Another great visual feature is the incredible picture-in-picture set ups with the base runners. You can see all of them as they’re rounding the base or leading off without having to rely on watching a small dot.

2D gaming fans of all sorts will enjoy Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow immensely.

This Switch release is a highpoint, as it merges multiple different methods of control into one version, and can be played anywhere at any time. Ōkami is one of the highest expressions of a video game as art, further blurring the lines between the two. It’s not just a delightful game, it’s also a historically important one, and everyone owes it to themselves to experience Ōkami, either again or for the first time.

I had and am still having a lot of fun with the first Burnout, and Burnout 2 is better in every way.

Overall, Absolum is a masterfully crafted beat ‘em up that takes an already addicting and fun gameplay formula and adds new elements of intrigue to it. All of this is packed into a beautiful world with nooks and crannies to explore to your hearts content and a story that makes it all make sense in an intelligent manner. The coat of paint over the whole package wraps a beautiful little bow over the whole thing, creating a game that is fun to play, satisfying to look at, and makes you want to keep exploring and coming back to.

One of the greatest games you will find on the N64, and arguably the best wrestling game ever created.

The increased difficulty and lack of a Tutorial mode may turn off newcomers to the Wars series, but the fun, depth, and replayability of this game make it a killer ap for the GBA just as much as the original.

New sets out to simply give gamers more of what they want--more enemies, more levels, more bosses, more high-quality Mario. One can almost hear the trumpets as the classic platformer makes its triumphant return.

It may be over quick, but it's got the sort of staying power and pick-up-and-play appeal that'll keep you coming back whenever you get tired of the latest games. It's the perfect title for anyone who craves addictive, fast-paced action or just something different from the status quo.

The EA sports team has put all the pieces together and created some gaming magic.

Treyarch and Sega have created the "Madden" of hockey with this title. It just needs some aural and visual polish to become something amazing.

Astounding.

Though A Short Hike doesn’t bring much new to the table (many elements will feel similar to Journey, Celeste, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Animal Crossing, or Stardew Valley), the game combines familiar mechanics so well that A Short Hike, despite a few small drawbacks, is a well put together, relaxing game you shouldn’t miss out on.

Every character model looks amazingly detailed, from the muscle tone to the facial features. Michael Jordan looks like Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain looks like the Stilt himself.

Serious air is the truth with this bad boy. You better have skipped lunch if you're going to get on this wild ride!!

The pinnacle of virtual basketball.

An improvement over the original in almost every way.

MK8 is easily a top three contender for best Wii U game. Outside of a few niggling oddities and small blemishes, the pure bliss of soaring across MK8‘s wonderful courses is as close to gaming perfection as it gets.

Mario Maker is a refreshing take on the Super Mario formula, offering fans the chance to play with the famous plumber in ways that they never have before.

With its lack of replay value and repetiveness, the game just gets really old.

The replay value on Starfox64 is pretty much endless, unless you consider the route difficulties and level tasks terrible game design.

One of the best puzzle titles on any Nintendo platform in years.

If you’re the kind of gamer who loves old-school games, post-apocalyptic style, and gameplay that really challenges your reflexes, Hyper Light Drifter – Special Edition is absolutely the game for you. If, on the other hand, you prefer your RPGs to be a little more slow and steady, this may incite a little more controller rage than you’d like, regardless of the game’s beautiful trappings. Even then, though, it’s hard not to like what the developer has done here, and for that, this is definitely a game worth a look.

Tactics Ogre is something truly original, both in form and execution, and once you start playing it, you'll know you're in for a treat.

This game is a true classic, and hopefully the first of many more to come from Yacht Club Games. Bravo.

The World Ends With You stands tall as both a compelling piece of interactive art and a brilliantly designed and executed game.

One of the best first-person shooter games ever. The only major flaw I can find with the game is the lack of online support.

These mini-games are one of the only things about Wario Land 4 that I didn't like. In a nutshell, they're repetitive and don't give enough money. Plus, the mini-games are limited in their fun factor.

A must own title for your Game Boy Advance. It's the perfect traveling game even though the story mode is over quickly.

The only real negative is the fact that you have to leave the last two controller ports empty.

Although we have yet to even see Prime 4, I have no trepidations saying that if the series sticks to 2D in the future, this is the mold—the perfect mix of classic and modern mechanics and pacing. You owe yourself the opportunity to play this game. Dread is a powerful reminder of the importance and quality of one of Nintendo’s greatest franchises.

Overall, this is a truly astounding accomplishment by Nintendo. The suite of tools is easy to learn and use, there are a ton of elements and features to employ, and with the ability to play what is practically an endless stream of new stages, this is a triumph of Nintendo’s creative spirit. A must for Switch owners— don’t sleep on this one!

Factor in the unexpectedly cool solo adventure, and there is no reason that any portable gamer should be without this title.

Lots of replay value, lots of fun, lots of bouncing breasts. This is no Tony Hawk-stale-ass-been-there-done-that type of game; this game is fresh, fun, and fast.

One major flaw that the game has is the recycled bits of commentary from Lee Corso. The man’s a football genius, so throwing in sound bits that were recorded last year is just disgraceful. That being said, he still gives a great performance, even though he doesn’t offer any helpful tactics in this title.

Monster Hunter Rise is a perfect example of what can be done with Switch. It runs incredibly smoothly and only slows down a little when there’s a lot happening all at once, even during a Rampage with a full lobby. It has been some time since I have played World, but Rise looks almost as good. While some textures here and there are a bit rough, I highly doubt you’re going to be inspecting the wall textures with an angry Rathalos chasing you down. Monster Hunter Rise brings a lot of great new features for fans of the franchise while making it more accessible than ever. With the amount of future updates planned I can’t wait to see what Rise can become.

It came with the polish of "Advance Wars" and brought a tighter battle system, fresher presentation, and new epic feeling to the table.

TTYD is everything a Paper Mario game should be, and I’m not surprised by how enthusiastic fans were when they heard the game was finally getting a remaster.

With its SteamWorld games, Image & Form have created an interesting universe united by common aesthetics but surprisingly diverse in terms of gameplay. Despite SteamWorld Dig 2 being a sequel, it retains this concept by adapting its predecessor’s unique mechanics into the otherwise familiar Metroidvania genre. This strange combination has resulted in a surprisingly successful and creative marriage of ideas that is made all the more appealing by the compelling atmosphere created by the beautiful visuals and pitch perfect music. For fans of previous games in the franchise, SteamWorld Dig 2 is an absolute must play that lives up to its siblings, and for everyone else it’s a perfect opportunity to see why these games have garnered so much praise.

Along with greater sharing options (clothing designs can be shared with other players via QR codes, and the game even allows you to take your own screenshots by pressing the system’s shoulder buttons), these features make New Leaf the perfect starting point for any player looking to get into the Animal Crossing series for the first time, and they give old fans plenty of incentives to pack up and move to a new city yet again.

The mere fact that this game has the power to rekindle those early feelings of PokéBliss in even the most seasoned-Pokémaniacs is a testament to its freshness and originality.

Coupled with its simple story and addicting post-game play, one of the greatest triumphs of Dragon Quest IX is that it manages to be a serious role-playing game without taking itself too seriously.

You simply can’t get bored of it and it’s literally fun for all of your friends and family. How can you go wrong at all? It’s a wicked game.

Valid proof that "coming up short" can still translate into "a hell of a lot of fun."

Whether you’re someone who played Link’s Awakening before or someone who never has, this is one of the best entries in the series and should be played by all. Don’t sleep on this one.

This is probably the best time-killing game to come along since "Wario Ware Inc"; even if you only use half the content on this cartridge, it's well worth the investment for the hours of entertainment it offers.

It looks and sounds fantastic, its core gameplay is remarkably addictive, and there is plenty of game to last for quite some time. Unfortunately, major design issues severely damage much of the fun the game has to offer.

The game does not innovate with anything, other than the multiplayer aspect. However, New Super Mario Bros. Wii lives up to its pedigree and provides an amazing experience reminiscent of older Mario platformers.

The title just has some sort of magic to it, in spite of its humor and deliberate cheesiness, that encourages good vibes, especially by the time the over-the-top finale is completed.

The story is fascinating and the use of voice acting to tell it tops "The Wind Waker," in my opinion. On the whole, however, there is nothing here that you haven't experienced before.

If you're looking for a great long-lasting game that's consistently fun from open to close, quit reading this stupid review and drive to the store.

There are several ways the series can grow in its already rumored sequel, but, for now, we have a brand new toy to master, a killer soundtrack to play it with, lots of in-game unlockables, and new downloadable mash-ups to add to the library for the foreseeable future.

With the excellent visuals, quality Nintendo charm, and hours upon hours of replay value, there's just nothing to hate about this game... except for Sherbet Land. So much hate!

Everything about Donkey Kong Country Returns is so fluid and smooth. Retro constantly surprises players with new game mechanics, striking set pieces and tons of Donkey Kong charm. This title is quite possibly the definitive side-scrolling platform experience for Wii.

Shredder’s Revenge is a triumphant return for the Ninja Turtles. For all the reinventions and expansions of this classic property, there’s nothing quite like the original. Seeing the spirit of both the cartoon and Konami’s classic games so faithfully reproduced here was wondrous to behold. At the same time, Tribute Games has also managed to one up the games that came before it with a sharper combat system that allows for all sorts of creative ways to take down foes. Boss fights lack some of the nuance to defeat that rank and file grunts provide, but the spectacle of these battles makes up for that. Shredder’s Revenge is available via the eShop, but there are a number of ways to get hold of the game physically, as well. No matter how you play it, the heroes in a half shell are worthy of your time.

Vicarious Visions really shocked me with the quality of SuperChargers, and has taken this franchise to new heights. Young or old, this a game everyone should enjoy.

Adventure games are often compelling but hinge upon primitive, boring gameplay. Capcom shows how all future adventure games should be designed: with engrossing gameplay that both intuitively and innovatively solves puzzles.

Having played this game for a relatively long time, I have to warn that even though you will get your money's worth and many, many hours of play, it does end up getting very tedious after a couple of weeks.

The gameplay is also polished and strong as well, continuing to prove the impossible feat of designing a game with a multitude of complex game mechanics all being distilled into stylus-based touchscreen controls.

The mere fact that this game has the power to rekindle those early feelings of PokéBliss in even the most seasoned-Pokémaniacs is a testament to its freshness and originality.

Yes, it's a frustrating game, to be sure. But it’s the warm, fuzzy kind of frustrating.

Velocity 2X has online leaderboards to keep players coming back for more, and with the inclusion of all previously released DLC as part of this Switch iteration of the game, this represents the most complete version of the title to date. It’s not an especially long experience, but length isn’t always the objective of a given game, nor is it always an indicator of quality. Velocity 2X is a delightful addition to the eShop exactly as is. FuturLab says that how well Velocity 2X sells on Switch will play a huge role in determining if another sequel is made, so we implore you to go out and give it a download!

Multiple game modes help to keep the player coming back for more. Story mode is where the narrative unfolds, which is told in gorgeous cinematic stills featuring the same art style as the rest of the game. Arcade mode tasks players with beating the story line using no continues; die and it’s back to the beginning. Boss Rush and Battle mode round things out, and all of it (with the exception of Arcade mode) can be played at different difficulty levels. It’s always a challenge to bring a franchise out of dormancy after so long, especially one as lauded as Streets of Rage. What Dotemu and partners have done is such a masterful expansion and resuscitation that I’d be willing to say that the series is officially theirs, and that they have collectively made brawlers a part of the conversation in game development for the first time in years. Bravo. Buy this game.

Pikmin 3 might not be the game that gets people rushing to buy a Wii U, but it certainly should be.

For future releases in this series, it’d be nice if there were more customization options and musical selections but those are minor gripes to what was, generally, a favorable experience.

It sets out to tell a story and does it astoundingly well. I found myself melancholy when all was said and done, and although I’ll likely never get to hear more about the lives of Delilah and Henry, I’m grateful for the summer I got to spend with the two of them. Firewatch seems to want players to understand that sometimes, life is about the moments you’ll never get back, the decisions you can never unmake. I’m glad I chose to spend that night in the woods with Campo Santos’ inspired first effort.

If you are willing to instead get under the hood, engage with the rank system, and maybe equip a challenge talisman or two, on the other hand, Ragebound can be a hell of a ride, and on these terms it has been one of my favorite games of the year.

Every piece of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition feels meticulously placed. Pieces like it’s beautiful world, well paced combat and music, and gameplay variety give you the motivation to keep exploring every rock formation, combat encounter, and unique mission. Not every game has all these pieces that fit together this well, but this game does and it does it very well.

The game is great, through and through, albeit short.

LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias is definitely a top-tier WiiWare title. It manages to correct most of the flaws with the first game and is an amazing example of why WiiWare is a good idea.

Talk about a lot of bang for your buck: ten dollars for a fully functional online Bomberman.

Aesthetic and functional design, boundless creativity, fantastic soundtrack.

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles isn’t just a reminder of why the series as a whole is beloved, but also a reaffirmation that video games can be capable of so much more as an entertainment medium. Straddling the line somewhere between book and interactive movie, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles takes players through case after case packed with wonderful characters, stories, and clever brain teasers. Although adventure games/visual novels aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, if you’ve been looking to try one for the first time or give them another shot, this is the game. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is a blast.

It has longevity, charm, and controls that endure the wild departure from traditional platformers and make a highly enjoyable game. It comes highly recommended.

As it stands, the depth and longevity of the Race to the Top mode and the excellent play mechanics all add to the overall value of this game.

The Messenger is a real accomplishment for the fledgling Sabotage Studio. There are development teams that work for years trying to come within the same hemisphere of quality that The Messenger comfortably resides at. Its gameplay is both polished and electric, fostering a constant desire to push forward and discover every secret that its world contains. While some of the writing isn’t executed as well as it could be, the sum of The Messenger‘s parts absolutely makes up for this single, flawed fragment. It’s an essential title for anyone’s library of Switch games and I really hope at some point it gets a physical release.

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.

A fine continuation of what's shaping up to be quite an epic RPG series.

MH4U is a milestone achievement for Capcom’s unique series. It looks, sounds, and plays better than ever, belying the fact that it’s running on a handheld and not a home console.

All due respect to Kirby Star Allies, but with Tropical Freeze now on Switch, it has easily taken the crown of best 2D platformer on the console. It was a thrill to be able to play the game once more with a spot of extra polish and the addition of Funky Mode and Funky Kong. Funky’s inclusion is a solid way of making a hard game more approachable to a wider audience of players. The fact that he’s also a blast to experiment with for veteran players, too, speaks volumes about the competence of Retro Studios as a developer.

Overall it’s solid, fun, innovative, just not what I would want as the definitive Mario Kart experience, nor do I feel it tops what has long been considered the definitive Mario Kart experience for some time. But this is certainly a fresh take on the franchise that’s keeping things new and fun, and I’m having a blast with it.

Gamers looking for an in-depth boxing sim will not find it here. Those looking for wonderful puzzles to solve, characters to fall in love with, and music that will stick for years, this is your game. Punch-Out!! is going to be easily regarded as one of the stand out titles of this year on any system and is a must-own game for Wii owners.

Crashmo is pure puzzling gold and one of the best titles available for 3DS. If you haven't already experienced the exquisite Pushmo, now couldn't be a better time to get on board the Crashmo express.

Fantastic. With an insane plot, goofy characters and some incredibly well-designed gameplay, this is a game which should be on the must-buy list of any DS owner who does not hate fun.

Mission accomplished.

With a variety of modes, great stylus control and online play, Intelligent Systems has come up with a puzzle game that's hard to beat.

The best part about it is that there's something new going on every day, whether it's a new neighbor moving in, a nasty snowstorm on the horizon, or a holiday party at City Hall.

While these lackluster mini-games are no hidden-object puzzle or "make your own tea" chemistry set (as seen in Laytons 1 and 2), Unwound Future still has a solid set of puzzles for its main adventure, and the story itself is very engaging.

Buying the Skylanders Trap Team Starter Set probably won’t be enough for you. Again and again, you’ll run into times when you wish you had just a little more cash to buy that colored trap, or that Skylander. But more than any Skylanders game before it, Trap Team makes you feel good about your purchases– even if it’s your kid that gets to enjoy them.

I still can't help but feel that the game could have used just a little more content or even a few more graphical bells and whistles. Final word: great game.

The charming storyline, the captivating characters and the amazingly fun battle system all puts together one of the best RPGs on the market. When all is said and done, this game has easily broken its way onto my top ten favorite RPGs of all time.

SteamWorld Heist is one of the most well thought-out and fully realized gaming experiences I’ve had throughout this year. If you’re itching for a fantastic turn-based space adventure, look no further.

Luigi’s Mansion 3 is one of the best games I’ve played in years. I spent every moment of its campaign gaping in awe at set piece after set piece. Raging dinosaur skeletons, suites overrun with plants, a kaiju battle, and a towering pyramid in the sand are but a handful of the sights to take in while playing Luigi’s Mansion 3. I never thought that the original Luigi’s Mansion could be trumped, but Next Level Games has officially outdone Nintendo with this gorgeous, wonderful video game. Bravo.

The learning curve will be steep for some, but give it a chance. The satisfaction level is even higher, and that's always the best reward a video game can give.

Seeds of Evil is an adrenaline thrill ride from start to finish. I strongly suggest a purchase as the multiplayer alone warrants a buy.

The Wii U has been home to quite a strong collection of sidescrollers: New Super Mario Bros. U, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and DuckTales: Remastered to name but a few. Gunman Clive HD Collection proudly joins that lineup, offering a fantastic experience at a fraction of the cost of those titles.

A more than worthy sequel to VJ.

With Sonic Mania, Christian Whitehead and his team have done exactly what fans have wanted for years: start with the old and incorporate the new, keeping great level design, heart-pounding music and charming art direction. Sonic’s back.