There are some control and camera problems that occasionally pop up, but they don't spoil the overall experience. The levels are huge and diverse, the boss encounters are imaginative and larger-than-life, and the presentation is solid. I had a blast and don't see a reason why anyone would want to miss it.

An engaging 80's world is the playground for a romp through a procedurally generated dungeon crawl. But it's not really the changing landscape that spices up the experience, its the wildly shifting abilities earned via in-game mutations that drastically alter one run to the next. The package oozes style and has enough substance to back it up. I just find it lacking that last little bit of polish to help me decide how I want to play, not how the random number generator is going to direct me.

The vibes are right, the story is good, the graphic are fun, the sound effects are amazing, and the Xenomorphs are legit frightening. But all of that is almost undone by an antiquated save system, which combines with bugs to strand the player in frustrating gameplay loops. As a franchise fan, I would still play this game. But Xenomorphs aren't the only bugs you're going to be fighting.

Starlink: Battle for Atlas is a stellar achievement. Through its fun and accessible cast of characters, solidly made toys-to-life component, and beautiful graphics, Ubisoft has hit the ground running. With the addition of a healthy amount of Star Fox content, the Switch version is definitely the preferable way to go, but regardless of your system Starlink is a remarkably entertaining game, and an auspicious launch for a new gaming universe.

I had hoped that after a few initially rocky hours, The Alliance Alive would somehow turn it all around and be a game that I would love. Unfortunately that's not quite the case here, and on a system with no shortage of good RPGs, it's hard to sell The Alliance Alive to anyone but the most ardent of fans.

Story of Seasons: A Trio of Towns can start off a bit slow, but it picks up rather quickly after the first week or two. Between raising crops and livestock, improving friendships, and starting relationships, there’s no shortage of things to do and the game will help make sure you know how to do it all. Newcomers to the series and veterans alike should enjoy this entry in the long-running franchise.

Alone With You is the perfect game for people who want to sit back and enjoy a story that provokes sadness, relief, foreboding, attraction, and everything in between. It’s not a thriller or a fighter. It takes the concept of loneliness and transforms it into an experience that isn’t nearly as boring as it might sound at first. It could be more interactive if it tried, but the strong and complex narrative helps compensate for that—and makes it worth the money.

Outcasters is fun, fast, and easy to pick up. A shot-curving mechanic pushes the gameplay in interesting directions, allowing for unexpected levels of strategy. Though the number of modes is currently limited, the modes that are included are quite fun - and there is always room for expansion. The character collection aspect of the game is surprisingly deep and addictive.

Square Enix really outdid themselves with Star Ocean: The Last Hope International. This is a huge, gorgeous adventure with a memorable storyline and plenty of cool twists.

While not the best “game” there is, this is one of the best displays of the latest Kinect technology. The move to digital is a great choice, as is giving you the ability to compile the soundtrack of your liking in the long run. There just needed to be a lot more meat on the bones of this meal, as well as the ability to get to the main course a bit quicker.

Moonlighter is a delightful rogue-lite shopkeeping sim game (because that’s a common combination) that can either take up one day of your time or multiple weeks, depending on your playstyle and preferences. If you’re looking for a mild challenge, but want to have an overall relaxing experience in a lovingly crafted environment, then I can’t recommend this game enough.

There's a lot to like in MX vs ATV Reflex, particularly in the realm of controlling the rider. Still, while there is notable improvement over previous versions in some areas, there's nothing truly revolutionary in Reflex.

Dead Rising 2: Case West is a fun game, but the dull setting and lack of shopping makes this my least favorite installment yet.

If you're interested in experiencing a story that isn't just the standard fantasy lore, then Blackguards 2 is worth a try.

This is one of the safest Disgaea games I've played, which isn't a bad thing -- it's a ton of fun. But after ten years of this stuff maybe the subtitle for Disgaea D2 should have been "Now That's What I Call Disgaea!"

Its characters lack depth, and it could really use some sort of leaderboard or ladder to compete with. But, overall, Need for Speed Heat is worth playing even if you're just a casual racing fan. The day/night dynamic is entertaining and mixes things up. The car list is better than expected. Customization is clean and maximizes personalization. And the driving mechanics aren't overly complicated but present enough of a challenge. s

What the Bat? isn’t going to set the VR world on fire with it’s ground-breaking use of VR tech, but it is going to make VR fans looking for a simple, fun game smile and laugh for a few hours. With a barrage of minigames and weirdo mechanics, this game radiates creativity and fun. Just, uh, don’t expect any baseball.

The collection of innovative features and seriously sweet eye candy in Sony's Formula One Championship Edition set a new standard in console-based racing games.

It's still as violent as ever before and best of all, it's still incredibly fun.

But for us mature gamers out there a game like this is akin to seeing a great rated R flick. Don't miss Killer 7, with all the critical reviews putting it down as a waste of time, it would really be a shame if you miss out on this.

Fast and frantic, Not a Hero provides some serious satisfaction when things are running on all cylinders. There’s nothing lack diving through windows and taking out bad guys, even if it is classic 8-bit sprites. The humor feels a bit forced at times, but the action wins out in providing a ton of fun.

There is a lot of fun to be had with Yakuza Kiwami 3. But the cracks are really starting to show with this series, and it feels stale in a lot of areas. On its own, Kiwami 3 is lot less fun than other entries in this series, despite some good new management games here. As a remake, however, it certainly isn't good enough to justify the original being delisted and for this to now be the definitive version of Yakuza 3.

The Escapists oozes charm, but due to the inherent nature of the game, it has a tendency to be boring. It takes a lot of patience to make your escape, and you'll spend a lot of your time waiting. This may be a turn off for some, but for others it may make that final escape all the more satisfying.

A brilliant world is offset by some cheap level design, a fantastic toolset and movement is offset by some terrible throw mechanics when left tooless. However, Budget Cuts 2 takes two long strides forward for every half step back and does deliver on its promise. It hits the mark this time around to provide a really good VR experience and would be recommended to anyone with the gear to run it.

The potential is there, but this first episode is a mess.

Far Cry 6 excels in a lot of ways, with stellar visuals, performances, exploration, and story. But the character advancement mechanics have been reworked in a way that takes agency away from the player, forcing them to use the skills they can scrounge up instead of building the character they want. There is a mountain of fun to be had here; this pivot away from skill points doesn't ruin the game, but it also doesn't feel like the right direction for the series.

The look and feel of the game is what draws you in but ultimately it is the shallow game play that makes the game a slight chore to play, coupled with the lack of extra content and you have a game that really is over before it feels like it should be over.

Another solid entry into the Marvel Universe, this action-RPG gives us another dose of the tried-and-true four-character slugfest. Nothing overly exciting here, but entertaining all the same.