Fans of the series will be impressed with the sharp visuals and small changes made to both Birth By Sleep and Kingdom Hearts 2, while simultaneously disappointed that Re:coded is given short shrift. If anything, this will whet your appetite for the upcoming next-generation sequel.

Psych Ward can feel small, but its intent is to draw you back in to the even smaller lives of the criminally insane. Likewise, you'll have to make small but important design shifts that require more attention than your regular prison wings. But if you build with purpose and intent, you just might be able to reform the toughest customers introduced to Prison Architect yet.

The Winters' Expansion ties up some loose ends, and allows you to revisit the game 16 years later. It's a short but fun romp back into the village. The Mercenaries addition is also really fun. The third person view is a little much, but if you want to find out what happened at the end of Resident Evil Village, this will surely fulfill your desires. Is Rose the future of Resident Evil? I'm here for it.

Assault Suit Leynos 2: Saturn Tribute can be a bit rough at times, mainly due to its high difficulty, especially if you’re unfamiliar with this type of game. There’s plenty of customization you can do with your mech between missions and this version’s extra options help tone the difficulty down a bit, but this isn’t necessarily going to be a game you’ll master out of the gate. However, once you put some time into understanding everything you can do and how you should take each mission, Assault Suit Leynos 2: Saturn Tribute becomes a lot more enjoyable, but it's difficulty may take you a while to get to that point.

Equal parts engrossing and buggy, Police Simulator: Patrol Officers is a couple of bug-squashing patches away from being a truly great simulator on console. Even so, Brighton and its exceedingly criminal citizenry are still worth protecting and serving, especially for fans of the genre.

Worms WMD is a back to the basics effort that proves the original formula is the best one. There is nothing broken about the gameplay. While it could use an injection of pace, it delivers a great experience both offline and in online multiplayer.

Unfortunately Commanders: Attack of the Genos doesn't take any major chances or evolve the genre in any significant way, but it does what it sets out to do and gives you a great deal of action for a mere ten dollars.

With issues of a lackluster narrative and trial and error single-player levels, the game doesn't quite achieve the status of a perfect sequel. Yet, Anomaly 2 follows the tradition of the original by setting a new standard for games in the tower offense and defense genres.

Firefighting Simulator: Ignite is one of the better simulators on console, and perhaps the best of the firefighting variety. It’s a sim on console, so you know it comes with some bugs, but if you’re into the emergency services subgenre of sims, it’s a no brainer.

The Elder Scrolls Online is a solid massively multiplayer online experience.

Fans of the long-running TV series will get a kick out of the cameos and inside jokes, but everybody else will be left scratching their heads.

Urban Trial Freestyle is an awesome experience but it just doesn’t last that long.

If you've reached this point in the game, you're pretty much invested at this point, and there's no good reason not to see this through to the end. The story and puzzle elements of Judgment make for a good setup for the climax to Resident Evil: Revelations 2.

I want to like this game, I really do. But it's holding me back from doing so. Reading into it, I find a lot of near-depth, but nothing that the game actually employs has much depth to it. There are a ton of amazing aspects that boost the game, but its larger ambitions lies just outside the reach of its execution. But it is worth a try, and an admirable achievement. In truth, I think this game is more a 7.8, but I feel the current rating it has adequately describes its qualities, while acknowledging its flaws.

Rollers of the Realm is much more than a pinball game. For the measly price of $9.99, it is absolutely worth getting even if pinball games aren't normally your thing, there is plenty here to enjoy anyway.

Estival Versus continues to build on a formula that's working for the franchise, but is starting to wear thin on its fanservice schtick. The gameplay is really hitting its stride now and has quite a bit of good additions this time around, with plenty of characters and variety. The excellent localization also helps strike a good balance between the comedy and touching story bits.

Far Harbor sits somewhere between a San Francisco noir and a Stephen King thriller. There are things lurking in the fog that you've never seen before. And warring factions fight for both the fog's preservation and eradication. And see if you can stay on task long enough to find the missing girl, too. Far Harbor is a neat collection of short stories in the Fallout 4 novel.

After weeks of waiting for overpriced packs, the Capcom Arcade Cabinet is finally complete. And while I may have complained about Capcom's aggressive pricing strategy, the overall package is ultimately worth a look. The three games found in this final pack are good, but aren't the showstoppers you might have expected!

With all of the trailers, experts, and attention to detail, I expected Project Cars 2 to take the trophy as racing sim of the year. It is definitely not. What you DO get is a game that challenges you to a frustrating degree and does so with beautiful precision. It sadly also takes a bunch of the fun out of it too.

The Dark Souls of zoo tycoon sims. Start slower than you'd like to, YouTube yet another tutorial, then watch Planet Zoo blossom before your eyes. This is a slow, mindful, niche of a sim that demands more patience and learning than you'd expect.

Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited has addressed many of the issues that plagued the first title. There are still some issues with clipping, connections, and voice chat, but the game is still quite enjoyable with plenty of quests to complete and areas to explore. It isn't the perfect MMO by far, but at least it's one that won't cost you $15 a month and you can come back to it whenever you feel like exploring Tamriel.

The LEGO Ninjago Movie Game is a terrific contribution to the LEGO games playlist. It's a fun experience without needing to be anything else. It can err on the side of triviality at times, but that's the cost of making a game like this.

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden packs interesting combat, open world exploration and lore, and numerous systems that have the player invested in what their characters, but it ends on too early a note to really have any impact.

The Revolution pack brings some great maps to the multiplayer world of Black Ops 2 but some are easily better than others. Among the additions are what could be a new classic for the series and what may be the biggest dud we’ve seen in the game, so it is really a mixed bag. Thankfully, the good outweighs the bad here and makes this a quality buy for fans of the game

If you embrace the madcap, if you let go of expectations of narrative and plot and just give in to the cult of Far Cry, then there is a lot of entertainment to be had. It's not a game I would describe as good so much as entertaining. A stoner's paradise of silly action and happenstance. That's the level on which it truly works and can be enjoyed.

With more than 150 stages and plenty of scientists to collect, PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate is a fun action game for the PlayStation 4 and PS Vita. I wish the shooting was a little deeper and I could have done without the Hungry Suit, but this is an easy game to recommend for both casual and hardcore fans of the genre.

Tharsis, you hate me, but I like you. Your small and meticulous craftsmanship. Your board game sensibilities. Your dancefloor rhythms thumping out the soundtrack to my cyclical death. I couldn't stop myself from voyaging (and dying on the way) to Tharsis again and again.

For Honor is an incredibly fun online experience with fast and fun game modes and a fantastic battle system that is simple to use but almost has the depth of a fighting game. Unfortunately, the loot box system for unlocking important items for your characters and connection issues hold For Honor back.

While far from original, Soldner-X 2: Final Prototype is a great playing shoot-em-up with enough interesting ideas to stand out. Best of all, the gorgeous visuals zip by at 60 frames per second. It may be short, but there's more than enough replay to keep this side-scrolling shooter exciting.

Children of the Sun is short, sweet and doesn't outstay it's welcome. Despite it's short length, this is a very fun puzzle game that has a lot of replay value, especially if you want to get the high score on the leaderboards or via speed running. There is a lot of potential here with this concept and id love to see the developers expand upon the idea in the future.

Fans of previous Tony Hawk or skateboarding titles who like combos and big air are going to love this game. It might not be the most realistic game (300 foot long big air traveling through downtown Hong Kong?), but it is certainly a lot of fun.

Less bang for your buck is the best way to describe Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X. You've got a truncated songlist that has to be milked for modules, giving this series a grind game that it never needed to have. It's still got some great music and the presentation is as excellent as ever, but it still feels like we've been shortchanged somehow.

Overall, a fun little puzzle game with a few nice quirks. Being able to build your own machines was a nice touch as well. However, its not really knockout stupefying or gorgeous, as the graphics are merely decent and the game's creative energy tends to drag a bit at times.

Star Wars Outlaws is a good time, once you come to terms with it's stealth gameplay. While the visuals feel rough around the edges, the story and writing are fun and the gameplay can be surprisingly engaging. Things do wear thin after doing the same stealth missions over and over again, but this is still a trip to the outer rim well worth taking.

Think the Xbox Live Arcade is nothing more than arcade ports and 2D puzzle games? Think again, because RoboBlitz is here to show you exactly what is capable when you put your mind to it. With its ambitious game play and engaging puzzles RoboBlitz is an easy game to recommend, even with the higher than usual price point.

Broken Blades frustrated me in the early goings but did get better as the game went on. However, the biggest barrier for people newer to dungeon crawlers is that the game can be overly difficult, especially since you lose most of your progress upon death, only maintaining major upgrades. Dungeon crawling veterans looking for a challenge might want to give Broken Blades a shot, but even for only two dollars the game can be very difficult and frustrating for newcomers.

Alien Isolation: Corporate Lockdown adds three well-crafted maps to the already solid survival mode. If you want more Isolation after the main story is done then this pack is $7.99 well spent, just don't expect a story as deep or interesting as Amanda Ripley's.

While the game is a fantastic improvement over the first game, the ability to play through the story mode as a created character doesn't really make up for having to play through the exact same missions while watching the exact same cutscenes of the first game all over again. That said the gameplay more than makes up for it as flying around battlefields and taking down Titans has never been more fun.

Eleven years is a long time in between games, and the developers at EA Orlando largely did a good job. There's a lot of fun gameplay but there are some issues that will need fixing for the next version. Dynasty mode is the star of the show here with so much depth you might get overwhelmed. Here's hoping EA Orlando builds upon the success of this game and does even better next year.

While ostensibly a first-person RPG, Chernobylite surprises with its fun base-building and personnel management mechanics. Creepy, weird, and unique, Chernobylite offers a great story and interesting combat scenarios—even if the gunplay is a bit glitchy. An unconventionally unique game in a very cool setting, Chernobylite is recommended for those looking for something a bit different.

This game in its current state shows a lot of promise. It is fun to play as is, and continued development and playtesting can only improve what limitations it does have.

Despite minor complaints about the story's pacing, the overall experience of Persona 5 Tactica is rewarding. Engaging combat dynamics and a strategic depth that is hidden at the game’s slower-than-I-wanted start kept me invested in the tactical twists. Persona 5 Tactica successfully delivers a compelling inter-quel that stands on its own within the beloved franchise. Persona 5 Tactica is a solid, enjoyable tactics game that still feels like a Persona game despite not being a true RPG. It successfully blends the Persona universe with a tactical RPG gameplay style. This one can be enjoyed by Persona 5 fans and tactics fans alike.

Life Goes On is an ingenious puzzle game that puts a whole new spin on dying in video games. Sadly its’ biggest downfall is the fact that the game is on the short and easy side, but if you’re trying to get every achievement and medal in the game, you can squeeze out a few more hours from this one. If you don’t mind all of that, I definitely recommend picking this one up.

More enticing systemically than it is narratively, Windbound nevertheless succeeds as a sojourner's adventure of striving for survival and greater understanding.

Borderlands 3 is a great game, but it’s definitely got some technical issues with sadly brings the score down a bit. While my issues weren’t as bad as others I’ve heard about, they’re still annoying at times. However, if you can get past that you’ll find a game that’s more of the same as previous games (especially 2 and pre-sequel), but that’s what made Borderlands great to start with. A great story, reuniting with old friends, and some pretty interesting villains ensures I’ll be coming back to open any more vaults that are found on any planet Gearbox wishes to travel to.

The racing is addictive, vehicle customization is deep, the world is charming, and there is much to see and do in LEGO 2K Drive. Some minor speed bumps are baked-in, but they cannot stop this otherwise solid racer.

Fate/EXTELLA is a great hack and slash game that will most likely please fans of the series and please non fans who are looking for a great action game to play on their PS4.

Project Spark won't have you churning out incredible games like a development powerhouse. It will, however, provide you an accessible set of tools and assets to begin the process of bringing your dream games to life. This won't happen overnight, so plan on spending a lot of time here if you are ever going to make something memorable.

Toukiden: Kiwami adds on to an already good game with more content, more gameplay variety, and some proper multiplayer that really rounds out this package.

If you somehow still haven't played Castle Crashers, now is the perfect time to do so. If you already have the game on another platform, it may not be worth the upgrade, because the game has been changed so little that you won't be missing anything new.

Stacklands is a really enjoyable game. It combines a clever survival loop of exploration and optimization, it is easy to grasp the core concepts and get your runs moving, and it definitely grabs your attention with the "just one more turn" hallmark of the best of these type of round, time, or turn based games. The only real drawback here is the Switch, or rather how uninterested this game is of making use of what makes the Switch great. It's fine when docked on to your tv or monitor, just as if it were still running on the PC. I'm thankful the developers have brought it over so Switch players can get to play it, I am just recognizing not optimizing it for a 6.2 inch touchscreen is a missed opportunity.

If you can turn your mind off for a couple of hours you'll have a great time with the third Law & Order installment.

Mirage is the ultimate Assassin’s Creed comfort food for those who’ve been longing for a return to the classic stealth formula. It’s not going to blow you away, but it’s well done, and the nostalgia you’ll feel playing it will remind you of why you enjoy the series in the first place. Ultimately, Basim and Baghdad coalesce to create a tantalizing vision of what the future of Assassin’s Creed could be – a reincarnation of what it once was.

For such a low price, Anode is just interesting enough to be a worthwhile take on a puzzle game formula.

While the total package has been scaled back, Rock Band 4 still has what it takes to be the complete life of the party. There is simply no better game to be played with your friends.

There are some problems with the mission structure, but the intense action and addictive online more than make up for the inane tank missions.

With its excellent focus on online multiplayer supported with some innovative fair-play features and related social features, Gran Turismo Sport is a great choice for drivers focused on those aspects. For offline players and those that don't want to grind to gain access to an extensive collection of cars and tracks, though, there are better alternatives.

It might be geared towards younger audiences, but it’s good enough to be placed up there with the big boys.

Gravitar is EXTREMELY difficult. It's fun to watch other people play it, especially your friends who think they're the best at gaming. Atari continues to show you that they are here to forever challenge our mettle. Gravitar will provide the challenge you need, and reward you for your bravery. I can't even say it lacks in replay value, because let's be honest, you're not beating this game anytime soon.

Kaya's Prophecy is a simple and short deck builder game, with fun tribal village theming that moves the story along. This game isn't for the intensive gamer, but rather for a quick and frivolous break from life. Uncomplicated and silly, Kaya's Prophecy would make a great introductory game for anyone who wants to learn more about this particular style of gaming.

It’s a shame I can’t see myself playing more Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed. It feels like developer IllFonic pulled out all the stops to make this a great asymmetrical title, including notable attention to detail with all the Ghostbusters callbacks. In single player, the enemy AI was fine, but the teammate AI was horrible, driving home the fact that I was playing alone. If I could convince four other humans to play with me, I could invest hours of time without blinking; it’s a shame this game requires five people to enjoy it properly.

But Galactic Assault: Prisoner of Power is certainly worth a good look for the turn-based strategy fans out there, and for those wanting something a few steps from the mainstream market.

While the developer states that they will be refining and adding to the experience, Preta already feels like a full-featured game. While the game’s fun and engaging combat all takes place in a limited environment, the depth of play makes up for the sameness of the admittedly beautiful visuals. Players can expect to get hours of fun out of Preta. For certain PS VR players, this game is a dream come true, filling a void that was aching to be filled.

Although it has a few quirks, the Ultimate Fishing Simulator does provide a believable environment paired with what seems to be a very accurate fishing simulation. While you have to play by a few rules and use defined reeling methods, there is still a good amount of personal technique required to land a fish. They put up a good fight and can be very devious in their fight to break your line - even the smallest of the fish can escape if you aren’t careful.

Have a Nice Death is not only this game's title, it's an interjection. It's the bully at the gaming playground. It's the ex that keeps coming back to your house to get their belongings, one thing at a time. You beat these types of games before, right? All of that is gone. Still a little buggy, but at it's price point, you'll have a hard time blaming the glitches, and spend more time telling yourself that you're not good at the game.

Leaving my mark on the map, and contributing to the history and legacy of a town once long gone, From the Ashes adds a meaningful economic layer whose influence stretches across the entire map.

Just Dance 2021 continues the franchise in precisely the way fans expect; beyond the 40 new tracks, this is virtually the exact same game as last year, and that is totally fine. Happy songs, bright colors, and fun animation make for a welcome good time, and the exercise certainly doesn’t hurt. If you have never tried Just Dance, take the leap. It’s much more fun than you think it is.

An excellent space combat game that is hamstrung by a lack of maps.

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is a tried-and-true game for young kids everywhere who like the Marvel universe. There is a bit too much frustration with some parts of the game and the fighting can be very ho-hum for anyone out of diapers. That said, the humor, collection of heroes, length of the game, and overall quality makes this a no-brainer for kids everywhere. Just be ready to help 'em out.

With an emphasis on improved graphics, this PlayStation 4 port is the best Tomb Raider yet. Unfortunately, this Definitive Edition doesn't add enough new content to warrant a second purchase. If you have somehow missed out on Lara's newest adventure, then Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is a must buy.

Tower defense games are a dime a dozen, but Defense Technica stands slightly above its peers with its modern presentation and some challenging new twists.

There are two competing experiences here: that as as Assassin, and that as a Viking, that either on its own feels like it might have been a triumph and better than this good but not great Assass-king hybrid we have.

Songbringer’s general aesthetic and sense of humor rubbed me the wrong way, but the procedurally generated worlds are actually a lot of fun to get lost in, and the art style and music, though occasionally harsh, have a lot of love and nuance put into them.

Lost Orbit features an endearing story that is wrapped in a wonderful package with great attention to detail. However, even at 40 levels, the game is over too soon and the wonky controls can be problematic for a genre that requires lighting fast timing.

Coming from a series newbie, Yo-kai Watch 2: Fleshy Souls/Bony Spirits is an enjoyable game, but there were a couple of things that surprised me. The mostly-automated battles confused me at first as I wasn’t expecting it, but I did get the hang of it over time. I just wish the user had more input during them other than healing and Soultimate moves, but other than that and the tedium of befriending Yo-kai, fans of the original game should enjoy the second outing as well.

AiRace Speed may not seem like much, but for $4.99 the difficulty curve ensures you’re not just breezing through the game. Some of the turns seem incredibly sharp and will put your maneuvering skills to the test, but overall AiRace Speed is a fairly fun game. Just keep the 3D turned off.

If you happened to pass on this game the first time around but are a fan of Naruto games, Full Burst is an excellent pick up for the price. The small additions go a long way toward making this feel like a complete title.

CastleStorm II's brand of real-time strategy tower defense is just challenging enough to keep you engaged, but not so much that you're throwing your controller.

Coming from a series newbie, Yo-kai Watch 2: Fleshy Souls/Bony Spirits is an enjoyable game, but there were a couple of things that surprised me. The mostly-automated battles confused me at first as I wasn’t expecting it, but I did get the hang of it over time. I just wish the user had more input during them other than healing and Soultimate moves, but other than that and the tedium of befriending Yo-kai, fans of the original game should enjoy the second outing as well.

The game has its fair share of aggravating glitches, but manages to simulate the feel of the show and offer up a substantial crime scene experience at the same time.

World of Warplanes is easy to learn but hard to master. It offers an easily accessible way to join in online dogfights, but survival is a matter of skill, practice, and experience. In its current state, it is very playable and provides a strong foundation for future development but may not have a lot of staying power due to limited strategic depth.

If I had any kids, I'd pick up The Last Tinker: City of Colors for them in a heartbeat. It's fun, it's well made, and it's got a great message behind it. Although it's a bit too simple and on-the-nose for an adult gaming audience, it would be a lot of fun to watch a kid work through the puzzles and laughing at the few references that will inevitably go over their head.

In 2023, it's nice to know that an old formula still works. Taito overloaded the cute-ness on this title. The online mode is a nice touch, and definitely extra points for the Space Invaders crossover. Plus, who can turn down online Puzzle Bobble? Puzzle Bobble fans, this one's for you. PAYOMPA!

EA Sports UFC is absolutely amazing to see in motion. It is a lot of fun to play, too, assuming you have some friends along for the ride.

The only problem that it really has is that there is nothing terribly new here.

There are definitely some quality of life improvements to these games. The never-before-released games are super cool. This collection is a little pricey, but with the music, museum, rollback netcode, and internet features, I totally understand why. If you've been playing these games forever like I have, then you may pass this up. But if you want to see where it all started, plus see what other fighting games Capcom dipped their toes into, the collection is for you. Good luck climbing the ranks though- the old school gamers and the FGC are waiting for you at the top.

The new content and inclusion of the editor is nice but if you already own the game on the Xbox 360 you might not find enough here to warrant spending another $50. I definitely like the control scheme better and it does look better than the console on high detail.

Though I am so far impressed with these Gold Master Series, this one is ranked 3rd out of 3, if I include the amazing Atari 50. I respect the hell out of Jeff Minter for being THE indie game creator. There are some games missing that may come at a later date, and some that I'll never play again. But I think that's what Jeff wants. Stay weird, Mr. Minter. Stay weird.

Despite the age of the core game, Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus still has what it takes to hang in the fighting game market.

Metal Slug Anthology offers seven amazing games for the price of one, quite a deal when you consider that just one of these Metal Slug games ran for well over $200 on the Neo Geo. There are a few lengthy load times to worry about, but other than that this makes for a near perfect collection of some of the best 2D action games ever made.

As a Saturn game, NiGHTS into Dreams under-delivered. Sixteen years later it's easy to see why, but that shouldn't keep you from playing through this bizarre dreamscape. Just be ready for some frustrating boss fights and linear flying stages!

It has tons of non-stop action and a badass character that you can really get behind. It’s just that the repetitive nature of the game really stops this from becoming a true classic.

Rise & Shine is a good action-platformer though its main shortcoming is how short the game can be. Once you get the hang of things the game can be finished in a few hours, but if you’re looking for a challenge the game’s difficulty spikes about a third of the way in and it just gets harder from there. If you're up for a challenge, this is one to check out.

While the PSP version of Test Drive Unlimited is not the most complete version of the game available, it's certainly the most impressive from a technical standpoint.

In the end I do feel that there's enough room for an arcade racing game, but it's important to realize that this type of game is not for everybody. Then again, this type of game will surely scratch a certain kind of itch that neither Forza nor Project Gotham Racing has been able to get to.

The action is extremely varied, providing a good mix of action, platforming, and other various offshoots like racing, which keeps things fresh and fun. While I enjoy creating my own characters, the requirement to purchase special crystals to do so feels like I am just being forced to buy save slots.

The core of the game is excellent, the gameplay is fun, progression balanced, it has personality, and presents as much difficulty as you are willing to chase flawless runs through the levels. However, there are small quality of life challenges that hold the game back when receiving its due. Streamline the menus and make some tweaks to really optimize the experience on the Switch handheld screen and I would have bumped the score up a notch.

On PS3 I think I would have rated it a bit higher as well given it stands out among the gaming catalogue for that system. But on PC, turn based tactical strategy games is a much more crowded field, and amongst that variety, Frozen Tactics Prime is good but not great.