Visually it does the job, albeit with a few minor quips here and there - but it does have a good frame rate to be thankful for, and that's imperative.

It remains a mammoth achievement because fans can tell, within seconds, just how much TLC has been put into this production. Into every GT production, in truth. That’s what separates this franchise from any other and if you know cars and racing, you’ve been saying this for years. And I’ve got your back.

An unoriginal game that fails to improve on any of the games it emulates. It’s just another game in a long line of “me too” cookie-cutter platformers that fills the stores around Christmas time.

They didn't manage to fix a couple age-old problems and we're still not quite there yet in terms of next-gen-quality visuals, but none of that hurts the game too much.

It almost seems as if the humungous world they created and the idea that lies beneath the premise was too big to embrace; it was simply beyond current development possibilities. On the other hand, Ubisoft Montreal did come close, which means we end up with a great game.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey is a bit more polished, a bit more refined, a bit more realistic, and overall, a better-quality product than Heroes Over Europe.

Soul Calibur V is a competent, good-looking fighter that's great with multiple players. It has much of the charm and style that has been the franchise's calling card over the years, and diving into the mechanic will yield rewards for the patient. But the story campaign is so goofy and nonsensical, the lack of popular characters will annoy some fans, and overall, it just feels like a lesser-quality installment despite the lack of any glaring flaws.

I still can't decide if it suffers from a lack of identity or if it successfully blends various traits and styles. I do know the storyline and quest objectives could've been better, and I know this super fast-paced action may cause RPG purists to go, "uh…this is an RPG?" Yeah, it is. One you want to play? Well, one you want to try, at least.

If you're willing to spend the cash on a relatively short adventure, you'll experience something totally energizing.

The game is leaps ahead of past iterations, and is without question the finest footy sim out on the market.

What it DOES do is pretty damn incredible. It features an excellent FPS mechanic, surprisingly solid (if a bit loose) driving control, competent and diverse foes, unbelievably detailed environments, great audio, and an overall combination of multiple gameplay elements that gels into a cohesive, riveting production.

It's fun, lengthy, beautiful, and really, really satisfying.

Those who are fans of the FIFA series will not be as disappointed as last year, but may still feel there is something missing that hasn’t been there since the 32-bit era.

If you love bullet hell shoot ‘em ups and have the patience to master your moves, there’s a lot of bang for your buck here, especially if you owned the original Sine Mora; anyone who bought the original version can upgrade to EX for free. The campaign is short, but there’s plenty of replay value in the various alternate modes for people looking to push themselves in pursuit of the leaderboard glory or just waste some time with a buddy.

Tiger Woods '10 is a good game with a number of improvements over its predecessor. Unfortunately, it doesn't have improvements large enough to warrant a purchase for owners of last year's game.

There’s just a tremendous amount of satisfaction that comes with the perfectly executed offensive play, or when successfully defending a tough player.

In the end, Call of Duty: Black Ops III is a good shooter that falls somewhere between "safe" and "chancy."

There are just too many other, better racers on the PS2 that you should play even before OutRun 2006 comes to mind.

989 has done a tremendous job improving MLB this year, seemingly making two years worth of progress in just one. There’s no question if you want to manage every aspect of a franchise, that MLB is the best game for you.

Bigger in every feasible way when compared to previous series iterations. I’m not so sure it’s better in every way, though, as the sheer amount of content can feel either muddled or oppressive.

Watch Dogs has the guts of a masterpiece. This ambitious project had the foundation to be one of the most amazing interactive experiences in history. Therefore, it’s with a somewhat dejected heart that I must deduct points for falling short in several areas. The story and character development isn’t of the strongest stuff, there are a few minor to significant control issues, and multiplayer invasions don’t quite cut the mustard.

With two adventures on one disc, both of which boast superb story telling, great audio, and nice visuals, The Chronicles of Riddick is a worthy purchase. The multiplayer may not be the most in-depth, but hey, at least it's there and there's some fun to be had with it.

The load times are dramatically better, and the controls are less frustrating, but it doesn’t offer anything more from a gameplay standpoint.

Some golden oldies should never die, and all of these Metal Slug titles fall into the category of "should-never-be-forgotten."

Ultimate Chicken Horse is a simple game isn’t the kind of game you pick up and play every night, as it benefits most from fresh bouts of sadistic creativity, but for the $20 price tag, it’s one of the best pick-up-and-play party games you’ll find on the PS4.

If you're not going to play this game online, you don't need it, you won't like it, and you'll be mad that you paid full price for it.

A great game. It just stumbles when it tries to implement strangely conceived new features that don't quite work. This includes Desmond's memory traversal ('snore') and tower defense, which is just unnecessary. Even the bombs felt unnecessary to me. But beneath it all lies the same stellar foundation that has allowed past installments to become beloved adventures in the eyes of millions.

Battlefield 4 is like a big, jovial belly laugh. It’s intense, flashy, amusing, and explosive, and it doesn’t bother about having a brain. It doesn’t need one, either, as the multiplayer is dense, involving and ultimately enjoyable from top to bottom. Still, I refuse to completely disregard the campaign, which, as entertaining as it often is, remains a disappointment for me.

Things are smooth and fast, and it does encourage you to think strategically.

Every aspect of the game; the gameplay, the graphics, the audio, and all of the various play options; just oozes "arcade" quality, except that this version of the game outshines the original arcade release in every conceivable way.

EyeToy: Play doesn’t have complex graphics, nor will any of the sound effects or songs blow you away. Despite the fact that the games are simple, they almost all manage to be fun to play alone, or with a group of people.

It looks fantastic, the franchise trademarks are here (most all of which are of a super high quality), and the blend of high-tech touchscreen and traditional controls is a triumph for the next generation of portable entertainment. You'll spot a few of the aforementioned sacrifices but they're not likely to ruin your fun.

Just recreating the city and getting the web slinging right is impressive on its own, but they aren’t enough to keep the game from getting stale too quickly. The game can be beaten in less than ten hours, and while that’s only 50% if you haven’t gotten all the bonus hidden stuff, there’s not really anything interesting enough to entice you to keep playing.

I see a missed opportunity with the story, the AI can be iffy, and the game isn’t as stable as one would like. Still, there’s no denying that Last Light is worth your money and your time, particularly because you won’t soon find another game quite like it.

Exactly what it should be: an upgrade of a recognizable game that plenty of fans have adored. It's very pretty, the audio is borderline amazing, the captivating, addicting gameplay is back in full force (with even a little extra force), and player choice and customization immediately gives us a sense of purpose.

Tetris HD is a solid entry in the long-running series and while it sometimes doesn't look or feel like any title of old, it still has a lot going for it.

A fun game to play, but it does have a lot of flaws that will keep you from enjoying it like you did with NBA Street. The single player mode is frustrating and time consuming, but it’s a necessary evil if you want to beef up your team to play online or against friends.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time moves at your pace, and it never stops giving you something new to do, no matter what that pace happens to be. Want to hang out on your island, talking to your rescued Buddies? You can absolutely do that. Wanna explore randomized dungeons that make use of what you’ve learned and trained with said Lifes? You can do that as well. Want to travel around, doing combat and various challenges on Ginormosia? Yes, that’s open to you too. Wanna keep doing that, and more after you beat the story and learn more about its characters? Also very much possible, and if you’re that far in, as I am? It’s worth it. It’s not perfect, but it almost is.

Ghost Giant ended up being a much more immersive story than I expected. VR or not, it tells a tale that many of us can relate to and is very touching. It focuses on a character with child-like innocence all while dealing with some pretty adult issues. It’s playful, charming, and touching. It won’t wow you with the VR experience if you’re used to that, but it does use the mechanics effectively and really engages you with the scenes unfolding below you.

Despite the greatness of the combat, the new additions that enhance our enjoyment of the brutal battle, the awesome spectacle and sense of scale, and the top-notch graphics, we do feel – to some extent – let down. We seem to be missing the very core of Kratos, the awe-inspiring nature of the series isn’t quite as obvious here, and the multiplayer isn’t up to par.

This is one gaming experience that should be a hit at any party.

To the hardcore, NCAA 10 is worth the upgrade with its all new Road to Glory mode, in addition to the mini-games, the teambuilder, online dynasty, and so forth. Certain aspects of presentation are lacking, such as the commentary, but the game does make up for it with great stadium roars, and authentic marching band introductions.

It’s a very good game, but there’s just not enough improvement, and the big new features like online play and wrestlers’ voices couldn’t have been done any worse than they were.

Gamers everywhere should give the royal treatment to Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales. It is a stunning display of storytelling that rarely stumbles throughout a 25-hour runtime. While bogged down by the stiff card-playing, the easy mode can turn Thronebreaker into one of the best visual novels around. With 30 endings and an arresting art style, this is one utterly unmissable tale.

Puppeteer is loads of zany, beautifully crafted entertainment. It’s original and amazingly creative, and the ambiance and atmosphere is second-to-none.

Much like the Skater themselves, let me be clear: this is 100 percent recommendation, Skate Story is genuinely super cool and an artistic marvel, albeit not in the way a Clair Obscur is. Unique, fascinating, a tad realistically frustrating at times, despite the otherworldliness of the world, and a pretty cool time, all things considered.

NFL Blitz has all the personality and appeal of installments during the franchise's glory days. It can feel a tad thin due to a lack of options and customization – you can't change the quarter length, for instance – but I doubt the old-school fans will be disappointed.

Lumines Supernova is a fantastic addition to the PlayStation Store and at only $14.99, it’s a steal. The longevity is just insane, and it’s not entirely due to the addictive quality of the gameplay.

It's visually impressive for the PSP, with a smooth framerate, so it shouldn't bother anyone looking for a nice picture.

The upgrades and improvements are there but a lot the game still feels underwhelming, simply due to its age. Even so, it’s impossible not to recommend this game to baseball lovers, as the purity and authenticity of the mechanics and physics, engrossing Road to the Show Mode, and unrestrained depth can keep you entertained for many months.

Indie games have shown the value of smaller studios making unique games beholden only to their vision and not the economic constraints of AAA development, and Demimonde’s Octahedron now stands shoulder to shoulder with the best of them, thanks to an amazing soundtrack, creative level design and presentation, and singular vision.

Aragami is not for everyone, especially casual fans of the genre; it’s too demanding. Those of you who truly relish the hunt and welcome the challenge, though, will surely find that Aragami: Shadow Edition has what you’re looking for.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a fantastic 2D beat ’em that cleverly leans into its bright and colorful comic book roots, that any Marvel fan of even finds a way to pay tribute to its 2D Fighting games in the process. It has the most evolved beat ’em up gameplay yet, with modern touches and a charming and large roster of characters that keep the action fresh. While some design choices do hold it back slightly, a clear love of the source material make this pixel art beat em up, an easy recommended must play.

The AI is rough around the edges and the animations aren’t quite right but overall, this year’s NHL offering is worth a hardcore hockey fan’s time.

Tales From the Borderlands: Episode One – Zer0 Sum is one heckuva debut. Somehow, the developers allow the action and story to leap off the screen, and they give a sufficient amount of time to each.

It looks great, it plays great, and it’s one of those games that you can just pick up and play at a moment’s notice. That’s precisely what I ask for from this series, so I’d have to say I’m quite satisfied.

The weapons and the kinds of weapons you can put together really make for some really kick ass kills. Additionally, there are some RPG-esque elements which I liked, as well. But what really killed it for me was the clunky and often unresponsive controls, in addition to the repetitive combat which could've used a lot more diversifying.

The load times are short, all of its big-brothers major features are included, there’s instant replay, and the gameplay is surprisingly tight. Simply put: it’s nearly everything you could ask for in a portable NBA game.

Falls a little shy of what we had expected, but it still delivers a solid tennis experience. It remains far too easy on just about every level, and that's not helped by the erratic difficulty in those silly challenges, which are over-emphasized throughout the first few hours of play.

Grim Fandango Remastered is a masterful puzzle/adventure that will go down in history as one of the most unique and atmospheric video games.

The addition of hotswapping makes the campaign mode a pleasant diversion for a few hours, but after a while you’re going to want to go online and you’re probably going to be let down by the lack of gameplay modes and technical problems that EA is working on, but has yet to fix.

The redeveloped manager mode will occupy you for hours and hours, while you oversee your franchise, and the new online mode will let you test your skills against real opposition from around the world.

It just didn't captivate me like the other SSX games have. Most of the changes to the way the game is played feel like they’re there just to make the game longer, and I really didn’t enjoy the courses that much.

It’s somewhat unfortunate that it’s not the definitive "best version" out there, as the inconsistent frame rate drops it a bit behind the Xbox 360 version, but that’s okay. It’s not visibly inferior, either, and for the most part, nothing is lacking in the PS3 version. Both are extremely well done, and that’s that.

The PSN has already seen several fantastic additions this year (Wipeout HD and echochrome are two examples), and although this one isn’t quite amongst the elite, it’s still well worth your time.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is a visceral action spectacle that puts the emphasis squarely on the well constructed gameplay.

SoulCalibur: Broken Destiny isn't a bad game, it just feels extremely barebones in many areas, despite boasting one of the all time best mechanics for a 3D fighter.

For those that have played it before, it remains as engaging as ever.

For all its drawbacks and shortcomings, this title makes good on its initial promise - seen right at the start - to deliver a unique and beautifully paced action quest. If only they would've built on the superb foundation just a bit more.

I’m not a fan of the annoying protagonist and the story could’ve been better, but the gameplay keeps you coming back for more. You’re always riveted to the action and you never feel shortchanged or stymied. The environment welcomes your insanity and the game rewards those who love to play games with reckless abandon.

For fans of arcade-sports games, they'll likely find enjoyment out of this title. For others that are looking for a bit more out of their money, may find themselves disappointed with The Bigs 2.

989 Studios may have had to axe some graphical nuances and memory-intensive play modes (namely the mega-deep franchise mode) from the PS2 version of MLB 2006 in order to cram it onto the PSP, but everything else was brought across relatively intact.

An extremely entertaining and well-developed game, featuring surprisingly fantastic story-based missions, a rock solid technical presentation, a fantastic blend of accessibility and depth, and a sky-high fun factor. That fun factor doesn't fall as far as you think when you strike out on your own, and for all you loot-hounds - man, this kinda reminded me of my manic drive for loot in Diablo III! - who love a challenge, you gotta give it a try. Just don't spend too much time in the Dark Zone because I think it might have an adverse effect on your gaming psyche. I wish there was a bit more control freedom (at least let us crouch, damnit), the cover mechanic isn't perfect, and the AI isn't quite as advanced as one would hope. But overall, The Division is a surefire winner for a number of fundamental reasons, all of which should entice you into a purchase.

The story, tutorial, tag-team, online, and general combat are all great features, and the gameplay always runs along at a gloriously solid frame rate. And overall, it’s still an accessible yet relatively deep fighter that offers plenty of bang for your buck.

Wicked fun.

Gravity Rush Remastered is about what you'd expect. The slicker visuals and boosted frame rate lead to an even cleaner and more satisfying experience, though its portable roots are glaringly obvious the more you play.

It's fantastic fun for two players (great for the whole family, too), those 36 chapters provide a huge amount of gameplay time, the levels are diverse, it can be very funny, and the entire production will make you grin. It's hardly a supremely polished blockbuster, but it's worth playing, especially for Star Wars fans.

Team 17 has crafted yet another entry into this fine franchise, and the overall results are nothing short of solid. Worms is a highly simplistic, yet very addictive and engaging strategy game that is sure to have you coming back to it very, frequently.

Enslaved really fits the "fun" label. It's not as technically proficient as it should've been, one may question the built-in ease of certain aspects of the gameplay (i.e., hand-holding), and there can be camera and frame rate issues. This is what keeps it from being an elite production. At the same time, the characters, story, atmosphere, design, presentation, and acting make it a must-try.

For some wacky reason, I didn't enjoy it as much as I did the first game. Perhaps it was because the concept of a strategy-based Metal Gear was no longer new to me. Perhaps it was because the levels were shorter. Perhaps it was because there are too many cards and too many options to pick from this time around.

After my 12 plus hours of playtime with Okinawa Rush, I can confidently say that this is the best beat-em-up I’ve played in the past decade. With nine endings, a co-op campaign, a plethora of things to unlock, and a light touch of Dark Souls RPG elements, Okinawa Rush is one game that I can see both fans and non-fans of the genre sinking a good chunk of time into, if not for conventional reasons, then for the sheer variety and ambition on display here.

Wolfenstein: The New Order didn’t just surprise me. It shocked me. My expectations for this one were decidedly low but within the first hour, I was chastising myself for having doubted MachineGames.

There's this strange lack of weight to Kazuma's movement. It almost feels as if you're gliding around the pavement when exploring, and this sort of transfers into the combat, too. It just doesn't feel like a tight, finely honed mechanic, which brings the entire experience down a few notches.

If you don't mind playing a game with only your fingers, I suppose you could give Rock Band Unplugged a chance. But for a game with minimal downloadable content, no multiplayer, a playlist and World Tour experience that is largely identical to the console games, and little to no innovation...$40 is not quite the ticket I'd be willing to pay.

A Hat in Time is just plain fun. It reminded me of a mixture of Mario 64 and Spryo the Dragon. It’s humorous and charming. It has a bunch of really memorable characters and diverse worlds that are very distinct. The only downsides might be a short run time and some minor graphical issues but it was never enough to ruin my experience.

Without question, Ninja Gaiden 4 has amazing combat. Yakamo journey will send you head first like a blood-soaked death tornado. Those seeking old school gory action will love it, and its challenge will satisfy long time fans of the series. If you can turn your brain off and enjoy its forgettable story, there is a fun game here. But its lacking in depth for those looking for the next great ninja revenge tale.

There's something innately wonderful about a game that lets you take a dirt bike onto a track and perform stunts, while simultaneously trying to win a race against an ATV, a monster truck, and a golf cart.

We were a touch disappointed the sound didn't impress as much as the graphics, and the solid strategy formula tends to flounder in identical environments, but that can't stop it from being extremely entertaining.

If you’re uninitiated with Gears of War, Reloaded is simply an unmissable epic that you should play pronto. For everyone else, the suite of technical improvements will allow you to experience Gears of War as it was meant to be, and what you get is a luxuriously gratifying third-person shooter that makes a 19 year-old game feel totally new again. Sure, being reminded about the original GOW over and over isn’t ideal, and there are still unsavory remnants of its former self, but if you love the series and always wanted to play it then it’s time to load it up if you’re new, and reload it if you’re a returning fan-either way, Reloaded‘s a must-play.

There's plenty of content, it's flashy and pleasing in so many ways, the presentation is singularly appealing, and the gameplay is rock solid. The load times are oddly slow and visibility can be a problem but for the most part, this is a highly enjoyable experience.

For only ten bucks, Cuboid is one of the best purchases you can make on the PlayStation Network, plain and simple.

It’s a technically impressive game that manages to capture most everything the series is known for.

Unless you're totally averse to 2-D graphics, you definitely need to add Street Fighter Alpha Anthology to your game library.

Multiplayer has always been Virtua Tennis' strongest aspect, but you'll be disappointed to know that VT3 only supports 4 players via Ad-Hoc/LAN, as opposed to infrastructure/online.

Until Dawn is a fun, gripping, immersive adventure that you’ll play on the very edge of your seat. It’s a little too short (even with the butterfly effect greatly enhancing the longevity), the story is only mildly impressive, and the camera doesn’t always cooperate. But spurred on by great performances, a disturbing atmosphere, a decision-making system that might be unparalleled in video games today, and a very personal approach to interaction, the game makes a strong case for a purchase.

The soundtrack is pretty good, as are the rest of the sound effects, but you probably already knew that.

The Unfinished Swan isn't exactly a masterpiece, but at least it aspires to mastery. There are few titles that take such obvious risks and attempt to give an increasingly mainstream population of gamers an inspired, original adventure.

Despite all of its time in development, Prototype feels hollow and uninspired. There are a number of great concepts here, such as the shapeshifting and being able to run vertically, but everything else falls apart when you realize how boring many of the missions are, how boring the world is, how boring the game looks, and...well, how boring the game is, overall.