It’s not sim enough to match up with Sega’s offering, and Midway has a faster, more fun arcade hockey game in NHL Hitz.

Allow yourself to be taken in by the bright colours and easy controls and silly story, and the steep difficulty might turn you off it entirely. Recognize, however, that those are simply fun additions to what amounts to a challenging RPG, however, and the dissonance might not be so bad.

Fuse may not go down in history as a memorable classic as compared to other Insomniac franchises, but it should find its audience.

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

To anyone who’s ever thought they could put together a masterful dungeon, or those who want a simple action-RPG where they’re in control of the level, Dungeon Maker mixes both together quite well.

While it lacks innovation and gameplay variety, it has fantastic graphics, solid track designs, Xbox Live support and a budget price.

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.

It's fun enough for most adults to enjoy (admittedly in limited doses) and simple enough for most kids to grasp. The opportunity for interaction among family or friends makes Shrek 2 more than the sum of its parts.

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

I appreciate the realization of scale in the game, and the overall fun you get out of just blowing things away with the different weapons you can toy around with. I'm not sure if there's been enough improvements here to appease fans, but as a player that hasn't been immersed in the Armored Core universe for a bit, I had a pretty good time.

The battle system is a refreshing twist on something that has been done for the same way for many past RPGs, and diving into your Reyvateil makes for reasonable character development.

But the bottom line is that playing Gin online is now possible for about $5.,It works, and is just as addictive as the real thing.

Overall the Grandia HD Collection is a good one, and if you enjoyed the original game, this is a great version of the release. Grandia II by comparison didn’t get much in terms of upgrades aside from the Japanese voice acting, so it pulls down the overall package somewhat.

The end result is a Dead or Alive game that's arguably deeper, dizzyingly beautiful and a blast to play online when the damn thing isn't just locking up.

If you’ve got a group of not-easily-offended friends together and you’re looking for something a little different, it’ll definitely do the trick.

It's a decent first person shooter with many multiplayer options, lots of gore and several flaws. None of those flaws make the game unplayable, they just keep it from standing head and shoulders above other, similar games.

And behind the fairly generic title is... a fairly generic, though solid, dance experience for those with a PS3, a PS Move and the urge to dance.

The few folks with the patience needed to understand the game's design goals and unusual approach will find a game with a lot of depth and a truly offbeat adventure. Those who abhor repetition and like their quests spelled out for them should stay away.

Everything about Go Vacation seems like it’s trying to import the hottest gaming trends of 2006 into today. If you still feel nostalgia for that era, then check it out, but if you’d rather that motion controls and the like stayed firmly in the past, then you’ll probably want to steer clear.

Summer Catchers does some things very well, but because it’s burdened with gameplay that seems like it was rejected from a not particularly fun mobile game, it never hits the heights that it could have (and probably should have).

At the end of the day it's all about fun, and Heavy Metal serves it up in spades.

Nightmare Reaper fits squarely into the box you’ll want to slot it into at first glance. It may have a few minor differences, but if it’s blasting demons you’re after, you’ll get exactly that here.

It’s a decent enough game that improves a little when you realize that it’s not actively trying to kill you at every opportunity. Not exactly the stuff of eventual GOTY material or anything, but I’ve definitely played worse.

I would be lying to say this game is a pick up and play FPS, but finding your niche will only take a half hour or so of tweaking and trying controls schemes before you find the one you like.

With realism aside, I still had a hard time hating this game. It is fun; I just had to forget all I know about baseball.

With great gameplay, varied missions and solid controls, Defender is another Midway classic tuned for a new generation of gamers.

Would Ad Infinitum have been better off if it had come out a little closer in time to its influences (rather than a few months after Frictional Games also explored the trenches of World War I with Amnesia: The Bunker, which has to be the ultimate irony)? It’s hard not to feel that way, since as it stands, the game feels kind of anachronistic. It’s a solid enough horror game, don’t get me wrong, but it still feels a little too indebted to the past to really stand on its own.

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.

Performance-wise, the Vasara Collection is as solid as they come, even on the Vita. But really, that performance will only be impressive if, again, you’re really into shmups. If you’re not, it’ll all seem like a headache-inducing riot of noise and colour, but for fans of the genre, the Vasara Collection is probably a must-play.

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

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

Gameplay is fast, fun, and frantic.

All in all, this isn’t a bad collection of two fun titles from last-gen, but it hardly feels like a must-have upgrade for anyone that’s played through both Borderlands 2 and The Pre-Sequel already.

Any fan of Monster Rancher will be in absolute heaven with this new entry, and its more kid-friendly graphics are sure to attract more of the younger crowed to its decidedly simple, incredibly addictive gameplay.

What works so well in the game is the spontaneity of the destruction. You never know when it’s going to happen on an epic scale or create a small tremor.

Why Konami chose against releasing expansion discs for the first game still puzzles me, as in Japan there are over 20 right now. My only fear, being a fan of the game, is that I have to wait another year for a so-called sequel, to get more songs.

Another problem is the AI. More than other games, it seems that players on my team do things other than I would expect.

At first it felt as if I were playing the same old thing as before... Then I once again realized how much fun Crazy Taxi can be.

Eagle Flight is a good VR game, but it's one of those games that wouldn't work otherwise. It's dated visuals and graphic style could be a turnoff to some, but it's challenge level and easy controls make the overall package enjoyable. The feeling of flight does excite the senses, and while it may not be the best title in the Playstation VR line, it's also not even close to being the worst. Pick this one up, especially if you like dogfight games and flight simulators.

I’ve found myself enjoying my time spent with the game, and I think it has the potential to improve even more. I think if you’re in the market for something akin to Friday the 13th or Evolve, or just looking for a new competitive asymmetrical multiplayer experience, you could do a lot worse than Predator: Hunting Grounds. Just keep in mind that there are elements that feel a little rough at the moment, but barring that, it’s a pretty enjoyable shooter.

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.

Overall, Gotham City Impostors retains what works with modern multiplayer games, while offering enough unique flare to allow it to stand out of the crowd.

JFG is basically Mega Man in 3D. The objective of saving all the Tribals is a rather anal task, it must be said, and an extremely annoying one. Too annoying. Otherwise, the game is good fun and still comes recommended.

So yeah, the game has some issues that keep it from being a great RE handheld experience. But at its core it does get the whole Mercs experience down pat, and playing online with random partners is still immensely fun.

The campaign is really good, the competitive multiplayer is pretty boring, and the Zombies in Spaceland mode is lighthearted fun. As a whole, the package is a little disappointing, especially if you put a lot of weight onto the MP side of COD. But if you're down for another solid, entertaining shooter campaign, then I think Infinite Warfare is definitely worth a look.

Not a masterpiece by any means, but a game that will not put a black mark on their collection.

It’s far from the best, to be sure, but it’s competent and content-filled enough that you’ll at least feel like you’re getting your money’s worth.

To be sure, I’m still going to play it obsessively until I’ve finished every one of the 120 puzzles. It won’t take that long, and I’m a sucker for word games. That’s no reason for me to recommend it to anyone else, though. It’s a fun concept for a little while, but if you’re looking for a fun word game that doesn’t wear out its welcome, you’re better off with one of Lightwood’s other offerings.

It’s not bad by any means, just not as interactive or engaging as other JRPGs available.

The absence of licensed songs and the lack of modes are just too big of issues for me to give Amplitude a full recommendation. If you haven’t played Amplitude before you might want to wait for a sale before you check it out or consider moving on to Rock Band 4.

There's a lot of charm in it, not to mention the gobs of replay value that come from having two endings and over 175 recruitable characters. At the same time though, that charm does little to ease the blow of the unsatisfying conclusions, nor does it help much when you run into one of the few rough patches and, let's face it, there's only so many inane sidequests one can tolerate.

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.

But to start an RPG from the beginning just to save your experience is overly tedious. And starting from a save points at a loss of your stats is equally lame.

Playing over a LAN without the headaches associated with internet play can be a blast, either in head to head, teamplay, or grouping against those vicious computer opponents.

If you’re a 3D platforming addict who needs a fill right now and you’ve played everything else, it may be enough to fill the time, but otherwise, it feels like there are plenty of other games you could be playing instead.

If you are not an absolute die hard fan, even the incredible 6 hour campaign is not enough to justify a full $60 purchase. If you’re ok with buying now and getting the rest of the game later though, the content at launch is worth playing.

While the combat side might not be stellar, it's not particularly tough to contend with. Simply clear out the enemies infesting each stage and then turn your focus on scoring points and you'll still get a kick out of it.

The visuals are great, and the story may be a tad generic but fits well into the kind of world they built. I hope to get better at the game and think we need more games that bring melee action into the blend of shooters, but the controls need to feel just right for it to work on a grand scale. Wanted: Dead is an okay hybrid game and despite it giving me vibes from my time with Devil’s Third, this is a way better experience overall and would-be players should check all the videos before making that final decision.

It's a good selection of songs from the previous games, and it's a great way to reacquainted with a few old favorites.

It’s a good enough game this year, like it was a good enough game last year, like it was a good enough game in 2018, like I’m sure it’ll be a good enough game in 2021 on the PS5. But considering that MLB The Show was once the gold-standard for sports games, simply being good enough seems like a lot of wasted potential.

Hell Pie clearly isn’t for everybody, but if you’re the sort of person who loves pushing boundaries – and your definition of boundaries haven’t changed much since you were in high school – then it might just be the game for you.

Additionally, while I really did enjoy the game, and had a ton of fun learning the combat rhythm and mechanics, I will probably never go back for a second playthrough. As I mentioned earlier, the game is full of the lowest type of humor imaginable, and by the end of the game, the same batch of one-liners that had me chuckling during the opening hours was starting to grate. That, coupled with the singular playstyle and set of upgrades, make for a poor reason to start a second playthrough. While launching at only $50, coming in competing with some of the finest video games of this (or any generation), make it hard to justify an early purchase.

I hope that if EA follows this up, they continue the same engine effort, yet fix that blasted A.I. and add some depth.

If a top down hack ‘n’ slash action RPG is something you’re into and you’ve got a few extra bucks this is definitely you should look into.

I can see enjoying it in small doses — but considering how small a dose the entire game is, you could be forgiven for thinking your time and money might be better spent on a longer-lasting, more immersive experience.

Koa And The Five Pirates of Mara is perfectly serviceable, as 3D platformers go. And it’s certainly more fun than Summer in Mara. But it’s lacking in any kind of spark of inspiration, and for that reason, it’s every bit as forgettable as its predecessor.

A blast, especially with the right crowd.

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

I wish the game was a little more polished, but the art design and complete product are a solid, cozy little game for PC gamers everywhere, and in light of the holidays it would be nice to see The Undergarden see some light shed on it in any upcoming sales.

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

Those who had a blast with Pursuit Force will likely also very much enjoy the sequel, as it's more of the same. If you haven't played the first game however I'd almost recommend going for that version before going "Extreme".

AEW Fight Forever is a really chaotic blast. Exciting gameplay and ease of play guarantees continued replayability, especially with any of my friends who aren’t familiar with the more complicated 2K series. Would I like more out of the series going forward? Of course. But on top of my gripes in the review the roster is kinda limited, but DLC could help that. That being said, for the very first entry into the market Fight Forever does a surprisingly good job. Patching and building off the foundation established here will be key in how this game is received by the fans, old and new. I’m along for the ride. If you’re an AEW fan, I think you’ll enjoy this release. It does enough to stand out from the WWE series of games and gives a great alternative that AEW the actual wrestling product was supposed to be (but hasn’t really delivered in my opinion… had to leave one last dig in there after being so complementary).

Given how many other games aren’t just being inspired by metroidvania platformers of the past but also taking them in interesting new directions, it makes it difficult to recommend Cathedral. It’s fine to play if you’ve already played all those other games, but if you’re into the genre and you haven’t, then the best Cathedral can do is sit at the very end of your backlog.

Combat is definitely the highlight of the game, and it really blows away the home versions when it comes to that. However, the rest of the title is pretty standard fare.

As rough as Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is in places — and it’s very, very rough — it makes up for that by also being a whole lot of fun. I leave it up to you to decide exactly how much poor performance you’re willing to put up with to play a very enjoyable trilogy — because in this case, you’ve got to be willing to put up with quite a bit.

If the mundane enemies that populate the world brought a little more challenge to the table, and if the basic environmental kills consisted of more than just impaling or beating someone to death, then I would have had much more interest in the title than just the boss fights and Bloodbath events.

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

Newcomers will find it baffling, but for anyone who wants closure on the kids of Heavenly Host, you may just find that here.

Earth 2160 is a fun RTS entry for the PC library, albeit an unnecessarily long and poorly constructed campaign mode.

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.

It could have used a little more variety out of the box, in terms of gameplay types and topics, but what is included will undoubtedly last until the next full-featured installment.

Feels more like Crazy Taxi 1.5 than a full sequel. The same basic, addictive formula is present, but for some reason it just doesn't feel as exciting or challenging as the original.

Even with 73 episodes and online play, the $30 price tag still seems a little steep especially with how the game is structured and the relative lack of customization or options. Fans may want to check it out though.

It's still a really solid fighting game and still pretty easy for newcomers to pick up and play, but it's not everything that I want out of the game. As much as I loathe paying for content that should have been on disc in the first place, I do find myself hoping that DLC will alleviate some of the issues I have.

The new modes are weak, there is no online play, and with only 3 new characters, the game will begin to feel too similar after a few short hours of game play.

Even with 73 episodes and online play, the $30 price tag still seems a little steep especially with how the game is structured and the relative lack of customization or options. Fans may want to check it out though.

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

While Donkey Kong Country doesn’t have the ageless appeal of say, "Super Mario World," it still holds its own. The game would have scored higher had Nintendo added more new features to the game.

It can be funny and disturbing while being challenging and clever. It's just too bad more care wasn't taken in making it available on a new platform.

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

ChromaGun is undeniably fun for what it is. If you want more Portal in your life — and who doesn’t? — then it will give you precisely that. But at the same time, it constantly gives off a feeling akin to watching a cover band plod its way through a classic song. It may feature a lot of the same notes, but in the end, it’s all just a pale imitation.

Fallen Legion: Flames of Rebellion will appeal to a very specific type of player: someone who loves Vanillaware RPGs, and is eager to try out a game that isn’t afraid to try something new when it comes to controls. I’d be lying if I said that applied to me, but if it describes you, you should absolutely check this game out.

The end result is certainly a little talk-heavy at times, and your mileage may vary as far as the characters go, but if you're looking for something out of the ordinary, Trillion: God of Destruction definitely fits that bill.

While I enjoyed Dissidia as an FF fan, I have to admit that once the fan service stuff wore off, I grew bored of the overall game.

Overreaching game/ Flies past a goal it can't see/ Out of bounds, chicken!

Perhaps this title might inspire someone to work on a title which aligns more to the property… Otherwise buy it if you want to support the franchise, but if you’re looking for an enjoyable platformer there’s other options available out there. I guess it goes without saying, perhaps we shouldn’t have disturbed these relics of the past…

Itis large line-up of characters and move combinations make a comprehensive wrestling title. But the somewhat clunky character movements and attacks may have some players stepping out of the ring.

If you can do these picture logic puzzles in your sleep, then nothing here should be too far out of your comfort zone. For anyone else, however, I feel like the barrier of entry is just a little too high and the payoff a little too low to make Sketchcross worth the investment.