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.

If you’re part of the majority that played and enjoyed Uncharted 4, you’re going to find plenty to like in this expansion. If you’re part of the minority that did not, this is not the game for you.

The Zodiac Age is mostly a triumph. The few issues that do exist aren’t enough to detract from the overall quality of the underlying game, and most of the updates, upgrades and tweaks really work in the game’s favor.

It's simple, really- if you want a focused, in-depth flying simulator that puts most all emphasis on intricate gameplay, your game is right here.

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.

Tales of Xillia might feel somewhat underwhelming. There’s nothing I can point to and say, “that’s absolutely fantastic.” It’s all pretty good, even great in some ways, but the overall package isn’t especially impressive. But hey, it’s catnip for JRPG fans.

What sets this Queen game apart from all of the other SingStar titles in the past is the sheer level of complexity behind every vocal performance of a Queen song.

Perception has a lot of heart put in to it by the husband and wife team. It really shows in the details in the game. That heart also shows in some parts as being slightly rough around the edges.

Namco's development team put a great deal of care and effort into this compilation and it shows. If you own a PSP and enjoy classic games, you owe it to yourself to add Namco Museum Battle Collection to your library.

Cladun: This is an RPG is made for the old-school RPG lover who appreciates nostalgic throwbacks with a dash of modern glazing and almost endless smile-inducing comedy.

Red Dead Redemption as a game is still a fantastic romp that any cowboy or open world fan should experience. Meanwhile, playing it on my PS5 (via backwards compatibility) is a treat, even if it doesn’t change how the game runs or looks. It has one of the best open worlds you can ask for and a compelling story to boot. But, it’s bogged down by its lazy cash-grab nature, with the Rockstar team opting to do away with content and instead do the absolute bare minimum.

While it may not wholly lean in on its RPG roots enough, Tails of Iron is an indie to squeak about. Its combat is punchy, and the charm of its striking art style is nigh-undeniable. Odd Bug Studio seemingly includes a tease for a follow-up at the game’s end, so I hope Tails of Iron does not end up underrated—it deserves a sequel.

Suikoden V by and large shines if you can get through the sticky parts in the beginning.

Detention presents a compelling mystery that touches on culturally sensitive and even taboo subject matter, with innovative gameplay, fantastic art direction and a narrative payoff that you’ll remember for years to come, no matter which of the multiple endings you receive. If you weren’t a fan of the genre before, this is the game that should change your mind. If it doesn’t, nothing can.

Addictive but not quite original, that sums up Sparkle 2 quite nicely. A nice game to play in-between the big releases.

It's a shame the graphics didn't receive an upgrade and we don't understand why the Japanese voices aren't included, but other than that this port of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 is a great PlayStation Vita title. The game still has lots of features and possibilities, and is covered with a tasteful layer of JRPG influences.

If you look at where the series was the last time we saw it, the turnaround that the MLB series has experienced is amazing.

It’s sensitive enough to annoy the uninitiated and the diverse objectives are challenging enough to force you to play one area many, many times.

It may be straightforward and linear, but it is still extremely satisfying and a lot of fun - and ultimately, fun is what makes or breaks a game. The story is a bit on the short side, lasting about 6-7 hours, but the multiplayer events are cool and there is downloadable content in the works as we speak.

It doesn’t take much in the way of brainpower, but that’s good: it’s the perfect complement to games like echochrome and Cuboid. Light ‘em up, chop ‘em up, shoot ‘em up; whatever’s up your alley. We promise you’ll have a blast.

If you don't understand Mortal Kombat, this isn't the game for you. But if you do get it, especially if you loved the first two arcade games, this IS the game for you.

A smooth, polished, original puzzler that’s well-paced and rewarding. Both the story and the puzzles will keep you involved throughout and despite a few puzzles that aren’t as expertly designed as others, the developers should be commended.

As a total package, Lord of the Rings: Tactics is impressive. It's a reasonably intricate strategy game in its own right, and, thanks to its slickly produced presentation, it's also one of the better video game adaptations of the films made to date.

Exactly what it should be: a fun-filled romp down memory lane for the old-schoolers, and an entertaining glimpse into the past for the younger gaming class. Besides, one of the best new features is something we can all identify with- you can save.

There is an admirable amount of customization that really cannot be understated. It has a superb track builder as well as a mindboggling amount of ways to customize your car, it is seriously impressive. These features are very much optional, leaving it to be something that you can pick up if you ever need a break from the racing. This is a really solid title that should be looked at by anyone who needs to scratch their racing game itch or anyone who is just a massive fan of the Hot Wheels franchise. There is an awful lot to do here, so those who commit to the game will be here a long time. This is a really solid game and worth checking out.

All in all the list of songs tells the tale. If you like what you see, Singstar Abba is worth your money. If not, consider the other Singstar options.

A great first effort, which is largely marred by a limitation of the PSP itself and not necessarily a fault of the game's design. If you can get over the controls and really get used to them, you'll find, what is essentially, a portable Gears of War.

2006 FIFA World Cup is more robust than the typical World Cup videogame, but even then, its feature set is far below that of FIFA 06.

Guitar Hero is a franchise that's showing a lot of age. Plain and simple.

So, what's the verdict? Simple: buy the Xbox 360 version.

The environment is continually interesting and involving, the character and enemy designs are highly accomplished, the third-person action is reliable and responsive, and the deep weapon crafting system adds intricacy. But the subtler aspects, the slightly more artistic elements, the more cerebral parts of the production; they take a back seat to the insanity. Hence, the epitome of flash over substance.

If you can get past the bland visuals, there is a very deep and solid gameplay experience, overall.

The PS2 version might have a bit more in the way of content, but the Wi-Fi multiplayer and inherent portability provided by the compact PSP makes this version equally attractive.

A solid production that delivers several gameplay surprises and innovations. And we give credit where credit's due. Just fix the damn frames per second conundrum, EA!

Obey Me is a thrilling brawler with excellent co-op and awesome action. The elegance of combat will make you feel like a supreme badass, and every weapon is brutally satisfying. While the narrative did not live up to its full potential, I would love to see another adventure starring the cool punky blonde Vanessa and the hilarious hellhound Monty. Overall, this is an auspicious debut from Error 404 Game Studios.

Solar Ash has some of the best controls in the adventure platformer genre. Putting you in complete control of a badass, freerunning woman, you’ll skate the beautifully neon and fractured world the game drops you in. Sure, the story is underwhelming and the combat simplistic, but the excellent atmosphere and mechanics are worth taking the running jump.

In short, the game has more ups than downs but it's impossible to ignore the downs.

A very solid shooter with a lot of variety and charm. It offers players of all ages a dynamic, entertaining experience that encourages practice and experimentation.

The game strikes the right chord and that chord doesn't lose its appeal; it stays in tune throughout and somehow manages to remain pleasing and amusing.

It's a well done port that runs superbly well on Sony's little unit.

The soundtrack is definitely more mature than what was found in Band Hero, but LEGO: Rock Band doesn't do a whole lot to drive the experience forward.

THUG2 Remix's biggest fault is its horrendously poor audio quality. If it wasn't for the voice acting and the rather kick ass soundtrack, the sound would've gotten a flat out zero.

Ultimately, if you're looking for a shooter similar to Gears of War, you'll find yourself sorely disappointed with Resident Evil 5. Despite people claiming that the control scheme makes for a more tense and frightening experience, I find that it only made for a more frustrating, limited, and redundant experience. I dislike gameplay mechanics being forced onto the gamer, and so I found myself disagreeing with Resident Evil 5's gameplay.

Perhaps the best Dragon Ball Z videogame to date. Even though the online mode may be thin, there isn't much else beyond the single-player experience, there's still a solid foundation here for future games to come.

NBA 2K16 remains a great basketball game at its core, but makes a mistake in trying to give us a narrative-driven MyCareer mode.

I'd like to see the animation overhauled for next year's game, and I'd also like to see improved commentary - hopefully Sony is listening. Like I said last year, NBA 07 showed a lot of potential, and NBA 08 is here actually demonstrating some of it. Give NBA 08 a shot, I think you'd be pleasantly surprised.

It really is too bad that the Campaign has to fall so far short of expectations. If they had only managed to refine that entire mode, and allow us to dive into the nuts and bolts of the game earlier, R.U.S.E. could've been a great – perhaps even an elite-level – RTS.

It's just extraordinarily surprising how much fun this game can be, despite all the glaring problems.

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

The AI has gotten better but there are still obvious instances of stupidity, and while the visuals don't shine with unparalleled brightness, the detail and animations are markedly better.

The foundation remains solid, but the execution also remains a bit dull. Sure, you're going to have a great time with the game for a few hours, but that'll quickly wear thin on you. Though I do suggest this: if the fun begins to wear thin, finish playing the story in co-op, or hell, play the entire story in co-op mode.

Easily the best game in the franchise’s history, but it’s not leaps and bounds better over last year’s game.

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.

Syndicate really shines when you get together with a few people. The campaign really isn't bad at all – and I don't want to give the impression that it is – but having a ton of info thrown in your face doesn't necessarily mean you're fleshing out a story. And the pacing is off, too.

Considering that the biggest problems with this compilation are that the games are exceedingly difficult and don't offer a two-player mode, I'd say Konami has put together a winner with Gradius Collection. If you enjoy old school shmups; the kinds with spaceships; you'll feel right at home here.

If you’re simply looking for the best handheld soccer game, FIFA 06 is the far better choice, due to better visuals more licensed teams, online play, mini-games, and the inclusion of commentary.

Yeah, the game can be more frustrating than we would’ve liked, and the control is just a touch less solid than it has been in recent LEGO entries, but LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures still fits the bill.

Overall, the graphics in Rivals do justice to the Underground faceplate. All of the signature visual touches are present, including the dark settings, the lighting effects, the blurring, the flaring, and so on. Likewise, the sense of speed is exhilarating.

It should've given us more of an excuse to keep playing by ourselves and the coin usage for power-ups is dumb, but the production values are high and playing just never gets old. And I can't seem to stop.

We have to realize that even the most successful packages reach a point where only minor tweaks and additions attempt to masquerade as innovation. That doesn’t work and hopefully, Activision will realize that CoD is on the downward slope and it’s once again time to reinvent. It must be done in the next generation.

Web of Shadows certainly exceeded my expectations. Shaba Games and Treyarch has done a great job bringing back the Spider-Man franchise to its rightful glory yet again. With a much smoother game engine, coupled with fantastic combat, great swinging mechanics, an enormous world, and good replay value, Web of Shadows should finally satisfy fans after the abysmal disappointment that was Spider-Man 3.

Nostalgia is the fuel that burns constantly through Yooka-Replayeein the same way it did with the original. There are many examples of games that aim to pay homage to their forbears, but they usually include twists and clever complements to the works they take inspiration from. Yooka-Layleealways appeared to prioritize Rare’s platforming classics over its own identity, and as such it can feel like a parody or a pastiche rather than a game with a unique voice. If you didn’t like Yooka-Laylee, you might diminish Replayleeas merely polishing a turd, but that’s not a fair assessment to make. It’s a true effort to correct a game that was divisive upon its initial release, and the result is a platformer that is sparkly and has been polished well. Yeah it’s still a nostalgia trip riding on the coattails of Rare’s finest, but Yooka-Layleewas always meant to be a tribute rather than an innovator in the genre. Replayleeis definitely the best way to play this game and you should definitely check it out, but you better love Rare platforming classics and gratuitously incessant character voices.

Unmechanical: Extended Edition is a mostly rewarding and wonderfully atmospheric puzzler with only a few significant flaws. A few of the puzzles just seem poorly designed, which clash with the great puzzles that thankfully populate most of the game.

In the end, The Bourne Conspiracy hits just a few rings away from the bulls-eye. It’s not quite as polished as we would’ve hoped, and we wanted better visuals and a bit more variety in the gameplay, but we still had a lot of fun playing it.

Portability is the game's strongest sale point. Deep down, Me & My Katamari may be the same old Katamari Damacy you've played on the PS2, but now you can play it anywhere.

The controls and camera need a little work and the supporting cast (as well as the Tokobots) could use some kind of personality outside of being cute and/or evil.

The atmosphere pulls you into the experience thanks to fantastic dinosaurs and great sound, being given the choice between straight-up gunning and stealth is most appreciated (the bow rules!), and the efforts made for accurate momentum physics don't go unnoticed. All of this means the positives outweigh the negatives by a large amount.

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.

Overall, Evil Genius 2: World Domination is a real-time strategy that invites you to be a cartoonish villain, boasting a solid base-building foundation. While the gameplay loop itself can become a bit underwhelming at points, with an unnecessary emphasis on passive currency, the game is appealing for its light-hearted tone and the joy of expanding an evil empire.

All in all the list of songs tells the tale. If you like what you see, Singstar Abba is worth your money. If not, consider the other Singstar options.

Practically every Matrix moment has been tucked up this game’s sleeve. It may not a solid fighting game or as fluid as it could be, but Path of Neo will still satisfy the diehard Matrix fans, if there are any left.

It does its job well. It presents the gamer with a stable, fluid foundation and builds upon it with nice pacing and even an addictive, "I gotta get through the next part" feel. But the combat is definitely sparse, the Powers aren't as electric as I had hoped, the graphics and sound needed an update to reach top-notch status, and the whole thing just feels too much like yesteryear.

Fairy Fencer F is a big step forward for Compile Heart but not quite the realization of what these kinds of games are capable of in terms of quality.

Solid game + hilarious translation + cheap price = MUST BUY.

NASCAR 09 may not be an extremely pretty game to look at, but it's certainly not ugly. What it lacks in eye-candy, it makes up for a solid NASCAR experience that enthusiasts of the sport should really enjoy.

Developer Techland accumulates all they’ve learned from their action-horror catalog, delivering solidly fun zombie-slaying in this sequel. Its long-winded story may miss the mark in keeping you captivated, but the fun to be had more than makes up for that. And the PS4 version is a great option to play, running at very stable performances and maintaining very acceptable visual fidelity.

While it lacks the visual depth of a modern day PS4 game, it definitely fills that void with beautiful art and gameplay that deserves more respect than I had originally given it. It is one of the most charming and easy going JRPG games this console generation has seen, and I will certainly be crafting cute items for days to come.

My main lament, and it goes for most games of this type, is that once the action starts you never feel like a giant robot mobile suit, just a normal sized character.

Unique, entertaining, surprisingly diverse, and quite addictive. There's a lot of ingenuity and creativity here, and Laughing Jackal should be applauded for the effort.

An appealing introductory sequence, a huge selection of fighters, multiple and diverse gameplay modes, the option to create and train your own character, and several destructible arenas just waiting to get demolished.

The 3rd Birthday has a lot going for it, but it falls short of being a top-notch production due to significant control issues, a high level of frustration, and a main character that looks and sounds great, but doesn't contribute much.

A solid, but unspectacular game. It’s not that it’s a bad game, but it doesn’t really break any new ground, and it doesn’t do any one thing particularly well.

Loads of fun. There's a great deal of ingenuity here, and the power we feel wandering about is almost unparalleled in third-person shooters. The package really is quite solid and well worth a look…provided you're done playing the elite AAA titles out there.

This is one of those productions where there isn’t anything glaringly bad and there’s a healthy gameplay mechanic at its core.

The game is chock full of content, the new animations are awfully sweet (despite the repetition of use), a few of the new gameplay mechanics are intriguing, and multiplayer with the right peeps is great. But why are all QBs Joe Montana? Why does even the best defensive line struggle to get any penetration? Why do all the crowd-pleasing moves and additions do little to fix this lack of realism? Why is the interface so slow? Why am I still seeing brain-dead AI?

Everything you've heard about Untold Legends is true. It's a solid hack-and-slash, but it doesn't really break any new ground. It's also very repetitive.

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.

An excellent side/future plot to Infinite, Burial At Sea is a must for all true Bioshock fans. I don't think it is as accomplished as Minerva's Den and both the story and gameplay feels highly compacted.

Zombi is a game that might seem too ponderous and frustrating for many. But for those who appreciate a challenging atmosphere that tasks you with marshalling your fears and taking a studious approach to survival, it’s a definite must-try.

It’s just too bad that we’ve got a bizarre lack of features in terms of single-player options, and not having the in-game store or this much-ballyhooed "expanded" Story Mode until later is another big problem. The performance snafus are being ironed out quickly but that doesn’t change the fact that they existed at launch. I refuse to gloss over that.

Ar Tonelico II: Melody of MetaFalica provides JRPG fans with a very cool combat mechanic that is entertaining enough to sustain you throughout the lengthy quest. There isn’t enough in the way of exploration and the emphasis on Song Magic makes everything feel a little one-sided, but the concept is solid.

There's a lot of genuinely amusing character interaction, but the adolescent teasing and mock anger routines get old quickly, and they simply didn't put enough effort into most dungeons.

If you’re looking for a good “pick up and play” soccer game for the PSP, WTS 06 is a good option. However, if you’re looking for a little more depth, the lack of club teams, customization, and mini-games is hard to look past when FIFA 06 is sitting on the shelves right next to it.

It's just an insane rollercoaster ride chock full of ecstatic highs and depressing lows. The highs win, but only because it's fun to watch that desperate boxer go nuts in the ring.

This is one game that, once it drops in price, would definitely be worth the price of admission if you're looking for a decent basketball simulator. As it stands, it's a solid choice for the die-hard fans.

Despite the fact that you can beat it in as little as 12 hours (closer to 20-25 if you do everything), the game also feels artificially lengthened due to the tremendous amount of cross-town driving you’re forced to do.

HyperParasite is a frenetic, fast-paced roguelike that is not for the faint of a casual’s heart. Its uncompromising action keeps you on a razer’s edge, and the sixty characters ensure every playthrough is not the same. But most importantly, it is a pitch-perfect love letter to the 1980s. Now, terror has no shape.

LEGO Batman: The Videogame isn’t anything new, which means two things: 1. fans of previous LEGO games will certainly enjoy it, and 2. those who have never found an excuse to pick up an entry in this franchise still don’t have one. Basically, we’ve played this before.