One of the best playing baseball games I’ve played in recent memory... This game is for purists.

It’s an enjoyably challenging platformer that’s sure to scratch any Mega Man or roguelike itches you have. Factor in Maker Mode, and you’ve got a recipe for a platformer that’s a huge – and hugely fun – time sink.

There's a lot to be mined out of the core gameplay mechanic here, and I think everyone will find that Scribblenauts does wonders for your imagination.

Colin McRae Rally 2 has surpassed a lot of expectations, providing yet again one of the most incredible driving experiences around.

This game looks amazing. The character models and animation are clearly the cream of the crop...If you're not completely sold by now, then the Kumite will definitely put you over the top.

While it might not be up to the visual caliber of the current era of RPGs, it is a flexible and resourceful title that can bring forth an experience unlike any other - as long as you're willing to fork over the time commitment.

With its zany graphics, hilarious dialog, and first-rate controls, not only is Super Paper Mario a smashing success, it’s also one more reason everyone should own a Wii.

Overall, Warriors Orochi 3 is one of the best examples of a modern Dynasty Warriors title, and something that all fans should definitely check out. It's not going to do much to sway naysayers and those that don't care for the repetitive button mashing of the series, as it doesn't do much to change up the core gameplay, but if you're at all vested in the series, you should think about picking this up.

The additional content provided by the Dark Arisen add-on is significant enough that fans shouldn’t feel the sting of re-purchasing the core game, as the new content and worthwhile additions made to the core game are well worth the asking price.

The writing is light and humorous throughout, and even during serious moments and scenarios, the game doesn't take itself too seriously.

It combines an atmosphere that will have you changing your shorts at least twice per playing session with beautiful visuals and balanced gameplay that requires some actual thinking to make it through successfully.

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

Fans of Contra will be very happy with what’s on offer and newcomers have a great collection of games to check out at a reasonable price. Not to mention a very enjoyable digital book about the series history which If you’ve ever wanted to know what all us old gamers have been raving about with these series then it’s a great way to find out!

Easily the most impressive PlayStation game I've played this year and is one that should be owned by everyone.

Still, when the game does such a fantastic job of creating a creepy atmosphere, complaining about the lack of people seems like it's missing the point. Like a great horror movie, everything in The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is there to leave you feeling unsettled and unsure of what's going on. Considering it nails that feeling and sustains it throughout, I'd say that counts as a pretty substantial success.

RPGolf Legends is actually quite impressive, when you think about it. The developers didn’t just have to create a fun RPG, they also had to make a solid golf game. They succeeded in both, and made one heck of a game in the process.

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

It's obvious a lot of thought went into every aspect of the game, from the unique look and functionality of each race to the incredible balancing that ensures each of them are on equal footing.

The game will provide you with more content than you can possibly handle, and is one of the few games on the market today that’s actually worth the full $60 price tag.

Steamworld Dig is all about exploring the great underground unknown, and all about the promise of something cool and mysterious waiting for you if you'll just dig a little deeper. The Xbox One version of the game may not bring anything new to the table, but that doesn't make it any less worthwhile if you haven't already played it.

It doesn’t take long for it to become apparent that Even the Ocean is much more ambitious than your standard platformer, to the point that it goes beyond one genre. Luckily, the game is more than able to pull off the genre-bending. There aren’t too many other visual novel-adventure-RPG-platformers out there that I can think of, but I can confidently state that Even the Ocean makes a pretty solid case for why there should be more of them.

The arcade mode is a bit short, and the challenges tend to be repetitive, but the Xbox Live play and great gameplay, audio and visuals, make up for it.

The responsive control and challenging AI make it a complete basketball experience.

Out of the Park 15 allows you to tinker around with baseball rosters and line-ups to your heart's content — assuming, of course, you have a super-nerdy, sabermetrically-oriented heart. It won't be 100% perfect until you can take it with you wherever you go, but in the meantime, it's still pretty awesome.

One of the best NASCAR games I've ever played. With a full 43-car field displayed, the atmosphere of NASCAR racing is front and centre, drawing you in from the get go.

Guacamelee 2 takes a very solid base of the original and adds enough to prevent this iteration from being stale. The new mechanics blend in seamlessly and adds to the experience. The humor hits, more than it misses and the visuals are vibrant like it’s predecessor. All in all if you had to choose only on metroidvania-style game to play in 2018, make sure Guacamelee 2 is high on your list.

Whether or not you dig the Ed Wood production values, it's hard to deny the massive amounts of action, adventure, and mind-boggling fun that can be had in the fulfilling campaign.

It’s a pretty solid Yakuza tale, and it builds upon the progression and combat systems from the previous games pretty well. The side stories are fun and weird (sentient cleaning robots?), and there’s still a hefty number of side activities to explore. It’s a great looking game with some minor technical issues, and will likely provide the average player with dozens of gameplay hours.

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

As long as you go in expecting an audio-visual feast that's good for killing some time, and not a deep shooter, you won't leave disappointed.

If you’ve ever heard about the series and wanted to see what all the fuss was about, it’s hard to imagine a better entry point, while series veterans should love that it’s got style and action to spare.

Underneath the videogame exterior lies a real Ferrari physics model that will make any hardcore racing fan happy, and make any casual racer burst into tears.

Once again, Sony raises the bar on what should be expected from a baseball game. Whoever picks up the pieces next year after 2K leaves the scene; they better bring their 'A' game as I can't foresee anyone touching MLB The Show when it comes to visuals, playability, modes, and the pure realism that is captured by this game of baseball better than any other franchise captures another sport.

Doki-Doki Universe offers an incomparable experience that takes full advantage of every feature the Vita has to offer, and it does so in a way that never feels gimmicky or stupid. That's an impressive accomplishment, and it makes it easy to say the game is well worth your time and money.

With over 30 warriors to choose from, and over 30 maps, this game will take a while to get old. No matter how you play this game though, you're sure to have a blast.

I was absolutely impressed by how much of a full-fledged racing game Hot Wheels Unleashed is. It’s right at home with some of the better arcade racers on the market today, and offers up a whole lot of fun for the whole family, regardless of whether you’re a Hot Wheels fan or not. The track customization is pretty solid, with a decent enough opening tutorial to get you started, and the sheer number of vehicles you can obtain right out of the gate is pretty impressive. The multiplayer could use a bit more fleshing out, but at least works great, and the game controls fantastically overall. If you’ve been in the mood for a new racing experience that everyone can enjoy, then look no further than Hot Wheels Unleashed.

All in all, while this isn’t necessarily a fresh take on the Dragon Quest series, it’s still one of the best entries in a franchise that has been around since the NES days.

With fantastic level designs, great enemies and power-ups, as well as the addition of some fun and entertaining multiplayer modes, Kirby is a must have.

The best racing game I’ve played in months, and anyone looking to release a title in this genre now should look long and hard at what Rockstar’s been able to pull off here.

I won't even pretend to have any deep thoughts on that subject, but I can definitely say that if you want something unique on your Vita or your PS3, they don't make things much more unique than Proteus.

Beyond one particularly challenging battle which takes place towards the very end of the game, Ascension is action-packed though not especially difficult. The boss encounters are definitely as epic as expected, even if they seem more few and far between in comparison to other God of War games.

Graphics are recreated to perfection.

I really, really enjoyed Far Cry 2, and I was happy to see that it's a pretty far departure from the formula of the first title. The open world environment is absolutely beautiful at times, and the little touches in the game really help to heighten the sense that you're in a real world setting.

When a game and a system go as well together as do Civilization Revolution 2 Plus and the Vita, I'm willing to make one or two trade-offs in exchange for a near-perfect whole.

It's certainly one of the easiest "hardcore" games to get into, but there's a lasting challenge to the design that'll keep you coming back for more, regardless of how many times you fail out at a level.

The end result though is a very playable method of swinging through the city yet at the same time looking flashy and a lot like the way it was done in the movie. You can imagine the final few seconds of the first movie to get an idea of what you can expect, except you'll actually be doing it.

The amount of entertainment value is unsurpassed by any title released thus far...even with its flaws, the title is easily the best baseball game money can buy at the moment.

Go ahead and pick your favorite system and help yourself to another dose of the best skating game franchise on the planet.

Summertime Madness doesn’t last long, and it can easily be finished in under two hours. But it’s also not the sort of game that needs to go on forever, either. It’s a challenging, engaging puzzle with enough plot to last through its runtime, and that’s enough to make it well worth a look.

The only real complaint I can file against the game, is that once again I do not care for underwater combat.

Puzzle Quest 2 is definitely worth checking out, and while I wish the soundtrack had been improved upon more it's pretty much the only thing I didn't enjoy about this sequel.

Production value exudes from every pore on Nathan's face; great graphics, audio, and gameplay are used with lethal detail to tell an over-the-top adventure story that draws inspiration from big budget adventure flicks. And it actually manages to pull off everything with enthusiasm, leaving you wanting more.

A great game. Anyone who is a fan of RTS games should pick this up or at least give it a try. Hours will be spent on playing through the story and bonus missions and almost every detail is carefully considered, from the graphics and sounds to the balancing of the different enemy forces.

All in all, Assassin's Creed III Liberation is another excellent console-style release for the PlayStation Vita, and fans of the series who own a PS Vita shouldn't overlook it. It's not as full-featured as the console version, but it makes up for it with a more streamlined experience, an interesting main character and story, and plenty of unique gameplay ideas.

There's quite a bit of replay value involved, primarily when trying to get the three hidden characters unlocked.

A true upgrade to the previous years, and as I mentioned before, is possibly the best version of the series since its inception.

Overall if you like the aesthetic and want to spend an afternoon or more with a great little platformer then you can’t go wrong with LOVE. It’s a very attractive price and you get a unique game that you’d actually come back to now and then.

All in all, though, the two games are highly enjoyable. I don’t know if KLONOA Phantasy Reverie Series is going to be the game that finally gives Klonoa the audience it deserves. But if there’s any justice in the world, it will be.

The unique story is just a part of what makes 1979 Revolution: Black Friday such an interesting and worthwhile game. The bigger part is that it shows that Telltale’s formula will live well beyond that old company’s demise, and it shows that the next generation of adventure game developers may have found a way to improve on an already strong base.

This is by far the ultimate, complete Soul Sacrifice experience and even those who dumped countless hours into the original will find more than enough content and enhancements to keep them in the hunt.

Minus a few hitches here and there with presentation, commentary, and no online leagues, this may be one of the best Madden titles in recent memory, and easily the best on next gen platforms.

That Studio MDHR were able to make an aesthetic that’s nearly a century old seem fresh and new at the same time as they made an enjoyable game is just a bonus.

Overall, this is definitely a sequel worth checking out. Even if you’re not familiar with the original GameCube title, there’s a good chance you’ll find something to love about the sequel.

Overall I found Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed to be a lot of fun, and certainly one of the better asymmetrical multiplayer games out there. It’s clear that Illfonic has started to eke out a nice niche for themselves with this type of game, and if you’ve enjoyed their previous efforts, you’ll likely have a lot of fun with this too. My only real complaint comes from the cosmetics, in that I’d like to see an even greater variety of clothing unlocks, and more outlandish options to boot considering the Ghostbusters comedic roots. Maybe we’ll get there through DLC, but the variations on the Ghostbuster jumpsuits and accessories feel a little plain out of the gate. Still, it’s a fun take on what a Ghostbuster video game can be, and the little nods to prior films, including the most recent one, will certainly appeal to franchise fans.

Top Spin 4 gets it right. It looks great. It's accessible without being too easy and can be played competently amongst friends without having to invest any more time than you decide. But for real tennis buffs it also stands alone as the best simulation to date.

Overall, Retro/Grade is a wholly unique experience in both genres that it represents, and is well worth your time. If you have any interest in rhythm games or shoot 'em ups, you should do yourself a favor and check this out.

Like the original "Diablo," the game offers an insidiously addictive style that you'll be hard pressed to pull yourself away from.

I definitely feel like Street Fighter X Tekken is worth picking up, especially if you have any kind of interest in either side of the fence. Both rosters are great, and the online play minus the sound issues is pretty fantastic, and will automatically give this game a pretty solid online presence for months to come.

Hitman: Blood Money is an extremely solid title, with small problems here and there. If you’re looking for a game where obsessive-compulsive tendencies and people watching is valued over hide and seek gameplay, you really can’t go wrong with Blood Money—but just don’t expect it to be an easy ride.

I have been playing MW4 ever since the beta came out around a month ago, and I still don't think I will be putting it down for a while. MW 4 has everything that MW 3 failed to offer.

The franchise mode is so well done that it actually feels like a baseball RPG with a fantastic underlying, playable baseball engine.

It's one of the few games where the hype is well deserved, and I'm really curious to see what the ACE team does for the next endeavor.

I can't gush enough about how excited I am that the Soulcalibur name has reclaimed its greatness in the annals of fighting titles.

It’s not going to make anyone forget about the existence of Pokémon Snap, but it certainly does enough to justify picking it up.

Besides being a beautiful translation of one of Capcom’s best fighting game series, it is quite possibly the best handheld fighting game ever created.

It’s pretty much what you’d expect from a 2D Kirby game – but seeing as the baseline for those is “cute platformer that won’t tax you too much and that you can play with pretty much anyone,” that’s hardly a bad thing. Add in a few new elements, and you have the ingredients for a pretty solid remake.

It is easily one of the best downloadable games to come out this year, and more than worth the price of admission.

All in all, Broken Steel winds up being a great diversion and a good excuse to re-visit the Capitol Wastelands. Between the continuation of the storyline, the tougher enemies, and the great amount of action given, it's well worth the $10 to take a ride with the Brotherhood of Steel one more time.

The only real, but minor, issue I have with Allegiance is the stiffness of the tech tree. While it is a very big tech tree full of all sorts of upgrades, once a person commits to a path on the tech tree, the amount of resources required makes it really hard to change tactics if required.

If you have a friend to play along with, then that's obviously the way to go, but don't let the thought of playing with the AI deter you from picking this up. It's a great game, and well worth your time.

While professional sports have been cancelled indefinitely, something like Dunk Lords arrived just in time to help with social distancing (I mean it doesn’t even have online play…although I hope they implement it at some point otherwise it might prevent the title from having serious legs). That said Dunk Lords is close to a total package for an arcade sports game. Great gameplay, fun gimmicks, colorful cast, I certainly look forward to a console port.

If you’re coming from the PC version of the game, Scholar of the First Sin is a bit less enticing. But if you’ve only experienced the Xbox 360 or PS3 version, Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin certainly comes off as a definitive version worth checking out.

The environments are some of the most atmospheric I have ever experienced in a first person shooter - PlayStation or PC.

After playing it for an extended period of time, I think it is a great game and would recommend it to anyone who is on the fence and loves racing games. Unfortunately, the candle on this game burns out a little too quickly, with only a few modes supported for online play.

Obviously, if you’ve played Quake at any point in the last 25 years, there’s probably not a pressing need for you to pick it up on current-gen systems — it’s basically the same game here that you could’ve played at any time in the last few decades. But if you want to see a seminal first-person shooter that’s aged surprisingly well, be sure to hunt this one out.

Voice chatting during the game with people from all around the country, while hammering through the games dungeons and challenge modes, is an awesome experience.

To some extent, Sir Eatsalot is good for all the usual reasons a game is good. The characters, from the titular knight down to all the random enemies and allies he meets along the way, are as fun and relatively well-written. Along those same lines, Gluttington, the kingdom in which the story takes place, is richly imagined, with tasty-looking foodstuffs falling from every tree and colours that make the world pop off the screen. And, of course, the story is as compelling as it needs to be, with a plot that makes sense and keeps the action going for a couple of hours.

Mario Kart Wii is the penultimate multiplayer experience on the Wii, and a must-own title for anyone serious about gaming.

I love Dokuro enough that I've stuck with it even after countless deaths, and I'll continue to stick with it long after this review gets published (because honestly, I'm nowhere close to the end, even though I've already sunk countless hours into it). It's a joy to play, and if you have a Vita, it's a must-own game.

Overall, Resident Evil 3/Resident Evil Resistance is a solid release that hardcore fans will love and will bring something fresh for newcomers to the series. It may not be RE2R, but that doesn’t hurt it in the end. It’s a memorable experience and can’t wait to complete it on Hardcore.

A true workhorse, it does everything strongly and efficient, and doesn’t have any real weaknesses that can’t be overlooked over a short bit of experience with the title.

All in all I found myself really impressed by what Call of Juarez: Gunslinger brought to the table. It took a series name fouled by a recent entry and essentially turned it into a respectable property once again, without completely abandoning the setting or tone found in earlier titles.

As sad as it is to think there may never be another new WipEout title ever, I'm still satisfied that Sony at least went through the trouble to remaster some of the better WipEout games for the PS4. But who knows… the series could have some life left in it, and hopefully long-time fans and those new to the Anti-Grav experience will at least get a chance to appreciate it at its best in WipEout Omega Collection.

Again, there’s absolutely nothing here that’ll derail your enjoyment of the series if you’ve enjoyed Etrian Odyssey for quite some time. And you’re not likely to find a more perfect jumping on point if you have yet to experience the series.

Haven is the rare game that excels at making its characters seem believable and human, especially when it gives them nothing more to do than just being themselves. The end result may feel a little familiar for anyone who’s lived through the past year, but that doesn’t make the game any less worthwhile.

I'd almost go as far as saying that EyePet makes the Move worth it alone, especially if you have children.

Occasional repetition or not, it’s designed to be addictive for a certain type of person (i.e. me), and before long, you’ll reach the end and wish there was still more to do. If that’s not the sign of a game worth checking out (and, perhaps, that Lightwood Games may want to think about some DLC), I don’t know what is.

Every game has a quick save function in addition to the standard in-game save points, so you can essentially pick up, play, then put down at any point. So while I certainly would like to see more supplemental material in collections like this, I’d also argue that Collection of Mana is a selection of three great games, one of which was previously unreleased here, and still worth checking out.