Toy Soldiers: War Chest is a great idea marred by unforgivable, technical flaws. Even with all of the problems that the game has, I still get enjoyment out of playing it, but it should be so much better.

I really wanted to like NASCAR 2011: The Game; but while the core racing can be pretty interesting (especially on the short tracks), the overall game is held back by paper-thin career mode, unformed gameplay features, and unfriendly difficulty. I'm not a follower of NASCAR, but I hoped NASCAR 2011: The game would make want to. I didn't.

A solid, but not mind-blowing game. I had fun with the title, despite very little prior knowledge about the series.

I can only recommend this title to the most patience of the hardcore and even then only after there has been a patch to fix lingering technical issues.

Senren Kagura: Burst is great in short 'bursts' of gameplay, but is it worth the social stigma of having something so blatantly perverted on your 3DS? I'm still trying to unlock everything after completing this review, so I guess it is.

The only problem is the game is fairly short after you play it, and the quality just seems to be lacking.

Combing rooms for items and gadgets can only get you so far when it comes to actual engagement with both the story and gameplay of Lucid Dream, rather than evolving the genre, like the now-defunct Telltale Games did with its one-off hit The Walking Dead, all this title has done is highlight the so-called Adventure Genre's repetitive flaws in an effort to bask in the imagined fun of the past.

Kersploosh really isn’t that bad of a game, it’s just short and repetitive. The main replayability in this game is just completing the same ten wells over and over using different objects to improve your times. However, for $3 it is a nice game to play in short bursts.

Minecraft New 3DS Edition isn’t a bad game at all—at its core it’s still the same brilliantly addictive creativity sandbox. That said, its complete lack of multiplayer and the availability of the vastly superior Nintendo Switch version for the same price unfortunately makes Minecraft on 3DS functionally obsolete.

Neoverse dispenses with story (and a perhaps more-important tutorial) to get players straight into the action, trusting them to figure out the game's intricacies on their own. Those with the patience to learn Neoverse will be rewarded by its amazingly deep, fun, and varied gameplay. With three very different characters to choose from, and a mountain of systems and modes, Neoverse is one of the most addictive deck builders I've played.

Great arcade fun, but the rigid mission structure and the absence of a good save game function can be frustrating when playing lengthy or difficult missions.

Tiny Troopers takes a simple concept of twin stick shooting and does absolutely nothing new with it at all. If you're looking for a game with something worthwhile to offer, you've come to the wrong place.

There's plenty to do in LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins, but a lot of it feels like padding for a somewhat disappointing story that will really only appeal to kids.

It is a family oriented action game that sticks to the mold of the genre from beginning to end. The younger gamers will thoroughly enjoy the adventure and older gamers won't be completely annoyed by having to either watch or play along.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa certainly isn't the best game of the year, but it's not a bad game for kids who enjoyed the film series.

Death Rally is quick and easy to pick up and learn, but quickly runs out of steam. Wait for the half-off sale on this one.

Space Commander: War and Trade makes the transition from mobile to console without considering what changes would make the game more palatable for console players. A very basic trading system, a fiddly map, and super simple space combat all add up to an experience that underwhelms. There is a lot going on in Space Commander, but not very much of it is fun.

Fuse has a promising concept that slowly crumbles to reveal a severe lack of execution.

Is it the system-seller that PS VR2 fans were hoping for? Not exactly, but there is plenty to like about Firewall Ultra. It’s an extremely comfortable VR shooter with fun tactical gameplay that uses the headset’s features in an interesting way, though it does take some getting used to. Sluggish progression and minor bugs need to be addressed, but First Contact Entertainment has been updating the game rapidly since launch.

If Splatterhouse has caught your interest you should give it a rent. It's a solid action game with an interesting story and a lot of blood. There's enough content to justify a purchase, if you like the series.

Fracture believes in itself from beginning to end, manufacturing a world crafted 100% around and for Terrain Deformation. This unswerving dedication builds a consistent universe around itself, at the expense of color and variety in gameplay.

Bientôt l'été can technically be considered a video game by utilizing the medium, but relating the experience more to a conceptual piece of art or installation work would be more appropriate. However, those individuals seeking a video game experience outside of the norm shouldn't hesitate to visit the bold and unique world of Bientôt l'été.

A mixture of fun ideas and careful gameplay with excessive micromanagement and poor AI make for a game that has its moments, but falls apart under fire.

If the story were better and there was more variety than just rote cover-based gunfights and frustrating car chases, Blood Stone might be up there with classics like GoldenEye and Everything or Nothing, but as it stands it's more of a 007 side story than this year's movie stand-in.

With its horrendously boring gameplay and overall buggy presentation, I claim Fantastic Four to be fantastic for no one.

Trinity Universe isn't quite the shining star I was hoping it would be. A complicated character augmentation system and a bland sense of exploration keep this adventure from being truly stellar.

After you get past the glossy menus and the cutesy mascots you have what can best be described as an average track and field experience.

Perseus Mandate will probably feel pretty familiar to anyone that has played previous iterations in the series, but is a worthy title for someone new to the scene.

While there are aspects in the game that mimic some of the more expensive shooters out there, Blacklight: Tango Down just doesn't play well in a lot of areas.

Sym is a valiant effort to convey how social anxiety feels, but its platforming mechanics aren't solid enough and distract from the story and themes. The art style is striking, but the story and thematic elements are too broad to leave a lasting impact.

I haven’t much negative to say about Paleo Pines. I don’t love it, but I do like it a lot. The retail price of $29.99 is more than fair considering what you get – you get a lot of bang for your buck. I was able to overlook the basic visuals to see the magic behind them. While the farming elements feel basic, the dinos make this game stand out from the crowd. Collecting and taking care of them is worthwhile and feels rewarding in the long run.

Give credit to SoftLab-Nsk for trying. Rig 'n' Roll is hardly the best racing game of the year, but it's certainly better than the competition.

Volition’s gamble to reset and reground Saints Row pays off generously. A visual delight, with plenty of gameplay mechanics to keep players goofing off for days, and the Santo Ileso setting is one of the best in video game history. Sure, the shooting gets redundant after a while, but with so much to see and do you can go hours in between gun battles. Saints Row manages retain what players loved while feeling fresh and new. Other reboots, take note – this is how you do it.

Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker has both its good and bad moments. Unfortunately a lot of the bad moments for me was with the combat and constantly getting knocked down with barely anytime to defend myself when getting back up before the onslaught continued, but a lot of that I’m willing to chalk up to my own lack of skill. Still, the VR Missions are enjoyable once you learn the nuances of combat, but don’t expect to see me floating around the online lobbies any time soon.

War in the North never quite manages to exceed in neither gameplay or presentation. Ultimately, lackluster environments and repetitive combat make for an experience that seems out of place in the world crafted by Tolkien. Even if Lord of the Rings precedes the title, War in the North does not live up to the level of quality set by previous franchise media.

If you're looking for a mash-up between Mario Party and a role-playing game then you can do worse than Dokapon Kingdom.

While this game has some positive aspects (Movie Graphics, mindless killing, beautiful attack combos), the lack of a true identity and engaging plot make the effort hardly seem worth it.

Shadow run is a campy romp that doesn't take itself too seriously. Its fun to play through, but only mimics (and doesn't quite stack up to) the exceedingly excellent XCOM. There is better weapon class variety, character customization, and a few other points where it might exceed its muse, but it measures up just a shade below on most other occasions.

Ashwalkers promises a dreary trek across low-poly wastelands—and it delivers. It also seems to promise a tale rife with moral dilemmas and unassailable camaraderie—which it doesn't hit hard enough. The biggest dilemmas are often too big to comprehend on a human scale. And the human interactions left me cold and calculating when they should’ve had me digging in my heart of hearts for the answers.

Return to Mafia II in yet another unspectacular expansion pack. Joe's Adventure has the potential to be great, but it falls short thanks to boring filler missions, a lack of a checkpoint system and a frustrating timer. And worst of all, it turns out that Joe's adventure is barely worth telling. This is only for the most hardcore Mafia II fans!

There isn't a single redeeming quality to Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes that will justify playing the game to its full extent.

While it lacks the portable entertainment value of the GBA version, so does it also lack the tears of frustration that can result with kids who don't deal well with unresponsive controls.

Unchained Blades is ultimately marred by a narrative structure that works against the best elements of the role-playing game genre. Just when things are about to get good, the game throws you for a loop and hits the reset button. The simple gameplay and paper-thin characters aren't enough to make up for this unfathomable design decision.

There are some truly original elements in Demonicon's world and narrative that unfortunately are too brief and few overall. At its current price, The Dark Eye - Demonicon can only be recommended once it goes on sale or enters the bargain bin.

Island Time VR is an enjoyable and inoffensive little diversion that I spent a few fun hours with. That said, I have a hard time recommending Island Time to anyone that isn’t spending an afternoon giggling with buddies. This is the sort of game that is fun to demo VR on a rainy day, providing entertainment while watching someone flail around. But unfortunately, there just isn’t enough gameplay present on this tiny island to engage an experienced VR player for more than a couple of short sessions.

Dead to Rights: Retribution is a lukewarm 3rd person shooter, whose redeeming qualities are overshadowed by overly repetitive gameplay.

A disappointing PSP game that is hurt by poor controls, a lazy camera, and some strange editing decisions!

Eyes of Heaven offers a wacky story with plenty of varying dialogue that will bring in even the most casual Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, but the gameplay is average at best that doesn't offer much substance other than making sure the button mashes connect before the opponent's does. Fans of the anime will appreciate this game, but the casual gamer will not get much out of this title.

Even if you haven't played any of the other Lost Planet games, Lost Planet 3 is a great game with a lot of action and a good story.

Chuck's Challenge has finally made it to Steam, and the puzzles and mazes are better than ever. Chuck Sommerville and his team at Niffler have created the rare followup that not only does justice to the '80s classic, but improves upon it as well.

Zombie Driver was good as an Xbox Live Arcade game, and even better on the Xbox One.

Ninja Shodown is one of those games where the Multiplayer shines more than the single player experience. That’s not to say the game isn’t fun alone; it is, but there’s more mayhem to be had in multiplayer, especially Versus Mode. It’s hard to recommend for $15 if you don’t plan to play with friends, especially with no online play, but if you have some friends who want to kick up some ninja-style mayhem, you’ll want to check it out.

Just be aware that you're getting in to a game that's got a few rough spots that you'll have to navigate to find the good bits. You'll also have to brown bag it when you walk out of the store.

It is not a bad game, it just is not a very good one.

Deiland: Pocket Planet Edition has a lovely, relaxing vibe, and some pleasant, very recognizable farming mechanics. But some quest problems lead to frustration – and worse, hours of bewildered wandering. When progression grinds to a halt and there is nothing to do but grow endless crops, Deiland starts to feel less pleasant, and more like a purgatory.

If you’re looking for a decent shooter you’ve come to the right place. Atari and Zombie could have done much better given the promise seen in the first few levels, but the poor level design and weak AI kill the game before it can truly get off the ground.

While it's easy to compare it to Capcom's 1989 hit Strider, Moon Diver certainly stands on its own. The game does suffer from repetitive gameplay and a bit too much grinding, but the fact-paced action and four-player mode more than makes up for the shortcomings!

Bus Driver is easy to learn, but will be quickly mastered. It may not have a lot of replay appeal for adults, but younger drivers will probably enjoy it.

This is a great game for the target audience, young teens, but will leave older fans of the Transformers disappointed.

I'm really disappointed in Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, and also confused. How could such a good idea be this flawed in execution? There's nothing redeeming this game from all its faults, which is truly a shame.

Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live is a bit of an odd duck, it's not a game in the traditional sense, but it's an interesting experience. The PSVR seems like the perfect home for Hatsune Miku, hopefully we'll see a proper game in the future.

Braveland Trilogy is a fairly solid set of games, simplistic as they may be. You can adjust the difficulty during the game so you can make it as easy or as difficult as you wish at any time. While it would have been nice if the games were at least a bit more complex, keep in mind that these are ports of mobile games so the simplicity makes sense here. Even still, if you want a complex strategy game, you might want to look elsewhere but if you’re okay with simple, Braveland Trilogy is worth checking out.

Need For Speed : Payback is a game that everyone hoped might put the series back into the limelight of seat-of-the-pants racing. Instead, the game has middle-of-the-pack graphics, weak storyline, emotionless driving and a poor upgrade system. This game is definitely a car in full-throttle reverse instead of speeding off in the right direction.

Shows its age in both the lack of technical sophistication and the almost forgotten subject matter.

Evoland is a great concept but comes across as more of a “proof of concept” than an original adventure. There are some great ideas here, but too much time is spent paying tribute to its RPG predecessors than it does crafting an identity of its own. Shiro Games has a great concept here, now they need to build on it.

It’s easy to compare Zombie Apocalypse to Burn Zombie Burn, but unfortunately the game doesn’t share its witty charm or long-term appeal.

It's not all that innovative and some of the format choices are questionable, but the stylus control works great and you're getting a lot of the same stuff for a low price.

Build a Bear Workshop captures the magic of actually building the bear, but after that the game mostly falls flat.

It's a slightly frustrating, fascinating trip back to a world like you've never seen, and I think the $20 asking price is well worth that alone.

Kalypso Media's Air Conflicts: Secret Wars offers an arcade-style single-player mode that will appeal to the casual air combat gamer and a multiplayer component that will offer a tougher challenge to the more serious player, but only if other players actually show up.

StarDrone Extreme feels so much better than the original release; this game feels as if it was meant to be on the Vita from the start. It has that same old-school, beat-your-school appeal of a classic arcade game and the gameplay fits perfectly with the abilities of Sony's new handheld.

It's unfortunate the Senran Kagura: Bon Appetit! is a game with decent mechanics and visuals, but it's terribly short on content and within a few hours you'll have seen everything this game has to offer.

A remastered game is still the same old game, but with prettier graphics. Current owners of Sniper Elite 2 probably won't find better graphics to be worth a purchase, but new players wanting to start the venerable series near the beginning might want to give it a try.

Schrodinger's Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark seems like the perfect game for your kid to play. It’s a cute puzzle-platformer that can spark a scientific interest. Your kid could probably also look past the fact that it’s also a puzzle-platformer ripe with tacky one-liners, uninspired level design, and repetitive game play, all of which combine to ensure that it’s far from phystastic.

Game & Wario is a fun collection of distractions but it’s missing an engaging core experience.

This is a gaming thoroughbred that will demand you feed it over the holiday season. If your first priority this week is the DS, make your second one a copy of Spider-Man 2. It’s the game that will show your friends what the hardware truly can do.

There aren’t a lot of unlockables or extras, but you’ll be getting solid, challenging rhythm racing in a portable size. Casual players unfamiliar with the series might find the difficulty a little steep and hard to get into.

Happy Wars is a simple multiplayer action game for the Xbox Live Arcade. While it is ripe with problems, it's also a free game that is worth checking out. You won't find anything original here, but the fast-paced action is both chaotic and addictive.

Gamers shouldn't be fooled by the lighthearted premise of I am Bread as both difficult controls and gameplay mechanics result in continual frustration. I am Bread would have been better off as a funny, short gimmick and not a complete game focused around the premise of being a bread slice.

Kinect Sports Rivals is a great leap forward for the series but it still shows the shortcomings of the Kinect technology.

Hunted: The Demon's Forge tries to hybridize fantasy dungeon crawling and cover based shooting, but the mix isn't exactly elegant. There are a few glimmers of charm but the frustrating combat and linear, generic environments made it hard to stay interested.

Moon Diver takes all the charm of a retro-action arcade game and presents it with a shiny, new-generation look. At the core though, this game is about as old school as they come. As much as I love it, I am afraid that this is one solely for fans of the genre.

Pac-Man is out of his depth in this brand new Xbox 360 action game. Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 is a mediocre platformer that recycles elements from much better games. It's also plagued with technical hiccups that make certain levels nearly unplayable. It may be aimed at young children, but even they deserve a better action game.

Risen is by no means a perfect port, or the best western style RPG on the Xbox 360. Despite its flaws I had fun with this game.

I had a lot of high expectations for Dolmen, considering the premise and gameplay genre. Unfortunately, it botches just about every aspect of being a Souls-like game. There were many concerns that I could look past in the demo, but are inexcusable in a full release. Not only are the technical mechanics poorly implemented with inaccurate hitbox detection and animations, the artificial difficulty and long spans of nothingness make the game frustrating for all the wrong reasons.

The in-game experience is excellent, with beautiful scenery, accurate courses, and the true feel of a broadcast. The overall product is hurt, however, by a lack of courses, big name golfers, and stripped down modes. Gamers expect to be wowed after two years of development, not left with an empty feeling.

Crash Bandicoot still has a lot of potential left in him, but the developers are going to have to try harder than this if they want to resurrect this floundering franchise!

Captain America is a good game that is held back by questionable design decisions. The solid combat system provides a superb foundation upon which shaky gameplay decisions were built, resulting in a forgettable experience featuring flashes of brilliance. Give it a try though, it's a fun trip while it lasts, but unfortunately doesn't leave a lasting impression on you, either good or bad.

Khaos Reigns is a mess of multiverse nonsense featuring mostly a cast of characters we know and care nothing about because they aren't from the main timeline. The whopping $50 price tag for this is insane. I would say that if you care about the characters, then just wait and buy them separately because the story expansion isn't worth that price at all.

When your only motivation to continue is to see just how far down a tiled dungeon you can get, I became exhausted. I love the combat system. The amount of weapons and armor you can equip your party members is great. But with the game not providing any story or character motivation, I became weary. While I enjoyed the mechanics and searching, the somber feel of Dungeon Encounters made me realize why they don't quite make them like they used to.

The 360 version limits interactions with other players and turns it into a glorified standard multiplayer title. If that's what you prefer, the 360 title is for you. However, MMOs should stay on the PC, and that is exactly the case with Defiance.

Ryse is fun at points but is ultimately held back by its repetitious nature. Still the game is a great way to show off the graphical capability of the Xbox One.

The Viet Cong are everywhere in this game, and they just keep popping up out of the bushes, just like the war movies and stories I know we’ve all read about the Vietnam War.

Even with good looking graphics and catchy retro-inspired tunes, Spectra is disappointingly shallow.

A Game of Dwarves could have been a better revival of the genre that Dungeon Keeper started, but it's still a solid title and at $10, anyone in this particular niche will get what they payed for.

Dead to Rights: Retribution doesn't try to reinvent the wheel; instead it's perfectly fine wallowing in the franchise's past successes.

While not every idea in Edge of Eternity fully gels, developer Midgar Studio gets enough right that the game feels familiar and welcoming – a fantastic classic RPG in modern clothing. With fun characters, a solid battle system, and just enough surprises to maintain the player’s attention, Edge of Eternity announces the arrival of Midgar to the top echelon of JRPG developers.

A Fistful of Gun is a tough-as-nails throwback to classic top-down arcade shooters. It's best played with friends, but its finicky control schemes and steep learning curve make it difficult to get into.