Four years after its initial Steam release, Freedom Planet still stands as a good modern interpretation of the classic platforming formula. The multiple characters play differently enough that it's worthwhile to replay the game to see the different pathways and use different strategies to beat bosses. The two main modes do a good job of pleasing players who value narrative and those who prefer action, and the nice presentation solidifies Freedom Planet as a good choice for platforming fans.

Flight Simulator X: Acceleration adds a respectable amount of content to the original Flight Simulator X, especially for the $30 price tag. Although you only receive three new aircrafts, they offer significantly different flight experiences and challenges that are exemplified by the new, well-designed and interesting single-player missions.

Even though it runs out of gas near the end, the outrageous weapons, offbeat setting, the intentionally cheesy lines, and fast action make Blood Dragon an enemy of cookie-cutter tyranny everywhere.

Etrian Odyssey II: The Heroes of Lagaard is tough. It is not always fairly tough, it can be frustrating, it can be aggravating, it can make you want to drive your stylus through the DS and throw it out a window. It's also unbelievably fun, quite challenging, and a fantastic game for fun or travel.

Despite its title, Forgotton Anne is far from forgettable. Its story is deep, its characters are nuanced, and its journey is emotional and powerful. Unfortunately, its stiff platforming and uninspired puzzles hold it back from being a must-play. For fans of adventure games, Forgotton Anne is a surprising gem that'll provide plenty of memorable moments over the course of its 7- to 8-hour run. For those looking for a more cohesive melding of story and gameplay, however, there are simply better options available.

Ys Origin is a solid port of a solid game. The somewhat dated visuals and basic gameplay don't hide the generally strong game design. It never reaches far beyond the level of "pretty good," but it's still a blast to play. If you've never played any of the Ys titles, then Origin is an excellent place to start. If you have, Origin might seem too basic compared to some of the more recent offerings, but it's still well worth a look.

RTS players have something new to play with, even if it pretends to be a time machine taking them back eight years to the past, while delivering more of the explosive, over-the-top insanity that the series brings to the genre.

It has very advanced controls that you must try to understand and learn by heart.

Even strictly offline as it is, Metal Arms is a damned fine game, combining an actual, real challenge with an idiosyncratic sense of humor and a sense of scale that's all too often AWOL in console releases.

Road to the Show remains the soul of The Show 18 to me, with everything else feeling like a fun distraction, like getting to step into the shoes of baseball's past greats or the tasting the 8-bit flavor of retro mode. As I progress more into my player's career, there's this unshakable knowledge that he's never going to be better at some things than he is now. He will be in a box — an enjoyable one, but a box nonetheless.

Minus its hiccups in gameplay and difficulty, FIFA 08 is a good game. It's just not a great game when compared to the reigning king of soccer games, Winning Eleven (Pro Evolution Soccer in Europe).

On the one hand, the game's creation and sharing features are second to none, and this title can stay incredibly popular and fun so long as the community sticks around. On the other hand, the single-player experience is pretty awful, and even when you manage to win a race, you'll rarely have any fun doing it. In this case, the good mostly outweighs the bad, but gamers who don't come in totally informed about their purchase could end up getting burned.

Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is an excellent kart racer from start to finish. It's not just good for a Sonic game but arguably the best kart racer this year, and that's saying something in a year that gave us a new Mario Kart. It's easy to pick up, fun to play, packed with details for fans of the characters, and it remains accessible to newcomers. It's unbelievably fun to blitz around a corner, pop a boost, and rocket through a portal into a land of dinosaurs. If you're looking for a good racer, then Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is everything you could want.

Far Cry 4 excels because it provides the depth that so many other shooters lack.

Once you come to grips with what Creepy Castle is, you'll fall in love with it. The retro style is done well, warts and all, but it still manages to pull off a look that makes it stand out in a sea of other retro-themed titles.

Ultimately, when all is said and done, Warlords of New York is an improved version of The Division 2, but it's not a complete revamp. It was more than enough to bring me back (and keep me coming back during the season), but it wasn't enough to say that this is a whole new experience. Warlords of New York doesn't fundamentally change the sandbox that is The Division 2. It just makes that sandbox bigger. As someone who enjoys playing in that sandbox, bigger and better is enough to make Warlords of New York a worthwhile purchase.

Chicken Police: Paint It Red is a thoroughly engaging detective romp. The investigation elements, like the interrogations and clue linking, are fun in their own right, but the rest of the package proves to be quite enticing. From the story and atmosphere to the characters and dialogue, this is a strong adventure title with a compelling film noir style. For adventure game fans, Chicken Police is a must-have.

Circuit Superstars has a few things that won't sit well with players. The inability to come back after making one mistake can be deflating, especially when it is a result of online play not reacting well to the physics system. Unlockables are limited to cosmetics, so that may dampen the desire for progression, while the inability to save midway through longer circuits discourages those who are short on time. The game remains fun enough that you'll want to master the sensitive handling of each vehicle, and the number of tracks and cars is pretty good for the price. If you're the patient type who has a bunch of likeminded friends who want a challenging racing title, this is worth a shot.

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is perhaps one of the best examples I've seen of a rental game. The platforming is simplistic, and most of the time, combat is a one-button affair.

Octopath Traveler 0 might be a rebuild of a gacha game, but it's a fun, engaging and excellent stand-alone JRPG. There's no trace of the microtransactions and monetization, and what remains is a game that captures much of what makes the Octopath franchise so beloved. I expected something half-baked and got what might be my favorite entry in the franchise to date, and it's a title that I'd consider to be a must-play for fans of turn-based RPGs.

Hop into a match, lop off a few heads, gain experience and gear, and next time, lop off stouter heads while carrying a couple of grims. Vermintide 2 is exemplary of what the genre can become, and it's an especially great reason to grab some friends, sit down, and slay a few thousand foes.

Halo Wars is a fun, if unexceptional, real-time strategy title. It does many things right and a few things wrong, but nothing about Halo Wars really stands out except for the fact that it provides a surprisingly solid RTS on a console.

If you were a little put off by "Battlefield Vietnam," you may find Joint Operations more to your liking, as I found myself frequently thinking that this game captured the feel of the Vietnamese conflict better than BFV.

I definitely enjoyed Motorstorm: Pacific Rift far more than I did the original, and the additional content and race styles do a lot for a game that already had some solid mechanics behind it.

In spite of its faults, Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a fantastic follow-up to an already great game. It improves upon the formula of the original title while offering a fascinating look into two of the series' most captivating characters. Beautiful, charming, and devastating, Before the Storm is a must-play for fans of the series and a phenomenal way to tide players over until the release of Life is Strange 2.

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin works well on all levels. The action segments are a treat thanks to their fast pace, since they deliver an experience that matches up with other fast-paced action titles. The farming segments are interesting because they're so involved and go into so much detail that the title surpasses all but the most dedicated farming simulator titles. When combined, the experience is fantastically balanced — provided you can deal with the slower overall progression rate. In the end, Sakuna is a great title that delivers on a unique experience.

NBA 2K19 is still the go-to basketball simulation game out there. Its polish and refinement have only improved since last year, and it's difficult to imagine any improvements for next year. The MyCareer story has definitely improved, and so have the cut scene management and character customization. MyTeam feels like a revolving mode of new updates and content, but players who don't purchase VC may be getting the short end of the stick, since 10 pack boxes are exclusive to VC only. The game is amazing in all regards, but the constant reminder and pressure to purchase VC is wearing thin.

SSX is a game of two minds. When it sticks to the franchise's old-school, over-the-top snowboarding action, it is one of the most enjoyable games I've played in a while. When it falls into the trap of thinking that I care more about survival instead of pulling off crazy tricks, it loses something.

Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited is easily one of the best buys you can make as an RPG fan on the Vita. It's a well-designed, deep and fun game that is brimming with content.

Though imperfect, Resident Evil HD Remaster is a good update to a now-classic remake.

Zet Zillions stands out from the roguelike deck builder crowd, and that's almost entirely due to its distinctive style. It also has some genuinely cool and interesting new mechanics that demand approaching the game differently from the standard deck builder. There are some concerns I have about balance, and the characters can sometimes be a lot, but there's a ton to like in this charming and quirky title.

In the end, Victor Vran: Overkill Edition is a great action-RPG that is a perfect fit for a platform that has yet to be inundated with them. The action is fast and constant, and the amount of available content is enough to keep fans busy for quite some time. While it doesn't have a robust online community, the inclusion of local co-op is nice enough to make this a game to tide you over until the de facto genre representative arrives.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is and isn't the game I wanted it to be. It's a rollicking fun story where you fight monsters, save lives, and lead your plucky team of adventurers against impossible odds. At the same time, it feels more like Mass Effect than Dragon Age, and since The Veilguard is the climax of a story, it might be difficult for newcomers to hop into. If I set aside my expectations, it's a pretty darn fun action-RPG that stands well on its own.

Cyber Shadow isn't as exceptional as Shovel Knight, but it's a darn good attempt at making a Ninja Gaiden game. In many ways, I had more fun with it than I did with The Messenger, and it feels both modern and nostalgic. It's mostly held back by a few frustrating design decisions and a forgettable cast and story. If you like NES-hard games but dislike NES-frustrating difficulty, then Cyber Shadow will hit the mark for you.

Just like the previous compilations in the series, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection is an awesome set for visual novel fans and mystery fans alike. The focus on actual investigations more than courtroom drama may throw some people for a loop, but it also shows off how well the series mechanics work. The logic puzzles are good, but the Mind Chess sections of the second game are a tad more exciting. Best of all, the characters and writing remain top-notch, while the various new quality-of-life elements make this one of the more approachable entries yet. While it would be nice to finally see a new entry in the series, it is good to know that at least this release means that anyone can experience all of the games in this series on one platform.

Despite its brevity, SteamWorld Dig: A Fistful of Dirt is an enjoyable title.

Unravel Two improves upon its predecessor and has a decent showing on the Switch. The gameplay is as fun and clever as it has ever been, making it one of the best cooperative (and mobile) experiences money can currently buy on the Switch, even though the technical downgrade to make it feasible is noticeable throughout. If you aren't bothered by that, be sure to check out Unravel Two.

Metro: Last Light is proudly steeped in the best traditions of other storied FPS giants while still evoking the kind of philosophical underpinnings from the Metal Gear Solid and BioShock series.

Though these issues hamper the experience, NCAA Football 12 still stands as one of the strongest recent entrants in the series.

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords has a truly unique concept and includes the ability to appeal to both role-playing and puzzle fans alike.

Mega Man 11 is a solid entry in the franchise, but it's not an exceptional one. It's a well-made and enjoyable Mega Man game with a great variety of robot masters, fun levels, and interesting weapons. It suffers from some odd difficulty spikes and a disappointing finale, but nothing drags down the game too far. If anything, the game's biggest flaw is that it's too safe and too traditional, but after nearly a decade without a new Mega Man title, perhaps safer is better. All in all, Mega Man 11 is a safe and fun title that's a pleasant experience for fans and newcomers alike.

Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune & Dunan Unification Wars is an excellent updated port of two great games. Almost all of the changes are for the better, the translation is massively improved, and it still maintains all of the charm and flavor of the original games. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer to the franchise, there's genuinely no better place to start than the Suikoden I & II HD Remaster. Even if you're just a fan of RPGs, it's well worth a try, if only to see what all the hype is about.

Though the game’s depth and detail caters to hardcore hoops fans, game after game, there are few moments that feel inauthentic in College Hoops, which is a difficult point to reach for any sports title.

It could use some work in the multiplayer department but, overall, Joe Danger 2 is a fun sequel to a surprising game.

Catherine may not be the Persona 5 that people were hoping for, but it's a good game in its own right.

It is a rare game that can appeal equally well to both the casual and hardcore crowds, yet de Blob does just that. It is a brilliant fusion of simple mechanics and in-depth play that deserves checking out.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a darn function action game that unfortunately avoids the heights that one might expect, given the pedigree of the developers. The very fun core combat shines, but everything surrounding it feels underbaked. The rushed ending and lackluster second character keep it from shining as brightly as it should. It's still a fun character action game with some satisfying and meaty combat, and it's something that fans of the genre should enjoy.

Perhaps the best RTS I have ever played, despite the fact that the source material bores me to tears.

Patient gamers and stealth aficionados will find plenty of new material and enhancements here worth their time and money.

It's a pretty solid follow-up to the original, and it still stands as one of the best, if not the best, fighter on the DS system.

Rive: Ultimate Edition is a fantastic addition to any action-loving Switch owner's library. The action is almost non-stop, and the difficulty feels well-balanced between putting you at the edge of death while still giving you the means to overcome it. The game length feels just right thanks to this challenge, and the many different modes amplify the high score chase that becomes the impetus to keep playing. For a studio's final game, this is the best possible way to leave a lasting impression.

If you have extremely fond memories of joyriding in Paradise City, there's nothing more you can ask for in Burnout Paradise Remastered. The improvements are generous, but after 10 years, the core that everyone loves is still structurally sound. It's good to see great games being revived and made available for today's platforms.

Saints Row 2 is a great open world adventure game. The graphics, while not perfect, are very well done and the sound is amazing. The controls are easy to handle, ensuring you won't have to fight with the controller while you're busy fending off your enemies.

Severed is a great experience that comes perilously close to overstaying its welcome.

That whole “live the battles” slogan surrounding this game? It’s actually true. Who’d have thought there would be truth in advertising?

The camera and controls can be a little flakey at times and some of the missions can go from being repetitive to just about impossible. However, there is just too much that has been done right to capture the characters and the town of Springfield to hold this game back from a good recommendation.

Instead of brainstorming about fun things and pulling a few ideas out of a hat, the developers seem to have taken the entire hat, created an MMO around it, and also given you the option to dye and customize the hat. I imagine this feeling will lessen when I reach the endgame, but that's a whole new kettle of worms.

Despite its poorly told story, repetitive material grind, and wonky scoring system, Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack is a solid investment for fans of the 2D platformer genre. Gunvolt may not be Mega Man, but the series offers up much of the same charm and challenge that made Capcom's iconic franchise such a big hit. The pair of games doesn't quite hit the same highs as many of the Blue Bomber's greatest adventures, but Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack earns serious points for trying something new.

Pixel Ripped 1995 is a short but sweet experience that tugs on your nostalgia heartstrings in all the right ways. While it is very short and the quality of included stages varies, it is a distinct experience that's very much in line with its predecessor, Pixel Ripped 1989. If you were fond of the previous entry, getting the sequel is a no-brainer, since it mixes up the formula in a variety of ways while retaining its strengths. Its shortcomings don't detract from the otherwise wonderful experience that Pixel Ripped 1995 manages to create with surprisingly little effort.

Tales of Graces f Remastered is a strong remaster of a solid game. The plot is relatively weak but handily carried by its extremely strong combat system, which makes the game worth playing on its own. The additions to the remaster are all genuine improvements, and even the bundling of cheat-mode DLC is only a problem if you let it be. If you're a fan of action-RPGs or the Tales franchise and haven't given Graces f a gander, this is the ideal way to play it.

Aside from the basic gameplay and a few rough edges, A Plague Tale: Innocence tells an incredibly gripping story about a couple of kids in the most grim circumstances imaginable. It nails the horrifying setting with standout visuals and a thick atmosphere that is worth experiencing at least once. If you're looking for the next great story to play through, A Plague Tale is definitely it.

I wish there were more to say, but Horizon: Forbidden West – Burning Shores is a short piece of DLC. It's like a quick episode of a TV show rather than a full-length movie. There's still quite a bit of content here, but the intent of the DLC is largely to set up plot threads for Horizon 3 and give Aloy a chance for some romance. If you're hankering for more Horizon, it fills that niche well, but it doesn't feel as essential as The Frozen Wilds did to Horizon: Zero Dawn.

Clap Hanz has taken complete advantage of the capabilities that the PS3 has offered players in creating an approachable golf outing for both veterans and newbies alike.

Basically, Quake 4 took the ball that "Doom 3" started carrying and runs with it in a different direction, one that, for the most part, vastly outshines the original bearer of the engine.

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix is one of the most fully featured and worthwhile HD collections on the market.

If you can't play the game on another console, it's still a great buy.

Mega Man 10 is a solid follow-up to Mega Man 9. It lacks a bit of the charm of its predecessor, but it still remains a solid and well put-together Mega Man game.

If you're already getting most of the power out of the original and own a DSi, then you should upgrade to Plus.

I'd gladly pay full price for Condemned because of its ambience and atmosphere and scares. I haven't experienced a game that freaked me out this much in a long time, and that alone makes this title praiseworthy.

Tony Hawk's Project 8 marks the best entry in the series in five years, when "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3" found the creative and cultural balance that made it the high point for the entire series.

Saints Row IV is a giant playground for gamers. The superpowers are a boatload of fun, and the metahumor is amusing and holds the gameplay together. On the downside, it's glitchy, and it suffers from many little problems that can add up. Despite that, the game is absolutely brimming with heart.

It's not going to be the new gold standard in fighting games, but Injustice is a fun time, especially with friends, and you can't ask for more than that.

It's as good as everyone expects it to be, but that's also the problem; the game is great, but it plays it too safe.

Unfortunately, it all adds up to be a less-than-stellar experience for Battlefield 4. There is little doubt that the game will see patches to address some or all of these issues, but as it stands, it has an underwhelming single-player campaign and an unstable multiplayer mode that severely hampers enjoyment.

All in all, Torment: Tides of Numenera is an enjoyable nostalgic trip into the strongest days of PC RPGs. It's well-written, engaging and interesting, if occasionally bogged down in its own setting. Both reactive and exciting, it makes the simple act of talking to characters or exploring areas feel rewarding and exciting. Only some lackluster combat drags down the experience, and that's easily avoidable. Those looking for a successor to Planescape: Torment should find a lot to enjoy here, but this offering does not eclipse the original. It's an enjoyable game, both as a spiritual successor and on its own merits, and that's all you can really ask.

Kalimba is a solid puzzle platformer that is trickier than expected.

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is an absolutely pleasant surprise. There may be only one kind of puzzle to tackle, but it never seems to get old, especially when the stages keep it fresh. The combat may not be as flashy as the developer's previous titles, but there's more than enough strategy to keep the combat challenging. What will keep this title in people's minds is the story's focus on mental illness that is respectable without making it a mere gimmick. Coupled with a truly stunning presentation, Hellblade is certainly a title worth playing.

The story is interesting, without getting too laden with metaphysical theory, the action is blistering, the sound is creepy, the graphics sharp and clear (with a few minor slowdowns when multiple multiple enemies attack), and the multiplayer fun and varied.

The game may technically be over two years old, but that doesn't stop Bomberman Ultra from being one of the best downloadable games on the PS3.

It might sound like I'm being negative about Persona 3, but I'm not. It's a lot of fun, and it has a lot of interesting strengths. It has the misfortune of being the first game in a franchise where the sequels improved on a ton of features and were released before it on the PC. If you've never played it, it's well worth a shot. It's still a great game, but it has aged more than its sequels. Despite that, it still does some things superbly well. The addition of an entire second playable story path and a bunch of new social links also makes it a worthwhile experience for those who played the original release but not the portable version.

Much like Bravely Default, Fantasian: Neo Dimension is functionally a Final Fantasy title that doesn't bear the Final Fantasy name. It has a very similar tone and atmosphere to the older SNES titles in the franchise, but it has enough modern elements to stand on its own merits. The story can sometimes be simplistic in a very charming way. The game's only flaws are a difficulty level that might be a touch too high for some and the lingering remnants of its mobile release heritage. If you're a fan of older Final Fantasy games, you owe it to yourself to try Fantasian.

Live A Live is the ideal way to experience a cult classic game. It maintains or improves on everything that made the original game distinct while polishing it enough that some of the more dated design elements don't detract from the whole. It's a weird, quirky, and distinct JRPG that to this day is unlike anything else on the market. It won't be for everyone, but if you're a fan of JRPGs, then you owe it to yourself to give it a shot. What other game can you have a cowboy team up with a caveman and the pilot of a giant robot?

An extremely polished twin-stick shooter, Renegade Ops offers up expansive levels, lush visuals and just the right amount of challenge.

At the very least, it's the best-looking and -playing open-world game this side of "Oblivion" on the X360 right now.

Assassin's Creed: Shadows is an experience that was enriching, beautiful, and at times, gloriously confusing.

Lumines II may not reinvent the wheel, but it takes that vaguely attractive wheel, gives it a facelift, and turns it into a beauty queen. The new visual style and the addition of streaming video make Lumines II an even more immersive game than its predecessor.

Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance can best be described as an improved continuation of the Supreme Commander story with six new campaign missions that offer much larger and more challenging engagements.

Harmonix has a winner on its hands with Fuser. The ease of use and array of tools ensure that anyone can create a great-sounding track. While Fuser is a good game to bust out at parties, the ability to share small mixes online ensures that the creations will get some exposure until we can have local gatherings again. More so than the campaign and multiplayer modes, the online sharing functionality is what gives the game some legs. Assuming the DLC keeps coming in steadily, Fuser is a title that rhythm game fans should check out.

It's delightful to look at, fun to explore, and it does a great job of utilizing various PlayStation features.

The dungeon can keep you occupied for ages, so there is really no end to the game, yet one thing to note is that there is no new game.

A surprisingly challenging experience.

These small issues aside, Freedom Unite is an excellent Monster Hunter title, and it's certainly the place to start if you're new to the series but have been meaning to give it a go.

Zettai Hero Project: Unlosing Ranger vs. Darkdeath Evilman is one of NISA's best titles to date. It isn't perfect, but it does so much right that it is easy to overlook its minor flaws.

Teslagrad is a fun little adventure that works well on the Nintendo Switch. Its forgettable story is easily forgiven since smart puzzles, a well-designed map, and carefully hidden collectibles extend the life of the game. Frustrating bosses and the occasional poorly designed level bring down the experience, but not enough to quell Teslagrad's electromagnetic current. Fans of Metroidvanias looking to work their brain and reflexes should enjoy what Teslagrad has to offer.

For good or ill, Tokyo Mirage Session #FE: Encore's biggest strength and biggest weakness is that it's pretty much the same game you may have played on the Wii U. It runs better, it looks better, and it has some nice quality-of-life improvements, but it's basically the same game. Is that worth $60? It depends on how much you enjoyed the game in the first place, or if you missed it due to it being a Wii U title. Anyone who is a fan of Persona-style games will almost certainly enjoy it. JRPG fans hoping for something to tide them over until Persona 5 Royale should find a comfortable home in the weird world of Tokyo Mirage Sessions.

Ultimately, Zombie Uprising is a perfect metaphor for Saints Row 2 itself. Like the mini-game, everything in Saints Row 2 is over-the-top. There are quite possibly no other games that can come close to the sheer number of explosions, bullets, murder, and vulgarity on tap here. And you know what? We wouldn't have it any other way.

Life is Strange: True Colors is a fun entry in the franchise. It doesn't really break any rules or do anything shocking, but it's a comfortable game to play. The time I spent in Haven Springs put me in a shockingly good mood for a game revolving around a murder, and I welcomed the entire experience. Unfortunately, the tacked-on murder mystery drags down the story somewhat and keeps it from reaching the highest highs that it can. If you're a fan of the franchise, you're sure to like this latest entry.

The thing that I see as a big plus is the fact that this game is playable with a friend or even online.