Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a pretty straightforward remaster.

The difficulty in Digital Devil Saga will certainly turn some gamers off, especially those not fond of RPGs. However, if you're a gamer into RPGs and have been waiting for something fresh check out Digital Devil Saga. Digital Devil Saga is certainly one of the best RPGs in a long time.

Gamers eager for something different and darker will eat Killer 7 up. Whereas some gamers will absolutely loathe the game because it takes time to get into and time to relearn controls. [JPN Import]

Samba de Amigo: Party Central is the welcome return of a quirky classic rhythm game. While musically it’s now more Selena Gomez than Selena, and some technical issues threaten to get in the way, the game remains excellent. Add some friends to the mix and it truly will be the center of any party.

Flock is a comfort blanket of a game. Its simplicity isn’t for everyone but it’s hard to deny its charm. If you’re looking for something cozy to kick back with at the end of a long day, Flock is exactly what you need.

With a charming aesthetic that hearkens back to the mid-2000s and a gripping story, Matsuro Palette really surprised me with how much I liked it. It’s short and sweet, just difficult enough to provide a challenge, but easy enough that you can beat it in one day if you wish. While I don’t think I’d like a sequel of it, it did leave me wanting to see more between the painter and the girl.

It's well-balanced and enjoyable to play.

Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is another win for Capcom game preservation efforts. It grants us access to elements unseen outside of Japan. We get complete control over the experience, with opportunities to make it easier or more difficult. We choose exactly how it displays, making the two-screen game feel as comfortable as someone would like. I’m still a bit disappointed with some font and HD filter appearances. But if you love Mega Man, this is another lovely tribute to an enjoyable spin-off series.

It's a charming game, to be certain.

Little Goody Two Shoes’ themes of always wanting more than what you have hit particularly close to home. Elise’s desires are always surrounding you – and always just out of arm’s reach. The developers of this game took great care into shaping this beautiful world to fit with Elise’s characterization. This game is simply oozing with charm. You can feel the love and dedication that went into creating this game at every moment, in every aspect – from the artwork to the story to the sound design.

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain really does do a good job of giving us a Kiki’s Delivery Service sort of game, and it’s often quite relaxing too! Mika’s a fun protagonist, and the island is this vibrant setting filled with big personalities and life. Sometimes the broomstick-riding can feel a bit fiddly, but it’s genuinely a delightful simulation about being a courier witch.

While there are brief moments of intense emotion, Please Be Happy is mostly a very gentle story that might not satisfy those looking for an excessively cute or romantic tale, because that’s not what it is. It’s a story about slowing down and appreciating what you have, looking at yourself and deciding what it is you actually want to do and be. If you can match its pace, you’ll find a satisfying story in a pretty well made package. The pretty anime girls falling in love is just a bonus.

Lover Pretend ended up being a real surprise, as I didn’t expect to enjoy this Switch otome game as I did. It seemed like it could perhaps rely too heavily on its taboo theme. But it snuck up on me with its earnest nature. Not to mention the way it handles certain topics lent a level of respect I didn’t expect from it. It’s just a lovely little love story.

Reanimal is an ominous, tense adventure that puts you in unsettling situations and leaves you to draw your own conclusions about what’s going on. So much so that it almost feels like the end is only the beginning of analyzing what’s happened here. While short, there are some interesting puzzles and encounters, the pacing is good, the NPC intelligence in single-player is competent, and there’s some great character and environmental design elements at play. A few bugs that will likely be patched out in a few weeks aside, it’s a great horror game.

Another Code: Recollection doesn’t make huge changes to the overall formula of the games, as they’re still very introductory and in one case short adventures. However, these Switch remakes look fantastic and are quite impressive in terms of how well they adapt the titles. If someone is looking for games with solid stories or is looking for a first adventure game for someone, this collection is a good fit.

Overall, DNF Duel is a great fighting game. It appeals to casual players, while still offering a fair bit of complexity to keep more experienced players entertained. It’s definitely a title I’ll go back to from time to time. Ultimately, it feels like a game that could develop a consistent following in the years to come. If it gets the right opportunity, that is.

I really enjoyed playing Sunderfolk, and I would love to go through a second time with a larger group and different characters. Though honestly, I’d also be equally happy to go again with the same avatar (I love my Pyromancer) and make different choices. It’s a lot of fun, and the nature of its additional objectives, varying missions between the campaign quests, and possible party compositions means it is the type of title that could be worth replaying with different folks or on varying difficulties. Sunderfolk works quite well and I’d recommend a it for a series of game nights.

For a game that would make most anybody do a double take because of its mixture of anime art style, action shooter genre, and soulslike gameplay, Little Witch Nobeta comes together very well as a whole. The shooter components are enjoyable to play with and offer enough diversity to give you several options for battles. The soulslike parts add fun and difficulty, as well as a tiny bit of a strategic element in the upgrade system. And though the story isn’t grandiose or deep, with most of the worldbuilding coming in the form of the stories attached to items found throughout the castle, there’s enough to carry the game forward, which is fine by me. It’s not perfect, but the game is nothing if not fun, and I’ll definitely be coming back to play some more of it.

Even though the world is in danger and Lilith is a force to be reckoned with, Marvel’s Midnight Suns is a popcorn flick of a game purely designed to entertain its players. It can be silly! Sometimes, it will be serious. You don’t need to think too hard about it. No experience with Marvel series or Firaxis games is needed. You can hop into it, play for a few hours, and save the day alongside major and minor heroes.

While it isn’t perfect, it shows a lot of promise! It’s a fantastic first step for what future Pokemon spin-offs could look like. It’s certainly more refreshing than some recent mainline games, and I felt more excited each session playing than I did with Pokemon Shield or Pokemon Brilliant Diamond. I wouldn’t say it’s the most essential installment or should be someone’s first experience with the series, but people who love Pokemon should really play it.

True Swing Golf’s brilliance is in its simplicity almost anyone even non gamers will enjoy. [JPN Import]

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream builds on the previous entries in the series, with Nintendo crafting a simulation that goes above and beyond with customization elements. It’s as silly and joyful as past games, while letting us basically build the Mii island of our dreams. Minigames can be a hit or miss, especially when it comes to ones that keep proposals from going smoothly. Plus the walled garden nature of it makes it so difficult to share that with others. Unless you can actually manage to meet up with people for local wireless, there’s no way to swap, and it’s a shame that there are extra steps tied to sharing moments. Still, aside from it being locked down, it’s lovely.

I will say the RPG mechanics of leveling up RoboCop and enhancing his various skills felt a bit like an afterthought. Some of them are quite necessary, such as providing more dialogue options, but others centered around his strength feel unnecessary due to his existing power. Regardless, this added a nice bit of depth and customization to this otherwise swift RPG experience that you can beat in under 20 hours.

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is a mixed bag. It’s an excellent remaster that balances preservation and improvement. However, two-thirds of this package are games that are, at best, merely fine, even with improvements. For The Last Revelation though? It’s worth it for that alone.

You can’t go into Harvestella thinking, “So is Square Enix’s Rune Factory/Story of Seasons game?” It isn’t fair to the developers or the game itself. Yes, this is an action-RPG with farming and life-sim elements. But it’s also very much trying to be its own thing. It needs time to grow. A think a few patches would help to act as stakes to help bolster the game would do a world of good. If Square Enix tends to it well, I could see a successful successor spawn.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure would always have high expectations projected onto it, as the original is perhaps one of the best emotional and narrative-driven games out there. The sequel might not be on the same level as its predecessor, but there are a lot of admirable qualities here. It’s great to see Max Caulfield return to the series, as she is genuinely an exceptional character. I really enjoyed the overall story, and there are some phenomenal twists along the way which you may not see coming. However, I wish Max and Safi had more scenes together, because it would have meant those impactful moments would have carried more weight. As long as you accept that Life is Strange: Double Exposure will not provide the same emotional whirlwind adventure as other entries in the franchise, you will have a good time.

Uncle Chop's Rocket Shop has a lot going for it, but I think a lot of your enjoyment will be based on how or where you play it.

While it may not have the immersive mechanics to be a great VR introduction, Batman: Arkham Shadow is fun to play and faithful to its Arkham predecessors. And yeah, picking off enemies one-by-one feels great.

A better hero shooter for remaining unbalanced, prioritizing fun over competitive play which allows it to shine.

For people who love otome games, especially on the Switch, I can’t help but feel Radiant Tale could be a must-play. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s really entertaining to see the cast of characters interact with the heroine and one another. Seeing their adventures and backgrounds, it’s almost like you can’t help but root for them and their love stories with Tifalia.

A beautiful game.

I had absolutely no idea I’d enjoy StarVaders as much as I would, and it definitely adds something to the ever-growing roguelike genre. It’s compelling, but inviting. You’re given opportunities to learn, but it will absolutely challenge you once you’ve gotten accustomed to its nuances. There are plenty of options when developing your deck, making the prospect of additional playthroughs promising. Fans of the genre should check it out.

Some minor quirks aside that could, in all honesty, be fixed by patches before too long, Core Keeper is a delight of a game that excels at offering options for being creative and tackling situations. It is easy to get engrossed in finding your way through the depths, establishing a settlement, and making progress, thanks to the intuitive systems in place. Core Keeper is definitely a game those who loved ones like Terraria and Minecraft should investigate.

When you look at the complete package, Rise of the Ronin is such a fun and rewarding experience. It might not have the most cinematic narratives or jaw dropping visuals around, but it delivers on everything it attempts. The melting pot of gaming influences makes for a product that is more than the sum of its parts. Much like a lone samurai wandering without a master, Rise of the Ronin cuts its own path while paying homage to the spirit of those who came before it.

This game is honestly all over the place. There’s a naming of an accomplice that is tough for others to guess. There’s a voting about which art to investigate. (And then you loop around and do more of them anyway?) It never feels like Weapons Drawn knows entirely what it wants to be. Still, there’s some fun in trying to spot letters. The second round keeps the same letter for your art, but uses different writing styles to make it truly tough. We appreciate the ambition, but this one’s tough to get your mind around most of the time.

I suppose what really hurts Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is that Luigi’s Mansion 3 is on the Switch and feels like the definitive entry in the series. It’s great to be able to go back to the earlier installment on the system. Especially since it is fun for what it is. It’s still enjoyable, and it looks great. I suppose my only regret is that the format of it felt better on the 3DS, and the limits of the more mission-based approach are more strongly felt on this console.

I have never seen so many people not only asking me to make a complete mess of things, but thanking me for doing so, in my life. But that’s exactly what Thank Goodness You’re Here feels like it is about, as the game rewards you for your goofy and occasionally destructive behavior with ridiculous, hilarious, and even sometimes a delightfully inappropriate response. It might not end up being a game for everyone, but those who do give it a chance and enjoy this kind of humor will likely be delighted.

Touhou Spell Bubble is something special. I’d call it the best Touhou Project spin-off to be localized and one of the best Puzzle Bubble games in years. I do wish it included some Side Stories at the outset and some elements are intimidating. However, it’s so unusual and unique. I can’t say I’ve played any puzzle game like it. It definitely is the sort of title a person might have to see to understand and the price could be off-putting, but I’ve been lowkey obsessed with it and its formula for a week and love how it works.

If you’ve never played them, Shiren the Wanderer: The Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate is some of the best the genre has to offer. Just ask Shiren fans who already own the game on Vita and are thinking of purchasing this one for the three bonus dungeons, collectable in-game songs, and a stream-friendly AI.

The shift to a full-on Metroidvania format makes Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark a bigger and more satisfying game than the already enjoyable original. With charming characters, interesting map design, and thrilling boss battles, it’s easy to forgive this game for minor sins like excessive backtracking and weak tutorials. Servants of the Dark is a solid choice for fans of the original game or Metroidvania enthusiasts alike.

Fortunately, in the end, Dawntrail balances out for a solid, but not necessarily ground-breaking FFXIV expansion. Though it starts rough, Square Enix brings it all together quite well by the second half for a satisfying conclusion. The consistency of the actual gameplay content throughout at least ensures it is enjoyable to play from start to finish. In the end, FFXIV Dawntrail is a shaky, but ultimately positive step in a new direction for the best MMO of all time.

Persona 5 Strikers nails the atmosphere perfectly and doesn’t make it feel like you have to review everything beforehand. It succinctly lets you know that the areas you’ll explore are larger and you may have to do a little more research to prepare, but your team has your back. Granted, it is something that will be best enjoyed and appreciated by those who know and love these characters. But overall, Persona 5 Strikers is a fantastic fusion of what the Persona and Musou series have to offer.

Flowstone Saga is a charming blend of RPG and puzzle game with a zippy pace and lots of mechanics to engage with. The presentation is great, with colorful, detailed visuals and a strong soundtrack. The story doesn’t hit the same high notes as the rest of the game, but it does its job well enough to keep you engaged for the duration of this relatively brief yet enjoyable journey. In some ways, it feels like the game could have gone longer and explored some of its mechanics more thoroughly, but I give it credit for wrapping up before it got repetitive. If you’re looking for a lighter bite between all of the gigantic RPGs releasing these days, this should fit the bill nicely.

Patapon 1+2 Replay isn’t the most exciting remaster collection, but it is incredibly enjoyable and accessible to newcomers.. Both games are still strong real-time strategy games that look and play unlike anything else out there. It would have been nice if, for preservation purposes, we could have gotten extra features like an extensive art gallery with concept art or lots of music to listen to on demand. The few additions that are there will probably make it more accessible to newcomers or folks unfamiliar with the genre.

Sand Land shows what can be done with licensed manga and games. The game is a great vehicular action-RPG, and easily one of the best anime and manga games available. Despite some early pacing issues, the game is at its best when introducing a vast and engrossing world, accompanied by the beautiful visuals and great story penned by the late Akira Toriyama.

Shin-chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is a slow life simulation game paired with an engaging adventure involving the mysterious Coal Town. It’s a really relaxed and pleasant play, as a result. You can take your time with it and enjoy the ambiance. The only thing that might get in the way of some people’s appreciation or enjoyment of the experience is the presence of Shin-chan himself, as not everyone might appreciate his humor or the series’ character design. Still, even if you are apprehensive, it’s a soothing way to savor the last bits of summer before easing into winter.

Great God Grove is a great romp about the importance of good communication. If you enjoy puzzle games, the works of Double Fine, or Undertale, you’ll find a lot to love here.

With pank0’s Usagi Shiima, it really feels like the developer understood why people loved Neko Atsume and designed the game to build on that.

Once Upon a Katamari feels like it is as strong of an entry as a game like We Love Katamari. The time traveling element really suits the series. The character customization is a lot of fun. I’m not a KatamariBall fan and think the Simple control scheme option is far from it. But overall Once Upon a Katamari is a great installment that captures the essence of the series.

The whole game is a pleasant surprise. Given the premise, I wasn’t sure if I’d take to it. I mean, a grandfather deciding his high school-aged granddaughter is ready to be engaged and sending her to live with four suitors he selected? It gave me pause. But I really loved how things turned out. Hibari is a fantastic heroine, the bachelors are often a lot of fun, and its great pacing means Variable Barricade is a great way to spend some evenings.

If you are looking for a short, gentle and surprisingly thoughtful game to relax you for a few hours on a lazy Sunday afternoon, this is a superb choice. Smushi Come Home is a charming little adventure with a big heart that sadly may be over a little too soon.

Expelled is a wicked good time, with each playthrough of the game building on the one before it. However, even though you will be replaying that fateful day repeatedly, it doesn’t feel tedious or exhausting. Inkle constantly builds upon events, opening up opportunities and new outcomes for Verity. It’s a delightful story that encourages you to experiment and be bad.

Whether or not it truly needs to exist, the fact remains: The Last of Us Part I does exist, and it happens to be the best version of an already pretty good game. The additional accessibility options alone justify it for that section of players. Meanwhile, those who are interested in experiencing its story when it looks its best, whether as a first-timer or a veteran revisiting an old favorite, should strongly consider playing it. For everyone else, the other versions are available for less.

However, these moments aside, it’s easy to recommend Blade Chimera. If a cyberpunk Metroidvania with a cool magical sword and an intriguing yokai-infested world sounds good to you, you need to play it.

DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou is one of those games that basically you tell a bullet hell fan to pick up because it is an essential title, but perhaps advise a more casual fan to consider if they like the developer or series first.

Atelier Ryza 3 is a game that makes good on its promises. We’ve spent years getting to know Ryza and her friends and learning more about their world. Now there’s this pay-off that really feels fulfilling. Yes, some minor elements might keep it from being completely perfect. Considering how much it accomplishes, it’s still an admirable achievement.

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is simultaneously a triumph in preserving the timeless strategy gameplay of the past and a huge missed opportunity to give it a rejuvenated platform that could attract new players.

Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster may initially butt up against your nostalgia if you have fond memories of the original, but over time, I really began to appreciate seeing its visuals and sound explored in creative ways.

Curse Crackers: For Whom the Belle Toils is one of those sorts of platformers that I didn’t expect to be as charming and rich as it is. It perfectly captures the ambiance of an era. Likewise, it manages to blend its story and personality well into the experience, giving it a more distinct identity.

A must for followers of the microgame craze.

Some minor quality-of-life ideas aside, Is This Seat Taken is a relaxed game filled with generally pleasant logic puzzles. Is it as difficult as I would have liked? No. However, the experience is so pleasant and the concept is so strong that I felt fine with not being really pushed to work out complex solutions. The concept is great. It looks quite stylish. It’s just fun.

Terra Memoria was a wonderful way to pass the time after a long day at work. I’d curl up with it before bed, discovering new recipes to make or creating a cute pond in my town just because I wanted to. The story was also satisfying due to how wonderful the cast of characters are, and they all felt believable in spire of their individual quirks and familiar character tropes.

Oink Games has indicated that more games could join this collection, and we’d be all for it if the conversions are as high-quality as these.

Ultimately, Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker marked the end of an era. Plot threads from A Realm Reborn onward come to a close. The story is rife with fanfare, paying homage to past expansions in ways that sometimes feel overmuch or hit in just the right way. While the story isn’t as effective as it could be, the combat adjustments and quality-of-life improvements make Endwalker a strong expansion.

Infinity Nikki completely blew away my expectations out of the water, and it’s worth checking out, especially when you consider the game is free-to-play.

I really appreciate Crypt Custodian for knowing its strengths and exploring them throughout the roughly 10 hours it took me to complete the game. The mix of Metroidvania and isometric platforming elements mix really nicely in a title where precision and readability are king. You won’t find a nail-biting challenge in this game, but some extra post-game boss rush modes can prove really demanding and give you that edge. And while the subject matter can be a bit much if you’re sensitive the same way I am to pet an animal death, Crypt Custodian made me look back fondly and remember my childhood pet and every animal I’ve ever loved.

If only for the exceptional combat, solid party members, and beautiful, vibrant world, I highly recommend existing and newcomer fantasy RPG fans to give Avowed a try, especially since it is available through Game Pass.

The best thing about Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is simply that it gets this immensely enjoyable action-RPG onto more modern platforms.

I really appreciate how Videoverse does capture the spirit of older online gaming communities like Miiverse. It definitely feels like exploring online in the 2000s, when we needed to embrace limitations and do all we could to work within them. The ambiance is impeccable and really does recreate the atmosphere of a waning console community in that time period. There are some times when the UI and progression system can be a little user-unfriendly. But aside from those instances, it’s a bit like playing through a game designed to feel like a time capsule from an internet era.

Galaxy Princess Zorana is a worthy successor to Long Live the Queen and a stat-management sim Princess Maker fans shouldn’t ignore. Is it harrowing? Absolutely. Will you need to keep notes and a slew of save files? Definitely. Is it worth all the trouble? I think so! However, if you’re unfamiliar with the Hanako Games’ previous entry or the genre, I’d recommend going with something more forgiving like a version of Princess Maker 2or Mushroom Musumebefore attempting to help Zorana take the throne.

A beautiful and impressive game.

Getting to an goal is such a chore, despite the incredible visuals. But once you get to the primary objective in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you will find the best combat, story, characters, and setting in an Assassin’s Creed game yet. If it was more enjoyable to roam around the world, which is, sadly, how a large portion of your time playing, this would easily be the best overall entry in the series to date.

Like Super Meat Boy, this title is bold and experimental and while Super Meat Boy Forever’s genre does differ, the game manages to hold onto most of what made the last game so compelling to begin with.

The Nightmare Before Christmas isn't going to score points on original gameplay, but it makes up for it with an excellent translation of the movie.

Even though it's almost ten years old it's still a brilliant platformer.

Even though some areas are less polished than others, Honor Among Thieves is still an extremely enjoyable game, with colorful characters and enough scenarios that the game never gets stale.

More challenging puzzles, larger levels and new zombies to battle. All of this will please people who liked the first game and none of this will change the minds of people who hate the first game. Some of the key problems with the game like the lack of communication between players still hasn't been solved. [JPN Import]

A lot of fun to play. The game captures the spirit of the Dynasty Warriors series and improves on them. Although, the game does suffer from the same technical problems that many old NES games suffer from slowdown and lack of graphical detail.

Even though Naruto: Saikyo Ninja 2 is a good playthrough it doesn't have anything special to make the game stand out.

Compared to other GBA games out there Super Mario Ball doesn't have the same amount of gameplay hours. Even with all of the stars to find, five worlds isn't much to conquer. [JPN Import]

Each of the levels can be completed without much thought. Even though Kirby: The Magic Mirror may be fun for people of all ages it's designed for kids. The simplistic gameplay, lack of challenge and short game length suggests that this was Hal's intention all along.

The unique cast of characters and entertaining story makes Phoenix Wright worth playing, once. After you've seen all the plot turns and twists the game loses its appeal. [JPN Import]

The most surprising addition to the mix has got to be Yankee Doodle. Playing through that song with the conga beat in the background is something different. [JPN Import]

A pretty picture to look at and a port of an excellent Super Nintendo action title. On the other hand increased slowdown and its short length will restrict Irregular Hunter X strictly to Mega Man maniacs. [JPN Import]

A refreshing change from the other RPGs out there. The game's good sense of humor carries the title from start to finish. On the other hand the gameplay isn't all there. It feels like a hack and slash "Diablo"-esque game that you don't actually fight in.

Instead of the tired RPG formula Wild ARMs 4 offers a lot that’s new to the genre like platforming and the hex battle system. If only the storytelling mechanics were up to par Wild ARMs 4 would be a surefire hit.

A refreshing change from the other RPGs out there. The game's good sense of humor carries the title from start to finish. On the other hand the gameplay isn't all there. It feels like a hack and slash "Diablo"-esque game that you don't actually fight in.

This isn't your hardcore aerobics DDR game. Instead Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix is a cheerful title that is sure to entertain gamers looking for something slightly new. [JPN Import]

Entertaining and frustratingly challenging at the hard difficulty. Could Nintendo have done more with the series? Absolutely. Is Fire Emblem a fun game? Without question. [JPN Import]

People looking for a solid 40 hour dungeon romp will probably be disappointed in [Mega Man] X Command Mission. Not only is the game short, but it plays like an RPG for beginners.

It’s one of those games that fans will probably enjoy, even if there’s little that stands out other than the Dual mode. [JPN Import]

Even with the fluid game control and the improved graphics Silent Hill 4: The Room is still just another Silent Hill game. Sure the controls make the game more accessible to non-survival horror gamers since it is more intuitive.

Magna Carta is a gorgeous game with enough creativity in its story and gameplay to distinguish outside the genre. However, to really appreciate this game be prepared to put in fifteen hours into it because it probably won’t suck you in at the very beginning.

It doesn't improve on its own formula, has archaic graphics and a sloppy camera. All of this puts a damper on the gameplay experience, but it doesn't mean its not fun. Gungrave OD is fun, but its fun for only a short while.

The addition of an extra dimension makes King of Fighters: Maximum Impact something different from the yearly remakes of the game. SNK zealots will dig this game and fighting fans looking for a 3D alternative from "Capcom vs. SNK 2" will also enjoy this game.

It's fun for a short period of time, easy to beat and doesn't have a strong multiplayer mode. A solid rental, but there are better games out there.

The same as it was ten years ago. Capcom did make a few improvements like added a much needed save feature instead of a password system to the game to make it more portable. There are also Game Boy Advance exclusive levels, which add some value to the game. [JPN Import]

The game gets boring fast just playing with a friend or even a friend and two computers. The other problem with the versus mode is the camera. Opposed to the player following camera in the single player mode, the camera in versus mode pans out a wide range in most levels. While the camera does give a wide screen view of the battlefield, it rarely zooms back in when all the players are close together.