, however it does have its flaws which will hopefully be corrected with future updates. Gamers playing it for the first time will enjoy the storytelling and structure of the game, and those returning will appreciate many of the upgrades and added scenes. I can’t say if it was a necessary remake as the original game is only nine years old and still holds up, and at this point I recommend holding off on purchasing it until the price gets an adjustment and the current glitches are corrected.

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.

Overall Romancing SaGa 2 was a good game for its time, though the lack of an instruction manual for this version really hurts the enjoyment of it. After all the pros and cons are factored in, it really boils down to a very mediocre RPG.

Tropico 6 may take its time to allow you to do exactly what you want, but you can at least be confident that you’ll know what you’re doing and how to do it. But again, there’s only so much I can sugarcoat things. Tropico 6 is one of my favourite city-building games and I’ll never say no to playing it on the go, but if you’re interested in it, you need to know that the experience you’re getting is a little rough — to put it mildly.

If you want to play an RPG that doesn’t pretend to be a dramatic tale or one that won’t require a lot of your time, Okage is a good choice.

As you can tell, Circus Electrique has a lot going on. While it’s pleasant to look at and to listen to, the game also overwhelms you with information, and it doesn’t help that most of it is conveyed via very small text boxes with menus that aren’t super easy to navigate around. There’s a codex that keeps track of it all, but even so, the sheer volume of information (and associated info-dumps) is simply crazy. Which is why it’s hard not to wish that Circus Electrique had simply tried to whittle everything down to, say, half a dozen of its best ideas. If you’re after a dense game, this will deliver exactly that – but at a certain point, you kind of wonder whether it’s all worth it, and I don’t know that it is.

I’m fully aware that Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered is not a great game — or, possibly, even a very good game. But when it works correctly (which is to say, when you’re focusing purely on how much destruction and havoc you can wreak), I don’t think there are many games that can hold a candle to it in terms of how much fun you can have.

A challenging change of pace from the usual twin stick shooters that seem to populate the PlayStation Store lately.

It’s certainly not an awful experience, but it feels very mindless and prolonged, not offering up enough depth to keep you engaged, which makes the experience suffer considering each battle can take upwards of 30 minutes to complete. It’s better consumed in smaller chunks, and I’d definitely suggest trying before you buy, whether you’re a big fan of the three publishers or not.

Even if you're a big Aerosmith fan I could suggest skipping this over, unless you're really itching to play some new Guitar Hero tracks.

The huge amount of speech for all the characters is a really cool addition to the game, but it can’t save it from a somewhat dull battle system and its other problems.

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

Artistically, however, the game is one of the most interesting and most well-done games of the past decade. While other games have taken on the idea of a game emulating a certain type of film, Wet is the first to truly embrace it.

I still don’t see a reason to drop $50 on a season pass for Battlefront, but I do feel that when the Outer Rim is made available for everyone on April 5th, it is a pretty good buy at $15 (if you are still playing Battlefront or looking to pick up Battlefront). The 4 new maps all feel very different from each other and I really ended up liking how the new Heroes & Villains play.

Under Pressure takes a more serious tone than Tangled Up In Blue and it has far less jokey dialogue options. The Rocket backstory alone makes this episode stand out over the first and the mystery of the Eternity Forge now has me hooked. Couple the improved storytelling with some refreshing cameos and Under Pressure really does a great job of setting the table for the rest of this Telltale adventure. I could use a bit more Groot (who doesn’t love Groot?) but besides that I’m satisfied with Under Pressure and eager to see where they go with Episode 3.

UFC Personal Trainer isn't a great video game, but it is a pretty damn good workout. It'd be downright fantastic if it had better body tracking abilities, and if the voice controlled menu actually functioned correctly most of the time.

It isn’t one of my favorite Resident Evil titles, but it’s definitely better than any Resident Evil title to come out since 4 (Sorry Revelations fanboys) and is one of the last true survival horror games that we’ve got from Capcom.

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

It can be a slog, but in the game's defense, I guess, it makes no effort to hide that fact. So, if you like games that make you grind endlessly, and you want something that could literally occupy your every waking hour for a week…here you go.

In the end, W & G does what it set out to do, and in that, respect is a very solid title.

There are a butt load of better racers on the PlayStation 2 that are worth your time and money.

Compared to its special effects pushing brother on the PC, Grand Theft Auto 2 on the PlayStation looks rather tame.

Mediocre.

You'll see a lot of poor passes (regardless of your quarterback choice), poor tackling (even for a computer-controlled player), hot and cold A.I. and many, many wide open receivers dropping balls. This is probably the most frustrating aspect of NCAA 2k3.

A great game for a group of friends as well as for the younger crowd. Its target audience actually ends up being a great decision because of the easy to pick up and simple gameplay.

Planet of the Eyes isn’t going to be the next game that you sink dozens and dozens of hours into. But, if you’re looking for a game with an easily-understood plot and some fantastic writing…well, your search should stop here for an hour or two.

This is what fans have been waiting for. This is the definitive Mortal Kombat title for handhelds. You have more fatalities, self-fatalities (hara-kiri), stage fatalities, more characters, four deep modes of play, unlockable Krypt items, and online play.

Homefront is a decent shooter but with a short play through time and limited online multiplayer, not to mention no offline multiplayer, it just doesn't seem worth full the retail value.

Enhanced graphics and the option of a different control scheme don't make up for the missing [multiplayer] mode, and the price is hard to swallow, especially if you already own both systems.

TDU2 is an incredible toy box full of racing, exploring, car collection and the lifestyle of the fast and famous. But the rough start has probably made the rest of the game's experience a lot less than it could have been.

Skip the demo, shell out the cash (which isn't much at 400 MSP or $5) and jump right in, you won't be disappointed!

Overall Darkside Chronicles is pretty fun, and while not without its own set of flaws, it's clearly the part of this collection that's going to be worth checking out. Unless you're some type of Resident Evil die-hard though, I'd urge you to avoid Umbrella Chronicles, as I find it to be a pretty weak entry that does little more than retell you the plot highlights from a few of the previous Resident Evil titles, and certainly feels less polished when stacked up against Darkside Chronicles. And at $15, Darkside Chronicles is easily worth the asking price, and makes for a pretty fun experience.

Everything good about the game is still just as good in 2024 as it was in 2011, which means that, as remasters go, this one has probably achieved exactly what it set out to do.

It’s hard to not like what EA has created so far in this new UFC franchise. While we may not see this title updated yearly like NHL and Madden, EA has assured gamers that updates and roster updates will come free of charge over time, so it should not become outdated or stale before the next big PPV event.

Obviously, given my lack of familiarity with Star Wars, you may want to take my words with a grain or two of salt. (For all I know, this could be a total affront to the Star Wars canon that still has people mad a decade and a half later.) But as a first-person shooter, it works. It may feel like a time capsule from the mid ‘00s at times, but it’s a solid enough game that it’s pretty fun to play.

Basically, there's a whole lot of trial and error involved at the outset, which will definitely be off-putting to some players that have grown used to in-depth tutorials right at the outset of their games.

So yeah, X-Men is a game with limited appeal to very particular niche, but it's something I'm personally extremely happy to have, and it's nearly identical to what I played in the Arcade.

The novelty of kicking your friends from their bike in the heat of a race won't last forever, so once that aspect of the fun wears off so does any urge to hunker down to a night of ATV Quad Power Racing 2.

You really can’t get more bang for your buck with Confidential Mission. If you like playing super spy and shooting up bad guys, this one’s for you.

Even if it’s not lengthy or challenging, Fire Tonight still wins you over on the strength of its personality. The game does an outstanding job of giving Maya and Devin personalities within its limited time, and it’s easy to root for them to achieve their modest goal. Even more importantly, the game looks and sounds incredible, with visuals that scream 1990 without being too obnoxious about it, and an incredible synth-pop score. It’s those things — the great music, the engaging characters, the nice graphics — that make it easy to overlook Fire Tonight’s short length. It’s not the sort of game that will swallow up days and days from your calendar, but if you’re looking for a fun way to spend an hour, Fire Tonight is definitely that.

Of course, the fact that Immortals of Aveum is a lot of fun to play will also make you want to invest your time (and money) in it. It may not be the most original game I’ve ever played, but when it’s this enjoyable, I’m okay with that.

Despite the intense, all-too-realistic blood, guts and gore, I had a blast playing it. I just hope that doesn't make me a sociopath.

I can't say I understand the appeal, but if constantly burning and suffocating to death from smoke inhalation is your idea of a perfect game, it'll be right up your alley.

If you’re looking for a new Soulslike experience and willing to tolerate some notable negatives all the while experiencing a very unique setting, it’s a decent time. It’s a bit difficult to recommend to a more casual audience, but if you’re seeking a challenge, albeit not necessarily intentionally, Enotria is a decent time. Enotria: The Last Song has its share of issues, but I’d wager it’s a great first step for Jyamma Games in this style, and I can only imagine they’ll make something even better with the next release.

All the wacky weapons and wormitude are present in Worms 3D, but it offers far more frustrating moments than fun ones.

Wild ARMs 4 seems to be the complete opposite of the standard RPG, as it's the gameplay, not the story, which kept me playing.

Mario Mix is a worthy addition to your library if you have kids 6 to 12 that would like to dance and don't mind doing so with Mario and company.

All in all, I’m pretty impressed with Fortified. It has very few shortcomings, most notably the repetitive music and lack of modes, but at $14.99 it gives a very fun, challenging, multiplayer experience for Xbox One and PC players alike.

Not a bad portable racer by any means, but there has been better. I'd suggest this one more for the younger crowd, due to the simplified controls if for no other reason.