In the end, I find Batman: Arkham Origins to be a very frustrating piece of software in multiple ways. Perhaps unfairly, I don't like that even though the hardware is capable of more, we keep getting these increasingly cut-down experiences from Warner Brothers.

While playing, I thought a lot about game design in general, how it empowers us and enforces the notion that we can accomplish greater things if we work hard enough and stick to a given task or dream. I wish this game actually pounded away at this notion.

A simple, arcade-style game that should appeal to a wide variety of high-score fans. It has a surprising amount of production value for a game of its type, most of the objects are animated, the character deaths feature amusing flying people and the shadows from clouds and planes add a nice touch.

It's unfortunate the puzzles in Touch Detective aren't better, because the presentation of the game alone makes it worth checking out.

I've had a good time with Plushed Gold Fever, but on the whole it falls flat.

Gleamer doesn't aim too high, but as a result, it feels very grounded and straightforward, with a unique visual style to boot. You know exactly what you're getting into here, and the precision platforming holds up despite a few design flaws.

A bit like watching a Monty Python marathon where you remember the fish slapping, but not all the weird animations.

If you're snowed in and not completely snowed out on winter sports, it's worth a bit of your time.

The graphics are great, the controls are nice, and there's a lot of content. The problem is that with the way things are set up right now, Flashout 2 feels like a free-to-play game, and not a particularly fair one at that.

This game, like many Warhammer games, gives plenty of signs that there's a huge, interesting universe, it just needs to do more to be welcoming to someone who's curious enough to find out more, but wants some guidance. And the rest of the experience isn't good enough to really justify non-Warhammer fans checking this out.

Ultimately, Redout 2 is a solid futuristic hovercraft racer. It’s fast, challenging, beautiful, and loaded with content. The Switch version dulls some of the visual shine and framerate issues can affect the gameplay, so you’re probably better off playing the game on other platforms unless the portability is a make-or-break feature for you. Given how infrequently we get games of this type that are even a little good, you may want to bite on it despite its technical issues.

It’s not unplayable or anything, and the battle system can sometimes be quite engaging. But it isn’t something I would really recommend to anyone either unless they have a lot of time on their hands and have already exhausted better options.

After its first update, Fashion Dreamer still needs work. While the performance is my biggest problem with it, some design decisions need to be addressed like letting any body type wear any clothes or accessories. I’m going to revisit it through each update, but right now this feels more like what we got in Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer rather than a true Animal Crossing experience as an example. There’s a lot I like, but this needed more time.

If you can accept its scope, accept that it falls short of its intentions almost as often as it realizes them, there is something in Monark to enjoy. The way it explores the ideas of personality traits and the dangers of excesses can be very intriguing, and the combat can be satisfying for a while. The localization is solid, with some sharp bits of writing here and there. And yes, there is just enough of a whiff of Persona about it that it might at least lightly scratch the itch for more Atlus-ish RPG enjoyment. But one can’t help but wonder what this could have been if the developers had had more resources to play with.

Dream:scape is so close to being amazing that it's hard for me to say this, but the problems just killed what enjoyment I would have otherwise had.

True, the gorgeous visuals certainly warrant consideration (especially on newer iOS hardware), and the battle system is filled with potential, but the controls are a huge black mark on the entire experience.

It’s certainly worth checking out but at this point, I don’t think it has enough for long-term viability.

Despite the aforementioned issues, the art design in Plushed is wonderful, the level design was ultimately fun, and the in-jokes and pop culture references delightful.

Huge fans of FFIV will probably want to check it out After Years regardless, but honestly, I don’t think you’re missing much.

The story mode is long and throws enough novelty out in the form of equipment upgrades and new visual themes to keep things interesting, and the survival mode is a lot of fun

Superfrog HD isn't a bad platformer, but it's not a very good one, either.

Its stylish comic book-style visuals look great, the voice acting is top-notch, and you definitely get the feeling of being on a Jurassic Park adventure. What hurts the game is the overall lack of variety in the gameplay and how far it tries to spread what is here. The gameplay is just too simple. The cheap scares get a little old, and the cheap deaths get very old. Not a complete disaster, but ultimately only of interest to fans.

And that's what Tempo is: pointless. It aspires only for pointlessness and reaches those shallow goals.

The actual gameplay is, as I said, fun in short bursts, and when the cash is rolling, it's fun to upgrade your gear and get new weapons

And so, again we have a truly excellent console title that falls sadly short of the mark in making its way to the iPhone.

I was expecting something with a little more depth.

The game you can buy today is a solid one in its own right, even if only for its unique, rhythmic combat.

For Sword And Poker fans who have been waiting years for a new installment, this is something of a bitter start to the Konami era of management.