Playing through the games on offer in the Castlevania Anniversary Collection is somewhat like opening a time capsule. Those old enough to remember the original releases of these titles will enjoy going through them again, while players who grew up on PlayStation and Xbox get to enjoy these classics as they were meant to be played. Either way, there is plenty of value here for your gaming dollar.

All these years later, Resident Evil remains an excellent survival-horror game. The puzzles are still good, the brief bouts of action are still tense, and the scares still deliver even if you know about them beforehand. The appeal of this port is the fact that the game can now be portable, so the benefits of the smaller screen really come into play. It might have slightly longer load times in some areas, but if you want to play the remade classic on the go, this is a well-done port.

The Hot Wheels expansion for Forza Horizon 5 is a solid addition that almost feels like it could be a stand-alone game. The team has done a great job of providing a fun sandbox and plenty of different cars to use while playing in that sandbox. It doesn't matter if you're a big kid at heart or an actual kid; if you love playing with toy cars, you're going to have fun driving them around in Hot Wheels Park and across the Mexican landscape.

Super Alloy Ranger is a solid game. The story may be a bit of a snoozer, but everything else — action, controls, level design, movement and presentation — are good examples of what makes the genre tick. The easing of things, like one-hit kills, introduces newcomers to this style of adventure, while the variable difficulty, including the presence of challenge levels, grants more experienced players a chance to test their mettle. Super Alloy Ranger is priced well ($10 USD), so fans of 2D action games should pick up this title.

As a compilation, Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection is fairly well done. The gameplay concept works not only as an alternative for a standard Mega Man title but also as an action/strategy title. Combined with the deck-building elements, it makes the game resonate with a modern audience, and the extras are sure to please any fan. Players will wish that the series weren't so repetitive over the years, as that doesn't play out as well for a title like this compared to a straight action-platformer.

As a compilation, Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection is fairly well done. The gameplay concept works not only as an alternative for a standard Mega Man title but also as an action/strategy title. Combined with the deck-building elements, it makes the game resonate with a modern audience, and the extras are sure to please any fan. Players will wish that the series weren't so repetitive over the years, as that doesn't play out as well for a title like this compared to a straight action-platformer.

Tetris Forever is a package of two halves of varying quality. Even though it hasn't been discussed much in this review, the documentary portion maintains the level of quality seen in the previous Gold Master Series titles from Digital Eclipse. There's an extensive amount of information about the game's lifetime. On the other hand, the games are fine, and some are outright brilliant, but the package can feel disappointing for many. The game selection doesn't contain many of the more memorable iterations in the series, and other versions of the same game could've been excluded. This may not be anyone's first choice when it comes to playing a few rounds of Tetris, but it's a good way to chronicle the history of this influential title.

As a whole, The Knightling is an enjoyable romp. The lighthearted storyline and tone complement an adventure that feels open and engaging at almost every opportunity. The use of a shield as your only weapon and pseudo multitool is novel but very enjoyable, and the presentation is good overall. It needs a little more polish and bug fixing for the game to be considered solid. For adventure fans who are looking for something that doesn't follow the Souls-like trend, The Knightling is worth checking out.

A gorgeous, well-made technical racer that will test your braking and turning abilities just as much as your ability to jam on the gas and hold on tight. If that sounds like your idea of fun, then buckle up and get yourself to the starting line.

Neo: The World Ends with You is the sequel that fans have been awaiting. Despite the move to 3D it feels, looks, and sounds just like the original game. If anything, its flaws are almost the same, with a messy (but fun) combat system and an even messier plot. Despite those flaws, I enjoyed the game almost from start to finish. Newcomers should play the original first, but for those who've been waiting to see where the universe of The World Ends with You goes after the first game, Neo finally provides what you've been waiting for.

This game takes absolutely everything fans have enjoyed from the previous installments (control, tracks, etc.), lumps them together on an easily accessible disc, then adds golf carts.

The Fable franchise has always been ambitious, promising big things and often failing to deliver. Unfortunately, Fable III suffers from the same plight, serving up a mediocre experience that's difficult to get excited over.

DanganRonpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is one of the most distinctive murder mystery games on the market.

It would be easy to overlook Skylanders: Giants as "just a kids' game," but to do so would be a disservice. Giants is one of those rare titles that offers something for everyone, whether you're a kid, a casual player or a hardcore gamer who has been playing for years. In the end, it's plenty of fun, and that's what really matters.

If you're a hardcore fan of the Blue Bomber and don't otherwise have access to the games, the Mega Man Legacy Collection is a convenient way to replay these Capcom classics, but as a collection, it doesn't compare to Rare Replay or even the last-gen SEGA Vintage Collection games that were put together by M2.

A nice romp through a D&D universe, but at times, it felt like I was playing through what I have done before, most likely because the mechanics are a melting pot of aspects from various preceding games.

Tales of Xillia Remastered is an excellent remaster of a darn solid and enjoyable JRPG. While it doesn't quite reach the highest highs of other games in the franchise, neither does it reach the lowest lows. It's a solid, enjoyable and well-crafted JRPG from start to finish, and the remastered version of the game is the best way to experience it. Even if the combat doesn't shine quite as brightly as in Tales of Graces f, the entire package is arguably one of the best ways to experience Tales at its most consistently fun.

From the moment you power on your PSP to the moment you turn it off, Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles does a remarkable job of pulling you into the Castlevania universe and immersing you in the difficult, but ultimately rewarding gameplay.

Every bit the great game its predecessor was, and then some.

NHL 19 is vastly better than its predecessors in terms of value and pushing the franchise forward, but it still falls short of a significant upgrade in many areas. If you haven't purchased an NHL title in a while, this is a good year to jump back in and experience one of the better NHL games in recent memory.

Pokémon Sword and Shield is at once a really fun game and a disappointment. It has a lot of great new features, excellent new Pokémon, some much-needed quality of life improvements, and is generally a solid Pokémon title. However, the first console outing feels like it should've been more impressive, especially given the reduced Pokedex. If you're a fan of Pokémon, you'll enjoy Sword and Shield a lot, and if it's your first Pokémon, it's a good way to experience the franchise's high points. If you're a longtime fan hoping for the Breath of the Wild of Pokémon games, you'll be disappointed.

Instead of just tacking some curvaceous metal scraps onto otherwise ordinary buildings, the maps feature a cohesive vision of the not-too-distant future.

As a karaoke game, Party is the best available, even if it's presented in the worst way possible - a way that, again, you might love if you own the "Best Of" collection for American Idol.

This isn't a perfect fitness game by any means, but it's a viable option to get the family off the couch and keep them in at least decent shape until you can go outside again.

All in all, World of Tanks is a ruthlessly addictive game.

If you are approaching Bloodlines expecting a FPS with vampires in it, you won't like the title. The rest of the gaming populace, especially those who loved "Dues Ex" and its style of gameplay, will find Bloodlines to be an intriguing RPG based on the established pen-and-paper game and containing some of the more original aspects seen in an RPG this year.

Hopefully LucasArts will address the latency issue which would vastly improve the overall experience. As it stands if you are a fan of Star Wars you should pick this up without hesitation.

Despite the negative aspects pointed out in this review, 0D Beat Drop really is a solid puzzle game. The mechanics and the gimmick make it a good alternative for puzzle fanatics who are looking for something different from their routine. It's just too bad that the implementation of some of those mechanics wasn't as polished as one would have hoped.

NHL 16 feels like what NHL 15 should have been. The gameplay remains largely the same, but there is at least some effort to get newcomers more familiar with the mechanics.

Despite a few missteps, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves remains a solid fighting game and a worthy entry in the series. The fighting system remains good, and the new additions solidify what worked back in Garou: Mark of the Wolves. The various offline modes add lots of material to the game, especially Episodes of South Town, and online play works quite well. The guest characters could've been implemented better, and there are a few presentation-related nitpicks, but overall, fans of SNK fighting games will be pleased with City of the Wolves.

Pokemon Conquest ends up being a fun title thanks to its simple but effective take on the strategy RPG genre.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a delightful surprise from Capcom. It's not a big-budget blockbuster or the obvious start to a franchise, but this unusual stand-alone game really feels like something creative and special. The core gameplay loop is plenty of fun, and the graphics are a testament to strong art design. Indeed, the only real complaints I can find are a few lackluster boss fights. It's a game that hearkens back to the days of titles like Okami — and not just in visual appearance. Kunitsu-Gami is absolutely worth a look if you're a fan of Capcom's unconventional titles.

It has a great atmosphere and is extremely easy to pick up.

Overall, Final Fantasy: Pixel Remaster is a slight disappointment. It isn't a terrible port, but it feels half-hearted. For a game remade and remastered as often as Final Fantasy, it's easy to compare this release to the others and realize that it doesn't have a ton going for it. The updated visuals are nice, and the remastered music is excellent, but otherwise, it's a slightly easier and slightly more user-friendly version of the original NES game. Choose Final Fantasy: Pixel Remaster if you can't play one of the many other versions that have more content.

While I'm a bit disappointed in the relatively small amount of new content, the overall gameplay is solid and different enough from the DS counterpart to be worth playing.

It is fast, fluid, mostly stable, and offers more fun than any military shooter I've played since "Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear."

In the end, the only reason to not pick up Happy Action Theater is if you absolutely hate having fun. It's a brilliant little digital toy that will suck up a surprising amount of time. At 800 MSP ($10 USD), it's not going to break the bank, and if you happen to be a parent with little kids, it may be the best investment you make this year.

WWE 2K25 remains a good game, but the cracks are beginning to show. The addition of Chain Wrestling is awesome, but the increased prevalence of Trading Blows slows down the game greatly. The large roster is great, but we could do without the multiple variations of wrestlers taking up spots. The graphical presentation has quite a few blemishes that should be fixed, but it's generally good, and the same can be said for the audio if you can ignore the generic entrance music. MyRISE and the 2K Showcase are splendid, but The Island is too much of a cash grab when MyFACTION already does this. If you can ignore some of the microtransaction-heavy elements, you still have a very good wrestling game with enough content to last until the next WrestleMania season. It'll be interesting to see if WWE 2K will suddenly become the next NBA 2K in that it's a decent game that tries to bleed you of every cent.

The overhaul of the Uber-Trick system did nothing to enhance the experience, (quite the opposite) the GUI presentation was bad enough to be called insulting, and there is the distinct possibility that this incarnation may alienate past fans of the franchise.

The Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection is a great collection. It contains six solid and enjoyable games with a lot of nice quality of life features that make this the definitive version of the game. The only real flaw is that the games have aged, and no smoothing filter can hide the jagged GBA pixels. If you can look past that, then this is a great addition to any Mega Man fan's collection, and if you missed these gems on the GBA or DS, then you owe it to yourself to give it a chance.

If this game were to have some sort of co-op mode of play or four-player multiplayer mode, it would have been great.

There's really very little to find fault with in The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood. The puzzles are creative, fun and ramp up in difficulty in a nice manner; the script, story and acting are all outstanding, and the entire experience is just fun to play.

At the end of the day, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance's greatest accomplishment is that that it assures the world that Platinum's bag of tricks is deeper than anyone thought. This game provides a fresh take on the stylish/character action genre, and it comes off as a high-tier entry in the Metal Gear series.

Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy might not be ambitious, but if you enjoy Atelier titles, it's a solid and engaging experience. It's basically the original Ryza title, only larger and more polished. The Atelier franchise usually keeps things fresh with a new protagonist and cast for every game, but with the full cast from the original title, Ryza 2 can sometimes feel like a repeat of the previous adventure. This isn't bad, since the original Ryza was fun and the gameplay is solid, but it can sometimes feel a touch too familiar.

The additions of the GamerNet and Shot Confidence don't make up for the faulty driving controls and inconsistent putting support.

If you've been dying to jump back into the world of Dragon Age, well, chances are that you've already played or are currently playing the expansion Awakening. It's a solid follow-up to the first adventure, and it contains enough new abilities, content, items, plot and spells that it's definitely worth a look for any fan of the original title.

Planet of Lana is a pleasant surprise. It tells a compelling story with some unexpected twists, and it does so without the need to utter a word in a language we understand. The puzzles aren't obtuse enough to be frustrating, while the platforming never feels imprecise. To top it off, the presentation both looks and sounds amazing. Unless you dislike the entire genre, Planet of Lana is easily a contender for any "best of" lists this year.

Even with several flashy, promising new PSP titles on the way this gaming season, Broken Destiny should be near the top of your must-play list.

Locks' Quest is the sort of game for which the DS was made. It's quick and easy to pick up and play, makes great use of the touch-screen, and is just an overall delightful game.

The Last Story bravely asks those who believe the JRPG genre has nothing left to offer to take another look. Beneath its surface, it bears little resemblance to its peers. At the same time, it's in good company as another entry on one of the most intimidating resumes in the video game business.

If you don't run afoul of the game's technical and server-related issues, you'll find Diablo II: Resurrected to be a good version of the classic action RPG. For those who have played with the 2000 PC classic countless times, this is a like-for-like copy of that title, only with a few more accessibility options and a new lick of paint so it blends in with modern releases. For those who are new to the game or are more familiar with Diablo III, keyboard and mouse players will feel limited, while the lack of modern quality-of-life amenities can dampen the excitement for the title. Either way, once everything clears up, Diablo II can become a great addition to any ARPG library, and if you're one who pays attention to the review score, you can bump up the number when the fixes roll in.

Nidhogg 2 is a worthy follow-up to the original. The new additions give the game some depth while still keeping intact the spirit of the game. For those who appreciate the prior title's simplicity, it's still there if you're willing to tweak some options. In the end, the game is a perfect multiplayer title in short bursts, and it's a game that's worth keeping in your library for such an occasion.

Flaws are plentiful and at times glaring, yet somehow, the game is so shamelessly addictive that once you actually play it, you can't be pulled away.

Simply put, this is one of the best golf games ever made, and there's absolutely no reason to pass it up.

It takes the traits of what made the Travellers' Tales LEGO games so well loved in the first place, such as the good-natured humor, and it does so without a license as a crutch. The story is good, but it is the multitude of activities that really makes this title shine and gives you plenty of reasons to explore every nook and cranny after Rex Fury is behind bars once again.

Dragon's Crown Pro makes strides in updating the side-scrolling beat-'em-up genre by incorporating light RPG mechanics well. The overall setting and simplicity of getting into the game are intriguing, but the art style is jarring, and the story paper-thin. While I understand the latter is not the reason to play this type of game, it's frustrating to see and feel how flimsy it comes off. The gameplay is solid, and the innovations are intriguing, but the rest of Dragon's Crown Pro is rather shallow.

Luftrausers is a nice little getaway from the story-focused games that populate the landscape nowadays.

Taito has easily produced one of the best downloadables of the holiday season and a worthy expansion to any gamer's digital library.

The title occasionally feels derivative and lacks a tightness in the controls, but generally, Arise is largely filled with strengths that result in exactly what it promises to deliver: a simple narrative that also happens to be incredibly moving.

Blacktail is a welcome surprise for the end of the year. Combat can come off as cruel due to the limited number of arrows and the limited dodge mechanic, but the actual firing of arrows is excellent. Boss fights feel very satisfying once you finally get a read on what they're doing, but the variable difficulty that can be utilized during boss battles can provide some relief if players are more interested in the story than gameplay. The world is the real star thanks to the grimy yet alluring presentation and the cast of characters. The side-scrolling sections after every boss fight act as neat breathers before you return to your adventure. Blacktail is intriguing overall and well worth seeking out if you love adventure games.

Whereas I found GRAW for the X360 to be the best 360 game I've played thus far in the console's lifetime, GRAW for the PC has immediately earned a top spot among my personal pantheon of greatest games.

Catherine Classic may have lost some of its freshness over time, but it remains an intriguing title for those looking for a game that defies expectations. Its more adult style may seem too simple for some, but it's something that very few visual novels attempt to do. The puzzle aspect remains hellish in difficulty but is still fun once you learn all of the tricks and can deal with the imposed time limits. For longtime fans, there isn't much here to bring you back, but unless you don't have your PS3 anymore or an Xbox One to play the Xbox 360 version, Catherine Classic is worth checking out.

There is a good game in here, but it's too bad that the AI and gameplay mechanics weren't as impressive as the deep story line.

All in all, I'm pretty happy with what Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 has to offer.

Skullgirls 2nd Encore is another welcome addition to the Switch's fighting game library — if the tiny online community is acceptable to you. While it would've been nice to get something extra for the game's late arrival, all of the previous modes are intact, and the fighting remains as solid and deep as ever. Unless you've already had your fill of the game on other platforms, Skullgirls 2nd Encore on the Switch is well worth a purchase.

As a game in the traditional sense, Rocksmith is barely there; it's essentially a practice aid combined with a rudimentary teacher. However, it is one that works quite well and is fully capable of letting you learn at your own pace - right up to the point where you could easily plug your guitar into a conventional amp and play a song unassisted.

InFamous: Second Son is good but unmemorable — essentially the diner food of video games.

Ubisoft has something with serious potential, and it'll be intriguing to see what shape this world takes.

It may not play much like a traditional Medal of Honor title, but it is easy to see that it is part of the same series, and not just because it shares a World War II setting with it's 3D brethren; the same method of executing a mission is very much intact in Infiltrator.

Ys: The Oath in Felghana is another incredibly strong entry in the series, and it's a great option for PSP owners looking for an RPG fix.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink is an enjoyable action-RPG, even when divorced from its gatcha origins. It doesn't break any molds and tends to feel more like an MMO than Monster Hunter, but almost every part of it is well executed and enjoyable. If you've been curious about the franchise and want a more friendly way to explore it than gatcha and fighting games, Relink gives you everything you need. If you're looking for a chill multiplayer RPG to play with friends, Relink absolutely nails the experience.

The play is fantastic, and there's a lot of fun to be had, but even with the improvements made from FIFA 08, it feels underfeatured and overpriced when you hold the two titles side by side.

It's not quite as polished as Namco's XBLA updates (Pac-Man Championship and Galaga Legions), but for the retro fans out there, Infinity Gene still provides plenty of entertainment bang for your buck. Go in knowing what to expect, and you won't be disappointed.

All in all, Beaterator is an interesting and unique piece of software for the PSP handheld.

If you were ever a fan of the series, then I'd suggest an instant purchase of this particular title, but if you've never played Lunar before, you might be better off with a rental before diving in, just to see if some of the dated mechanics of classic RPGs are your cup of tea.

Offering up a different, but complementary, experience to The Signal, The Writer is an excellent way to cap off the first "season" of Alan Wake.

The Bigs 2 is a very solid arcade baseball game. It set out to improve upon the original title with more content, and it mostly succeeds. The arcade nature of the game makes it ideal for playing with friends rather than a serious investment of solo time. With a season mode in place and Become a Legend mode being a fun, if often frustrating, experience, The Bigs has quickly shaped itself into the best baseball that 2K Sports has to offer. It's not on par with MLB: The Show, but it's a great arcade alternative to America's pastime.

I think the world of Scarlet Nexus has a lot to offer, and I enjoyed getting a significant taste of it. Its concepts on brain power and psionic combat feel fresh, at least artistically, and I want to see where it possibly goes. I'm still abuzz over the final boss confrontation. I don't think it's quite for everyone, but fans of the anime style of storytelling will find something to connect with here.

Them's Fightin' Herds is a very enjoyable game with more than a few caveats. The fighting is fun and has plenty of depth, but the tiny roster can feel very limiting. Online play is smooth and there are a number of things to do and options to work with, but it also means that experiencing defeat at the hands of a small but skilled player population will be done without any lag. Story mode is filled with plenty of awesome ideas and humorous moments, but the platforming will drive you up the wall, even in the story's incomplete state. Hardcore fighting game fans will love it, but more casual fans will need to temper expectations.

The developers for EA Sports WRC have said they are working on the issue, but after so many Unreal Engine 4 and 5 games have suffered similar issues upon release, it is harder to accept this wasn't fixed before release. It's harder still with a rally game, which demands fine control from the player but undermines itself with stutters that often result in significantly punishing outcomes. There is a lot to like about EA Sports WRC, and with a future patch it may become buttery smooth. That isn't how the game was released, though, and while a smoother version of this game would be easily recommendable, it's best to avoid EA Sports WRC in its current state.

Sufficiently dark and creepy to keep gamers on edge and entertained throughout the duration. Even more important and notable is the fact that yes, The Suffering is a port of an Xbox game and yes, it’s actually a decent port.

Trackmania United targets a specific niche amongst racing game fans and does everything it can to emphasize and cater to this niche, creating a game where precision matters, skill is clearly and easily quantifiable, and yet where fun can easily be had, even in failure.

Dead or Alive 5 Plus sets the bar pretty high for 3-D fighters on the Vita. Flawed mode aside, it is a compelling port of a home console title that sacrifices very little to reach parity.

Like many yearly sports games, WWE 2K26 works best if you haven't played the previous title. If you skipped a year or two and decided to return, you'll find the new modes, big roster update, and further solidification of the gameplay mechanics to be big improvements over what was available before. For everyone else, the slight improvements to existing modes are far outweighed by the increase of nickel-and-diming players who've already paid money for the game. The changes to the Season Pass system make the game too grindy for anyone who won't dedicate all of their free time to this title. This isn't bad, but only die-hard fans will get excited over WWE 2K26.

If you're trying to decide which of the two NBA titles will get your attention this year, keep in mind that NBA Live hasn't seen enough changes to its gameplay so if you've played NBA Live 09, you won't be getting a considerably different game.

A thoroughly accomplished online multiplayer FPS, especially when considered alongside the other shooters appearing in the waning days of the big black box.

Geometry Wars: Galaxies is truly the next step for this humble arcade throwback.

Combined with a great presentation, this is perhaps the best rhythm game on the system to date. Genre fans should definitely run out and snag Project Mirai DX.

It has some flaws, including a rather lackluster interface and average visuals, but it makes up for that with plenty of in-game depth.

Games normally don't make that kind of mark on us anymore, but nearly every game included in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection does.

In the end, Natsuki Chronicles is a solid shoot-'em-up. The action provides a nice balance between hardcore and novice-friendly gameplay, while the various tweakable options are welcome for players of all skill levels. Despite a lack of modes, there is some replayability thanks to an online leaderboard system and various difficulty levels and items to unlock; it gives players a reason to return despite the lackluster story. If you're a shoot-'em-up fan, Natsuki Chronicles is well worth checking out.

Gravity Rush Remastered is a very solid adventure game whose charm really comes from movement.

For all that it does and doesn't do, Call of Pripyat is a unique experience that only S.T.A.L.K.E.R. can be counted on to deliver behind the Irradiated Curtain.

Paper Mario: The Origami King might not be the sequel to The Thousand Year Door that some people are hoping for, but it's a darn fun game. It's witty, charming, fun to play, and has a soundtrack that can't be beat. Its low difficulty and the combat sometimes overstaying its welcome can drag down the experience a little. It's still a delightful experience for fans of Mario's adventures.

This is plain, simple fun for virtually anyone who wants to take a crack at it. Bust it out at your next shindig, and you will not be disappointed once things get going.

Overall, Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a solid port on the Switch with a great presentation and familiar gameplay mechanics. The gameplay is solid, and the environment has changed up just enough to warrant another look for fans of classic JRPGs. If you haven't yet had the opportunity to play Nightwar elsewhere, you'll be pleased to know that it looks just as good on the Switch, with little compromises in visual presentation.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a very good game and a distinct title for the Switch 2's launch library. The various mechanics blend together quite well — and in a way that doesn't feel like padding. The pacing does a good job of keeping you interested without using scenarios that overstay their welcome. With a solid presentation to back up everything, Kunitsu-Gami is an experience that will remain as intriguing as it does now. For those looking to bolster their Switch 2 library, Kunitsu-Gami is a wonderful title to have in the collection.

With its many surprises, Darkwood is a title with immeasurable depth that will keep horror fans gripped until the very end. An important focus on narrative-driven gameplay kept me hooked and desperate for answers. A horrifying aesthetic with spooky soundscapes plays with our instincts and terrifies the senses. When the title boasted "a horror game without jump-scares", I initially rolled my eyes. Most titles incorporate some kind of jump-scare to get a cheap reaction out of players. Even tastefully done jump-scares feel cheap to me because I'm not actually "scared," I'm just surprised. Darkwood succeeds where many other titles fail. It's a heart-racing experience that any horror fan worth their salt should attempt to survive.