It’s been awhile since I reviewed something so awful. Don’t play this or buy it for your kids. The only outcome will be sadness.

While I had a good deal of fun with Pokemon Moon, I couldn't shake the feeling that not everything was sound about it. The story didn't keep my attention as much as I would have hoped, the journey was easy to get through and some of the battles had slowdown. Despite that, I just kept pushing forward and wanting to more see of the world that Game Freak has built.

While I had a good deal of fun with Pokemon Moon, I couldn't shake the feeling that not everything was sound about it. The story didn't keep my attention as much as I would have hoped, the journey was easy to get through and some of the battles had slowdown. Despite that, I just kept pushing forward and wanting to more see of the world that Game Freak has built.

SteamWorld Heist is one of the best things any download service has to offer.

If you’re hankering for a bite-sized arcade experience that is heavy on fun and light on content, Pirate Pop Plus is fantastic.

This bite-sized visual novel noir is a pleasant surprise, but miserable puzzles and a so-so localization drag down the experience.

It’s hard to deny that Gurumin has some technical problems, but there’s a lot of charm under the surface. It’s fun to rebuild the town piece by piece and see more of the map unlock as the prince’s evil mist dissipates. Here’s hoping we can drill into some more Falcom games on the 3DS soon.

Disney Magical World 2 suffers from similar issues to the first game. The opening moments are a slow affair, while the technical issues are disappointing in more ways than one. That being said, I still ended up embracing what the game delivered. There are a solid amount of missions on offer with tons of variety on display.

The recurring hitches and long load times combined with the subpar graphics make this entry a poor one for Nintendo fans.

While Ninja Usagimaru: The Mysterious Karakugi Castle had some levels that were way too hard, the formula and presentation still work. Most of the levels left me feeling clever, with only a handful leaving me feeling dumb. I would recommend this game to anyone that beat the first one, but this is not the place to start.

I had a lot of fun with Yo-kai Watch 2. If you can deal with fetch quests and a passive battle system that requires a bit of patience, Bony Spirits is a great sequel with a fun story that feels refreshingly nostalgic to experience. This is the game you wanted the first Yo-kai Watch to be.

I wasn’t expecting to be so surprised by Color Splash, and it’s turned out to be one of my favorite games this year. Color Splash is a gorgeous, funny, and entertaining adventure that functions as a wonderful swan song for the Wii U.

A strong package overall. It has a lot of smart ideas that will hopefully be used in future games, and there’s a good variety of modes to play with.

If you really dug Azure Striker Gunvolt, you can rest assured that its sequel is essentially the same game. The Copen campaign keeps things fresh and even though the level design squanders his abilities, he’s fun to play as. For those who, like me, were hoping that Gunvolt 2 would sweeten the pot a little bit, prepare for disappointment.

Despite an overly simplistic story and maybe being a bit too laid back, I really enjoyed my time with Sonic Boom: Fire and Ice. It’s a well-paced platformer, with the right mix of stages when I’d get bored of the basic platforming. Although it’s missing some of the polish I’d expect from other platformers, there’s a good foundation here for possible greatness if Sanzaru continues to be given the opportunity.

Mixing brawler and role-playing aspects is a common design choice, but River City: Tokyo Rumble veers far closer to the brawler side. It’ll be over quickly, but so was the original. A few little things keep this from being an all-time classic, but it’s a fun break from the heavy role-playing games the 3DS has had this year. This is one trip to the Far East worth hopping on.

It’s a unique, intriguing game that makes brilliant use of the touch screen on the GamePad. This is a perfect off-TV experience. While the gameplay premise wears thin over the short adventure, when the slashing combat works and the exploration feels organic, it’s incredible. Just be prepared for a bit of repetition as the story reaches its conclusion.

140 is a nice distraction, but sadly nothing more beyond that. The title felt like an appetizer for something that could have been a whole lot bigger. Although the game’s presentation is unique and the action is fun yet challenging, it’s beatable quickly and there’s no real need to replay it after the ending. Hopefully we see more of this type of game soon.

A great game is nestled inside of this package, but some of the quality of life deficits that may have been acceptable in the Genesis days are a bit of a sore spot now. Still, there’s not a lot like it on Wii U so it’s worth taking for a spin.

Despite some feelings of deja vu while traversing this end-of-days version of Tokyo, Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse is an excellent game and a fantastic addition to the 3DS library. The year of the RPG is still red hot.

It’s certainly a long game, and that can be daunting to many who just want a pick -up -and -play adventure. It also doesn’t change or revolutionize the RPG formula, but I would argue that it didn’t need to -; its simplicity is one of its best attributes. If you can put the time and effort into it, you’ll find that Dragon Quest VII is a charming, wonderful game that is full of heart - something that, in many ways, only a Dragon Quest game can accomplish.

Much like its predecessor, Picross 3D: Round 2 comes late in the system’s life to provide dozens upon dozens of hours of glorious puzzle goodness. It’s a charming experience from the moment you first crack a block, and the additions and changes in Round 2 make this even better than what came before.

Despite the occasional frame rate issue and immense challenge, Jotun is a game that lovers of old school action adventure titles will love. Combining beautiful, hand drawn visuals with immensely rewarding gameplay, I loved the time I spent with it. It’s a game that draws players in with its beauty, and keeps them coming back with smart boss design and a feeling of accomplishment that few games today manage to grasp.

Spirit of Justice is the follow-up to Dual Destinies in every single sense. It’s ostensibly that game but with a new, better story, a new gimmicky mechanic, and some fan service to boot. The game is finally starting to show its age fifteen years and ten games later, but the fact that it has taken this long is nothing short of a miracle. And make no mistake: a solid Phoenix Wright game with a strong story is still a game that demands one’s attention.

Power Disc Slam is a fine game in theory, but there’s something missing that will prevent it from breaking out on the 3DS. This is the kind of game that would benefit from a larger view – maybe a console port? - and making it easier to show others that it exists even through Download Play. But as it stands, it’s probably better to hope the Japanese mob lets Windjammers come out again.

I love every part of this game, and the benefits of this Wii U version are easy to appreciate.

The quirkiness of The Legend of Kusakari is probably its best feature. It doesn’t take itself seriously and that’s a major part of the fun.

Between solo and multiplayer content, Tumblestone is filled to the brim with content. If the concept hooks you, the amount to do is near endless. The single-player campaign can get very demanding, but even if the challenge halts your progress, the endless modes and multiplayer modes offer fun no matter what your skill level is. This is the strongest new puzzle game concept in a very long time.

It is disappointing that the game wasn't shooting for anything grander. In its current state, I only saw myself playing short sessions before moving on to other games. All in all, I would recommend it more if you want to play it on the Nintendo 3DS. That is where the game shines the most.

It is an incredibly charming resource simulator that is made to be played on a Nintendo 3DS. The controls are easy enough that anyone can start playing, but the gameplay will challenge everyone who tries it.

Federation Force is absolutely a Metroid Prime game. It incorporates fresh ideas and presents them in unique ways, but it never forgets where it comes from. The co-op online shooter genre is a bold new venture for Nintendo, and one they’ve taken to with surprising aptitude. The odd lack of a retry button ads a noticeable hiccup to an otherwise wonderful experience, but it is one that is easily overcome with a little patience.

Ambition of the Slimes is a frustratingly mediocre game. I wanted to enjoy the experience, but I think I’ll stick to pasting Goomy going forward rather than try and fight through more maps in 8-on-1 battles.

Definitely look into it if you have a creative spark or just love rhythm games.

Buddy & Me: Dream Edition is one of the strongest endless runners on the Wii U.

Like with seemingly every Lego game, if you’re not into the source material, buyer beware. But if you’re into Star Wars and want to relive the thrill of The Force Awakens, this is the best way to do so.

While not an enormous step forward nor the celebration of the past we were promised, Monster Hunter Generations pushes its franchise forward with a number of combat enhancements that change the way Monster Hunter is played.

While I personally don’t feel it reaches the highs of the Etrian Odyssey series, it’s still a compelling and unique RPG with diverse classes and engaging turn-based combat.

BoxBoxBoy might be a must-buy, but it does feel like DLC for a game I’ve never played.

Mighty No. 9 isn’t a bad game, but it’s generic in gameplay quality and suffers from technical issues that hamper the experience.

Weird trials-by-payment aside, Megamix is firing on all cylinders for me; if you’ve ever been curious about the series or you’re already a fan, this is a great way to jump in…as long as you’re jumping on the beat.

Dragon Fantasy: Tome of Ice is a good game, made with heart, but I just didn’t find it very engaging. The whole thing feels kind of vanilla, with the exception of the writing. I suspect your mileage will vary based on how much of a fan you are of SNES-era RPGs.

But what should have been a great finale stumbles a bit due to some odd game design and creative decisions.

If you’re a fan of games like Pac-Man, Dig Dug, and Mappy, I think you’ll find Digger Dan DX to be right up your alley.

Overall I had fun, it’s a nice title to pick up and chill out with for a couple minutes every once in a while. I’m disappointed they didn’t create a more challenging algorithm that could match similar mobile games though, it just seems like they put in an abundance of data just to let it fall to the sidelines.

The colorful world, the characters, the battle system and so much more brings this game together in a major way. I could nag about the loading times and small hub worlds more, but Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE does too many things well for it to really matter. There are very few RPGs that I wanted to see 100% completed, but darn, I am glad that it is this one.

At the end of the day, I enjoyed what Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Wii U tried to deliver. While the limited amount of events are the major downer here, I had fun playing them alone or with my friends. They found unique ways to represent the events, which is what matters at the end of the day. I do expect that the majority will be disappointed with the lack of specific Mario and Sonic touches, which is totally justified.

Futuridium EP Deluxe is a really interesting space shooter puzzle hybrid that works flawlessly.

We had no reason to return after our initial run, so the security guard's tale probably won't generate much buzz.

From the first moment you encounter the mech suit to when you hop on a Warp Star after beating the final boss, Planet Robobot is a joyous adventure built on a foundation of fun abilities, engrossing level design, and boundless delight.

Super Meat Boy remains a fun game, even after many years of waiting. The hard as nails platformer will provide hours of levels and secrets to uncover for those in the need of a challenge.

Olympia Rising has a beautiful presentation and neat elements to boot, but ultimately does a bit too little to bring excitement.

It does what it says on the tin and the game is competent enough to give it a go. There is nothing really outstanding about the game.

If you’re looking for a solitaire game with a bit of pizzaz and a novel wrapper, Pocket Card Jockey is straight-up magic. The cartoony, goofy setup hides a deep, complicated experience filled with a variety of minute details. Just let yourself get washed over by the bright zaniness and enjoy clearing cards, moving horses, and ideally, winning all the races.

This is a Picross game condensed into a smaller wrapper than usual, but fortunately, it’s a pleasant Zelda wrapper.

No matter how low this game gets on the eShop or in stores, it's not worth the time or effort to play it.

Chompy Chomp Chomp Party is an adorable game with tons of options to make games unqiue. Sadly, there aren't many game modes, and this is what a party game lives by.

Sega’s new compilation features a slew of titles that not only stand the test of time, but have also been enhanced for the 3DS.

This is likely the closest we get to Geometry Wars, and that is saying something.

It’s fully featured and has a nice long single player campaign. So what if it’s a little repetitive, you didn’t pay anything for it so what does it matter if you never finish it.

Star Fox Zero’s tried-and-true format and style is, at times, its greatest strength and greatest weakness. This is a brand new Star Fox shooting adventure in 2016, complete with fun new mechanics, dazzling HD graphics, and tons of secrets. On the other hand, it too often treads into remake-like feelings of familiarity. The level design is all different and unique, but the locations and the story are nearly identical.

If you can forgive a few missteps and love to experiment, you will no regrets playing this one to completion.

Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on the Nintendo 3DS is nothing more than alright.

A clever, charming Metroidvania with some intense platforming bits, Shantae: Risky’s Revenge – Director’s Cut is a must play for fans of the genre.

Turn into a werewolf and sprint your way to the end of this endless runner spectacle.

On one hand, this is the best version of the game aside from the visual downgrade. On the other, it’s essentially the same game that came out on Wii U in 2014.

This is an excellent pick-up for hardcore Mudd fans, but if you’re new to the series, don’t start with this game—go with its predecessor. Even for Mudd diehards, I suspect your mileage may vary.

Cute animals doesn't stop this puzzle-platformer from being frustrating.

The performance was good – testing at multiple times, and against players on multiple continents, only one match ended up in a slideshow and that was before launch. Following launch, the netcode was stable and didn't drop, even if the game was being controlled by a Twitch chatroom.

Puzzle-platforming with a twist that repeats itself over and over and over.

A weird control scheme throws you for a loop in this highly entertaining up shoot ‘em up.

SADAME has some cool ideas, but it doesn't know how to execute them properly.

Return to PopoloCrois creates a vibrant world full of charm, fulfilling achievement and classic storytelling. The two different play styles of the JRPG and farming sim come together for something with a surprisingly new feel, and while some components could have been developed better, other pieces bridge the gap to deliver an experience that is well-rounded and worth a look.

Whether it’s the ridiculous DLC situation, the lifeless world and characters, or the monotonous gameplay, Blast ‘Em Bunnies comes with a very hearty warning to stay away from this reviewer.

Overall though, Inside My Radio is just alright.

This is a fantastic game, even with the lame side quests and overworld. If you missed out back in the day or only have fuzzy decade-old memories, this Wii U remake is, no doubt, the new and best way to experience Twilight Princess.

The title's biggest accomplishment lies within its gameplay mechanics and how this Wii U version is set up. The GamePad functionality seems simple at first glance, but it is a true game changer in motion. It must be witnessed to be believed!

While Shutshimi is obviously meant to be a party game, it’s very fun for the solo gamer as well. Once you start learning what items do what, you’ll be able to avoid the ones you dislike and grab the ones you dig. Shushimi is a nice surprise—I highly recommend it.

If you haven’t dipped into Mega Man games on portables yet, Mega Man Legacy Collection is a no-brainer if you’re ever hankering for some classic Capcom action going forward.

If you do decide to take the plunge, you can't go wrong with the puzzles and story, but you will have to put up with a lot to truly enjoy yourself.

The mixture of old and new characters, locations and ideas works quite well, though the feeling remains that more could have been done to the world as a whole. That doesn't mean that you won't be charmed by most of what the game offers, because faces like Yew's or Magnolia's are hard to ignore. It helps that it moves along at a solid pace and the battle system is still a joy to behold.

Fire Emblem Fates is so perfectly executed that I wonder how they’ll top it as the series progresses. Every complaint from Awakening has been addressed, leading to a fine-tuned strategy game that borders on genius.

The gameplay is a little shallow, but the real draw of Project X Zone is the localization as something like 90 characters are represented and the dialogue between them is a real hoot.

Inconsistent framerate, a muddled story and a poorly rendered open world keep LEGO Marvel’s Avengers from being mighty.

Final Fantasy Explorers is layered with systems and mechanics, some of which are great and others that aren’t. It all works best when it’s dripping with nostalgia, which might not make for an amazing game, but it makes for a good time if you’re a fan of Final Fantasy. It doesn’t have the nuance or depth of a Monster Hunter game, but it’s a decent, enjoyable experience that is well worth checking out, especially if you can play locally or online.

The first chapter of Minecraft: Story Mode is a fun start to a five episode series.

This game might not be a ton of fun, but I fell in love with it once or twice. It’s a train set, even if it is pretty limited, and that’s okay. I do wish there had been more to the story mode or an unlock system of sorts for more objects.

With a nice variety of puzzles and mechanics that will keep you engaged, it certainly deserves a shot.

I'd be lying if I said Nintendo Badge Arcade wasn't addictive; it was clearly designed that way. That said, this is the most disgustingly blatant, money grabbing game Nintendo has ever released.

It’s not for everyone, but if it’s for you, it’s a gaming experience you won’t likely forget.

Typoman is a gorgeous game with a lot of half-baked ideas (and physics) and, frankly, deserves better. As it exists, the game is not worth recommending.

SteamWorld Heist is another excellent game from the folks at Image & Form. While I wish that the skill trees were less linear, I honestly have nothing else to complain about.

F-Zero to the core, Fast Racing Neo is almost everything you’d want in a future racing game.

It’s a perfect gateway drug to nonogram puzzles if you’ve never tried them before. And if you’re a Picross vet hankering for more, this is well worth diving into as long as you’re okay with the fact that, if you want to play this free-to-start game without mindlessly repeating puzzles ad nauseum, you’re going to have to spend some money.

The game’s central issue is that, frustratingly, the hallways and offices of the asylum all look the same, with not even a change in wallpaper color from one floor to the next. You can get turned around very easily, and one wonders how many closets one hospital needs.

All of the pieces are in place for this to be the best Pokémon Mystery Dungeon game ever, and for plenty, it just might be. It’s ambitious, has a number of new mechanics, and tries to address the major criticisms of its predecessor while being as fun as ever. But when all of its parts come together, it feels weird and clumsy.

The fact that I plowed that time into the game and want to go back with more information to replay it should say a lot, though; Xenoblade Chronicles X is required playing for anyone with the slightest inclination toward RPGs, and if you need to buy the system then do it. It’s an essential part of the Wii U library.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros. was enjoyable, but it suffers from some severe pacing problems.

Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash isn't good in the slightest. While the game can be decent in passing, it’s a horrible value when you stop and think about it. There is just one stadium, limited online options and less features than the previous two entries.