The action in Tokyo Xanadu may be a little spread out for my tastes, but when it’s on, it’s pretty fun.

I’m a sucker for the LEGO games and toys, and of course Marvel, so this release is a no-brainer for me. While I’m disappointed that characters were removed from the first game, they still fill the gaps with plenty of Marvel characters, even if some of them are questionable (Carnom). The cookie cutter formula of taking popular franchises or movies and making them LEGO games still works and until they don’t sell and/or play well, Warner Brothers will keep churning them out. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is better than the last Marvel LEGO release (LEGO Avengers) in almost every way. If you’re a fan of the LEGO Marvel games you will enjoy this release, but probably not as much as the first LEGO Marvel Super Heroes.

I feel bad about not liking Bodycheck more than I do. As someone who loves the Vita, I always appreciate when developers show the same level of devotion to the handheld. But there’s still no way I could recommend a mediocre-at-best game to people, no matter how much I want the system to continue to succeed well into its twilight years — and, sadly, this is the definition of a mediocre-at-best game.

All in all, I’d suggest passing on this, despite the fun racing framework that surrounds the game. The upgrade system is such a mess, and makes the entire game feel like a chore. And that even extends into the multiplayer, which requires you to upgrade your vehicle enough to stay competitive against other players too. It just makes for a really unfortunate experience, and ideally this is not something we’ll see repeated in future installments of this series.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR is a MUST HAVE if you own a PlayStation VR. As much of a fan as I am of everything VR, I can safely say that this is what I have been waiting for. The only other game that even comes close to this form of immersion is Farpoint, but Skyrim blows that away! I wanted an experience where I felt I was living and interacting in a complete virtual world and Skyrim VR accomplishes this magnificently. Despite it’s very minor issues, I can highly recommend getting this even if you’ve never played an Elder Scrolls game before. Even if you’ve mastered the previous versions, you owe it to yourself to give this version a try. This is one I will be definitely playing for a long time.

Overall, L.A. Noire is a solid release that gives me hope that if gamers support it, we may get some other Rockstar classics in the same vein. Can you image having games like the original Red Dead Redemption or GTAIV on the go?! I can!

SingStar Celebration is much better than its competitors, and if you want a karaoke game that gives you more guidance than just the lyrics on the screen, you’re in luck. As long as you don’t mind singing the same 30 songs on repeat and/or paying out a bit of money, it’s pretty fun.

The battles here are repetitive and uninspired. Again, depending on your feelings towards the series’ other games, you may think that’s nothing new, but here it just feels much more noticeably bland. It never connects. MMOs and faux-MMOs are ripe for parody, which you’d think would make them ideal targets for Hyperdimension Neptunia’s brand of game-centric humour, but as Cyberdimension Neptunia shows, it’s apparently harder than it looks.

I am passionate about the Star Wars product and want it to be a great experience top to bottom, so don’t get the wrong idea with my criticisms. I very much like Battlefront 2, it improves on everything from 2015’s game, but it still definitely needs work. Over time this could become the definitive Star Wars multiplayer experience but it’s not there yet; content over the next six to twelve months will be key and how EA treats consumers will also be important on the success of this game. The bigger question I have is; will all these problems at launch doom the title before it really gets going. As DLC was released for 2015’s Battlefront, I saw less and less people playing and had a much harder time getting into match ups. Hopefully that isn’t the case here and we can see this community thrive off what is really a great game that just stumbled out of hyperspace.

There are many ways this game could’ve come off as just another Japanese DRPG. To its enormous credit, it avoids all those pitfalls, and makes an interesting game in the process.

Of course, for PS4 owners, at least, there is the little matter of the aforementioned Wipeout Omega Collection, which does the futuristic racer thing better than Redout could ever dream. There’s something ironic about a game from the past capturing the vibe of the future better than a game that came out this year, but when the alternative is as forgettable as this, the choice is pretty clear.

It may be fun to play once or twice at the odd party or two, but beyond that, you’re better off grabbing the first Jackbox Party Pack and playing You Don’t Know Jack.

In other words, it’s a cross between Robo-Cop and Hotline Miami, thrown over whatever twin-stick shooter floats your boat. It doesn’t do much for me, and I suspect that, in years to come, if I ever try to recall Jydge I’ll have a hard time differentiating it from Neon Chrome, but if you just want a solid twin-stick shooter, it’ll do.

Overall, I think Call of Duty: WWII is a better game than I would have thought possible. World War II is such a tired subject in the world of video games that I didn’t think it would be possible for a developer to revisit that well once again, but Sledgehammer did a pretty solid job with this one. The campaign has its moments, even if the story is pretty bland. But the multiplayer helps bolster the overall game in a way feels fun and enjoyable, with a back-to-basics approach that makes sense for the series to revisit.

Really, that balance of sadness and nostalgia captures what Last Day in June is all about. You’ll come away from it feeling a little heartbroken, but sometimes that’s what great art does to you — and make no mistake, this is some pretty exceptional art.

If you have ever praised the sun, or if you have any fear of the old blood, Nioh is an absolute must play. A fantastic and deep combat system, coupled with great boss design and a difficult yet fair effort/reward loop put Nioh right up there with its not so distant brothers in Dark Souls and Bloodborne. If I were to assign a score to the game, simply for its content it would absolutely be a solid “A”. Unfortunately, even though it is the Complete Edition, this is not necessarily the superior version of the game. If you only play games on PC, this game is still a no-brainer to pick up, but if you’re like me and have consoles as well as a computer, I think the PS4 may still be the place to play Nioh.

It can’t match the visuals of other releases, but at the same time I don’t think it makes any major sacrifices that keep the experience from being enjoyable. Just be aware that there is a considerable difference between the Switch and PS4/Xbox One versions visually, and I think you’ll be fine.

There really isn’t much to say about this new Bubsy that can persuade the haters out there. It’s a simple, underwhelming platformer with a goofy plot and mediocre challenge. Many of the problems that plagued the past Bubsy games have been fixed or completely removed, at least making this new game playable, but that’s the only new thing really presented here. It’s fun in small doses, but gets boring with longer play sessions. I’m still puzzled as to why anyone thought Bubsy needed to make a comeback as no one really missed him. It’s not as bad as I originally thought it would be, but it’s nothing new at the same time. Give it a try if your curious, you might like it. Just be thankful they didn’t try to remake Bubsy 3D.

For less than $20, Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds (which was supplied to us by SIEA free of charge) is a meaty story-driven, single player expansion for one of the best games of the year and comes very much recommended. While it doesn’t significantly expand on the some of the mysteries that lingered after the conclusion of the original game, the new content fleshes out the universe in a way that has us more excited for the inevitable Horizon Zero Dawn sequel.

Unless you have a strange Transformers fetish, it’s a game that you can easily skip.

All and all this is an acceptable title for a fan of One Piece who also happens to be a Switch owner. For someone who has never heard of the series this game is not exactly a great tool to expose them to series. Something like One Piece Pirate Warriors would be more suitable. With the impending release of other major titles on the platform, this title might sink to the bottom of the ocean, never to be seen again.

PC is without a doubt the definitive way to play Destiny 2, if you have a system that can handle what the game demands of it. Now that the game has launched across the board, updates and new content will be available on all platforms at once, so PC players don’t have to worry about being left behind. As long as Bungie continues to support the game and ensure that the PC community isn’t ignored in favor of the PS4 or the Xbox One family of systems, Destiny 2 is a game that I will be playing religiously for years to come.

In a year full of some of the best games we have seen in quite a while, there hasn’t been much on the lackluster side. So, if, you’re like me, with a backlog of games that goes back to the beginning of the year, choose your games to play wisely and put Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus on the top of your priority list. You won’t be disappointed.

My personal favourite, though, was Survive the Internet, a game that takes internet outrage culture to new heights as you’re explicitly asked to put your friends’ words in the worst possible light. It’s the perfect set-up for players to say outrageous and inflammatory things, and I found that no matter who I was playing with, we’d invariably have to take breaks so people could compose themselves. In fact, here’s how much fun Survive the Internet is: if Jackbox Party Pack 4 only included that game, it would make the game worth picking up by itself. Add in three other ultra-fun party games (plus, admittedly, one dud), and you have a recipe for a perfect addition to Jackbox’s pretty stellar line-up.

This is the sort of game that needs to be experienced, rather than played — and if you’re looking for the perfect time of year to do that, it’s right now, so you’d better hurry up and get on it.

There’s a chance, of course, that Mecho Tales plays better with a full controller than on a handheld. But even if it does, there’s still the question on why you’d want to. Whether you’re playing the game on a small screen or a large one, there’s no getting around the fact that doing so will sear your eyeballs. Your vision is precious, and so is your time, so you’re better off using both far, far away from Mecho Tales.

This latest entry to Mario certainly helps prove that single player experiences still have a place in an industry where games as a service seems to be the norm. I managed complete the game in about 20-30 hours, a robust post-game will keep the me coming back for more. Coupled with Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, it looks like Nintendo will need to clear some shelf space when end of the year awards are named by the gaming press. If you don’t have a Switch, I’d encourage you to get one immediately before the holiday rush begins. This is an experience you should not sit on.

Assassin’s Creed Origins manages to live up to the expectation that the preview event gave me. I dubbed it “near perfect” after that event, and the final product does not disappoint. A few pacing issues late in the story caused things to drag a little bit, and the loot system doesn’t remain intriguing after the first few hours, but finding a complaint beyond that is difficult. You can nitpick some of the graphical hiccups or complain about repetitive side quests, but even those manage to stay fun and interesting with all of the different styles of play. On a day with two other heavy hitting AAA games and an amazing TV show releasing simultaneously, your time and money are going to be precious commodities. With Game of the Year talks coming up, Assassin’s Creed Origins is a serious contender for the title in my book.