When it comes to Super Bomberman R, don’t expect any frills, bells, or whistles. This is a standard edition of a Bomberman experience, with a decent enough story mode and a pretty fun online experience whenever the connection was smooth. Nothing about this game reinvents the franchise, but hey -- as someone who has wanted a new entry in the Bomberman series for years, this game definitely fits the bill.

Fast RMX does a tremendous job of capturing the feeling of blazing around the race track. The combination of visuals, audio and technical prowess makes for an incredibly sound and fun game. The lack of online options at launch is disappointing, but still doesn’t detract from the overall experience. With Fast RMX, Shin'en Multimedia has managed to deliver a triple A experience for a third of the price.

Metal Slug 3 is a great game to have on your Switch. It doesn't feature the best emulation, and the controller options could be clearer, but deep down it is a very solid game full of delicious, sweet eye candy. The ability to play on the go and on your TV seamlessly is definitely a plus, and the overall quirkiness of running and gunning your way through the game will be something you will never forget.

Back to Bed offers a great look into the fascinating world of Bob’s dreams, but sadly you’ll only be there for about two hours. The Wii U version doesn’t include any added content or features, but does support off screen play. While the game stands tall from a presentation aspect, where it lacks most is in the act of playing it. Puzzles offer some clever ideas, but they never truly explore how far each idea could be pushed which results in a simple game that never challenges the player. This might appeal to a casual puzzle fan, but it certainly won’t scratch the itch for veterans of the genre.

You’ll be doing things in Specter of Torment that literally make you say “wow” out loud. It’s a smooth, expertly-crafted platformer filled with heart. Again, it’s a free update to your Wii U and 3DS versions so there’s no reason not to play it. For Switch users, it’s absolutely worth experiencing, as is the rest of the Treasure Trove.

Skylanders Imaginators is yet another well-made adventure filled with charming characters and amusing gameplay. The Switch version is hampered a little bit by the system’s portability and the loss of compatibility with some previous figures is a shame, but it’s still a fine way to play, especially if you long for the days of the Skylanders 3DS games. This is a good time, even if it doesn’t match the highs of past entries in the series.

It truly recaptures the distinct essence of the original Zelda game on NES in a way that feels warm and familiar but also exciting and new. This is an amazing, standout entry in a series with a history dotted with masterpieces. It absolutely reinvents the Zelda style while still staying true to what makes past games work so well. This is a hell of a way to kick off a new console (or close one out if you play it on Wii U), as Breath of the Wild is one of the most impressive games I’ve played in years.

Ultimately, Trio of Towns is a typical Story of Seasons game, no more and no less. It fails to offer longtime fans anything new or interesting, yet still manages to provide the addicting core elements that attracts many to the series. Its heavy tutorials and minor annoyances often get in the way of that fun, so enjoyment often relies on a heavy dose of patience and acceptance. If you can get past these inconveniences, you’ll find a solid farming sim here, but I can’t help but feel like you’d be better off spending your time with other, better games in this genre.

Lifespeed is a good game that I enjoy, but I recognize its shortcomings. I would like to see what Wee Man could do with a sequel, because there’s a solid core here.

Forma.8 offers a beautiful world to explore with a fun set of abilities and an engrossing assortment of bosses. The experience lasts about six to eight hours, but easily much longer if you’re a completionist, as an abundance of hidden items and power ups are nestled throughout. Notwithstanding a few minor issues and lack of GamePad functionality (a constant map would have been greatly appreciated), Forma.8 delivers a great exploration based experience that has left me excited to see what Mixedbag has in store for us next.

The good news is that even though Tank Troopers doesn't feature online play, it does feature very fun local multiplayer and super fun single-player modes. With all of the missions to master, Tanks and Troopers to collect, and good selection of modes to play with your friends, Tank Troopers is a great little game packed with content that would be a great addition to your 3DS library.

Overall, Scribble hits all of the marks of a solid multiplayer party game. It knows what it wants to do and executes well on it. So if you have a bunch people over and want a simple game for an enjoyable time, consider downloading Scribble. Anyone can play it, and everyone will enjoy it.

Fire Emblem Heroes is a streamlined experience that is made for mobile and it doesn't shy away from that fact. It’s the closest thing Fire Emblem has to a bite-sized experience. Don't expect a lot of depth or difficulty from Heroes, but they did make some fine compromises. It helps that it plays wonderfully on a smart device and that the amount of content here is impressive. With 45 main missions (and counting) and a host of other features, they want to continue welcoming people with open arms. The story is really the biggest bummer of the experience. It was a neat idea to bring the Fire Emblem worlds together, but they never really embrace it. That is strange, considering they gave all the characters voices and unique art. The characters still drive forward what this is free-to-play mobile game is all about, and that is gameplay.

Dragon Quest VIII is a magnificent RPG that is an absolute highlight and showcase of the entire genre. It’s a long journey, but it’s one worth taking, especially if you’ve never played it before. I know that, after getting through this game, I need to reassess my personal favorite RPGs of all time. This game is that damn good.

If you are up for a meaty platformer, Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World will keep you entertained throughout February.

Shift DX is a no-nonsense platformer with simplistic graphics, single-screen puzzles, and straightforward progression. The focus on shifting shows the depth of that concept, as the levels rarely feel stagnant and regularly add new twists as you go deeper. This is a fun platformer that’s easy to get lost in.

In the six hours I spent on my first play through of Half-Genie Hero, I found myself smiling at the creative level design, laughing at the whimsical characters, and striving to get better whenever I missed a challenging jump. It’s rare that I ever want to play a game to completion twice, but I absolutely intend to throw myself back into Sequin Land to uncover all the secrets I missed in my first run—maybe I’ll even tackle the “Hero Mode,” which is designed for speed runs.

Super Mario Run is fun and it seems to be perfectly representative of Nintendo’s mobile plans: provide a taste that potentially leads players to their consoles. This isn’t a grand, deep experience, but it has enough inventive twists on Mario platforming to remain fun for a few hours. We’ll check in next week and land on a score.

The game looks good, especially in 3D, and I like the minimalistic but electronica-inspired soundtrack. Hyperlight EX can be very hard, but it’s fun and scratches a couple itches I had. Give it a shot.

Tedium aside, I enjoyed my time with Dragon Ball Fusions. The game’s battle system is pretty enjoyable, and the story is a nice change of pace from normal Dragon Ball games that just parrot stories from the various sagas. It’s nothing revolutionary, and there are certainly some problems here and there, but Dragon Ball Fusions is a fun game that takes its creative license to create an enjoyable experience.

The lack of meaningful level sharing or communication with the full Mario Maker community that has come up over the last year is sad. The local level creation is nice when it’s available, but that’s probably not going to be very often. The ''Maker'' part of the title seems less to matter. While I never made too many levels to begin with, having the possibility missing is something that can't be denied.

Twisted Fusion is a good game with a solid structure that woefully lacks a lot of polish. A lot of fun can be had and a nice sense of adventure pervades the game, but sadly the whole thing is held back by the choppy camera, frame rate, and overall production quality.

Exile’s End is not great. It’s just mediocre and it’s not optimized for the Wii U. While I got a kick out it, I suspect many of you will become bored or frustrated. Even I started leaning on online maps to find everything (breakable walls are rarely differentiated).

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.