Some frustrating puzzles and dark environments certainly take Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened down a notch or two, but the incredible story, terrific presentation and super-fun investigations are more than enough to make this title an easy recommendation for any fans of the adventure genre.

LEGO 2K Drive is a fun romp if you know what you're getting into. The racing is fast and exciting, and the catch-up code seems tuned just right. The open worlds provide a ton to do, and the freeform exploration and destruction makes driving around feel enjoyable. The amount of grind needed to make some real progression can drag down things in the intervals, when there are no story-based missions. Some of the quests that aren't strictly related to racing can be very hit-and-miss in terms of enjoyment. The presence of microtransactions is unsettling to see in the publisher's non-sports titles. If you can ensure you aren't tempted to buy new cars due to the paltry reward payouts, you'll have a very good time with this racing title.

Daymare: 1998 is a well-honed zombie experience that lacks originality but scratches the itch of those interested in the modern zombie game. It provides an alternate take on the traditional Resident Evil story, one that deals more harshly with the real-world consequences of investigating government science. Everything has a level of varnish, from environmental details to the documents that you read. Some of this must be counterbalanced with the fact that the game is a doppelganger. The well-crafted aesthetics also resemble the Resident Evil remakes, the Evil Within franchise, and countless others. Re-creation is many times easier than synthesis, allowing more time for attention to polish.

Both "Vice City" and "San Andreas" are better games, and GTA3, if you can find it, will provide almost identical play for a good $5 to $10 less.

You need to be willing to work with the game long enough for that to happen, but Armored Core V isn't engaging enough for anyone but die-hard fans of giant robot customization to actually do so.

Blood of the Werewolf is a good homage to the side-scrolling horror platformer games of yesteryear.

The career mode is excellent, and the overall presentation is well done. The fighting engine is solid, though there are a few odd mechanical choices in play, and the career mode is very deep and time-consuming in a good way.

Tangled ends up being another solid children's game from Disney. While it might not necessarily be tough, there's enough meat to the overall game in the form of challenges and hidden items to keep players engaged after the main story has ended.

As it stands, it's still a recommended title provided you have friends who are willing to jump in with you.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a solid and enjoyable experience for fans of old-school survival-horror. It might be a bit too slow-paced and awkward for those who don't have a taste for 2008 game design, but that's the biggest criticism about it. It doesn't break the mold for the franchise, but it's one of the more solid and enjoyable examples of it, and it's a good place to start if you'd like to see what is up with the long-running horror series.

Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls is for those who care more about story than shooting.

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is an excellent first taste of the gameplay we can expect in the upcoming Phantom Pain. It's well designed, well tuned, and a lot of fun to play, but the general game design and lack of content make it feel like an extended demo rather than a full game.

Run the Fan does a good job of running with its concept. It's a simple game in execution, and it may not be the flashiest title, but it provides some good challenge without feeling impossible. It may not have anything beyond its campaign mode, but the level size is decent, and the fact that there's no other puzzle game like it on the Switch makes it intriguing. Given the title's very low price of $4, puzzle fans can enjoy Run The Fan as a good appetizer leading up to meatier puzzle fare.

Bounty Star: The Morose Tale of Graveyard Clem is a fun game that never manages to make all of its mechanics blend together well. There are a lot of strong ideas that I really like independent of each other, but it never feels like a cohesive whole. There's still a lot of fun to be had in blasting bandits and helping Clem go from the graveyard to the farmyard, but it's very much a game with big ideas that it doesn't always live up to. If the concept sounds interesting, it's probably well worth a shot. Just be prepared for an experience that doesn't always hit the mark.

All in all, Patapon 2 Remastered is as bare-bones of a remaster as you can get of a fun game. It has nothing in the way of new features, and the lack of compensation for input lag means that like many older rhythm games, it can be borderline unplayable on some modern televisions. If you can get past that, you can find a lot to like in this adorable and surprisingly difficult little game. Just don't blame us if you hear "pon pon pata pon" in your sleep.

Champions Online has something for everyone, so when we get to the bottom line, I'd recommend giving it a try. The problem with having something for everyone is that when you try to make everybody happy, no one really is.

With that said, the content in Orcs Must Die! 2: Fire and Water meshes nicely with the base game, and the new levels are fun to play. Whether you purchase it right away or wait for the inevitable Steam sale, if you enjoyed Orcs Must Die! 2, you're going to enjoy Fire and Water.

Gameplay is paramount, and I would say that PSU is a better game than the original, but not necessarily up to the same level of quality.

Evil West is a fun and well-made beat-'em-up that doesn't exceed its reach. The focus is on the combat, and thankfully, that largely pays off. Even coming from God of War: Ragnarok, I managed to have a lot of fun with Evil West nonetheless. There isn't a ton to see beyond the combat, and you'll probably be done in a single playthrough, but that single playthrough will be a darn fun time.

Though it may not appeal to all players, those looking for something a bit different will enjoy one more go-round in Faith's shoes.

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.

Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars is a cute and well-designed, if not particularly unique, title. The visuals are a bit weak, but the superb art direction does a lot to make up for that.

This remake of Splatterhouse is much like a modern slasher movie. It's loud, brash and gory, but luckily, it's wrapped in an experience that doesn't try to overstay its welcome.

Despite my perceived flaws of Ghostwire: Tokyo, I'd still recommend it as something to experience to players of all levels, simply for the fact that I did enjoy playing it and learning from it. Also, I wanted to give respect to Tango Gameworks for heading in a somewhat different design avenue. It's a ghostbusting romp through Tokyo, and if someone asks if you want to play it, say yes.

Even with all of the technical difficulties and bland graphics, I still looked forward to playing the game when I was away from it.

It isn’t the savior of the Western genre that it could have been, but given the circumstances, I think it’s amazing that the product turned out to be this good. The graphics aren’t amazing but they have style, and the dialogue has that Rockstar “twang” to it that makes it a good game, but not a classic.

This remake of Splatterhouse is much like a modern slasher movie. It's loud, brash and gory, but luckily, it's wrapped in an experience that doesn't try to overstay its welcome.

Go! Go! Break Steady isn't really unique, and it isn't really a must-get game, but it's a successful mishmash of three genres that, in my experience, don't usually go together — hip-hop, puzzle and rhythm.

In the end, Fable Heroes is just a way to earn bonuses for Fable: The Journey, which comes out later this year, but at least they've made it more involving and fun. Those who love beat-'em-ups will get some fun out of Fables Heroes as long as they don't expect something overly complicated.

There are some new features, but they come down to things we've seen many times before (Pink Slip racing) or something that should have already been in the series (Championship mode). The title makes a few concessions for casual players, but the requirement of playing a whole season before unlocking Extreme mode just seems like a slap in the face to all of the seasoned MotoGP fans who want the tuning and buying to begin from the get-go.

All things considered, Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck is a solid title that has quite a bit to see.

Your enjoyment of Kinect Rush: A Disney/Pixar Adventure will be dependent on how much you like the activities. On one hand, each level features a myriad of activities, and even though they all feature constant forward movement, they're varied enough that you'll rarely do long stretches of the same activity. On the other hand, the levels are fairly short, and the chances that you'll want to replay them so soon after finishing the title can be pretty slim. If you have young kids who are huge fans of the Pixar movies, the repetitive nature isn't a big deal and they'll have a blast with the game. Otherwise, it's a good rental for older Pixar fans.

All in all, Battlefield 2: Armored Fury is a fun and challenging addition to the original game, and at a price of only $9.99, it is also highly affordable.

Just your average shooter. It doesn't really offer any innovation in the genre and the graphics and audio are rather plain.

Mediocre at best. The game just has way too much lag and load time to be truly enjoyable.

Proving Ground for the DS is the Tony Hawk series' most respectable effort in quite some time.

Raiden V: Director's Cut is a fine shooter. While it introduces some things to keep rookies engaged, it also has enough to keep veterans playing thanks to multiple routes and plane configurations. There's a limited selection of shooters for the bullet hell crowd to enjoy, and despite its issues with bullet visibility, Raiden V deserves a place in that library.

In the end, Dogurai makes for a nice enough retro throwback that can act as a snack between meatier titles. The game isn't too difficult, but it is simple to understand, and it apes the mechanics of older games well enough to earn that challenge. The length of the game is buoyed by the presence of two endings and a new character, while the aesthetic fits perfectly for those who want to treat the Switch as a portable rather than a home console. At $5, Dogurai is certainly worth it for those who want to scratch that retro action platforming itch.

It doesn't hit the highs of the SteamWorld series, but The Gunk is enjoyable. When you break things down, the game doesn't offer up a plethora of things to do, but it remains enjoyable thanks to how satisfying it is to clean up gunk. There's payoff for the curious in the form of extra materials to power up your arm faster, and even though it is familiar, the story remains satisfying. Its short length makes it perfect for the Game Pass service, but it is also a worthy purchase if you like brisk, uncomplicated adventures.

Even though it's basically a port with some additional features, Blitz still has addictive and intuitive gameplay that you can pick up time and time again.

Samurai Warriors 4: Empires is an interesting addition to the original games. It doesn't necessarily improve upon or replace them but offers a similar-but-different experience.

Dead or Alive 5: Last Round for the older generation of consoles is still a solid fighting game, but it is certainly not as definitive as Koei Tecmo would like you to believe.

A suprisingly solid piece of history and should provide you with at least a few hours of point-raking fun.

The career mode is excellent, and the overall presentation is well done. The fighting engine is solid, though there are a few odd mechanical choices in play, and the career mode is very deep and time-consuming in a good way.

Overall, Final Fantasy XVI: The Rising Tide DLC is both a satisfying experience and kind of a disappointment. Had this content been part of the base game, I wouldn't have had any complaints, but since this is set at the tail end of the game, it feels like there should've been more to the plot and presentation. Instead, it feels too divorced from the game world to have an impact. The new abilities and additional boss fights are very cool, but the fact they come only at the end of the game means they are basically for fooling around the Karios Gate or doing a New Game+ run. If you are a big fan of Final Fantasy XVI, you'll absolutely have fun, and it isn't a bad DLC. It just could've been better, and it missed the chance to improve on some of Final Fantasy XVI's weaker points.

The biggest downfall, however, is the camera; its random movements, poor angles, and quick frame changes hinder the enjoyment of the game. If you are prone to motion sickness, stay far away from Madagascar.

Wii-owning soccer fans will do fine to pick up FIFA Soccer 11 for their systems.

Retro gamers will likely get more mileage out of Legacy of Ys: Books I & II than anyone who expects this to redefine the way that action RPGs are played on the DS.

If Tiberium Wars left you hungry for more rush-heavy, adrenaline-inducing RTS action and you can bear the bad acting, Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath will not disappoint you.

Aside from the fact that the collection preserves titles that would otherwise be considered lost due to the trials of licensing, Marvel Maximum Collection is a game that will garner varying degrees of praise depending on which title you're playing. Two-thirds of the titles provide a very fun time under the right conditions, and while Captain America and the Avengers can be hit-and-miss for some, Spider-Man and X-Men in Arcade's Revenge is just a bad game whose only value is as a title of curiosity. That's not a bad batting average for the compilation, and while it would've been better if some of the more memorable Marvel Genesis titles were also included, what is present will be satisfying enough for fans of Marvel and the late 8-bit and 16-bit eras.

Mount & Blade boasts solid battles and the eventual freedom to fight whoever and whenever you want while maintaining a kingdom, and it's a powerful draw.

Chip 'n Clawz vs. The Brainioids is a fine game overall. Despite some control issues with the strategy portions, the mixture of third-person action with RTS elements works thanks to the approach of simplicity over complexity. The campaign lasts for a decent amount of time, with collectibles and the quest for a five-star rating giving you a reason to replay the stages. Versus mode works fine, while the addition of split-screen play gives the game some legs if you're having a tough time finding anyone to play with online. Chip 'n Clawz has a few quirks, but it is a fun experience for those looking for a title that's a little more involved than running and bashing in small arenas.

It's a shame that the gameplay had to be so shallow because the story is so great. In a game about psychic powers, you really should be able to use them more often.

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.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble is a pleasant experience. The story may be disposable, but the levels feature some ingenuity that makes good use of the current physics system without feeling unfair. The number of levels will please fans who love the challenge. While the minigames aren't anything fresh, the presence of multiplayer just about everywhere marks a good step forward for the series. Hardcore fans won't see this as besting the original games from all those years ago, but they will still have a good time with this entry. We're hopeful that Banana Rumble marks the start of new games in the series.

With a good selection of character classes and pick-up-and-play controls, Monday Night Combat is an enjoyable take on competitive multiplayer.

It's nice to see that this level of complexity is seeping downward through the genres and markets because it only means that games will be that much deeper and complex as these savvy generations grow older and demand more from their games.

Fans of platformers might find Seed of Life to be a smidge more fun than puzzle game fanatics, but the overall experience in this beautiful, dying world is worth the time and price point, especially as a relatively short game that can be completed over a lazy weekend. Much like Cora's quest, the seeds of this game are high quality, and with some fine tuning and care, Seed of Life could blossom into something incredible.

Fans of the series, especially younger ones, will be happy with this spin-off as long as they understand that this is ultimately a large track pack in a different package.

A competent, if unexceptional, game. The gameplay is more of an expansion of F.E.A.R. than a full-blown sequel, and unfortunately, the plot and "fear factor" don't quite reach the heights achieved by the first F.E.A.R.

Your reaction to Warriors All-Stars will depend on how big of a Musou fan you are. If you're a hardcore fan of the series and have played through many of the main entries and a number of the side titles, then you may be fine with renting this one or getting it when it's cheaper. The crossover appeal and the new mechanics are very nice, but the lack of modes can make this feel incomplete. If you're a more casual fan or new to the series, this is much easier to recommend, as it's a good introduction to past games and prepares you for the changes in the upcoming ninth game in the main series.

Quantum Conundrum isn't exactly the game that some people had expected. The abundant bad platforming dampens the experience, and the fickle physics system turns a few of the puzzles into games of chance. The puzzle aspects are fun enough, even if most can easily be solved, and the dimension manipulation is a fresh idea. Both casual and dedicated puzzle fans will have fun with this title, especially considering the $15 price point for the game.

The no-frills adventure portion of the title offers a twist on the exciting fighting formula, although the unpolished reliance on platforming might turn off players who are looking simply to crack some skulls as the orange-clad Hokage hopeful.

Return to PopoloCrois: A Story of Seasons Fairytale is exactly what it tries to be: an old-school charming JRPG with some farming.

For a budget title, this game performs its duties to the utmost of my expectations, and even beyond, in some aspects.

Definitely check it out if you're a fan of Puzzle Quest but felt a bit burned out by Galactrix, as this game is a huge improvement over the previous follow-up.

The grind feels fresh and compelling, even if you know it isn't and really shouldn't. So much of what makes a game fun to play is "feel," and in Disgaea 3, Nippon Ichi has balanced the feel of the game's long and bewilderingly complicated grind into something that always feels satisfying, where you always feel like you're making progress.

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.

In the end, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate takes the familiarity of Hades and gives it a more familiar skin. The gameplay differences between the brothers provides an incentive to try all four characters instead of sticking to a favorite. The slightly lower difficulty means that upgrading your crew is faster than expected. Considering the large number of roguelikes on the PC, multiplayer — even though it's imperfect — gives this title a leg up on the competition.

It tends to shift between greatness and mediocrity with the frequency of your average rollercoaster ride, but the great parts are easily worth a look by anyone who enjoys beat-'em-ups.

Twin-stick shooter fans will certainly have some fun with NeverAwake. The short levels make it perfect for quick, on-the-go bursts of shooting, while the actual shooting and power-ups make for a fun and challenging experience. It looks and sounds great, while the presence of two different endings gives the game some replayability. That said, the story isn't all that compelling considering that we've seen it used before, and the game can start to feel like it's running on for too long due to the sameness in some levels.

This latest iteration is mainly recommended for hardcore DDR fans who want online PS2 play (Xbox already had online play in 2003's DDR Ultramix) and a new song roster. The gameplay is still addictive and fun, but more notable additions need to be made to keep the series fresh.

It has the makings of a great game but some evil force shipped it before it was spit shined.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership falls into that odd zone of being fine but not exceptional. I think it's comfortably the third best Mario & Luigi game, but it's a distant third and a far cry from the franchise's heights. I had a lot of fun, and I don't regret playing it, but it lacks that certain special something that made the first and third games in the franchise really shine. It's still a fun RPG adventure with some fantastic combat, but it's the weakest of all the Mario RPGs released this year.

NHL 18 finds itself in a strange spot. On the one hand, there are significant changes to the gameplay modes and basic stick handling. This is especially true of Threes mode, which could've become a stand-alone, downloadable game due to the amount of content it possesses. On the other hand, the AI is flaky and undermines quite a few modes, especially Hockey Ultimate Team. NHL 18 remains a fun title and a good choice for those who are interested in the series but don't want a semi-arcade hockey mode.

Prototype is a sequel to Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, despite missing the big green guy. Almost all of the gameplay mechanics can be mapped onto Ultimate Destruction, and the few that can't feel the most tacked-on or poorly implemented.

This title would be a very good candidate for any child who's a fan of the "Cars" movie or enjoys cartoony racing games.

Phantom Doctrine's biggest issue is that it compares unfavorably to X-COM. That doesn't make it a bad game, but it emphasizes X-COM's tight design. With Phantom Doctrine, you end up feeling like everything's a touch too unfocused. The metagame is interesting but messy. The combat is filled with interesting ideas but weaker execution. A lot of this may sound really negative, but I had fun with Phantom Doctrine. Fans of X-COM-style games will absolutely find it to be worth playing; it just has so much potential that it's easy to zero in on the little things that it does wrong.

It's great for quick bursts, it works as advertised, and it has that "one more game" addictive quality.

Tales of Berseria Remastered is an odd duck. It's a barely necessary remastered version of an absolutely excellent game that PlayStation owners can already purchase for half the price. It's easily the best version of the game with some fantastic QoL improvements and all the DLC packed in at a much lower price than buying them separately. However, if you're already a longtime fan who already owns the game and has purchased the DLC, Remastered is probably not worth the extra cost. If you're a newcomer to the game and don't mind shelling out a little more for bells and whistles, Remastered is the version you should get.

A title that's running on autopilot. It looks better than the previous Ace Combat offerings, but little else has changed.

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.

Ship of Fools is the kind of game that works well in bite-sized chunks and with a friend in tow. The chaotic nature of fights lends itself better to two players rather than one, while the start/stop nature of the combat flow works wonders to prevent the whole thing from feeling like a slog. It doesn't necessarily bring anything new to the genre, but it produces some solid fun. It could use more polish online and more bosses to fight, but it is enjoyable for genre fans who are looking for something to play with a friend.

While some of Prince's acrobatic movements are decent with the Wiimote, the combat — especially the Speed Kill — suffers badly, and overall, the game performed better with a tradition control scheme.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3 is a really fun fighting game when it actually allows you to fight.

In the end, Amplitude isn't quite the masterpiece that many had expected. The idea of a concept album for the Campaign mode is good, but the execution has too many interruptions that prevent the concept from being fully realized.

As it stands, Syndicate is a pretty fun experience, but it lacks the innovation and heart that I've come to expect from Starbreeze as a studio.

Final Fantasy II is probably the first weird experimental game in the franchise. This can be both good, such as the more involved plots and characters, but it can also be bad, such as the weird halfway-there leveling system that comes close to being something special but misses the mark. Final Fantasy II: Pixel Remaster is a basic rerelease of the game that's difficult to recommend unless you don't have any other version available. It looks nice and sounds great, but the loss of optional content really stands out.

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.

The faithfulness to the SW universe might be better than any game out there, kid title or not.

Again, Tales of Symphonia Chronicles is worth picking up for Tales of Symphonia in HD alone. It remains a fantastic RPG to this day.

Fans of the SRPG genre looking for something nicely slow-paced will find the game perfectly satisfactory, if not necessarily particularly special.

It definitely needed more puzzles and a fresh take on the gameplay. The bottom line is this: if you like adventure games, you should enjoy Still Life, but it will definitely not change the mind of the masses.

Overall, the Champions Bundle isn't bad if you're still a dedicated Halo 4 player. The maps are good, and the aesthetics are plentiful for those who care about that. If you're just a casual participant in the multiplayer, you're better served by only purchasing the map pack.

All in all, Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book is a solid if unexceptional addition to the franchise.

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.

The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road is a solid attempt at transporting players to the world of Oz. The gameplay presents players with all the usual RPG trappings, and while it could have been a bit more imaginative or open world-like, I'm not at all disappointed with the game.

As we said in our initial preview, there's potential in Exoprimal. The basic mechanic of blasting away dinosaurs is absolutely fun, and the presence of competent bots filling in for missing humans ensures that no one is going to get shortchanged in a bout. There are enough goals in a match that there's no guarantee about what you'll get to play, and that keeps things fresh enough if you can progress through levels at a good clip. At the same time, the lack of a campaign mode hurts when it feels like the story is better served by having one, even if it only mimics Dinosaur Hunt with bots. Since this is an online-only game, it has a definitive shelf life unless Capcom can patch in something to help prevent the game from being obsolete if the servers ever get pulled. The game is fun now, and its presence on Xbox Game Pass ensures that subscribers can give it a shot before committing to a purchase, but it'll be interesting to see if the population holds up by the time the second season rolls around.