It’s a beautiful throwback adventure that is, overall, quite enjoyable once it picks up steam, but its problems are hard to ignore. Simply put, the janky hit detection from decades-old games is a flaw that breaks up the flow of otherwise smooth controls, forcing the player to spend their first few hours with the least enjoyable transformations, leaving a poor first impression.

After having aired my own personal opinions on the core gameplay of Dead Cells, there is nonetheless a lot of cool new stuff to see in Fatal Falls. If you love Dead Cells and want to expand your runs into three new zones, fight a new boss, and obtain new weapons, then you can’t go wrong with Fatal Falls.

It's far from a simple rehash of its ported cousins, and it manages to successfully carve out its own unique and compelling features that you won't find on the other iterations.

Overall, I found this game to be difficult to get into from a control perspective and then once I became familiar with the controls, the game was an exercise in frustration rather than a pleasure to play.

Broken Rules is a small developer that focuses on downloadable games, and it has crafted a very enjoyable experience with its debut game, given the time and resources it has to work with. We hope this isn't the last we see from the developer.

It's hard to shake the feeling that this has all been done before -- and that the Gold/Silver/Crystal versions did it better.

There are many drawbacks to NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits, and they make this a tough game to recommend, especially with a 1000 Wii Point asking price. But players looking for a slow-paced platformer full of puzzles will definitely enjoy the experience.

The game is good but not great, and is one that you should probably rent. It takes around 20 hours to complete (or less).

The visuals, the audio, and worst of all, the ability to actually enjoy the experience,have not come along so well.

Korg is definitely a flawed product. It isn’t very user friendly, the interface is cluttered, the sound quality is disappointing, and some options are too limited while others are too numerous.

Despite all its faults, and while its not a horrible game, it's just really not that fun to play.

Despite the fairly deep single-player mode, the fact remains that in some ways, this title isn't as deep as its companion game "Mario Golf: Advance Tour."

For portable golf, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 has it where it counts. Its flaws should encourage a cautious purchase, but in many respects, the robust multiplayer makes up for it.

Kirby is over far too quick, but it's a decent romp while it lasts, and one that I wouldn't mind playing through again.

The variety of game modes is there, the cool Pokemon license is there, the excellent effort of NST is there, but the core of the game-- the gameplay-- just doesn't have that certain piece of magic and accessibility that separates the Tetrises from the wannabes.

Sonic 4, on the other hand, should have had a different title, like Sonic the Hedgehog: Re 1&2, because that is what the game feels like. The game may make gamers question if Sonic Team can make a proper, new Sonic title, instead of throwing together elements from over ten years ago and expecting us to be satisfied.

Pokémon Leaf Green and Fire Red are better games than "Ruby" and "Sapphire." Their balance, style, and structure were the original benchmark and they remain that way.

Pokémon Leaf Green and Fire Red are better games than "Ruby" and "Sapphire." Their balance, style, and structure were the original benchmark and they remain that way.

This game does a lot of things well, but being a baseball game isn’t one of them.

A great game -- a little light on action -- but nevertheless a break-through title.

Evaluating Scribblenauts is difficult because, in spite of its numerous flaws, it never skimps on content to work with or play through, it encourages gamers to interact with friends and family for new ideas, and it provides one of the first (if only) titles to engage a gamer's imagination like no other.

Not a bad game, for The Sims' first handheld outing. Despite its many little flaws, Bustin' Out is still a hard game to put down.

Clearly a lot of thought was put into this game and it is enjoyable to discover that. Unfortunately, I Am Dead’s repetitive gameplay, awkward controls, and short story that left me feeling discontent made me overall a bit disappointed.

As usual, Spidey delivers a decent handheld experience that will be great for kids.

Even with everything Extreme Exorcism does right, I never really felt the need or desire to come back; I played it, I kind of enjoyed it, but nothing makes me want to hop back in. Maybe others will feel different, but ultimately Extreme Exorcism is a game with some good ideas, a few noticeable flaws, and the absence of that one thing that can make a good game great.

The difficulty is much better than previous games in the series, so no need to worry about that if you’ve had horrifying experiences with insanely difficult shooters before (which everyone has.)

Overall the game isn't bad. Given the turn-based strategy and JRPG competition on DS, this is rental territory. Those that buy Mythologies should do so if they appreciate its multiplayer merits.

In fairness to EA, hockey may be the most difficult sport to translate to a video game. But if you are looking for an accurate hockey experience, I suggest season tickets.

Lego City Undercover is a solid offering from Warner Bros. and TT Games. It doesn’t offer an experience all that different from previous Lego titles, but the jump to the Switch hardware does make it a step up from many other Wii U and 3DS Lego offerings. The game does suffer from some technical warts, but for those that never made the trip to Lego City, this is certainly the best way to experience it.

While I'm not a big fan of the TBS genre, I looked forward to Rebelstar because of its apocalyptic storyline, cute anime characters, and the opportunity to blow up little gray aliens. Unfortunately, the game's pace (particularly the frequent loading times) kept me from ever feeling thoroughly entertained.

Death Squared is a solid puzzle game that displays a great deal of creativity on the part of its developers; despite the simple concept they managed to come up with many clever ideas to make the proceedings equal parts challenging and rewarding. Though there is quite a bit of ingenuity at play, the game ultimately does suffer from a handful of small, but frustrating problems. With a bit more focus on further developing the best mechanics and more polish in the controls, Death Squared really could have been something great. However, as the game stands, it is still a worthwhile puzzler that should please gamers looking for a unique cooperative experience.

Ultimately, Skylanders: Giants isn't going to convert many gamers my age as I think we might be a little too cynical for a game that's so blatant in its "pay-to-play" model.

While it can indeed get repetitive fairly quickly, especially depending on the relative attention span of the player, those who enjoy simple battling and customization will get their money’s worth.

Every round is quick and frantic and offers lots of opportunities for sudden turn-arounds. The more humans you can get hooked up to it at once, the better it is.

It's one of those games you just buy on the name alone -- unfortunately, it's also one of those games that hold the potential to make a killing, but leave the impact of a mosquito on a windshield. It's not horrendous or even bad; just extremely disappointing in execution.

It’s polished and fun for the four or five hours it lasts. Hopefully Griptonite takes this solid foundation and really expands on it in a future Spider-Man title.

Kokuga boasts masterful game design that can overcome the haphazard power-up system to create slow, tactical scenarios and fast, strategic boss fights. Why then, are most levels filled with minutes of burdensome crawl? With everything taken into account, Kokuga might just be worth it for the boss fights alone.

If it was setting its sights nearer the $3-5 mark, then Mr. Nibbles’ acorns would be the ideal eShop comfort food, but at $8, Super Little Acorns 3D Turbo feels a little undercooked to be a true platforming classic.

Definitely pick this game up for your younger brother or sister but not for yourself because you will get rather bored of this game much quicker than your sibling.

Blackhand Edition has a few high points, but it's hard not to think of what a Godfather game could have truly been.

The typical Final Fantasy charm is there, but Square-Enix had good reason to keep this one out of the states for so long.

Overall, the game play experience of True Crime is just ruined by the frustrating camera system.

The story is great, the character development is great, but the gameplay elements can get a little repetitive. MMBN3 is also the most difficult of the Network games.

Overall, Madden NFL 26 is another version of Madden, the NFL simulation game. The sheer number of modes makes for many different types of experiences for many different mindsets and needs. This large variety can be overwhelming at times in a very layered user interface system that changes based on each mode. The graphics are mostly acceptable given the hardware of the Nintendo Switch 2.

Ultimately, Warriors of Rock isn't bad, it just doesn't live up to the legacy and quality set by previous titles.

This game suffers from the fact that its console counterpart is so amazing and that it seems to distance itself from that greatness.

It may be disappointing to some that this title isn't a new platform game featuring Ubisoft's limbless hero, but what Wii owners ended up with is a pretty worthy substitute.

Toki Tori 2 won’t be for everyone. The pace is slow and the price tag will keep away a lot of people on the fence. But for those that enjoyed the original, or puzzle fans that might have missed the boat, this is a very unique and cerebral experience that shouldn’t be missed.

The unnecessary challenge in actually figuring out how exactly to play the damn game. Next to nothing is explained as it seems to rely almost entirely on player intuition, and there are virtually no tutorials present to help you out either.

Like, it all feels like one of those LEGO-type adventures that I've heard so much about, only with more charm since it's got Scoob's and my personalities and all of the gang here to help out.

Riviera is extremely bland. There are a lot of pleasing elements like the artwork and audio, but it cripples a sense of freedom and feels altogether too straightforward.

Although Spyro 2: Season of Flame is a very well produced game, the difficulty of it may turn away many players, myself included.

The battle system is inventive and addicting, the graphics are lovely, and much of the dialogue is good for some genuine laughs, but at the end of the day Paper Jam doesn’t do enough to capitalize on its otherwise novel premise of merging the Mario & Luigi world with Paper Mario’s.

Star Fox Command isn't quite a return-to-form for the series; it's best to think of it as a good few steps on the road to recovery.

Overall, this is a solid debut for Mario away from the Nintendo ecosystem of consoles, but it’s nowhere near the heights of gameplay that the plumber is known for. Longtime fans might balk at playing a Mario game on iOS (and soon Android, too), but as of now there isn’t much to be worried about. Nintendo wanted to make a mobile Mario title that would offer just enough for players to have fun and want to buy a proper series installment, and I think that the company has succeeded in doing just that.

It certainly offers a wealth of content as it contains two already sizeable games and they even manage to weave some interesting stories while incorporating good gameplay ideas. Unfortunately, all those pluses come with their own fair share of minuses, with the most damning creating significant pacing issues. Far too often, you are dragged away from the main story to deal with repetitive and uninteresting filler. These problems ease up a little bit once you make it to the second game, but they are still present even if it’s not quite as bad. So, while there’s plenty to love in the games, you will have to work your way through some genuinely boring and annoying stuff to reach all of it.

Overall, Wulverblade is a pretty interesting game with classic action and a heavy helping of history, but it’s also a game that is primarily for hardcore brawler fans who enjoy the pain of control issues and merciless gameplay. If that’s not your cup of tea, you may want to look elsewhere.

For SM2 veterans, the story mode is just too short for a full recommendation.

It may be a strange thing to concede, but the Gamecube port of RE4, with tacked on Wii remote functionality, trumps this Wii-developed title in almost every department.

As expected, the originals are better and more authentic Resident Evil experiences, and you'll get more enjoyment-- though not multiplayer-- out of them. Darkside Chronicles, on the other hand, is best for someone who absolutely loves light-gun games and has a buddy along for the ride.

Unfortunately, overall I found the game to be frustrating more often than fun. The problems were just too much to overcome.

Although it fails to visually inspire any sense of awe, Hudson’s creation astounds the player by taking Nintendo’s advice and creating something fresh with a formula that’s existed since the eighties. Well done!

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs doesn't bring anything new that you haven’t played a hundred times before, but the variety of gameplay types provide a break from the monotony of movie-based games.

If you are a big fan of mini-games, you're planning on buying a bunch of games this month along with your DS, and would like to pretend that you actually have a girlfriend... then I suggest you go pick up a copy of Feel the Magic: XY/XX.

It's hard to say that EA is giving GameCube owners a favor with Carbon, they are a business after all, but it probably doesn't hurt.

LIT showcases some rather novel puzzle aspects, while simultaneously remaining shrouded with horror and darkness.

A game that looks and sounds good but whose premise only holds up for so long.

Ultimately Marble It Up! comes across as a game that is partially underdeveloped. There’s a solid foundation that’s been built, but it’s not going to be a game that wows or amazes its players.

The action is solid, and there are plenty of maps and options (including Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection play), but there's little that series fans haven't seen before. [Feb 2008, p.88]

Princess Peach: Showtime! had the potential to be much more than it is. It’s upsetting that it’s so simple and easy, and feels like a waste of the sheer amount of creativity that went into the concept of the theater, plays, and costumes. It’s that creativity that’s preventing me from giving this game a lower score. But on the merits of its gameplay alone (and the fact that it’s not a very long game — I completed it in about 15 hours), this isn’t Nintendo’s strongest showing.

Rather than being an average game with its share of reasons not to like it, Rocky is a game whose shortcomings are why it isn't a "great" game in its own right.

I found this game too tough to really get into it. Racing fans who don't mind a stiff challenge should get a real kick out of it.

Fans new to the series will get the most from Sonic Origins, but even diehards will find plenty to love if they can get past the shortcomings. Here’s hoping SEGA eventually returns to Sonic Origins and makes it the proper celebration of the Blue Blur that it should have been.

For fans of the show, Reigns: Game of Thrones is an entertaining experience. The presentation is great and the writing is stellar. Unfortunately, the game often feels repetitive and the lack of direction makes the game a bit frustrating. If the show’s ending left you wanting, this game might satisfy that craving, but newcomers or those that just started the series should definitely steer clear.

It may not be worth it to veterans of the series, but Smash Hits is a worthy investment for those who only started rocking after the series hit the Wii.

Like most women in the single scene these days, it looks good from afar but it's far from good. The hype of voice acting, stylish soundtrack, and unique comic book presentation may draw you in but the weak gameplay experience will have you running for cover.

The downside of the game is simply that it is not up to par with "SSX3," which is what happens when you go head to head with someone who has had two previous tries in one console generation to get it right.

At the very least it’s very easy to share a level, and being able to do so extends the replay value of the game by quite a bit. It’s possible to go on and snag new creations from fellow fans as well as Atooi itself. That’s a great bonus, especially for someone like me who’s much more prone to play a game than make one. Overall Chicken Wiggle is a wonderful inaugural release for the folks at Atooi. Sales have been low on this one, but with millions of 3DS and 2DS handhelds on the market there’s no excuse for that; go support the game and give it a download!

The overall gameplay is quite enjoyable. The humor and fun mini-games reel you in, and the added bonuses of unlockable treats such as trailers and costumes keep you playing more.

The graphical engine, the imaginative VFX powers, and the style of the game are all positive. The issues with combat and the hassle of switching between input methods on the fly are not.

Painfully inconsistent. It has great control, and myriad single-player and multiplayer modes. Unfortunately, it also has abysmal music and a spotty graphics engine that cannot achieve the sense of speed the Driver games need.

The DS version is a markedly better effort than its Wii counterpart. Rather than being confined to the Wii version’s claustrophobic combat arenas, players can traverse larger environments and thus gather more of a sense of actually being on an adventure.

Kirby Star Allies isn’t the greatest game in the series, nor is it the most original. Yet, with its fun gameplay, ample content and modes, and gorgeous presentation, it remains an irresistible title for Switch owners. While I hope that Hal continues to experiment with Kirby as it did in games like Planet Robobot, Star Allies remains a good, yet predictable, title that platformer fans in particular should have fun with.

As things stand, for all its excesses, The Escapists 2 is nonetheless a can’t-miss game on Switch. With a delightful pixel-style that fills the screen with details, it’ll be hard to take your eyes off the screen as you make your way through all the different prisons on offer. Most of us might never have the, uh… joy… of breaking out of prison, but The Escapists 2 does a swell job of showing us just how entertaining it can be!

It’s worth a play, but this is a rare Zelda game that will leave most fans underwhelmed.

Animal Crossing: City Folk is a difficult game to evaluate. It is undeniably a well-made and highly polished game that offers all the interesting activities and character the series is known for. On the other hand, it’s almost identical to past titles in the series, with almost nothing in the way of new features.

The slick production values jazz up the game, and the Metroidvania exploration works on a basic level. Spidey fails to sling off the ground because of repetitive combat and a lack of variety. The world feels a bit lifeless.

While BloodRayne suffers from a lack of originality and has some definite camera issues, the game play makes up for it by busting out with some dynamic game play elements, weapons, and controls.

Late Shift is the latest example of just how far the FMV genre has come since the days of the Sega CD: the production values are insanely impressive, the narrative is interesting and the acting is strong. There are also incentives to revisit the game, making it a deeper experience than other options on the eShop. Players looking for a more hands-on experience will likely want to steer clear, but fans of the FMV genre will find that Late Shift sets a new standard.

A far cry from the Sonic of the early 90’s.

Glitches aside, the graphics are quite good for a third-party title, but they could definitely do with a bit of sharpening.

Monster Hunter XXL is tailored specifically for those who want a bawdy Choose Your Own Adventure with light RPG elements and lots of replay value. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’ll find it here, and at a pretty good price point considering the quantity of content. It’s not a game for kids, though.

Monster Lab is a surprisingly deep game in regards to the creation aspects and battling system.

This game is a solid experience, especially for younger players who can’t play the more gory, blood fests found today.

I have to say that I was surprised how good the game actually was and how badly the game gets trashed nowadays. Sure, it may be the worst in the series of Zelda titles, but it's by no means a bad game.

Despite its simplistic origins, dull multiplayer, and audio failings, Ms. Pac-Man can be really fun. It is indeed, Maze Madness.

I really enjoyed the gameplay mechanics that Armillo has to offer, but they’re held back by issues that could have been fixed with more development time. This should be one of the best platformers on Wii U, but it unfortunately remains as a flawed gem in its current state.

Had developers put the extra effort into interface and fuller options for the core treasures rather than including all the throwaway titles this could have been a stellar collection. As it is, Midway Arcade Treasures holds a tenuous spot at strictly average, teetering on below average.