Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is such a culturally deep and thought provoking game, both in story and in gameplay. All of these pieces of the amalgamation mentioned throughout this review come together into a unique gameplay experience that has a deep strategy system, but provides action combat to balance out the strategy for those more interested in that type of gameplay. In between the strategy and action, the ability to repair villages and use collectibles to make yourself stronger provides sufficient incentive to keep playing. In the end, the unique experience that Kunitsu-Gami provides to players is unlike any other game and that fact alone is what makes it worth playing, as you won’t find this amalgamation anywhere else.

Mario Golf: World Tour is a solid mix of great controls, crisp, colorful visuals, great replay value due to its amount of unlockable content, and is ultimately just a flat out great experience. Chalk this one up as another great 3DS title you should add to your library.

For only 500 Nintendo Points, the game is almost a must-have for any puzzle-loving fiend.

Despite my small grievances, I still welcome the new return to Unova with open arms.

Considering how disparate all the elements found in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle appear on the surface, everything comes together astonishingly well when experienced as a whole.

These Pokémon adventures will likely be the swan song of the ageing Nintendo DS system, so I'm glad to see it go out on such a high note. Whether you're a Pokémaniac, a rookie trainer, or a nostalgic Red & Blue fanboy, Black & White 2 are must-play games.

Pundits continue to debate the merits of video games as an art form, and My Memory of Us is yet another strong argument for what the industry can do at its best. My Memory of Us is the rare game that feels important, while also providing an engaging experience. It’s tragic that we need reminders of what the Jewish people went through but, in a time when many Americans don’t know the history of the Holocaust, it’s wonderful to have a game that encourages learning in a new and interesting way. Sometimes knowing how to solve each puzzle can be a little frustrating, and the game does have some occasional slowdown, but these are minor quibbles, at best. My Memory of Us is an unmissable experience.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The graphics are lush and engrossing, and the music tethers everything together wonderfully.

Splatoon 2 has taken everything from the original and amped it all up to eleven. There’s no lollygagging with this sequel; online modes and gear are robust right out of the gate, with the promise of even more to come. New additions like Salmon Run expound upon an already winning formula and offer veteran players further reason to give the title a try. It also can’t be ignored that the boon of being able to pick up and play the game anywhere is something that is only possible with Switch. While I do feel that chat is needlessly cumbersome, it’s fairly easy to start matches with friends, and I never experienced any hitches while battling online. Splatoon 2 is a brilliant and rare game that manages to outshine its predecessor, and is yet another reason to own a Switch.

Anything bad you remember regarding Vendetta, you won't see it in this follow-up.

The 3DS version is an effort that shows a development team determined to offer their audience an enjoyable experience. The results are commendable.

I don’t know that I can say with confidence Generations will be the Monster Hunter game to woo naysayers; it’s largely the same gameplay and mechanics that players have come to know for a decade now. Yet, given how stunningly Generations presents the series’ core combat and crafting, along with the introduction of Styles and Arts, makes it the best Monster Hunter title by a fair stretch– so much so, that I implore anyone who has yet to try the series to finally give it a look by picking up Generations.

Overlooking the flawed storytelling, fans will find six games stuffed with content and gameplay to enjoy. In the Zero series, players are treated to the same zippy run-and-gun platforming adventures that the X series did so well. Zero can be upgraded throughout each entry, with a number of both permanent and temporary buffs to take advantage of. The Zero games are notoriously challenging, but the Casual Scenario mode and Save-Assist features do a lot to ease the difficulty for those that are interested in a reprieve. This collection is a perfect way to spend some time and it’s highly recommended to consider giving it a download!

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.

Fire Emblem has come to be one of Nintendo’s premier franchises, with Shadows of Valentia further cementing the series’ sterling reputation. This is some of the best storytelling and gameplay anyone could hope for on any platform, whether home or portable. Its presentation belies the fact that the game is running on a portable console, and the clever additions to the familiar Fire Emblem formula have yet again breathed new life into a series that has never been stagnant. There are other features waiting to be enjoyed, like the addition of Amiibo that bring new dungeons and fighters, a StreetPass feature, and more. It’s likely that other than Fire Emblem Warriors this will be the last time the franchise appears on 3DS, but it’s going to be a long goodbye—expect to sink many hours into this adventure. Alm and Celica have firmly cemented themselves into the ranks of my favorite Fire Emblem characters, and I hope that when the series transitions to Switch it will be half as entertaining as Shadows of Valentia.

Overall, I enjoyed my time with Superliminal. I love how the game constantly plays with the user’s expectations, and the unique gimmick made for some puzzles that stumped me. The ever shifting visuals kept me engaged all the way through and made me excited to see what the game would do next. While it is a little short at around three hours, it is an experience that I believe most people should try. While the game can be short and simple, it creates a fun and engaging time throughout.

It’s a stunning title that any F-Zero or hyper-fast racing fan will want to play.

My love of this series remains as strong as ever almost 20 years after playing the original Ace Attorney game. Being able to have the entire mainline series on Switch is such an amazing thing to have. The three games in Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy are strong. Although admittedly Dual Destinies suffers from its split focus on a trio of protagonists, there isn’t a truly weak game in the bunch. With solid quality of life improvements, a faithful retelling of the original stories, and the same engrossing, thoughtful gameplay the series is known for, this compilation is a genuine delight. Some of the negative design quirks of the originals remain, like clunky world navigation, but the positives of the Ace Attorney series far outweigh them. This is a must for fans of narrative-driven games who want a more cerebral experience.

As has become tradition on Nintendo consoles, Yoku’s is an indie title that stands on level footing with some premium offerings in the eShop. Don’t let this one roll past you as you scroll through the different games on offer for Switch, as it’s a genuine delight.

Another fantastic entry in its series, and easily one of the best 3DS releases of the year. The game retains the charm and wit of previous Paper Mario titles, and its new sticker mechanic makes combat even more engaging than before.

Put simply, outstanding.

This game needs to be in every Wii U owner’s collection.

What All-Stars lacks in extras and celebratory content, it more than makes up for with a boatload of music to enjoy and three masterwork video games to play. It is not hyperbole to say that any Switch collection is incomplete with Super Mario 3D All-Stars in it.

While it doesn’t necessarily revolutionize any of the genres from which it draws inspiration, NeuroVoider still manages to be an exceptionally enjoyable game. Not only did the developers create a mechanically fun game, but they added in a layer of highly enjoyable and deep customization options that is the true heart of the game; no matter what your play-style is, there are countless ways to create unique variations of it. Considering the joy of replaying the game, its issues with occasionally cheap boss fights do little to distract you.

It's insane to think that NST made this incredibly fast gaming engine from scratch. However, much like the sexual performance of most North American males, this game is fast and exciting but it just doesn't last. I'm sorry Nintendo but three variations and three mirrored tracks doesn't constitute nine tracks in total.

Old School Musical‘s laser-like focus on delivering a remix of the classic titles of yore with modern rhythm gameplay is a real delight. Don’t hesitate to add it to your collection.

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.

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.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury isn’t perfect, but it gets close. The gameplay is superb, the visuals are improved on Switch, and there is so much to do and see that players will be busy for hours. Switch has been a godsend for software that didn’t get the shot it deserved on Wii U, and 3D World is definitely a game that more people should play. Online multiplayer is a tad lacking, but if you’re out for an expertly crafted, stunning platformer, this is the premier Mario game on the console.

With online tournaments to partake in, new modes like Tetris Invictus where only the elite can compete, and a thriving community of fans logging in every day to play, Tetris 99 might very well represent the pinnacle of the series. It would be nice to have a better variety of tunes to listen to (although themes help alleviate this problem), and the issues with the UI can occasionally make it slightly hard to see what’s happening on-screen, but overall any Switch owner should consider giving Tetris 99 a whirl. This is brilliant game design that deserves the acclaim that has been lavished on it up to this point.

If you like your games challenging, weird, beautiful, and a little unsettling, ANIMAL WELL should be on your must-play list.

Woolly World was a delight to play, and one that I think any platformer fan will enjoy.

New Super Mario Bros. U is Wii U's first must-have title, especially if you're a fan of Mario or platforming games. It's the culmination of the New Super Mario Bros. sub-series, and perhaps the best 2D Mario title since the SNES era. This is all thanks to how well it strikes a balance between the offering of recognizable mechanics and original ones.

Shortcomings aside, The Adventure Pals is a superb action RPG platformer. With a fun story and an expansive world to explore, this adventure really augments the Switch lineup, and at a modest price. Definitely worth a look.

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.

SteamWorld Heist has always been a great game and the Switch version might just be the best way to experience it. Since it was originally designed on 3DS, the game is perfectly suited for portable play and the touch controls are replicated perfectly, here. Of course, it also helps that the core gameplay remains just as good thanks to great design and a unique take on the strategy genre that has yet to really be challenged by other developers. Thanks to these strengths and the incredibly charming and polished audio/visual design, SteamWorld Heist’s minor flaws are easy to overlook, thus making this version well worth experiencing for newcomers and for those who played previous versions.

I find myself extremely impressed by RMX. It takes everything about Neo and improves upon it, while also adding in new features and tweaks that make it suitable for both play at home and on the go. As a launch title, RMX boasts a level of thoughtfulness and polish that isn’t often seen until well into a console’s life cycle. I can’t recommend enough that players go and download this game; it’s a gorgeous nod to the sci-fi racers of old while still establishing its own identity. I can’t wait to see what Shin’en does next on Switch!

Black Ops 2 is, at this moment in time, the best, most content rich multiplayer game ever released on a Nintendo system.

WayForward proved its considerable talent at creating fun, colorful, retro-inspired platformers long ago and each Shantae title has simply reinforced that reputation. It should come as little surprise that Half-Genie Hero continues that tradition. While some longtime fans might be somewhat turned off by the more contemporary visuals and streamlined level design, others will undoubtedly enjoy these changes. Regardless, though, the core gameplay should be more than enough to keep the majority of gamers satisfied. So, whether this is your first Shantae game or your fourth, Half-Genie Hero is a fantastic platformer that’s a pleasure to see, hear, and play.

An absolutely amazing game. The lack of sixty hours of content leading up to it does rob the story of some of its impact and many characters don't get the proper time needed to fully flesh them out, but the great writing and high stakes of the events still make the game's thirty or more hours exceptionally compelling.

With a lengthy 60-70 hours of gameplay, Origins is more than worth its value in longevity. Highly recommended.

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!

Despite some minor platforming quibbles, DreamRift's crafted a wonderful number that defies any generic description, and platformer/role-playing/adventure enthusiasts (hah) should definitely check it out.

Whether the 3D effects are worth that extra soy latte is up to the consumer, but they're certainly good-looking– and SpeedX 3D is great-playing.

People like me who will love the humor and get all the references will have an absolute blast.

Simply a delightful game to play. With its rich, lively combat system and entertaining characters, it strikes a masterful balance between engaging gameplay and heartfelt story-telling.

Overall, Siesta Fiesta is a breath of fresh air as a unique Breakout-styled game that fans of the genre will not want to miss.

Ultimately, I may have mentioned multiple times that x or y was my favourite part, but in the end I really enjoyed everything this game had to offer.

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.

If you're at all a fan of puzzles or charming tales (or any combination of the two), don't overlook this gem. For the price, there's really no reason to hesitate.

Any baseball fan looking for a wintertime hold-me-over will be happy with this sleeper gem, however it's played. As a hardcore baseball sim, it's every bit as good as the more familiar baseball games of the world, it just doesn't have the same look.

At around 1,000 different puzzle of varying difficulty, a plethora of options, ease of use, and single-card download play, there's little if anything that New York Times Crosswords got wrong.

While the different batting camera angles are missing, ASB 2003 is outstanding.

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.

Although it doesn't break any new grounds in originality (like Mario 64), Mario Kart 64 is a great addition to the N64 line-up. The solid graphics, good sound, and addictive gameplay--coupled with features like being able to race yourself (from a former race) in a special ghost mode--make you want to play it forever.

Besides the slight easiness and linearity of the main game, there isn't much to complain about. There is an added bonus to this game in that the game actually has further story after you escape from Zebes, and the gameplay goes in a direction never explored in the Metroid series.

The multiplayer modes alone are worth it. Add to that a high level of game mode depth, gameplay excellence, and stunning style and you’ve got one fantastic game.

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

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.

Nintendo puts a lot of care and attention into its handheld ports and remakes, and Kirby Superstar has aged very well over the years.

The simulation and action components of in Horse Life work surprisingly well together, striking a perfect balance.

Tactical Assault hits the balance between staying true to the series while making an entertaining and challenging video game.

Super Paper Mario is an intriguing mix of platforming and RPG, offering a entertaining and satisfying gaming experience even if the endgame comes too soon.

With the minor technical gripes aside, this is a perfect RPG to play for anyone. Don't be silly like me and get rid of your PlayStation version and purchase the GBA version instead.

If you like Megaman, RPGs, Action, or Adventure games in the slightest, I highly recommend it.

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 just goes to show that you can teach an old vampire some new tricks.

Besides the sound quality issues, players have little reason to choose the original cart over this GBA port. Everything that made Final Fantasy VI great on the SNES is here, and then some.

American Wasteland creates a near-perfect balance that all free roaming games strive to achieve.

The N64 version of "Mario Golf" didn't leave much room for improvement. Lucky for us, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour's enhanced graphics, magnificently tweaked play mechanics and large variety of gameplay modes and characters improved upon the original in every way imaginable.

The game is one of Nintendo's many hits, if not a masterpiece.

In terms of control and immersion, Wii Sports destroys the competition and provides an excellent foundation for other developers to build upon.

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

Sonic games have always been known for their speed, but in Sonic Advance 2, it's been exaggerated almost to a fault.

A quality title full of replayability and creativity. Even after completing 30+ story missions and 40+ side missions, plenty remains to explore and destroy in Hulk's universe.

One of the best third party offerings on the DS so far and comes highly recommended for DS owners, especially if you don’t have a load of friends to play multiplayer against.

After the smoke clears, and the nuclear radiation fades, Turok: The Dinosaur Hunter is one of the finest games in video game history. It combines every element that makes a good game flawlessly.

If you have a girlfriend, boyfriend, or spouse who doesn’t get into games that much, plug in this title and go right to "Mean Bean Machine." You’ll have so much fun you won’t hardly believe it.

A wonderfully complete game. It plays great, it has a good amount of strategy and depth, and it has impressive longevity.

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

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.

I support the XG revolution. Come join at super-human speeds, inhumane weapons that go boom in the night, and the best locales this side of Jamaica and Mars put together. There's even a track that looks like Mars Attacks meets The Wizard of OZ...I'm not makin' that up either.

The ultimate version of, what some perceive to be, the greatest action game ever made.

It's apparent that the team who made this put a great deal of love into it. Where other other companies seem content to port classics with a few overhauls, here's an entirely new game that feels like a classic. Now that's refreshing.

A lightening fast and frantic thrill ride from beginning to end, and well worth a purchase.

Newcomers to the game who are accustomed to the current game generation may be turned off by its astonishingly short playtime and lack of "100% clear" bonuses, while veterans will find very little reason to pick up this version unless they're willing to pony up for the e-Reader cards.

With beautiful music and great visuals, this is one sleeper hit no one should miss.

It works beautifully.

Each level roughly sticks to the staple patformer diet of grass, ice , sand ,etc. But the foreground settings are brilliantly imaginative - a bizzare, alien theme park , an underground shrine , a military base - and really improve the more sedate sections of the game,i.e jumping , talking,etc. It certainly makes a refreshing change from Banjo's desert/ice/grass worlds.

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.

If you're looking to hop into an intense racing experience without the hinderances of setting the vehicle up or dealing with super accurate damage than this game is for you.

Art Style: PiCTOBiTS finds a way to stand on its own, while paying homage to Nintendo’s past.

This is a polished, dead-on addition to a franchise in which a sore thumb stands out.

It's a perfect game for a lazy afternoon -- it's active, it's immersive, and it doesn't require any commitments to enjoy it. And with the bongos thrown in basically for free, it's a real steal.