After last year's abysmal MLB 2K13, a new contender seemed like a breath of fresh air, but R.B.I. Baseball 14 is a poor alternative. [July 2014, p.82]

With a handful of infuriating exceptions, Blood of the Werewolf's challenging gameplay generally feels fair and rewarding, and its increasingly lethal, lightning-quick action is well paced. [July 2014, p.78]

With four distinctive maps and a fun new mode, Naval Strike is a stellar pick-up for Battlefield 4 fans. [July 2014, p.77]

The overall package could stand to be more robust, but thanks to Mayday, Devastation still packs a punch. [July 2014, p.77]

Despite not including anything from the third Hobbit movie that could provide a satisfactory ending, Lego The Hobbit has enough content and charm to keep you entertained until the inevitable next Lego game. [July 2014, p.76]

EA's newest iteration of FIFA features improved play on the pitch, but doesn't provide enough gameplay modes to justify a $60 price tag unless you live and breathe the World Cup, or want to play as every country FIFA recognizes--including American Samoa. [July 2014, p.73]

Blackgate succeeds in channeling Arkham's open-world structure into a 2.5D format, but runs into pacing issues and hackneyed dialogue along the way. [July 2014, p.70]

Cold, Cold Heart is absolutely fine: The story is predictable but satisfying. The combat is occasionally frustrating but still fun. And the unique touches don't add much, but are welcome nonetheless. [July 2014, p.71]

And as a whimsical, sweet-natured tale of a princess who learns she must earn her right to return home, it's a warm-hearted departure we found difficult not to embrace. [July 2014, p.68]

There's a strange charm to Bound By Flame that helps paper over the performance issues. There's a well-acted but profoundly bewildering script, a baroque crafting system, and drawn-out boss battles. It's not great, but it's fairly... interesting.

Offering a serviceable but somewhat bland alternative for core card-battlers wanting to play with friends(but unable to organize an in-person match), Yu-Gi-Oh! Millennium Duels is a bit of a slog for all but super-fans. [June 2014, p.80]

Takedown: Red Sabre's slower pace is distinctive, but generic content means little else is--and single--player is miserable. [June 2014, p.81]

Eutechnyx's third kick at the NASCAR can keeps hitting singleplayer and multiplayer speed bumps that diminish the overall racing experience. [June 2014, p.81]

Rough visuals and a lack of polish hurt, but Pro Hunts offers adequate hunting action without too much artificial bombast. [June 2014, p.80]

We had fun with Last Agent's streamlined story and missions, but navigation issues and faults left over from other episodes make it unworthy of the series' legacy. [June 2014, p.78]

In spite of few frustrating stretches, Revelations' enjoyably button-mashy combat and clever puzzles are worth diving back in. [June 2014, p.74]

Punishing but fair, Trials Fusion is a fast-paced platformer with fantastic level design and a few new ideas. It’s just a shame that the new ideas aren’t implemented better.

Strike Suit Zero still has its issues, but the Director's Cut does a much better job of accentuating its strengths while hiding its weaknesses.

The trick that Crooked Mile pulls off particularly well is in ditching “right” and “wrong” — this is ever more the land of shades of gray, and we found our choices dictated increasingly by the impact they’d have on the characters Bigby clearly cares for.

While Kinect Sports Rivals amuses and impresses in spots, the overall package fails to show significant improvement in the realm of motion gaming, making for an ultimately discouraging early showcase for Kinect 2.0.

Skydive offers a chance to experience what it’s like to fall from the sky without the fear of splattering yourself all over the ground below.

A slightly uneven but still arresting journey back to BioShock’s past, future, and present that makes a worthy protagonist out of Elizabeth, while introducing some downright cool new gameplay into the series’ mix.

The world's first bona fide videogame mascot deserved better than to have five failures trotted out alongside four dirt-simple classics, and the inflated price of admission doesn't do his flawed exhibition any favors. [May 2014, p.83]

Far Cry Classic exhibits many of the ideas that came to define the series, but this decade-old shooter doesn't hold up very well thanks to antiquated design and a spotty porting job. [May 2014, p.82]

Gearbox piles on the wit and humor more thoroughly than it has with its other holiday-themed DLC, but the lack of Valentine's Day-themed environs leaves it feeling too much like the base game. [May 2014, p.77]

If you enjoy excellent, funny voice acting and the simplicity of just exploring areas and collecting items, you'll find a lot to like. [May 2014, p.76]

While we would've had the first female Dead Rising hero headline a full length game, Fallen Angel is a nice add on with excellent storytelling beats and a beefier adventure than Broken Eagle. [May 2014, p.77]

No new content, but Ubisoft's Montpellier team astounds us again with just how pretty games can be. [May 2014, p.71]

Dead Rising led by unrepentant killer could be perfect, but Chaos Rising sinks like a stone. [May 2014, p.71]

Even with our expectations lowered, Yaiba still managed to disappoint. It’s even more sexist than we presumed, uglier than some 360 launch titles, and feels budget-y without the accompanying charm. Hayabusa deserves better.

Ground Zeroes' story feels a bit skimpy for the price, but it excels as a breathtakingly pretty stealth sandbox, and as a chance to try out Phantom Pain's gameplay in a smaller, more intimate open world.

Constant C’s certainly not for the easily discouraged, but its cleverly designed puzzles and surprisingly engaging story are a treat if you don’t mind a little (okay, a lot of) punishment.

From Software’s latest creation is a completely unique experience with no real analogue, even if it only occasionally surpasses its predecessor. For players new to the series, it’s a much better entry point than the first game, but Dark Souls grognards who proudly bear their scars will find it a touch too familiar and/or streamlined.

Titanfall is a wonderfully fast, open, and instantly accessible 12-player shooter, and if playing online is at all important to you, it’s an essential addition to your Xbox One library.

A House Divided makes a strong case for being the best episode of Telltale’s Walking Dead series to date, but it’s more amazing to think on what's being set up for the rest of the season.

In Stick of Truth, Obsidian has created what’s essentially an incredibly well-paced, extended playable episode of the TV show, cramming in a tightly constructed “greatest hits”–style, kitchen-sink gag reel of everything that can make the show such a riot. For fans, it’s hard to imagine a better way to wind down the Xbox 360 console generation than with this gloriously gassy, burrito-fueled send-off.

It's a bit rote, and dealing with the same two basic guard types (swordsman and crossbowman) for the bulk of the game doesn’t help. The repetition is slightly offset, however, by the wealth of tools at your disposal for staying hidden.

It's one of the brighter spots in this somewhat patchy DLC set, but serious online players needn't shrug off a welcome injection of variety. [April 2014, p.73]

Nothing bout the experience stands out, and in eschewing modern enhancements and conveniences, the developer hasn't crafted a purer or more-to-the-point shooter--just a much less interesting and impactful one. [April 2014, p.72]

With a 20-hour runtime, both it and the gameplay are prone to meandering and missteps, but Lords of Shadow 2 nonetheless manages to bring the series crashing to a satisfying conclusion. [April 2014, p.70]

Combining classic action with a tried-and-true exploration-based formula, Strider is a fine update to Capcom’s long-ignored brand with plenty to recommend it to nostalgia hounds and newcomers.

If it sounds like we’re pining for Insect Armageddon, let us make it clear that 2025 is the superior game. The locales are more striking, the destruction (and particularly the feedback from your weaponry) is greatly improved, and there’s far more depth overall.

What it does deliver is a clearer, darker look at Wolf’s depressingly downbeat landscape, complete with trolls shooting smack and corrupt, greedy bureaucrats. It’s as mesmerizing as it is glum, using the series’ stark, black-and-neon backdrops as visual clues to Fabletown’s — and Bigby’s — split nature.

However you play, the button-mashing combat proves crushingly simplistic and repetitive, and moving around the stages is awkward and disorienting, with a dizzying camera that makes Battle of Z a pretty ideal motion-sickness simulator.

The push and pull between the great and sketchy in Fable Anniversary can wear over the course of the game, but its infallible, messy charm still manage to make it every bit the enjoyable time sink it was back in 2004.

Thanks to its engaging combat and spectacle, Lightning Returns manages to distract somewhat from its overarching design issues. As a game, it's notably flawed but has its moments. [March 2014, p.76]

Given the scope of what it tries to cover, Liberation HD could’ve easily been as complex and lengthy as its home-console siblings. Instead, this somewhat-confusing adventure gets you to love it, and then leaves you yearning for more.

Without any significant, newly added gameplay beyond a single additional optional tomb, we still find ourselves wishing for more side areas to explore and less of the game’s insistence on nudging us in the ribs about the locations of collectibles and secrets. Still, there’s no denying that Definitive Edition is the best way to experience Lara’s origin story for those who haven’t yet pick-axed their way through this incredibly surefooted reboot.

It’s over far too fast (we explored a bit and finished in roughly 90 minutes) and it’s missing two major Dead Rising staples by omitting co-op play and "psycho" battles. While the single-player focus applies to all Untold Stories, we’re left hoping the other three heroes of Los Perdidos have longer, crazier adventures in store.

Though Spartan Assault boasts many of the aliens, armaments, and well-worn plot wrinkles we associate with the Halo universe, it lacks the polished sheen that just about every other game in the series enjoys.

Despite its literary ancestry, The Raven is uneven in its narrative delivery. Whether stuck on the Orient Express or relaxing on a Venetian cruise ship, The Raven’s cast of well-heeled socialites is deftly drawn, with sharp dialogue and expressive voice acting to match.

The Raven might test your patience in more ways than one, but Zellner remains as endearing a protagonist as we’re likely to encounter.

Technical problems aside, The Raven’s three chapters are charming and sincere, with a knack for breezy puzzles, punchy dialog, and memorable characters.

If you've already finished State of Decay and want more, Breakdown is a hugely addicting excuse to dive back into Trumbull County and spend endless hours strip-mining it.

The inclusion of new tools only complements this rawness, and even adds a distinctly unique flavor to combat.

The “a-ha” moments when you successfully combine your various marker powers to navigate a pitch-black cave, escape the clutches of a pursuing beast, or access a seemingly out-of-reach ledge made us feel like Mensa members.

Like Dawn, Contrast sometimes misses the leaps it strives to make, but when its simple, quiet story and uncomplicated platforming perform in balance, it transforms into a beautiful indie experience that manages to stand on its own. [Feb 2014, p.71]

Telltale has a lot to deal with out of the gate for All That Remains, and is successful managing most of it. It still doles out plenty of handwringing, emotional moments (in both brutal and overarching flavors), but we’re waiting for Telltale to tie this package together in a truly satisfying manner.

At 30 bucks, Farming Simulator 2013 mainly reminds us why the expression “bought the farm” has such negative connotations.

In every respect, Fighter Within feels hacked together and devoid of interesting ideas or precise execution. The result is a game that would’ve been lousy at the launch of the original Kinect, but on Xbox One it’s just embarrassing.

Ultra die-hard series addicts will find some reward in a handful of lively but short cutscenes, but overall this licensed title lacks the joy and entertainment of its source material.

Even if Peggle 2 works best as a solitary pursuit, you can fully expect 12 bucks to buy you innumerable hours of absorbing amusement.

Still, this is a smartly executed return to the kind of gameplay that made Castlevania great, and we'd love to see it grow into something more. [Jan 2014, p.85]

A survival mode and a handful of inventive multiplayer scenarios add some replayability, but considering that they suffer from the same issues that plague the core game, you're probably best leaving raider in the bomb. [Jan 2014, p.76]

With a semi-open layout that requires return visits to a base camp to resupply and save, it's unlike any other mission in Last Light, and more than worth the $5 all by itself. [Jan 2014, p.70]

If you don't care so much for story and just want grindy, hard-as-nails combat, the Tower pack features a succession of difficult shootouts against waves of enemies in diverse areas, with a combat-simulator conceit that allows for deviations from realism. [Jan 2014, p.70]

The Developer Pack, meanwhile, gives us a behind-the-scenes museum in which to try out every firearm and safely examine the game's monsters and human characters up close. [Jan 2014, p.70]

Finally, the Chronicles pack offers three short-ish missions, each centering on one of Last Light's supporting characters. [Jan 2014, p.70]

If you've run the first-person gauntlet before, Magrunner's slight tweaks on the formula make it worth checking out. [Jan 2014, p.71]

Disappointingly, the experience becomes a painful chore if you play solo. [Jan 2014, p.69]

While BandFuse evolves the music game genre by allowing you to use real instruments, with so many oversights and foibles, sadly the progression stops there. [Jan 2014, p.69]

Together, this mix of realistic physics and wildly imaginative board design will keep you coming back until...well, Zen releases its next batch of tables. [Jan 2014, p.67]

2012's edition of Rocksmith suffered from some slight latency problems, making it hard to hit notes accurately. This year's release fixes that. [Jan 2014, p.67]

Appalling.

A stunner, refreshing the tried-and-true formula with fantastic visual pop and engaging new modes.

The improvements and additions to one of 2012’s best games make XCOM: Enemy Within’s second quest every bit as alluring as first contact.

Despite simple visuals, the game curiously looks much crisper on Xbox One; the other next-gen advantage comes from a biweekly Challenge objective to tackle. But on either platform, Angry Birds Star Wars should have been a $10 download, and paying much more might make you feel like you've been taken for a ride — and we're not talking about the Millennium Falcon.

While it’s one of the most attractive and polished fitness games we’ve ever played, we can’t help but feel like Zumba Fitness World Party could’ve been so much more. Its breadth and depth of content make it an interesting destination to explore, but when we need to push ourselves, we’ll stick with our copies of Core and Rush for now.

There’s more to Ryse than its glossy exterior suggests, and Marius’ tightly told tale makes for an entertaining journey filled with its share of surprisingly considered carnage, but as the credits rolled, we dreamed about what a sequel might be like. Take it off its rails, inject more variety and depth in its systems…now that’s a game we absolutely want to play.

Dead Rising 3 is undoubtedly fun, and cleans up a lot of the messiness found in previous Dead Risings, but it’s still not the complete antidote to the series’ slowly decaying zombie antics. It also doesn’t take much advantage of the new hardware. Don’t blame the Xbox One, though — this launch-day release is limited primarily by the constraints set by the original’s creaky mechanics and gameplay clichés way back in 2006.

So while a handful of dings and scrapes will unquestionably set some teeth on edge, Forza Motorsport 5 remains a fantastic opening salvo in the battle of the Xbox One racers.

Given its feel as a challenging, enjoyable homage to gaming's past, we relished Crimson Dragon for serving hard-earned silver linings to those wiling to stick with it.

Hardcore fighting fans looking to dive back into a franchise classic should take note: this probably isn't the exact version of the game you remember. The core gameplay, for reasons unknown, is based around the European PAL release, which had a few distinct elements that were changed for the North American version. Casual players won't care, but diehard competitive players will find some attacks are much nastier than they remember.

With its charming, colorful sandbox of tools, there's definitely a micro-managing itch that Zoo Tycoon handily scratches - we just wish the thrills stuck around a bit longer.

Powerstar Golf has its enjoyable strokes, whether playing solo, with local buddies, or while challenging an online rival's best score in an asynchronous mode, but truly head-scratching skill and progression choices diminish what's already an uninspiring clone.

The new Killer Instinct succeeds at stoking nostalgic fires while updating the action. However, a piecemeal season-based approach means that the initial incarnation is extremely light on content, revealing a fighter that’s as packed with vibrant combos as it is unfulfilled promise.

It’s not the most standout piece of work in Xbox One’s launch lineup, nor does it pull off any amazing technical tricks — but it’s a fun, cheap ride busting at the gills with an absurd amount of charm.

Though its missteps won’t have you eagerly trading Lego Marvel Super Heroes around with your friends when you’re done, leafing through its open-world NYC still succeeds as a goofy, absorbing time sink.

Obviously the best-looking the series has been, thanks to the advent of new console hardware, but it's not definitively the best-feeling game in the series. It'll be tough to weather another pre-race lobby in other driving games after experiencing Rivals' seamless single-player/multiplayer mix, but it comes at the expense of a cohesive career mode, which might be slightly too chaotic for some.

Blood Knights is too easy to ever become actively irritating, but its deficit of danger makes it too darn dull to hold even a devoted horror nut’s attention for long. Perhaps it’s a blessing, then, that the whole ho-hum campaign clocks in at just four hours.

As long as you possess ample patience and an abiding affection for mental gymnastics, you’ll still emerge with a smile on your dial.

It’s difficult to call Burial at Sea’s first episode especially satisfying — by its cliffhanger ending, the labyrinthine overworked plot teeters between collapsing in on itself and being a devilishly clever rug-puller. But even as it stumbles, this DLC installment remains a fascinating, complicated riddle to watch unfold.

Despite issues regarding its distribution method, DoA5 Ultimate remains a fun, gorgeous, and accessible fighter, made sweeter by the wealth of new content. There's no better time to hop into the ring.

We wish Infinity Ward had been bolder with their design decisions, sure, but everything from the campaign to the competitive multiplayer to the alien-battling version of Treyarch’s zombie mode remains outright fun. Imperfect and unsurprising maybe, but fun nonetheless.

It lasts just long enough to justify its humble asking price, but better online island vacations await you elsewhere.

The behind-the-scenes retrospective angle is good for a few laughs, and it’s fun to see the new characters, battles, and goofy ending that could have been.

Unlike 2011’s installment, though, multiplayer excellence can't completely compensate for a misguided and rote single-player campaign, which makes BF4 an unsatisfying choice for those looking for the total package.

After weathering the somewhat diminishing returns of Revelations and ACIII, Black Flag is exactly the shot in the arm Assassin’s Creed needed. It’s dependably fun, endlessly engrossing, and filled with tons of ready distractions everywhere you look, all while bringing to life a fascinating period of history with an engaging story and memorable characters. And if that isn’t enough, it’s the best game about pirates we’ve ever played.