More than an expansion pack with only minor improvements; it is a complete overhaul of one of the most popular and greatest games ever. With its new features, SOCOM III easily holds on to its title of the best online game for the PS2.

Square did just about everything right the first time around, so despite not taking big enough strides with this remake, they can fall back on something that was damn close to perfection in the first place. And that's not a bad way to look at it.

The technical aspects are not only eye-popping but they’re also quite stable. The graphics are slick, the sound is stellar, the control is rock solid, and the gameplay variety is downright tremendous. I love the blending of puzzle, stealth, action, and adventure, and you have to give mad crazy props to the overall game design. I still say the story could be less predictable (perhaps give the player a little more credit in terms of literary comprehension) and the Batmobile, as awesome as it can be, is just overdone.

Overall, Astral Ascent is a damn fine example of roguelites at their near best. It’s an unfolding mystery set in a beautiful world, and the addictive gameplay loop just keeps you coming back for more. The amount of times I was ready to head to bed before hearing my mind calling for “just one more” happened times than I’d care to admit. It may not topple the giants, but it certainly gives enough to stand amongst them.

A pristine racing game. Nevermind that it's focused on rally, it feels so damn tight and responsive, on top of looking like a dream. It's one of the best playing game engines out there, and one of the best looking too.

Bottom line, if you are a fan of the series you’ll have to play this one as well (if you haven’t already). But you can also jump in without much knowledge of previous games. That in itself says a lot. Good job Square Enix.

It looks absolutely incredible on the Vita, the environment is endlessly immersive and imaginative, the overall creativity is impressive, and the controls rarely let you down.

Tearaway is a triumph of the imagination. It’s a showcase for gifted minds that seek to entertain and even enlighten via quirky creativity.

Velocity 2X is the perfect example of simplicity with kick. The beautiful visuals and silky smooth animations never skip a beat, the music and overall artistry gives the game a singular appeal, the wonderful flow keeps us completely engaged, and for the most part, the game never skips a beat.

The bottom line is that Guacamelee! is one of the most entertaining, engaging, and even innovative titles we’ve seen in the past year, and all avid gamers owe it to themselves to give it a try.

Not many modern video games embroil you into an absorbing world and invites you into that visceral world by giving you a myriad of reasons to explore it while being encouraged to find your own way through it without the necessity of hand-holding, but Hell Is Us is one of those special games. You could deride Hell Is Us as a follower of the video game industry’s most celebrated action and RPG games, but by doing so you would be tearing yourself away from what is a very inspired, yet very gripping and robustly built action title. If you’re at all pleased with what you’ve seen from Hell Is Us, rest assured that it is one of the year’s most compelling AA games, and that the immersion this game builds will enrapture you in all the right ways.

If you can get past the really bland game visuals and a choppy framerate, then in Dragon Age: Origins you will find one of the very best RPG experiences in years. Masterful gameplay mechanics and an amazing story grab you and don't let you go until either a power-outage or sleep deprivation.

Max Payne 3 is a rip-roaring success on many levels. It relentlessly hammers at your emotions and nerves and keeps you perched on the edge of your seat. The borderline unfair difficulty towards the end of the campaign, noticeable issues with the shootdodge, and a couple minor glitches notwithstanding, this is one hell of an experience.

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

It plays well, runs smoothly, and heralds the kind of game play which will keep score-hounds coming back to it again and again.

Hob is definitely larger than the sum of its parts, which come together almost perfectly to create a truly singular adventure. Hob may not have the AAA budget and polish of the franchises it draws inspiration from, but it has lots of heart and something to say, which is impressive for a game without a single spoken word.

There are gameplay and visual improvements, and they’re significant enough to make the game feel like a totally fresh experience when compared to the original title.

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.

FIFA 16 added what it needed to add and refined what it needed to refine. It pinpointed the problems bogging down last year’s entry and fixed them.

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.

Overall, Battlefield 3 is a winner. It just isn't quite the massive elite shooter that outstrips all other FPSs in every category. If you can deal with that, I'm sure you'll be happy.

Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture is an interactive work of art.

Super Hot is a first person shooter unlike any other. It’s very narrative driven, mind blowing, fps similar to games such as Portal or The Stanley Parable. It’s quite the mind trip and the time driven game mechanic is actually a lot of fun. Just be prepared to run around saying “Super Hot” in your head for the next few days. It’s short but sweet and well worth the trip into this virtual world.

Rocket League is an extremely well designed and presented game, a veritable feast for the senses at times, and an undeniably addictive experience.

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.

Ultimate mode would test even the best players to their limits. I say this because the entry price is $39.99, which is deserved, but not appropriate for those who’ll get frustrated just trying to make it through the first level. But if you’ve ever had late-night liaisons with a lady dressed in black leather and cracking a whip, then you’ve probably already bought it.

The experience is almost indescribable, and even if you’re not a big fan of motion sensing (and we’re not), you will smile throughout your experience.

This is visually one of the best looking games on the market. And with an engine that's gunning it at 60 frames per second, and capable of 1080i upscaled, R&C Future is also running on one of the best engines, as well. The gameplay is precisely what we've all come to love, except louder, more heated, more energetic, more fun, and with all new gameplay mechanics added to the mix.