The story is interesting and the mood – from music to visuals and cut scenes – is consistent and well executed. If you're an RE veteran who's ready to move on, it'll feel like you're playing an old game with a new skin.

If it had been given the proper treatment, budget, and amount of time, Kane & Lynch would have easily been an A-/90% game. As it was released, it feels like a preview build that somehow hit retail shelves.

The game is very linear and hopefully one day the EA team will expand this title with a bit more freedom.

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

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair may not quench the thirst of all vampire hunters out there, though it does provide hope for what could lead to a solid, traditional 2D adventure.

I found myself enjoying Dynasty Warriors NEXT, and it managed to get its hooks in me more than part 7 did on home consoles. In the DW series it still doesn't command my interest in the way Gundam 3 did, but it's definitely the best portable DW game I've come across. It won't be the game to draw in non-Dynasty Warriors fans, but if you're riding the fence on picking this up, I don't think it's a bad way to drop $40.

I would suggest checking out Dissidia Final Fantasy NT if you’ve played the other Dissidia titles, but I’d temper your expectations when it comes to content. You’ll blow through the story mode quickly enough, and then you’ll just be left with a pretty sub-standard online experience that is definitely in need of some work. The stripped out RPG elements from the previous Dissidia titles really do this entry a disservice, and I think hewing too closely to NT’s arcade roots was a bad call. Still, I can’t help but feel there’s something worth playing here, even if it’s not the best Dissidia game to date.

It's definitely enjoyable, just not as polished as a AAA title might be.

There's no reason to knock a formula that works, but keeping too close to the formula through five editions is only going to satisfy those who have a truly insatiable thirst for more of the same.

State of Mind is smart enough to borrow heavily from all kinds of other, better media, but nowhere near good enough to come close to putting a fresh spin on those ideas. You’d be better served taking the dozen hours this game expects of you, and putting them into some combination of Blade Runner, Heart of Darkness, The Matrix, and Deus Ex.

The plot remains as bland as that of its predecessor, and the characters are equally forgettable.

For folks who haven’t endured the phenomenon of HP, you’ll need to start from the beginning before picking this one up.

There's a hefty number of characters and stages to check out, lots of optional side content, and the addition of individualized move sets, special abilities, full stat customization, and more which make for a fun and rewarding throwback to old school beat 'em up fun.

Rather, you'll want to avoid playing a game in public that features a scene just a few minutes in that seems like it could get you put on some kind of sex offender registry. Instead, download Corpse Party: Book of Shadows, turn off all the lights in your house, put on some good headphones, and enjoy. And try not to play before meals, because it's definitely going to spoil your appetite.

The level designs are extremely varied and pretty smart, with fun puzzles that feel unique and make good use of the environments in each world. The grappling mechanic gets a lot of use, but in a way that feels fresh throughout the game.

I applaud the effort of making this type of game on the Vita because I want to see more in this genre, but I can't blatantly support a game that's not very much fun to play.

If you’re really hard-up for tennis on the PS2 and have a few friends to play with online or off, go for it. If you don’t fit the prior statement, don’t even bother.

If you have the itch to jump into the persona of Luffy and Co. then by all means pick this up for the Wii as it is a solid game, just too much of a game that is "for fans only".

A somewhat bumpy, uneven ride perhaps, but one that entertains far more than disappoints.

Elli doesn’t do anything so poorly that it could be called objectionable. Given how many terrible games are out there, that’s no small feat. But it’s still hardly enough to make the game worth checking out. Factor in the game’s surprisingly high price ($20+, at the time of this writing), and that makes passing on it an easy call.

It’s not hard to imagine Rest in Pieces being tweaked just so (i.e. being more generous with its coins) in a way that solves its problems, but as it stands, it’s too stuck on its mobile roots to live up to its full potential.

Outside of the charm of watching your party interact with each other in battles, there's nothing really special about Miitopia. Not even the music or look of it. It actually makes me want to go back to Tomodachi Life, as that game seemed to know more about its identity than Miitopia. Both do make me laugh, but I like a game that's designed to be a simulation instead of Miitopia's RPG elements that feel a touch too light to make playing it feel that appealing.

It’s a solid shooter that often manages to nail its jokes, has a unique visual style, and feels pretty great to control the further into the campaign you get. It isn’t going to be the best shooter of all time, but it’s certainly fun while it lasts, and worth checking out.

Men's Room Mayhem may not be the greatest mobile game ever, but it's a decent diversion if you've got a few minutes to kill, and by that low standard, it's probably worth checking out.

I for one love what ideas the developers had in store with The Godfather II. The strategy elements were well thought out, implemented nicely, and the game really gives players the feeling of controlling your own family. If a bit more polish and time were given to the game’s action portion, The Godfather II would indeed be one you couldn’t refuse.

Don’t get me wrong: as someone who was gaming in 1999, I totally see how this would have seemed groundbreaking at the time. However, just because it was good then doesn’t mean it’s still good today. Outcast: Second Contact feels like a product of its time, and like many other products of their times, it’s hard not to look at this game and think it probably should have stayed in the past.

Of course, seeing as Type:Rider is only $3 or so, it’s hard to know how harshly to judge the game. For that price, it’s almost worth it just to see the graphics in action — provided you’re aware that dealing with lousy platforming is part of the price of admission as well.

A game that initially turned me off completely, but somehow managed to keep me playing 'til the end.

You'll be better off watching the movie than playing it, and if you really feel the urge to play something fun, go pick up "Psychonauts" instead.

A great simulation racer that does almost everything well. The Racing Life mode is too short and the rally racing can be unforgiving. But the pressure sensitive gameplay, realistic AI, and event challenges round out a great race package that’s tough to pass.

I’d absolutely suggest giving World War Z a shot, even more so if you were a fan of Left 4 Dead. It really scratches that itch, namely a fun, zombie focused co-op shooter with a solid progression system that’ll keep you hooked for a while. So despite its association with a so-so horror film, World War Z manages to rise above its source material into something that I found to be a lot of fun.

I personally preferred the standard controls found on the PS2, PS3, and 360 to the Wii controls, which felt a bit too imprecise to work effectively.

Infernium seems like the kind of game you’ll either love or you’ll hate. Either you’ll adore the way it mashes together a bunch of different ideas, or it’ll frustrate you to the point of wanting to never see the game again. I definitely fell in that latter category, but it’s a mark of how distinctive this game’s vision is that I wouldn’t begrudge anyone who sees it the other way.

Felix the Reaper is easy to love at first sight, but then you’ll fall out of love just as quickly once you’ve actually played it. There’s something here that’s fun and refreshing, but the overall package doesn’t live up to that promise.

So while Avenging Spirit might not be my top 90’s arcade game by any stretch, I do think the low price point and attention to detail on this release make it worth picking up. Its unique possession hook makes it stand out amongst other classic action games, and it can certainly be fun to run through with another player a time or two in order to see everything Avenging Spirit has to offer. So check it out when you get a chance, it’s a neat addition to your classic arcade game library.

The more you play, the more it feels like Raccoo Venture misses the mark just enough to make it feel like a bit of a letdown. It’s a solid game, but with a few tweaks it could’ve been a lot more.

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.

D4 plays quite well with a mouse, and is a much more accessible experience than its Kinect version, making this the most enjoyable way to play the adventure game. It also sucks for those expecting a PC port that will allow them to change essential settings, and in no way accommodates more than the Xbox One version would have offered.

If you really need to play these games for the umpteenth time, then for 20 bones you can't really beat this deal. I just wish more games were on it in order to say it is a must buy for all, not just nostalgia buffs.

A fun, but basic, RTS for the PSP, and makes a decent transition for the franchise from the larger scale RTS titles available on the PC. Outside of some basic control limitations and some bland level art, it ends up being a solid and enjoyable experience that PSP owners should take a second a check out.

I give EQQO a lot of credit for keeping things basic and allowing the on-screen action to function without ever having to explain itself too much. Unfortunately, it works that well because there’s really not much of a challenge here. In normal circumstances, that might not be the worst thing in the world: it could allow you to focus on the game’s essentials, and in EQQO’s case, that theoretically means focusing players on its utterly delightful story. Unfortunately, however, the reality is that the most notable thing about EQQO isn’t the story or its characters, it’s the absolutely awful controls. No matter how adorable the game is, or how much love went into it, those controls are really its defining feature, and in this case, they drag everything else down with them.

I really liked certain parts of Blood but absolutely hated others.

It shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that Blair Witch is so solid. After all its developers, Bloober Time, were also behind the very creepy Layers of Fear (not mention the frighteningly bad Basement Crawl), so for them to apply the lessons from that game to an established horror property like Blair Witch Project is clearly a no-brainer. Nonetheless, it makes for a very enjoyable — and, more importantly, very creepy — horror game, and one that any aficionados of the genre would be wise to check out.

If you're gonna redo retro games, this is how it's done. Now, if only it were the NES version.

None of this is to say that Jurassic World Aftermath Collection is bad, it is simply “fine”, but at launch when held up against the likes of Horizon: Call of the Mountain and Resident Evil Village, fine is not enough to keep me invested. Aftermath honestly feels like a proof of concept, not a full-fledged game, and that is definitely a disappointment for something I was pretty excited about at first.

It really shows that EA not only took notes from the films and books, but listened to the fans to give them what they want.

Dewy's Adventure has some great ideas and many gamers will like the simple pleasures it provides, but hardcore platform fans will breeze right though this one like a box of Oreos.

It's far from being a definitive Vita experience, to be sure, but if you're looking for some mostly enjoyable platforming on the go (or if you've just got a nostalgic itch to be scratched), the Jak & Daxter Collection is certainly worth picking up.

Whether you are a master in the kitchen or if you burn toast, Cooking Mama lets you enjoy simulating cooking without all the mess.

It's high on presentation and style, but the short time it takes to beat it doesn't warrant a purchase.

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.

Ultimately, the Wonder Boy Collection is a mediocre release. While the titles included are all decent games, it seems lackluster in options and presentation. There is a very small “gallery” of art included which is made up of Master System covers and instruction book pages as well as a small amount of promotional art from magazines. Again, seeing Master System related screens in this collection while not offering the ability to actually play those versions demonstrates how phoned-in this collection really is. While the price isn’t terrible at $29.99, I feel it should offer more in the way of playable games, options and extras. If you are interested in picking this one up, I would say wait for a sale or price drop before diving in. Decent games in an overall disappointing package.

I think it does a great job of emulating a style of RPG that is generally not represented on consoles or PC’s nowadays, and scratches an itch I didn’t even know I had. It’s not overly long, has a solid combat system, and the story is robust enough to draw you in and keep you hooked. Give this one a shot when you get a chance, you won’t be disappointed.

Gameplay definitely takes some getting use to, due to the design of the PSP.

Crosswords DS is a fun game for those who enjoy word games.

With the chance to post your scores on the net, this one has a lot of playability if you are one who thrives on those bragging rights.

The stuttering on the field obscures what can be a very fun, tense and rewarding game of baseball.

The edgy style, giant boss battles, big guns, and third-person dino-mauling bits certainly show that Propaganda Games have a lot of respect for what the franchise has meant to its fans, but at the same time it seems they either played it too safe or didn't let it sit in the oven long enough.

The concept is fun, there are some nice features and touches included in the game, and the online play is actually very enjoyable. It's worth checking out the demo at least to see if the game clicks.

All together, TMNT Smash Up is a competent Brawl clone, but it doesn't make enough use of the license attached to it to really make it interesting.

For now, it's probably a pass for all but the most devoted players, but if you like sports sims, it's something you'll want to keep an eye on.

From the moment the second level zips by, Squares makes it clear that you'd better have some insane reflexes right off the bat, or not bother playing. I'll take the latter - no matter how nice the game's aesthetics might be.

It may not feel original, but The Precinct knows how to take that familiar beats and give you room to uphold law and order/cause chaos to your heart’s content.

Ignore Monochroma's provenance and forget about its place in a broader context, and just focus on what's here — and on that count, it delivers.

The passion is gone from this franchise and something needs to be done to get it back. The good thing is, like many other die hard wrestling fans, I’m very forgiving and this year’s enhancement talent-like performance won’t deter me from checking out next year’s release. But unfortunately, I can’t recommend this year’s release to anyone. Stick with the older games in the series for now.

I can safely say that you should probably skip this one, unless you're a diehard Sonic the Hedgehog nut. It's not an awful game, but it's also a far cry from great.

If you are a fan of the Batman, you should play this game in some form, as it is one of the better representations of the comic hero in quite some time.

I hate being too negative about Windscape, since it’s not like it was designed by a huge team or anything. It’s the work of some people who, I assume, wanted to make their own Skyrim or Zelda, and there’s nothing wrong with shooting so high. The thing is, as I said up top, there are other indie games that have aimed for that too, and they’ve shown that it’s quite possible to emulate the spirit of Skyrim and Zelda without having anything close to their budgets. So when I say that Windscape falls short, I mean that it falls short of the likes of Yonder and Oceanhorn too. Given that those games exist, you’re much better off playing them than even thinking about this.

I think the problem is that even if Potata: Fairy Flower does a lot of things well enough, it doesn’t do anything incredibly well. Even if, as I said, it looks better than plenty of other platformers — and, for that matter, it’s got more competent gameplay and a more engaging story than many of its competitors — there are also plenty more platformers that do all of those things much better than this game does. If you just want something that’s good enough, it’ll do, but I feel like there are lots of other games out there that you should probably play first.

Despite the word salad definition of it’s acronym (Seriously what does Forged in Shadow Torch mean really?), F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch is a competent and challenging title for fans of metroidvanias. I was definitely invested into the plight of the furtizens of Torch City and would love to see the conflict which led to the current situation explored in some means. If this is the first title to come out of the China Hero Project, I am definitely interested in the other titles they are curating.

Disappointed because the concept was really cool, but the implementation blew. And disappointed that even Nintendo couldn't turn this one around.

Don't come in expecting an epic/grand/moving story, and keep in mind that this game is made for the big Tales fans.

What makes it really frustrating is that The Sims 4 has so much potential to be great with so many customization options. The game even throws people like me a bone, allowing you to give your Sim clear motivations and emotions, and it tailors the gameplay around that. But, cruelly, it makes doing all those things a massive chore, meaning that unless you really, really like moving your cursor slowly around the screen, you’re not going to get much out of it.

In short, the expansion feels sort of like the modern Castlevania standby in "Richter Mode" wherein a jaunt with a new character involves a far simplified gameplay mechanic. However, the relevant thing to remember is that Demons of the Badlands not only simplifies the gameplay--but also the area it's in.

A solid, if standard platformer if you have some appreciation for Scooby-Doo or if you're looking for a game for the kids.

Despite a cast of over 30 characters, the part where each character uses the exact same moveset means things get tedious rather quickly.

Nights of Azure 2 isn’t all bad. It’s got a distinctive look and feel, which isn’t something that can be said 20+ games into Atelier. Setting aside the ridiculous clothing choices of many of the characters, there’s no denying that this game features some dazzling environments. I wouldn’t say that’s enough to offset the dialogue, bad camera controls, and leering fanservice, though. Nights of Azure 2 may represent a departure from the developer’s norm, but it’s also proof that simply being different isn’t inherently a good thing.

However you look at it, light gun games are still active, and if you want it to stay that way, make sure to grab this strong sequel to the already popular series.

A fun action adventure game with some redeeming qualities and a likable main character... if you can soldier past the not-so-fun parts and overlook some of the design flaws and engine issues.

I'm glad the game actually came out, and I hope that Tecmo uses it as a stepping-stone for a better game in the near future.

While Animal Crossing is branching out from simply being a town that players can feel at home in, Happy Home Designer is antithetic in design and scope. It's unlike this series to come up short of ideas, and yet they've somehow managed to run a single one into the ground with Happy Home Designer.

I wouldn’t describe The Sinking City as a bad game, by any means. Much like its Sherlockian predecessors it’s very much for a niche audience, but if you’re part of that niche — and I think I am — it’ll be a fun way to pass 15-20 hours.

At the very least, if you’re into simulating menial blue collar jobs, you could certainly do a lot worse than this.

Had it kept things simple – say, with lots of straightforward puzzles to solve with an overarching story that’s easy to follow – it probably would’ve been great. Instead we have needlessly hard puzzles accompanied by an overly complicated plot. Saying, “less is more” can come off as trite, but in this case it’s totally true.

As someone who loves Horizon: Zero Dawn and who loves LEGO games, I was really hoping that a combination of the two would be something special. Instead, we have LEGO Horizon Adventures, and for the life of me I can’t figure out why it exists.

Rent it for a bit if you're particularly interested, but what could have really been a solid game turns out as almost half of one with an obvious focus on the unorthodox abilities that is just not going to cut it.

There is no doubt that fans of the series will be more than satisfied with the new levels, story, weapons, and vehicles.

For $9.99, you really can't do much worse, and it's easily one of the best of the bargain new releases.

Despite taking the time to enlist a license for their portable effort, WTA Tour Tennis really skimps out in the features department.

It’s certainly light on content, light on songs, and rarely feels great to play from a video game standpoint. Yes, you can get a little workout in, but it would be nice if the Switch would accurately track movement more consistently. I think Fitness Boxing has the opposite intended effect after you whiff 3 or 4 hooks or uppercuts due to poor motion sensitivity, which in turn leads to some dejected, frustrating moments. As it stands, I wouldn’t recommend Fitness Boxing to Switch owners, at least not without some deep discounts involved.

As a whole package, it’s still early on in its life, so while it may be currently barebones, I do think that Pokémon Champions has an excellent blueprint laid out for future updates. Looking at it for what it is, a way to get new players into the competitive scene and to practice for official events, Pokémon Champions nails exactly that. It needs some work to be where it probably should be, but even as it is now it’s a respectable official battle simulator.

Death on the Nile isn’t a must-play adventure, but it’s at least generally tolerable – which is more than can be said about it as an Agatha Christie adaptation. On that front, it fails, so if that’s why you’re interested in it, prepare for disappointment. Still, if you’re fond of point-and-click mysteries, there’s probably enough here to be interesting.

No doubt many people will find this game frustratingly difficult in single player, but I still think it is a good implementation of a tennis game.

To be sure, I never fully understood the end goal of what I was doing in Adventures of Mana. But, for whatever reason, that didn't bother me all that much. I can't say that the game has given me any insight whatsoever into why Final Fantasy — or even the Mana franchise — has endured for so long, but I can definitely say that if I'm looking for an easy-to-pickup RPG to play on the go, this is a game that's right near the top of my list.

The fact that the game is short, the graphics not up to par and the levels somewhat repetitive will likely keep this game out of the hands of mainstream gamers despite it's twenty dollar price.

That said, better the developers create a bunch of really enjoyable levels with zero replayability than shoehorning in a three-star system at the expense of fun, right? Obviously, the ideal would be both, but if you're going to make it an either/or thing, then I suppose 10tons picked the right option to go with.

The game is basically one long war between the Winged Crusade and the Landians, and it doesn't get much deeper than "these two sides are at war with each other."

It may not last long, but it is fun while it lasts. But if you're going in expecting anything substantial — or even anything you can play for longer than a lunch hour — you should know that your hopes are going to be dashed in a pretty extreme manner.