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.