There are plenty of nitpicks that can be made about Mega Man Legacy Collection, but at its core, the title is a compilation of some of the best games of the 8-bit era.

Return to PopoloCrois is the sort of RPG that I wish there were more of; it’s fun, it’s accessible, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Alphadia isn’t in the same league as a game like Chrono Trigger, but it gets the job done and will scratch the old-school RPG itch in a way that some players will enjoy. For anyone else, it’s likely that Alphadia will feel too archaic and rough to maintain their interest for the duration of the game.

There’s no denying that Monster Hunter is leagues above the quality of Explorers, but for what it is, this inaugural Final Fantasy spin on the Capcom formula is a satisfying play.

Lego Marvel’s Avengers is a wonderful recreation of the source material, it’s fun to play and the trademark humor fans have come to expect from the series remains intact. Unfortunately, the game’s short length makes it a little difficult to recommend for most seasoned gamers.

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.

In other words, pick up Xenoblade Chronicles X and clear your schedule, because you have a whole new world to explore.

Outside of some obnoxious boss battles, this is a great game from a continuously creative developer.

Overall, I was shocked by how fun Minecraft is and quickly grew to understand why millions of people around the world have taken to it so strongly. It won’t be for everyone, but I highly recommend that anyone looking for something new give it a look.

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.

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

RPG veterans won’t find the journey all that difficult, but younger fans and the young at heart will find plenty to love.

Guitar Hero Live impressed me more than I can say, and though the game’s been out for almost two months now, I still play it almost every day, which is crazy, because I rarely have anyone else to play with– and multiplayer used to be a major selling point of music games.

Despite this glaring shortcoming, Amiibo Festival is good, relaxed fun that will be perfect during the holidays and parties with friends.

I wouldn’t say it was a mistake to bring Rodea to 3DS, but the game is so rough that it either needed more time in development, or the handheld was incapable of fully handling Naka’s vision. For fans of the creator’s previous works and players who enjoy 3D adventure titles, Rodea is worth a look, but be prepared to fight with it in order to get any enjoyment out of the game.

The title is a perfect match for gamers looking for the kind of survival horror title that the genre was founded on. The game might not offer the same kind of jump scares as titles like Resident Evil, but with a story inspired by the real-life cruelty of history, Whispering Willows might actually be scarier.

In many ways it feels like your average JRPG strategy game, and in some places it even stumbles over itself with attempts at being cute or sexy. However, there are also enough strong points that really shine through and make the game stand out from the crowd, even if its best features are reminiscent of ideas from more noteworthy titles.

Toki Tori 3D is fun, its core concept is still original, and it’s also the best version yet of this game.

Those small issues aside, Maiden of Black Water is a premium title on Wii U that left me very impressed. The use of the GamePad here is a rare example of what Wii U’s controller can bring to a game that other consoles can’t.

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

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

It’s fun while it lasts, but there just isn’t enough meat to the package, and it’s hard to recommend it over games like Zen Pinball 2 or Pokémon Pinball: Ruby and Sapphire.

It’s fun in spurts, but overall a disappointment that hopefully doesn’t consign this series to years in limbo.

Dedicated fans of the JRPG genre, especially those of you who grew up playing SNES, might be able to find at least some fun with Chronus Arc based on the fact it delivers a mostly competent version of the sights, sounds, and gameplay mechanics of the era. However, when you delve any deeper than that nostalgic veneer the experience feels rather hollow.

The Legend of Legacy may not have the intricate story line, deep characters, or the standard turn-based combat that one might expect from an RPG, but it has its own unique style with gameplay that rewards players for making smart tactical decisions. The game’s flaws may prevent it from being perfect, but The Legend of Legacy is still an excellent RPG that fans of the genre will love.

Anyone who is on the fence about this sort of game, and especially those who don’t find it appealing at all, isn’t going to be swayed by Senran Kagura 2. It’s okay in bursts, but overall its gameplay doesn’t have the entertainment value to distract from its overreliance on sexiness to ensnare players.

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.

It’s not the life-sim of years past, but Happy Home Designer’s successful re-imagining of what makes Animal Crossing tick is a lovely departure that I sincerely hope Nintendo explores again in the future.