So is the hype surrounding Fall Guys justified? Yes for sure. However, it will not be very durable unless the game is regularly updated.

It's great to see how the developers of Gears Tactics have cleverly and successfully turned a huge array of Gears of War elements into turn-based tactics, resulting in surprisingly spectacular gameplay. But with a missing meta game or other game modes besides the campaign, it still feels a bit like Tactic-ish Antics Starring the Gears.

Super Mario RPG is a perfect remake of the SNES classic with just a few smart improvements. It's amazing how much of the game is still rock solid and it proves once again that Squaresoft was in its golden era at the time. However, the game is too short to belong among the elite Triple-A RPGs these days.

Session: Skate Sim knows how to capture what makes skating so much fun with its in-depth settings and excellent board control and physics like no other game. That also means a huge difficulty level. It's not for everyone, but it gives real skaters a simulator they can play for years to come, if Sessions many shortcomings are made up with updates.

The core of Mario Tennis was always good but by adding fighting game-like mechanics the game has turned out even better and more competitive. Even though Mario Tennis Aces lacks a few small details its core gameplay is strong enough to keep the franchise alive.

Doom: The Dark Ages introduces some innovations that too often disrupt the rhythm of the action. The action itself, which is considerably more static, also falls short compared to the two previous installments. Doom: The Dark Ages is certainly worth playing — the levels are stunning and the combat is at times immensely satisfying — but I can’t shake the feeling that it had the potential to be more.

This is, graphically speaking, as well as technically, one of the most impressive remakes of the past years. Especially the improved cinematics do the story of Mafia justice. And that's why Mafia: Definitive Edition is the best reason for players of the original Mafia to return to Lost Heaven! But there are little scratches on this layer of newness, causing a somewhat hollow and unsatisfying experience for newcomers.

Little Nightmares 2 is a unique highlight in a flat gaming landscape which craves for more interesting horror games. A grotesque fairy-tale that grabs you by the eyeballs from start to finish, but unfortunately also has some frustrating gameplay elements inherited from its predecessor.

In Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, we get a unique look at the history of Hyrule, making it an interesting complement to Tears of the Kingdom. If that appeals to you, it's easier to push through the flashy yet repetitive gameplay.

Need for Speed: Payback's story is completely irrelevant and the last-gen graphics almost hurt the eyes, but the gameplay is as good as ever, the police remain enjoyably annoying and customizing the cars is nice and comprehensive. Recommended for a rainy weekend.

Trials of Mana is a delicious, fun, old-fashioned RPG reminiscent of better times. It's the delicious, familiar glass of lager you want to enjoy after you've experienced the layered complexity of a cabernet sauvignon like Final Fantasy VII Remake.

When looking at the gameplay, Jedi: Fallen Order isn't that original, but it does give you the drive to keep playing and it will definitely keep you busy until the release of The Rise of Skywalker.

The core gameplay is refreshing and enjoyable but limited in weird ways. [Jul 2015, p.065]

The Crown Tundra is a little inconsistent, but the sheer amount of content and the delightful tundra itself make for Game Freaks best open world experience yet. Also, the many legendary Pokémon and the cooperative Dynamax Adventures give Sword and Shield some welcome new endgame experiences.

Lies of P borrows very enthusiastically from FromSoftware games and is therefore fun to play, but it adds very little to the well-known formula. The only exception to this is the weapon system, which comes out well and just in the nick of time gives the game the right to exist and its own face that it so desperately needs. It's a nice treat for Game Pass, but the five bucks you have to put down makes it a little more difficult to recommend in a jam-packed gaming year.

Knack 2 is enjoyable enough, but mostly because there aren't a whole lot of 3D platform games like this, especially not ones that are playable in co-op. Knack 2 is slightly better than its predecessor with okay gameplay, but the rest is barely interesting and and very much focused on children.

Minecraft Legends is a good but simple strategy game that is perfect for beginners. The world of Minecraft is well conveyed in all its glory and the balance between building and demolition makes long lasting battles a legendary story to tell.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl offer exactly what you expect, sometimes a bit disappointing, but still oh so nice.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl offer exactly what you expect, sometimes a bit disappointing, but still oh so nice.

It is such a pity that Surviving Mars is infested by frustrating bugs, is at times unclear and has some resource balancing issues. Because, despite these problems, it is still a fun game, bursting with potential.

It might be the biggest, most complex and action packed game in the franchise, but Mass Effect: Andromeda is also the least convincing one. The dated facial animations, the inconsistent writing quality and the regularly occurring bugs take you out of the experience too often. On top of that, BioWare has not used the concept of a whole new universe to its full potential, which often makes it feel like Mass Effect: Andromeda has not left our Milky Way at all.

Bigby Wolf is the perfect protagonist for this shocking Telltale adventure in the Fables universe, because of the convincing way you can mold him into a good or bad wolf. Too bad the game is lacking in the technical and gameplay department. [Aug 2014, p.63]

Age of Wonders: Planetfall is one of the better 4X science-fiction games of the last few years, which is mainly thanks to the exploration, the battles and how these are joined together with quite an expansive narrative. The base building and management is somewhat less interesting, but far from a chore.

Driveclub’s controls are brilliant and the single-player mode is fine but the online aspect is a joke and the whole Club thing has little to no bearing on the gameplay. Its problems might be fixed in the future but it's definitely not the best racing game of the fall in its current state.

First impressions are important, but they're definitely not everything. So give this adventure with Zitz, Rash and Pimple a chance, because it's one of the coolest beat-'em-up games released in 2020. And it sure as hell is one of the funniest.

If you want to take a fresh step into an RTS or a Starcraft game, you can add half a point to the score and this would be the perfect moment to get Legacy of the Void. But if you’ve played all the past parts, this feels more like a DLC with a disappointing story and a too-steep price.

The Siege of Paris does what it's supposed to do, nothing more, nothing less. It gives fans an extra fifteen hours of gameplay and an excellently told story to a familiar, robust, just not-routine gameplay experience.

Ultimately, we can only judge the product by what it is now, which is a rock-solid online multiplayer shooter. And despite all of us, like Tracer, experiencing that strange sense of déjà vu, Overwatch 2 is more than a 1.5 version of the original. It feels like an evolution of the original that makes for even better gameplay through subtle changes and additions. The new revenue model does leave a bad taste behind and is at odds with the sense of togetherness that Overwatch should radiate.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is anything but a bad entry, with specially delightful gunplay, very streamlined integration with other modes and games and a great Zombies Mode. On the other hand, the game doesn’t really excel in anything, will definitely profit from the upcoming extra content and is mostly more of what we know and love.

Civilization 7 is an excellent 4X game that will have you saying “ah, just one more turn” until the wee hours of the night. There are plenty of possibilities now that we can mix leaders and civilizations, and the way your empire grows automatically makes for a wonderfully smooth experience. However, the game becomes more confusing with every turn, and there is little quality of life. It will be a few years before Civilization truly deserves to wear the 4X crown again.

Superhot’s conversion from gamejam demo to full product was a success in our book. The gameplay could do with a tad more variation but that’s compensated nicely by a nice package of extra modes and options.

EA Sports FC 26 has a distinct DNA. Action and spectacle are deeply ingrained in it. Even in authentic mode, almost every goal is a slam dunk, and rarely do we see ugly, scrappy goals that even a self-respecting striker would dare cheer. But that's FC. If you accept that, or even appreciate it, FC 26 is a very complete and diverse package.

This is a how a traditional JRPG is meant to be. Fans of that genre get exactly what they want but don’t expect any radical improvements on the classic conventions. [jan. 2016 / page 068]

Are you looking for an entertaining, arcade-like, sometimes even caricatural presentation of the noble 11 vs 11? Then you could consider a season ticket for PES 2015. Do you want your soccer to be more dynamic, realistic and, in the end, just plain better? In that case FIFA 15 is your game.

Star Wars Battlefront II offers a much bigger package than its predecessor, and delivers massively on that typical Star Wars atmosphere and spectacle, with versatile modes and gameplay. But the multiplayer progression is a complete misfire and the disappointing microtransaction strategy costs them a point.

Marvel’s Avengers is basically a high production value Marvel Ultimate Alliance style action RPG, built around the structure of a game like Destiny. This is a powerful combination, featuring spectacular action and endless possibilities, but developer Crystal Dynamics stumbles in their ambition. Therefore the game’s stability is horrendous (although the performance mode might help) and navigating its many options is unnecessarily convoluted. The future of Marvel’s Avengers does seem to shine bright though.

Styx: Master of Shadows feels like a stealth game from an earlier era. Whether that is a bad thing, however, is the question. If you can look past the somewhat dated graphics, you’ll find that the basic mechanics of the game are well constructed. Also, the open level design and the fun abilities Styx has, make this title well worth the small price tag. Just make sure you remain unseen, as our goblin is certainly not a master of combat.

Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is overflowing with everything. The entire trunk is crammed with so many ideas, options, neon, chaos, and mayhem that the quantity comes at the expense of quality. To a certain extent, that's exactly what you want from a kart racer/party game, and the game is a surefire hit for anyone looking for something to fill up nights with friends. Step one accomplished, in that respect. But the classics of the genre, the true greats, also possess a precision that will have you spending hours shaving off hundredths of a second on your favorite track, even solo. It's a level Crossworlds unfortunately never reaches.

When looking at the game objectively and trying to forget you're playing a Project-Cars-game, this is a fun arcade-style racer with a little more depth than normal arcade racers. But as a fan expecting a follow-up in the same style as former Project-Cars-games, this is a bit of a mindf.ck.

Gameplay wise this might be one of the best JRPGs in years. Too bad the rest of the game is cobbled together with re-used assets, enemies and characters from its predecessor. And the repetitious level grinding doesn’t help either. [Sep 2014, p.59]

A beautiful setting, convincing characters and a handful of heartwarming and heartbreaking moments make up for the inconsistent story and messy pace of True Colors. Hopefully Deck Nine continues this line, because this is the best Life Is Strange since part 1.

The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan is a thrilling story, has some nice characters and the player can influence both on an impressive level, giving the game lots of replay value. Replaying may be not as interesting as you would like though, due to a great amount of walk and search gameplay, but the multiplayer modes do a good job of balancing that out. The Dark Pictures Anthology is off to a good start and hopefully has a bright future.

Bionic Bay is a creative, humorous and atmospheric ode to old-school puzzle platformers. Despite using many recognizable gameplay mechanics of the genre, it is in its own way incredibly unique and entertaining. Due to the painful lack of story, freedom of exploration, worldbuilding and music it is just not the complete package, but for those looking for a polished challenge Bionic Bay is definitely one to try.

Riders Republic is the ultimate extreme sports collectible pack. The sense of speed will keep you on the edge of your seat and the varied controls of the different disciplines will challenge you long enough. A footnote is that you should be able to entertain yourself a bit in the graphically beautiful world of Riders Republic, because just like with Steep, the flow of the game is not very obvious. Oh, and give more Mass Races.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole is an easily accessible but moderately deep light RPG in which fun battles, nice collectables and a lot of crude humour will entertain you for almost 30 hours. But comparing it with its forebear, The Stick of Truth, is unavoidable, and in this it kind of disappoints, feeling a little too similar and not as funny or surprising.

Somerville is a beautiful game that will keep you glued to your screen from start to finish, thanks mainly to excellent camera use and a finger-licking art style. That makes the game worthwhile despite its short duration and disappointing puzzles.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a good overall package that mainly implements refinements. Omni-movement is a fine addition and the single-player mode is a nice afternoon snack, but it is the Zombies mode that takes the cake with delicious improvements and a return to basics.

Far Cry 6 is again -and that doesn't surprise anyone- a gigantic game, and not everything in the enormous stream of (side) missions is equally fun, funny or seems to add something to the whole. So you will regularly wonder what you are doing and why, while you will often hope in vain that the next mission is one with a role for Giancarlo Esposito. But with so much content, there is more than enough fun to be had and you will definitely get your Yaran Peso value.

When the freshness of a Far Cry in the Stone Age becomes rotten -and luckily that takes quite a few hours- you’ll realise you’re once again routinely finishing off copious amounts of icons on a huge map. With a little extra time and effort Far Cry Primal could’ve been better than part 4, but now it’s an enjoyable spin-off that feels somewhat like a mod.

On older consoles, the magic of Hogwarts Legacy is sometimes broken by technological flaws, but if you've been waiting for a letter from Hogwarts in the past, that's no reason to pass up on this game. Hogwarts Legacy has a fairly basic approach, but the beautiful music, detailed world and fun combat ensure that the game is dripping with atmosphere and also plays nicely.

House Flipper 2 is mainly a refinement compared to the first part. Not much has changed in terms of gameplay and some more content in the form of more furniture could be added. Still, that doesn't spoil the fun. The enormous freedom and extra polish make this a pleasant and creative experience.

The Crew isn’t perfect, but it doesn’t have any game breaking bugs and the framerate is stable. It’s an enjoyable game when playing alone, but comes to life with multiple players in your crew. There’s a ton of content, a humongous world to explore and the addicting level system will keep you coming back for more.

The F1 series is starting to look more and more like FIFA. Bright colours, hip music and the first contours of what could become F1UT. This year I'm still meeting Codemasters (Codematsers!), but they have to counteract that EA nonsense. Just ask Lewis Hamilton how quickly things can go differently, in F1...

The gameplay is solid as a rock; super intense, exciting and porn for the tactical shooter fan. But the game quickly loses its power when you stray among the other game modes, which are limited and lacking good AI. This is what they call: too little content for too much money. [Dec. 2015, p.054]

Do you also have to play this game? That depends. Personally I'm more drawn towards games like Persona 5 and Yakuza: Like a Dragon, who give their own spin to the age-old jrpg-formula. But if you aren't waiting on the goofy, postmodern tomfoolery of those games and desire that old trusting feeling of a classic middle-age fantasy-environment, then you'll be appeased with Bravely Default 2.

At first glance, F1 Manager 2022 seems like the dream of any F1 fanatic with a penchant for sim games. However, it soon becomes apparent that the depth is lacking, and that the choices made have a lot less influence on the course of races that are starting to resemble each other more and more.

Just like real-life Formula 1, the F1 franchise is struggling with the direction it should take. Is Codemasters increasingly catering to the casual, or does the loyal, serious (SIM) target group remain the most important? In any case, F1 24 did not make that choice, resulting in a sometimes split game.

Anyone with an unbridled love for the virtual farming, horticulture and animal husbandry of the Farming Simulator series will love this latest installment. The inclusion of virtually all major agricultural brands, combined with all available crops and animals, as well as superb graphics and sound design, provide an authentic farming experience that has clearly been crafted with great care and love. Please note that you are dealing with an in-depth simulation of farm life here. You have to figure out every function of a machine if you want to use it effectively and that feels, for the agricultural layman that I am, all just a bit too hardcore.

This is essentially a Kirby platformer as you are used to, but more beautiful, more atmospheric and with some subtle innovations that make the experience interesting again. As long as you don't rush through it too quickly!

Hell is Us has a clear vision and translates it effectively into a captivating adventure. The game rewards curiosity and independent thinking in a way that almost no major contemporary game dares to do. Hadea is therefore a joy to explore, even if the writing sometimes feels a bit rushed. The combat is its biggest Achilles' heel: it's too simplistic and repetitive for the significant role it plays.

In terms of gameplay, Trackmania builds on the precise arcade action that the franchise is known for. However, the total package is (still) somewhat limited, which also applies to the graphics.

Fe is being hold back by a few ancient choices when it comes to game and level design, but certainly is a beautiful Indie game that, as the kids like to put it, will hit you right 'in the feels'.

Impossification and the roller coaster hooks are the best elements of Park Beyond; very nice, and they actually offer something new. In terms of customizing your park and adding details, the game does very poorly compared to what we already know from the king, Planet Coaster, partly due to bugs and glitches. If you don't want to bother with that much, this is an entertaining amusement park sim.

Simply put, Star Wars: Squadron is a fine Star Wars space shooting spectacle with a pleasant price tag. It feels a bit cheap and old fashioned to some degree, and there's nothing groundbreaking here, but those are about the only flaws the game has. It's one of the better trips to a galaxy far, far away of recent years, although -as with everything concerning Star Wars- opinions might differ on that.

Rollerdrome is a wonderfully chaotic and satisfying game. The gameplay steals the show, the drawn style is unique and the DualSense really adds something. However, the full potential of the concept is not fully exploited. Especially the lack of variety keeps Rollerdrome from being a real masterpiece.

There's no way you're not playing The Outer Worlds 2 with a big smile on your face. Unless you're bothered by the bugs, of course. Although those are annoying, it's ultimately the fun that takes center stage, and the enjoyment of all the different ways to approach missions.

Not every game benefits from having more content, Evoland 2 is a prime example of that. The concept remains fun and you get a ton of RPG for a small price but Evoland 2 doesn’t measure up to the first entry. [Oct. 2015, p.051]

UFC is an almost schizophrenic game: I've never had so much fun with a fighter, thanks to the stand up-game. However, at the same time, the ground-game is so poorly done, that this game isn't the fantastic celebration of the sport it could have been.

Although this part is somewhat a bundle of clichés compared to Man of Medan and the acting performance does not look like it improved a lot, Little Hope offers enough freaky moment and interesting mystery to keep you entertained (and scared?). I will be back for more when the next part of this anthology drops.

Double Fine clearly had huge plans for Massive Chalice but unfortunately not all areas received as much love and care as the bigger picture, causing certain other areas to feel a bit lackluster and thin. [Aug 2015, p.081]

In broad strokes, Hitman 2 does the same as its predecessor, albeit with some small improvements and extras, but it isn't as well balanced and has a cheaper feel to it. The patient Hitman-fan will get a lot of excitement and fun out of most of Hitman 2's locations, but this surely won't attract a lot of new players and it doesn't take the franchise to the next level. Luckily the 'I love it when a plan comes together' feeling of it all is still intact.

With Cronos: The New Dawn, Bloober takes a step forward compared to its earlier original games like The Medium and Layers of Fear. However, what lingers most after the beautiful story is the thought that they need a blueprint—like Silent Hill 2—in order to truly shine in the survival horror genre. As a result, Cronos ends up being nothing more than a decent horror shooter with a very interesting combat hook. Unfortunately, the execution falls just short, which means the real tension doesn’t arrive until the very final part of the game.

LawBreakers' most important element is the strong, tight gameplay that conveys the feeling of a classic shooter in a modern package. But the rest of the game disappoints with uninteresting characters and maps, not a lot of options and just a few modes.

If you haven't been interested in Diablo 3 for a while now, this expensive Rise of the Necromancer DLC is probably not for you. But if it is your go-to-game, then this addition will give you the best class thus far. Seeing as Diablo 3 offers endless content, buying Rise of the Necromancer will be a small, but very worthwhile investment.

Fast Fusion could be a great snack for many Switch 2 owners. It’s not nearly as extensive as Mario Kart or as expressive as F-Zero, but it goes down like a tasty bonbon: presented like a true delicacy and with more depth than you might expect. Don’t expect months of fun, but a nice snack around the release of Nintendo’s new console. However, online multiplayer would have extended the lifespan of this game considerably.

With 2.0, Infinity has become a little more adult, thanks to a deeper fighting- and level-system, a more expansive Toy Box with a lot more possibilities and the addition of multiple types (‘genres’) of games, which can be created as well as played. It’s a shame that the single-player content has become less exhaustive compared to the former Starter Pack, otherwise this was a big win on every front. Not in the least because of the emphasis on Marvel Heroes.

Planet Coaster 2 has a lame interface and still struggles with incomprehensible bugs, but in other areas it takes a step in the right direction. It is a disappointing and fantastic game at the same time.

WRC 5 is like a sundae, but instead of having delicious chocolate sauce on top of it, there’s five day old gravy from your mother in law’s meatballs. [Sept. 2015, p. 067]

This is quite a good Zelda, especially if you like to team up with other players. If that isn’t exactly your thing, you’d better skip this one. [Sept. 2015, p. 068]

Quotation forthcoming.

Lego 2K Drive combines aspects of popular arcade racers like Forza Horizon and Mario Kart, but never does it to the same level of those competition. However, thanks to creative and varied level design, typical Lego humor, stable performance and an almost bug-free experience, this is a very worthy racing game for young and old.

Farming Simulator requires a decent bit of commitment before it becomes enjoyable, but building a profitable farm comes with a unique satisfaction that might tickle your fancy in a way no other game does.

Battlefield 2042 has not become the Battlefield to end all Battlefields that some hoped for. Hopefully most players can see the game for what it is: a decent modern multiplayer shooter and a fickle DIY kit.

The Crew Motorfest is still not a real competitor for Forza Horizon, but in itself it is an entertaining open world racing game that plays well. Hopefully in a possible next part it can finally skip those ancient consoles and then go all out with switching between vehicles during events, then The Crew will have an attractive face of its own.

Enough (online) open world games have appeared in recent years, but none like Grand Theft Auto 5. Thanks to this next-gen upgrade we can enjoy them again, at least until GTA 6 is released. Enough reason to rate this upgrade with a more than satisfactory.

Techland really tried to make something new in the existing framework with this DLC and we enjoyed the buggy and the new missions but it’s simply not as good as the main game. [april. 2016 / page 071]

Rayman Adventures is a funny free snack that looks and sounds beautiful, but also one that makes you long for a real successor to Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends. [feb. 2016 / page 065]

You can now say that The Dark Pictures Anthology offers a constant quality, where predictability is largely prevented by enough variety in setting and type of monsters. Unfortunately, the trick of five protagonists and player choices that determine the course of the story is starting to become somewhat transparent, so don't expect plot twists that will blow you off your seat.

We Were Here Forever is a good brain workout that will give you more hours of puzzle fun than all previous We Were Here games combined. The puzzles are pleasantly challenging and the flow is good for most of the game. However, due to the slightly too high degree of repetition and long-windedness, you are too often dragged out of that flow, so that the game can certainly be a bridge too far for newcomers. Get it if you're familiar with the genre, but rather play the earlier games if you've never tried a digital escape room like this before.

The gameplay of UFC 5 is rock solid and has visibly improved compared to the previous part. For example, the new damage system ensures that there is more strategy (and blood) involved in the battles and the polished ground game offers more depth. It's a shame that career mode remains the neglected child for EA Sports, because there is so much more to it.

Atomic Heart is a love letter to BioShock, but the setting is unique enough and the world crazy enough to stand on its own two feet. Great action, world building and storytelling are unfortunately interspersed with mechanics that take the flow out of the game or are completely unnecessary. Not to mention some nasty, edgy comments and the oversexed robots. Developer Mundfish could have limited the size better, because behind the multitude of disappointing elements lies a fantastic game.

Playing The Ancient Gods – Part Two is less frustrating and more enjoyable than conquering Part One, and feels like a more balanced experience besides. This is mainly due to the addition of a few interesting new enemies, which makes it all the more disappointing that fighting the Ultimate Antagonist, with whom the DLC and the game ends, isn’t really the final battle Doom Eternal deserves.

When the wind is in the sails, Mario and Luigi: Brothership is a particularly nice adventure with a wonderful holiday feeling. Unfortunately, developer Acquire regularly changes the wind, causing the pleasure trip to come to a standstill. Unnecessarily much dialogue and bad pacing prove to be heavy anchors, which meant that I could never really hang on to the holiday feeling for long.

RAGE 2 is bigger, more beautiful and more explosive than its predecessor, but at the same time more generic and monotonous. The shooting action is once again top notch, including a shotgun to die for, so it's functions as a fine appetizer before DOOM: Eternal arrives.

Not all the activities in Black Desert Online are interesting or coherent but it’s still a cut above the masses of boring MMORPGs that dominate the landscape. The gorgeous visuals are a big plus too. [april. 2016 / page 62]

Assassin's Creed Origins' believability is hindered by awful voice acting with unnatural, annoying accents and ugly, wooden animations. But to gamers who aren't too bothered about these things or are even blind and deaf to it, this will be a fascinating adventure in a beautiful, enormous Ancient Egypt that's full of nice rewards and challenging battles.

Age of Empires: Definitive Edition is a beautiful history lesson about a genre-defining game, which would've been a whole lot better if the AI had reached is definitive form as well. The new aesthetic makes it easy to ignore the obsolete, underlying technology for a few campaigns, but it would really be a feat to stay entertained for all 10 of them.

Is Erica the beginning of a new era of FMV games? We can only hope! Erica is an atmospheric movie/game-hybrid with minimal interaction, arriving at exactly the right time: during a hot summer when almost every exertion is too much. In a future attempt however, I would like to have more of that triple A-feeling, with an even better storyline and beautiful cinematography. And to make the game feel a bit less like a movie, meaningful choices you can easily replay wouldn't be a bad thing either.