It kind of feels like Koei Tecmo dragged this franchise out from the closet under the stairs, dusted if off, then threw it back out to the masses. It's more Deception, and it's pretty good. But beyond that, it's a game that's strictly for the fans.

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.

Looks good, plays good, a nice use of souls-like mechanics to penalize players for dying but still lets you run freely and enjoy the game at your own pace; there is a lot to like about Foregone. It lands itself squarely near the top of the 2D action platformer pyramid. A little more depth in the skill tree and a little more oomph in the special abilities could take it to that next level, but it stands on solid footing and offers a class leading experience.

Modern Hits is more of the same uninspired and painful gameplay you've already experienced!

In a game that brings a little of the very best of retro point and click gaming nostalgia and also some of it's worst, only a decent narrative and a big plot twist can save Richard and Alice from a far worse fate than living in an ice world.

With smooth gameplay, a well constructed narrative, and AI that is sufficiently intelligent; Dawn of Andromeda offers enough to overcome its learning curve and keep replays fresh. There will be a learning curve because much of the nitty-gritty of managing settlements never really grace the tutorial or hints, but after a few matches, likely leading to a few annihilations, much of the game management, must-do's, and politics fall into place. It errs a little heavy on the necessity for a strong early military, but I guess that's just the proof that it exists in the space of a hostile galaxy.

Fire Tonight is a very brief, albeit enjoyable, tribute to the early '90s and synth-pop band Information Society in particular. Though the mechanics in the game are somewhat basic, it is still fun to see a video game take the time to visit a world 30 years gone. People of a certain age (and Information Society fans) will likely get a charge out of this one.

Code Name S.T.E.A.M. has an interesting premise and an initially appealing aesthetic. But then the gameplay comes along and teams up with a crushing difficulty to deflate what should have been a great piece of hokey Americana.

EA was smart to snatch up the rights to Immortals of Aveum. It’s an impressive debut from Ascendant Studio, featuring a refreshing take on FPS combat, a great fantasy story with loads of interesting lore, and an endearing cast of characters. Bottom line – I can’t wait to see what Ascendant does next.

A robust tutorial. Classless character builds. Overwhelmingly open-ended gameplay. Ship designs you’ll need to wear a bib for. And a breed of PvP that’ll make adrenaline junkies sign up for rehab. Sci-fi worshipers: This is your Mecca.

As the strongest entry yet, Devil in Me is a great finale for Season One of The Dark Pictures Anthology. With an original story and some showstopping sequences, the game is a step up for the series, despite some minor technical and animation issues. Fans of the franchise and horror in general should not hesitate to pick this one up, as Supermassive shows the true potential of its anthology experiment.

Flame Over is purposely vague, to the point of being perplexing at times. While the game is action-packed and full of interesting ideas, the package doesn't come together in a cohesive fashion.

World Gone Sour is a fun little game with a few surprises and flaws. However, for $5 you should get a decent value for your money without getting force-fed Sour Patch Kids advertising.

Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon is a fun game, but it still has its frustrating moments.

Man of Medan starts out well enough but just falls apart towards the end leading up to a pretty anti-climatic ending thanks to a twist that was given away at the very beginning of the story. It's not terrible but it's not nearly as good as Until Dawn. Still, as a fan of Until Dawn, I still enjoyed the story for what it was but I didn't really have a desire to go back and play through it again after finishing it the first time.

Wolfenstein: Youngblood takes one of my favorite FPS series and ruins it with repetitive grind, bloated FPS mechanics, a broken, mandatory co-op system and a frankly insulting story. Don’t touch this one with a ten foot pole.

If you're looking for a relaxing way to pass the time and improve your architectural skills, Poly Bridge 2 is worth checking out.

As it is now, Ashes of the Singularity is a solid RTS game that will only get better with age. The game delivers large scale battles but falls a bit short in the personality department.

Eternal Strands has potential to be a great action adventure game, but it is weighed down by eternal fetch quests. It's beautiful to look at, but hard to withstand the hand holding hinderance. I know who this is for, but there are better entries to scratch your magic weaving itch.

Although this game is based on the new animated series, Transformers Animated: The Game has a solid single-player campaign that will test both your reflexes and your brain.

Battleborn is a good game, that provides plenty of fun but it's just incredibly frustrating seeing all of these tiny issues that come in and ruin the fun every so often.

If you're looking to build a fishing industry empire, this is not for you. On the other hand, if you find yourself daydreaming of making your living by farming the oceans, you might enjoy Fishing: Barents Sea. It offers a fairly easy learning curve and an almost completely stress-free playing style that allows you to play the game the way you want to.

X-Plane may not be for everybody because of its focus on accuracy and its sometimes steep learning curve, but it will reward the diligent user with a simulation worthy of the word.

One of the coolest things is how many airplanes there are flailing around in huge dog fights. At any time there could be 10 or more planes swirling around shooting at each other, and if you don't keep an eye out, at you.

There are a few memorable moments sprinkled throughout this adventure, but this newest LEGO game covers too much familiar ground.

The truth is that you probably don't need a two-thousand word review to tell you whether or not Manhunt 2 is your thing, you should already know if the game is your cup of tea.

Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse - Part 1 is thoughtfully constructed with low-pressure environments and the promise of a global thriller with a supernatural curse reaching back to Biblical times. It’s strung me along this far, so I’m ready for part 2, but part 1 is doing very little to hint at any major payoff for this sleepy but good-natured point-and-click adventure.

Wait for this game to come down in price and then hope there are still some people left playing online.

This is the Destiny we have for now. And things will change over the next year, a lot of tweaks are incoming. Difficulty will probably be scaled back as the current state scares away new and casual players. The consumables economy is likely going to need to be tweaked as well, the game will evolve with the seasons, but Lightfall itself is an overall disappointing chapter in a game that remains excellent. Bungie appears to be buying time until the Final Shape next year, and we're being asked to pay for it.

The bottom line with this game is that you get what you pay for, and even at $39.99, Earth Defense Force 2017 is simply overpriced. The physics and audio are so last gen, that even after blowing stuff up for some limited enjoyment, you just want to put the game away and play an Xbox Live Arcade title instead.

Although rough around the edges, Deception IV: The Nightmare Princess gives players a chance to kill people in some of the most brutal ways possible. Fans of wanton violence and Rube Goldberg contraptions will have a bloody good time setting off traps. And with two full games to choose from, this PlayStation 4 port will keep sadistic murderers busy for dozens of hours.

Sword of the Necromancer is by no means a perfect game, but it's still enjoyable with a few issues here and there. Tama never feels like she's getting stronger and the monsters you summon are hit and miss as to whether they'll actually be effective in a fight or just randomly run around the room going nowhere near where you want them to. The bosses are also hit and miss when it comes to those that require strategy and those that just have you run away for a bit before getting in one or two hits and repeating. However, the story is great and well voice-acted and the soundtrack has a lot of nice tracks to listen to.

The Golf Club 2 could have been a non-sponsored, better priced game as an alternative to the full-pro games out there, but it really needs a good shakedown to be a valid option. A better swing system, a better putting system, and an overall touch-up to the aesthetics (crowd, graphics issues, player) would make this a viable alternative to sponsored games costing 20-30 dollars more but have a fancy name on the cover.

If you’re a fan of literature, games with meaning, or unique art styles, then you won’t regret playing The Wanderer: Frankenstein’s Creature. A calm, sorrowful, and beautiful adventure awaits you, with poignant storytelling from the very Creature you control. The landscape will splay out around you in vibrant watercolors, and the music will guide your emotions. There is no thrill, no fast-paced adventure, no strategy, so if that’s your cup of tea you may want to look elsewhere. Otherwise, this game is a beautiful book come to life, and is absolutely worth the play.

While not perfect, if you’re looking for some Dr. Mario on the go, Miracle Cure is still worth a shot.

It may not be the best action game of the year, but it's worth playing through if only to hear the amazing soundtrack!

The Callisto Protocol is a gorgeous and gory science fiction horror experience that lives up to its big brother Dead Space in many ways, but fails to do so in others. The high production value, stellar cast of characters, top notch audio and visual design, and an excellent mix of adrenaline pumping action and terrifying horror are all overshadowed by a frustratingly designed dodge mechanic.

The Conduit is a flawed masterpiece: it doesn’t quite live up to the nigh-unreachable hype built up around it, but by breaking so much ground on the Wii it does something more important than meet the hype.

NHL 2K9 is a significant upgrade from the 2K8 offering, but the complete rewrite has some noticeable flaws that demand attention in the 2K10 edition.

A run-of-the-mill fighting game that will only appeal to kids that simply can't get enough of the Shrek franchise, and even they will find that Super Slam doesn't offer much by way of long-term playability.

A solid, but still returnable, second serve that could use a little more mechanical tinkering.

Star Fox Zero offers a blend of a familiar story with fresh gameplay experiences and mission variety. The controls are the biggest hurdle for this game and will likely deter a lot of players. Those who stick with it and eventually get the hang of things will be thankful that they did in the end.

As of now this King of Fighters game just can't compete against the likes of "Soul Calibur," "Dead or Alive," and "Mortal Kombat." It's not a bad 3D fighting game, just one without any bells and whistles.

It's certainly worth a try, and perhaps a buy, although it's up to you whether it's a better-than-average story-based game, or just a below-average role-playing game.

Minimum is an entertaining online shooter that perfectly employs a texture-less and block-filled visual style. With a wide assortment of maps and various items to craft, Minimum is recommended to multiplayer shooter fans who've been looking for their next online addiction.

Mx Vs ATV All Out Anniversary Edition pairs an accessible, almost arcade-like (in a good way) driving/riding physics model with enough realism to make it a compelling and enjoyable way to race on the new tracks included in the anniversary edition. The majority of the new tracks are long rides through open scenery, but there are also a few shorter, indoor tracks as well for those that prefer tighter racing.

Disney Magical World 2: Enchanted Edition is a port of a 3DS game, and it feels like it. But don’t let the primitive visuals stop you from digging into this very addictive little life sim. Tolerance for saccharine song and dance may vary, but almost any gamer will likely fall under the sway of this game’s addictive hooks, at least for a while.

Operation Flashpoint: Red River trades the series' previous focus on open world tactical innovation for an improved focus on storytelling, and still offers solid tactical gameplay, but loses some of the key features of the series in the process.

You're not going to find a perfect game in R-Type Command, but what you will find is an engrossing tactical role-playing game that turns the genre on its side.

You'll have a lot of fun with this new Bionic Commando, but he ultimately plays it safe in his first adventure in twenty years.

Full of retro goodness, Joint Strike is a flashback to the sore thumb days of old.

Knack 2 is a bloated experience that no one asked for. Sony Computer Entertainment Japan can be credited with improving over the first game, but that's not saying much.

When it comes right down to it Tee It Up is an extremely bare bones release.

Despite having some handling problems and a steep learning curve, Moto GP 09/10 proves to be a worthwhile racing game.

Ye know, the sea is beautiful, and sailing in a crew is a delight, filled with sea shanties and barrels of grog. But alone, it’s a life fraught with peril, and while those who like to wander might be fine with it I need a bit more…guidance in me life, I s’pose. More camaraderie. More reward. I risked me life on those waters day in and day out, but I didn’t get as much as I wanted. In a word? Fine. It be fine.

Thymesia is a game that I expected to flop so hard given my initial impressions of the demo. But I am happy to say that the full release is much more polished and fleshed out thanks to OverBorder Studio diligently taking in the feedback of the players. Out of a sea of Soulsborne clones, it exudes just enough flavor to stand out thanks to the aggressive combat loop, robust plague weapon system, and dual health mechanic. Still, the two parry options, which require near perfect timing yet give little to no reward, need a complete rework. But hey, it’s a janky and clunky love letter to its big brother Bloodborne.

I didn’t think it was possible but the Resident Evil games have gotten as loud, dumb and tiresome as the Resident Evil movies. Overcomplicated mechanics, a confusing, schizophrenic campaign split four ways and a ridiculous plot that doesn’t just break suspension of disbelief but blends it into a smoothie make Resident Evil 6 a real chore to get through.

NHL 2K10 has made some solid improvements over 2k9, but it's still a ways from all-star caliber.

While you won't find much innovation, Order of War is a well crafted RTS game. The lack of satisfying multiplayer is disappointing but the single player game is rewarding enough to keep you coming back for more.

In a way The Crew 2 is a better game from the old, but in another way, it is also very much the same flawed racer. There is a lot of good here: open world, four racing types, huge customization, and tons of races. However, as a racing game, you’d do better with Mario Kart.

Nitro is age appropriate for the pre-teen Wii player, but will not hold the attention of the older folks in the house. The graphics are fun and attractive but won't be mistaken for the nearly photo realistic graphics available on the higher-end consoles.

Adults will hate the characters so much they'll probably never get past the second world, whereas the children will be turned off by the games dark look and steep challenge (especially towards the end).

Euro Truck Simulator 2: Going East! is a must-own expansion pack for fans of the simulation series. The added countries and cities provide players with more variety and challenge, both of which were lacking in the original game.

Hey! Pikmin is a radical shift for Nintendo’s quirky RTS series. It changes or eschews many of the series’ longtime mechanics in favor of a 2D platformer-adventure. Longtime fans might be disappointed, but Hey! Pikmin has the same charm and quality that garnered the original games a cult following—just in a more accessible, bite-sized form factor this time.

Telltale Games is fresh off the success of The Walking Dead, an episodic game fueled by dynamic character arcs and the sensation of meaningful choices. Poker Night 2 has neither of these, as its repetitive character dialogue and technical miscalculations prevent either from stealing the pot. When the chips are thrown and the hands are dealt, it's best to sit this one out.

With its great sense of humor, exciting narrative, cool art style and fun stage play antics, you would think that Foul Play would be at the top of everybody's must-buy list.

Real Boxing has a lot of the core fundamentals in place. It has customizable fighters, training mini-games, a career mode and competent multiplayer online matches. Unfortunately, the whole thing is marred by simplistic controls, cheesy animation and computer opponents that don't put up much of a fight. The groundwork is done, but Real Boxing comes up short of the KO!

If the gunplay, pacing, plot, or characterization amounted up to its stunning visual style, then Tron 2.0 would certainly deserve its killer app subtitle.

If you’re a fan of the sport and have always wanted to manage your own team, definitely give this one a shot.

Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 has its moments. The events themselves can be fun and challenging—sometimes too challenging—but overall it misses the mark in a couple of areas. The Story Mode can get tedious and boring when you're wading through text more than playing the events, and the fact that there's no tournament mode is a bit puzzling. The game isn't bad by any means, but it feels like more could have been done to enhance the multiplayer experience and to just add some replayability.

Turok’s return from death isn’t exactly a monumental occasion, but it’s not all that bad either. The new Turok is pretty average as FPSs go, but there’s definitely potential for a sequel if the developers innovate a little.

Resident Evil 0 isn't a bad game. But compared to the original remake, it certainly is a step down. I can understand Capcom trying new things and increasing the tension, but it becomes tedious more than anything. Either way, it's still a good game and still worth playing if you have never played it before or want to replay it again after so many years.

It's just a very derivative game that could have been so much more. They could have added a few new features to the game, added a few levels to the game, or even spiced it up with some real sexuality rather than the tee-hee stuff they put in the game. There are a lot of cool features in the game but it's really hard to recommend this game for ownership.

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.

Minor bugs start to stack up in Arslan: The Warriors of Legend, and they wind up sucking some of the air out of a fun Warriors game. Omega Force definitely has the formula for fun down pat, and they captured the essence of the series, so check it out if you're a fan of the source material.

A solid port that improves upon the PS3 version of the game but still falls short of the PC version and other games like it in the market.

The first two games still stand the test of time so purchase them separately if you'd like. Munch's Oddysee can't be guaranteed to work well right now even after a lot of effort but Stranger's Wrath is gaining value. Buyer beware if you must have them, but I'd save my money for even more patches.

As a tycoon game, Megaquarium strikes a very nice balance between having too much complexity vs. not having enough depth to remain entertaining. While micromanagement is not required, you do still have a lot of decision making to do. Fortunately, no in-depth knowledge of fish is required.

Gordian Quest runs well on Switch; it’s not the Switch’s fault I didn’t fall in love. The deck battler combat and roguelike elements are well made, carefully thought out, with good execution. But from the moment I began the tutorial I knew I was in trouble. Gordian Quest starts rocky and picks up steam, but forced grinding midway through creates a wall. The non-combat parts, like buying and selling items or mini-games, didn't appeal, and the story encounters fell short of the mark I was looking for.

While I did enjoy Brain Age: Concentration Training and still train every day with it, there are some aspects I didn’t enjoy. Some of the Devilish Trainings can be just downright tedious and off-putting at times while the game’s handwriting recognition could use a bit of work. However, if you can train enough days to unlock some of the other types of training, it can still be a fun experience.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla: The Siege of Paris is less of an expansion and more of a continuation, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. While Eivor's character development seemed to take a step backward, fans of the base game will still enjoy another 10 or so hours of gameplay thanks to Francia's new storyline, characters, weapons, and abilities.

Kitiara Fables is a fun action RPG, with significant time spent farming in between quests. Though there are some issues with couch co-op, the story is still entertaining enough to recommend a look.

Thunder Wolves is a great shoot 'em up with a hint of tactical finesse required now and then. It certainly packs quite a bit of bang for your bucks. Grab another controller and a good friend to have even more fun in the co-op multiplayer mode.

It had been several years since I had played Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon so I was a tad worried about doing the series justice in this review, but I can definitely say that outside of a couple of issues with giant insects blocking my camera view, repeatedly getting knocked down when surrounded by the critters, and the sensitivity of clicking L3 to turn around when moving backwards, Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain is a solid entry into the EDF series and one that anyone wanting to blast the heck out of giant insects should enjoy.

Touch My Katamari is a step in the right direction for the franchise, it's a lot of fun. Best of all, it doesn't cram the Vita's touch controls down your throat and makes good use of the hardware.

Burnout Crash is a fun little arcade-style action game marred by repetitive gameplay and simplistic graphics. Fans of the series may be confused by the new look, but the traditional crash mode gameplay is front and center. Fans going in looking for a traditional Burnout experience will be sorely disappointed!

Accent Core Plus R is the best version of the series available. The only problem is that it is also the deepest gameplay wise while neglecting to include any of the training or tutoring options that the earlier versions have featured.

The unique premise of Vostok Inc. breathes new life into the tired genre, making this moneymaking game much more than something to just play on the toilet to pass the time. While it’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, I urge you to give it a chance if you’re on the fence; it definitely didn’t seem like my cup of tea either at first, but the embedded humor and interesting mechanics made it relatively easy to suffer through the annoyances.

Automatron pays off by taking advantage of Fallout 4's pulpy, ludicrous--yet still somehow slightly dry--sense of humor. Like any good sci-fi involving robots, it exposes people's humanity and inhumanity. And it adds new toys and settlement pieces to your toolbox. It's a well-rounded piece of DLC, and introduces you to the Mechanist, one of Fallout 4's more memorable villains.

Dakar Desert Rally is one of the most accessible rally racing titles on the market. Combine that with gorgeous locations and thrilling driving, and you have a game with something to offer all racing enthusiasts, regardless of their niche.

If you're looking for a great modern war game pick up "Full Spectrum Warrior," if you want an all-around amazing war game get "Brothers in Arms," but if you simply are looking for a better first-person shooter than this, then pick up Rainbow Six Lockdown when it's available in June.

While the presentation is spot on, the gameplay is marred by combat that seems to favor the enemies. Couple this with obtuse puzzles and an aimless story and you have an adventure game that is good, but doesn't stack up to the best games in the genre.

DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing is a fairly decent, though basic, kart racer. All of the usual mechanics are present, and the character roster is fun, if a bit limited. Though the sound and visuals are wonky, kids will likely not notice, and a good variety of tracks will keep them busy for a while. Nothing extraordinary, but also nothing extraordinarily bad or broken.

There are just hours and hours of game play modes and there were more than a few nights where what was supposed to be a one hour gaming session turned into a three and four hour session.

Seems to take too much from too many other real-time strategy games, and fails to capitalize and to create its own niche.

The Steam community greenlit Excubitor—and it's apparent why. It's a fun and challenging tower defense game with a twist, steeping you in the action instead of having you just sit back and watching everything unfold.

Manticore: Galaxy on Fire is a good game but with a few issues. The occasional collision detection issues had me bouncing off of stuff that was at least a few feet away from me which didn’t help during boss fights, plus the boss fights themselves can get really difficult in the early going since you’re limited in how much you can upgrade until you level up a bit. Still, if you like these kinds of games it’s still worth checking out.

Though short, Amazing Spider Man saves the web-head from gaming mediocrity and delivers one of the better movie tie-in games in recent memory.