Some of the fundamentals are nailed right on the head (such as the combo system and level design), but other basic elements (physics, congruency, etc.) need to be drastically improved.

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.

StarDrone is one of those well-conceived, nicely produced downloadable games with a lot of simple flash and a ton of accessibility…at first, at least.

Totally Accurate Battle Simulator ticks a lot of positive boxes for me — it’s content-rich, it’s cheap, and it’s silly fun, but it’s weighed down by console limitations and wonky controls.

A fine game that features excellent commentators, a cleaner, slightly more detailed on-the-field presentation, and a challenging yet rewarding pitching mechanic. The hitting and fielding is good, too, but it isn't quite as robust as the pitching, and there are a few remaining production issues. Clipping is obvious, for example, and the camera isn't always your best friend (although this is usually during foul balls). It's just a little too much "been there, done that," despite the positives.

It's not a huge challenge but so what? Makes ya feel good for a while, and we all need that every now and then.

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows is a compelling, bloody story against its long-awaited feudal Japan backdrop. Its later story beats have some epic set pieces and equally great performances. Despite that, though, it’s still an Ubisoft slog to get through, and ultimately, its uneven pace might make the journey to get there worth it. It struggles to justify the balance between its two heroes — and while they play differently, they still feel the same, providing enough gameplay disparity to invest in either one truly. Yaksue’s inability to stealth and parkour means that most will use Noe for exploration, which completely breaks the immersion of the experience in gameplay and story. It’s still a Japan-inspired journey worth taking — even if Ghosts of Tsushima did it better.

A mostly enjoyable experience. It lacks the refinement and cleanliness I anticipated, as some of those bugs really shouldn’t be here, and the multiplayer especially suffers. And I don’t care how nifty it is, I will always prefer buttons to touchscreen controls. Otherwise, this is Duke Nukem in all his corny, cheesy, B-movie glory.

Burnout Crash is well presented and encourages a lot of replay. It's not technically accomplished but it's visually attractive in my eyes, the combination of great sound effects and licensed music works nicely, the longevity is high, and for a fair amount of time, the game is just wildly entertaining.

An inspired and entertaining fighter with lots of appreciated imagination. The design, style and animations are its strong point, and the intricacy of the gameplay mechanic is solid without being too intimidating. There's not quite enough content in this package, it can get pretty damn frustrating, and the control isn't always perfect, but there's a lot to like.

Trailblazers definitely needs some fine tuning, and more importantly needs the ability to create and host private online matches with friends (you are currently limited to local splitscreen or single player online), but for the budget price this is mostly a winner.

But I have to say, despite a solid attempt at cooperative entertainment, Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One seems to sacrifice a few too many elements for the sake of the multiplayer boom.

If you played Neon Chrome or other similar isometric twin stick shooters and enjoyed them I would recommend giving this one a go. At first glance it doesn’t seem like much but once you get into the meat of it you’ll realize that there is more then meets the eye. The game is short but has some depth.

Dustforce is highly entertaining and absolutely unique. It has a few small drawbacks common to lower-budget efforts, but these hang-ups can’t cripple a decent, well-designed game.

It may not encircle your heart like Journey but it should have an impact, and that’s what matters.

An enjoyable game. But a forgettable game.

It’s a wonderful story with unique characters and enthralling illustrations. The story would have been better as a linear plot unmarred by gimmicky decision points.

Demonschoolhas left me conflicted. I eye rolled past the story and found its characters one note. The combat is a slog to get through. It’s overly designed and under explained. I am not having a good time, but I also cannot stop playing it. Those who love puzzle strategy and a throwaway supernatural story will likely love it, but tread carefully if you are new to puzzle tactics games.

Rainbow Six Siege offers a very different FPS experience. It doesn’t rely on bombastic set pieces and ceaseless, mindless action where players respawn immediately and everyone has Wolverine-like regenerating health. Instead, this is the cerebral shooter, the one that asks you to view the map layout, determine the best plan of attack, and execute with pinpoint precision.

It’s got some rough edges, and I really wish it had a solid online multiplayer component, but ultimately I like Horizon Chase Turbo; probably more than I should.

All in all, this game is perfect for what it sets out to do – make it clear the power the PS5 has while also making the game fun and enjoyable. It falls short, though, with the difficulty spiking only at the very end, and none of the four-section paths providing much challenge. It is a must-play if you want to experience all the PS5 has to offer next-gen players though.

Close to the Sun is an experience that I enjoyed but I also found myself wanting a bit more out of. The environments look fantastic and presentation was on point. Despite a few technical glitches. And while interesting, the story did fall a bit flat at times and seemed a bit rushed at others. I did enjoy my time with it though and especially enjoyed seeing what could have been possible if history had taken a different route. If you’re into the genre, like alternate history, or appreciate a well done style and tone, then I say go for it. It was a cool trip.

Worth the small price tag.

So yeah, it can feel repetitive and a little mind-numbing at times but it might be the perfect stress-reliever. I say give it a shot.

Having the menus laid out in different rooms of the school may seem like a good idea on paper, but it’s a chore to navigate, and it’s easy to miss stuff.

A decent, entertaining Mini that is a fine way to pass the time.

It's one of those instances where if you go in with high expectations, you're bound to be left feeling a tad empty, but if you're more moderated in your anticipation, you'll be better off. The campaign is worth playing; there's no doubt about that...But there are extenuating circumstances…

While the disparate elements of 24: The Game aren't stellar, they come together like peas and carrots when combined with the solid and engaging storyline.