Like any good portable title, it’s meant to be played in short bursts, and that’s where you’ll get the most enjoyment out of this one. On the visual side, Lumines II contains every bit of style and appeal that the first title did.

To sum it all up, Nintendo has created a very fun and fresh take on the team based shooter genre, all while making it accessible to just about anyone.

Improves upon specific aspects of the original Supreme Commander, and the new Seraphim class adds quite a few new options to the multiplayer modes.

If you're itching for and old school game with some new play mechanics, I highly suggest giving Drill Dozer a spin.

But I will say that this feels like an improvement over the past two episodes, both in narrative and gameplay.

For less than $40, it’s kinda a no-brainer for gamers looking for a fun and creative, family-friendly adventure.

More car customization available before hitting the aforementioned gold medals would be nice, but for quick, dirty, racing action, there might not be a better choice on current consoles without firing up a retro classic.

One of the most disappointing games I’ve played all year.

A great upgrade for Freedom 2, and having the ability to take Felyne's into combat is a nice addition for those stuck with solo play.

It may be disappointing to some that Battlefield 4's single player doesn't live up to a hill of beans, but what they did accomplish with the impressive multiplayer mode is something special that cannot be duplicated even by Activision's mighty series.

Provided you come to Call of Duty with multiplayer in mind, I think you’ll be very pleased with what Black Ops III has to offer this year.

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!

If you have any affinity for Atlus RPG’s in the vein of Shin Megami Tensei or Persona, then I think you’ll get some enjoyment out of Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore. You can argue that it’s not quite as “mature” as those titles, but it is a fun, light-hearted take on that formula that can still present a sizable challenge throughout. The Fire Emblem nods are cool too, but you don’t really need any working knowledge of Fire Emblem to appreciate the game overall. So while you still might be nursing your disappointment in the lack of a Switch port for Persona 5, I think Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore will be a pretty good way to pass the time until that (probably?) happens.

It doesn't have the polish that GTA IV has, but at the same time I just felt like I was having more fun here than I ever did in Liberty City. The sheer amount of freedom in how you do your missions (and the lack of scripted set-ups) is one of my favorite aspects in a sandbox environment, and right now, Saints Row 2 honestly serves up the best experience when it comes to just having some fun in a big city with no rules for a few hours.

The whole package feels like it should have contained a bit more, but since the foundation it's based [on] is so solid, you can't really complain about the core gameplay.

The throwback to classic RE featured in the Mansion and Underground sequence is a nice change of pace from the rest of RE5, and while the story revelations aren't earth shattering, there's enough revealed that lore hounds will find something interesting.

Ultimately, Wolfenstein: The New Order is at once a triumph of storytelling while a failure of story structure.

All things considered, Super Mega Baseball 2 is, as I said, a very, very good arcade baseball game. It may not have the depth of an official MLB game, or the out-of-nowhere shock that made the first game such a pleasant surprise, but it works, and it’s fun. Compared to its competition this year, that makes for a monumental achievement.

What can easily be considered the best multiplayer title for the machine, and one of the best first person shooters released for a console so far.

There is more freedom in career choices, less intense caretaking, plus a few console specific features. But the gameplay is old hat for previous console players.

A great collection for nostalgic fans and newcomers alike. None of the spin-off Mega Man X titles are included in the package, but what’s included is more than enough to keep any player blasting for more.

With more polish and character balancing, Midway could have crafted one of the best pick up and play fighters in existence – but combo timing issues hurt the overall score and that’s a shame.

The shortcomings in the PS2 version have been ironed out on the Xbox, leaving hockey gamers everywhere with the best arcade style hockey game to date.

Beneath all the ugly/stylish trappings, you have an open-world mystery game, where you have to search for clues, question suspects, and figure out whodunnit. In that sense, the game is fairly rewarding, and it even challenges you in a way that most other games of this ilk don’t, in that it leaves the “who” of the whodunnit up to you, and makes it clear that the decision of who to convict is in your hands. Given how frequently most mystery games only offer one path to a solution, it’s intriguing to see a game that takes such an open-ended approach. But as far as I’m concerned, it’s a great idea wrapped in a nauseating package. No judgment if Paradise Killer’s hyperstylish aesthetic appeals to you, but I’m going to have to pass on this one.

Needless to say, I really enjoyed Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies. It’s a shame that Capcom didn’t see fit to support this game with a retail release, but maybe there’s still some hope for that.

It's nice to see such a strong effort come forth from EA and I only hope they keep this kind of intensity in the future with their other franchises as well. NCAA Football 08 is a must buy for any fan of the grid iron.

I know I really hammered on the Showcase mode, but I really did enjoy my time with WWE 2K24 as a whole, I just expected better from that mode especially based on its history. Regardless of that mode this is the definitive wrestling video game of this year or even the past five years! The enormous roster and multitude of match types will leave you with many hours of dream matches or fantasy bookings. This is an absolute buy, so grab a copy and FINALLY finish your story. Also let’s go McIntyre!

I can’t in good faith recommend KINGDOM HEARTS -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX- for a full price purchase given how they perform, even if you’re a fan. I played the Kingdom Hearts franchise on PS4, so I was ecstatic to be able to play them on my preferred platform, but other than the third entry and Fragmentary Passage, it just doesn’t seem to be easily done. I’d highly recommend a sale and having some patience if you want to dive into them, because they’re not for the faint of heart. It’s a damn shame, but I guess not every port’s gonna be a good one.