Earth Atlantis is a game that is best played if you pace yourself. The quick boss encounters and ease with which you can find enemy mobs makes for some frantic gaming, but that high frequency also means that the experience can get repetitive. The overall mechanics are good, and the look is certainly distinct. It differs enough from normal shooters that it's worth a look, especially if you want a more exploratory adventure to go with your shooting.

In the end, Moo Lander is a solid adventure game that works despite the genre being mislabeled. The placement of more physics puzzles is a welcome one, even if a few can be a little frustrating. Combat is solid enough, provided you know beforehand that the boss fights tend to be a huge pain. The world may not have much in the way of exploration, but it feels anything but sterile, and the tools are quite fun to use. It's an enjoyable game overall and one that adventure fans might be interested in if they wanted something a little different.

Ghostrunner: Project Hel is a bit of a double-edged sword. Its challenging combat is as satisfying as ever, but one can't help but be disappointed at the execution. The gameplay feels like a step back rather than forward in many regards. Hel is quicker on her feet, but the overall gameplay is less varied and focuses more on combat rather than platforming, with two boss encounters that are rather bland. It's a safe way to spend some additional time in this universe and adds about three hours of additional content. Fans will likely enjoy the added content but should probably keep their expectations in check.

It is solid enough for genre fans but requires much more patience and understanding from newcomers who are just getting introduced to endless deaths via platforming.

F.E.A.R. 3 is likely to anger franchise fans because it's not really a satisfying end to the trilogy. It doesn't contain much of what people loved about the first few games. It makes token attempts to be scary, the plot is convoluted and feels like an afterthought, and the gameplay is more arcade than cinema. If you can overlook that, F.E.A.R. 3 is a surprisingly fun co-op arcade shooter.

It’s hard to rate this game, as it is meaty, contains a gameplay formula that people are used to (despite its lumps), and contains just enough good to counter the bad.

F.E.A.R. 3 is likely to anger franchise fans because it's not really a satisfying end to the trilogy. It doesn't contain much of what people loved about the first few games. It makes token attempts to be scary, the plot is convoluted and feels like an afterthought, and the gameplay is more arcade than cinema. If you can overlook that, F.E.A.R. 3 is a surprisingly fun co-op arcade shooter.

Dangerous Driving feels just like Burnout, but it doesn't look or sound the part. Due to Three Fields Entertainment's limitations, the game feels like it has a crisis of character. The gameplay is edgy, explosive and violent, while the snowy terrain glistens or the sun peeks over luscious mountaintops in the background, peppered with only the revving of your engine and the pitchy screech of your tires. The solemnity doesn't ruin the experience, but it'll make you scratch your head. At the end of the day, Dangerous Driving scratches a very specific itch that I'm sure many have been waiting to scratch —just like paint against a cold metal guardrail.

It's not perfect, and the limited amount of characters will quickly grow tiresome to some, but those who really enjoy the bullet wave-filled combat will enjoy testing out their skills online.

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.

It manages to do some things incredibly well, such as presentation, story, and sound. Other aspects, like the AI, leave much to be desired.

There are no innovative hooks or remixes to the gameplay, and the story is competent, but it doesn't hit the highs of the previous installments. It's meant to fill in the gap between the prior games, but the story nuggets feel more like a retread than new insight into Joseph's character. It's a missed opportunity for a deep dive into Eden's Gate's charismatic leader.

Away: Shuffle Dungeon for the NDS is fun, but not much else. It grows repetitive and lacks replay value, and the game is short enough that it is difficult to recommend over longer and better games on the same system.

The latest incarnation of Haunted House is fine. The roguelike nature is done well enough, but the relentless enemies and your own fragility mean that some deaths can feel unfair. The same complaint can apply to your inconsistent weapons and tools, but when everything comes together right, the stealth approach can be rather satisfying. While Haunted House isn't exactly a top-tier roguelike, it is good enough that those who are curious about the title should give it a shot.

This iteration of Empire of the Ants is certainly an improvement over the original game released over 20 years ago. It looks absolutely gorgeous and has a fitting soundscape to boot. The lack of micromanagement makes it more accessible for most but alienates those looking for the next coming of SimAnt. The strategy elements and platforming are basic, but the game remains enjoyable in short bursts. As a whole, it's a good game that you'll only jump into if you want something that feels strategic without going too deep into what the genre offers.

If you’re a devout Street Fighter fan, chances are you already picked Alpha Anthology up. Folks who are fans of the fighting genre in general can’t really go wrong either, especially with the $30 price tag.

Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed is a frustrating game. There is a lot of good here, including an excellent localization and a lot of really enjoyable customization. It goes hand-in-hand with an awful frame rate, frustrating load times, and a central premise that crosses the creepy line too often for its own good.

While there's a good deal to love about Infinite Space, there are an equal number of things to hate about it as well.

The camera is a source of constant frustration since it causes a number of issues where you get sucker-punched in combat while you're still relatively weak. With that said, the combat becomes enjoyable once you come to grips with the Dark Souls-style system and the more open level design takes the sting out of having to fight through closed spaces for most of the game. One has to wonder how different the possible fourth game could be.

If you don't mind a drip feed of soul-crushing events, then This is the Police will work for you. The actual gameplay is littered with questionable content, but the core is engaging for both quick and marathon sessions. The story is what holds things together; the many twists are fascinating, and the presentation is charming due to its artistic simplicity. It may not be for everyone, but for those looking for something a little different, This is the Police is worth a shot.

It's unfortunate that this promising combination comes mixed with a good amount of frustration.

It may not completely capture all of the traits of earlier side-scrolling puzzle platformers, but it's worthy of a look from genre fans.

Deadcraft is a standard survival game with zombies and a budget price tag. If the idea interests you, then you'll probably get a good amount of fun out of the game, but if you're on the fence, it doesn't do anything to reel you in. If you really want a new survival game to sink your teeth into, Deadcraft might scratch that itch until a bigger title comes along, but if you're new to the genre, there are plenty of alternatives.

Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is a game with a ton of potential that suffers from feeling half-baked. The first five to 10 hours of the game feel fantastic, and after that, it seems to suffer from being rushed and unpolished, culminating in a particularly lackluster final area and boss. The bones of a fun game are there, but there are enough flaws that it's worth waiting to see how it looks after a few patches.

At the end of the day, only bringing in some new enemies, a small cache of new arms, and a bit of extra story that's even more incoherent than the original keep Extraction Point from being more than what was already good.

Overall, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny Remastered is a pretty by-the-book update of a game that was clearly made for the limitations of the PS Vita. It's genuinely fun to play and smash your way through enemy robots as your favorite Gundam, but it's a very shallow game. You'll probably get bored of the combat loop well before you do everything the game has to offer. Fans of the franchise will have enough fun to make it worth the cash, but those looking for something with more meat on the bones will probably be better off looking elsewhere.

The technical issues haunting Gem Quest: 4 Elements are the only things that keep it from being another diamond in the sea of DS games in the market. A sluggish frame rate, muddy graphics and tough controls might be frustrating enough to drive away people. Those who are willing to trudge through it and overlook some flaws, this familiar-yet-different puzzle game can provide a fun experience while it lasts.

It's a fun, quirky little game, but it's the same fun and quirky little game we've been playing for a while now.

Onimusha: Warlords HD Remaster is intended for those looking for a trip down memory lane, but it won't impress others. It's an interesting historical artifact, but that's about all it has going for it.

As it stands, it's barely an improvement over the console version, and aside from the handheld portability, there's no real advantage to playing The Mercenaries 3D instead of The Mercenaries Reunion mode in Resident Evil 5. While there are not a lot of better choices for the 3DS at the moment, this game is for fans only. Everyone else should avoid it.

It has surpassed all expectations and that it is, in fact, a very fun and entertaining title.

If you're a fan of action -RPGs, then by all means add this game to your collection. Just don't expect it to be "Diablo 3." That crown still belongs to "Titan Quest."

This game is mainly for Final Fantasy fans who don't mind something different from their titles or for fans who love the character roster and its crossover possibilities. However, people looking for a deep, rewarding fighting game should most definitely look elsewhere.

Power Chord is a perfectly competent but entirely unexceptional roguelike deck builder. Once you take away the rock 'n' roll theme, it's pretty much another Slay the Spire clone that doesn't do enough to differentiate itself from the rest. It looks nice and plays well, but it doesn't stand out. If you've already burned through the other games in the genre and want something new, Power Chord will be the nice snack, but don't expect it to be a long-term engagement.

Fans of SNES-era RPGs will definitely appreciate the presentation and return of the ATB/Dual-Tech system found in Chrono Trigger. The frequency of random battles, however, really decreases one's enjoyment of the game and changes it into an endurance run of random battles.

The mechanics are smooth and the gameplay is fun, but The Amazing-Spider-Man is relentlessly average and destined to be forgotten in the annals of time. The game displays a bunch of promise that it never manages to fulfill.

If you're a hardcore Naruto fan, you probably already have the game regardless of what any review says. More casual fans would be fine picking this up if they never bothered with Ultimate Ninja 4: Naruto Shippuden on the PS2. Everyone else will probably want to wait for the next fighting game to appear on the PSP.

While it may be quite a simple adventure at that, it should definitely be checked out by any fan of the movie, as Madagascar will undoubtedly prove to be a humorous game to help you relax and pass the time.

The conclusion of Thicker Than Water is exactly what you'd expect from the series, and that's not a bad thing. For action fans, the setup means that the final episode is sure to be full of gore. For everyone else, though, having to spend so much time with some unlikeable and underdeveloped characters makes the episode feel like a drag, so the end is met with relief rather than longing to see the conclusion. It shouldn't be long before the final episode hits, but here's hoping things end on an upswing.

At best, it's an incremental upgrade to Madden '13, and while it's a solid effort, it's hardly worth getting excited about.

With a little more polish, LEGO Batman 2 could have been a high point of the franchise. Instead, it's merely another enjoyable entry in the lineup of LEGO games.

At $10 on the PSN store, Dragon's Lair is at the high end of the "impulse buy" scale. Purists will probably prefer the Wii version, but if you just want to experience an arcade classic (or want to watch the game you were never able to beat back in the day), then this is a nifty way to do it. It's also a lot easier than a visit to the Smithsonian. Just don't expect incredibly deep gameplay, and you won't be disappointed.

It's easy to enjoy playing WWE 2K18. Wrestling games inspire a special creativity that no other sports games can match. While 2K18 feels like it misses the mark and comes in below expectations, it still offers a MyPlayer experience, eight-man matches, online competitiveness, community creations, and more. The graphics and animations are starting to grow stagnant and there aren't too many incremental improvements that can be made until there's a drastic change to the game engine, so I'm hoping that there will be an announcement about that soon.

Although we waited for a few patches to arrive and fix up Confrontation's tattered connection problems, it's still no remedy for the game's lack of substance. With an absence of polish, customization, and maps, Confrontation just doesn't deliver a full-fledged online experience worthy of the SOCOM name.

There's a good golf game hiding in EA Sports PGA Tour. The litany of courses is enough to entice fans of the sport, while the roster of pro golfers is amplified by a presentation that looks gorgeous even if the TV-style broadcast feels excessive. However, the imprecise controls make one hope that the upcoming three-click system will make the gameplay more palatable, since everything else related to the actual sport does a great job of trying to help you understand how to perfect shots. Although PGA Tour 2K23 is the better golf game this time around, there is a good base to work with here. Hopefully EA's future iteration can fix the issues to make this a contender for best pro golf simulation on the PC.

It isn't a game for everyone, especially those who demand tight controls and realistic simulation titles or Trauma Center, but if you can deal with the silliness of it all, you'll find Surgeon Simulator to be enjoyable enough.

Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 1 is an improvement on the original game.

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.

Overall, World War Z provides a decent co-op zombie experience, despite some drawbacks. The weapons lack oomph, even when powered up, but they are still decent. The class system doesn't make anyone feel too different, but much like the weapons, there aren't any terrible classes. The locale changes are nice (even if the level beats remain similar), and the inclusion of standard adversarial multiplayer modes is also welcome. It's in real need of polish as far as matchmaking basics go, but it will satisfy those who have been waiting a long time for another co-op, zombie-killing experience.

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'hoole would have been a very good game for children had it not been for its brevity and lack of difficulty.

In the end, Killing Floor: Incursion is fine. The guns work well, but the lack of accuracy will have you favoring melee weapons until you have to use your guns to solve puzzles and fight against bosses. The lack of device accuracy also means that you'll have a tough time trying to holster your weapons, making the combat feel slower and allowing enemies to get in a few cheap hits, but boss fights make the combat feel tedious. The game being available in co-op is nice, but once you're done with the campaign, there isn't much to draw you into the horde mode. If you're a fan of the series, you'll dig it, but don't expect much in the way of replay value beyond showing off the technology to friends.

Will Roogoo Attack! set the world on fire with its stellar visuals? Let's remember that this is a DS game. Will it revolutionize the puzzle genre? No, but it's got a few fun bits that others could easily implement into their titles. Is it a solid, fun little game for $20 that will keep you coming back? Yes, and never forget: That's the most important quality of all.

Sam & Max: Save the World Remastered is a welcome sign of life for a classic adventure IP. It feels like it's the start of an effort to properly revive the series in small steps, and that would be great news on its own. The remaster is handled decently, and it achieves what it sets out to do. It updated everything that it needs to, and it looks decent enough on modern systems it. While certainly small in scale, it shines with some good writing and humorous stories that I still enjoy every time I play through it, and that's the lifeblood of any strong adventure experience.

Rock of Ages III: Make & Break is fine. The campaign allows for more flexibility in how you approach the game, but its absurdity works best if you haven't experienced the two prior titles. The core gameplay remains fun and frustrating, with the ball-rolling mechanics providing the bulk of the enjoyment while the defense elements do the same after loads of trial and error. The level creation tool's ease of use gives the game legs, and the busy community has provided a vast library. Overall, Rock of Ages III is a good time as long as you don't expect major improvements over the formula compared to the prior titles.

Classic Sport Driving is fine if you don't mind some quirks. Having to register before playing online is rather unnecessary, and some of the campaign bugs detract from the enjoyment of the title. Still, the racing is good once you get used to the handling and driving, while the track randomization and leaderboards for each permutation ensures that you can get in some quick challenges when time permits. It's a nice diversion for fans of old-school racers who don't mind playing solo.

Umbrella Chronicles delivers, but it doesn't go beyond simple competence.

Shows an incredible amount of promise, but the final product is ultimately flawed in too many ways to get a hearty recommendation.

If you can deal with gratuitous and risqué fan service, then you'll find that Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus is a good brawler.

Visually vibrant, solid play mechanics and colorful characters make Wreckateer an attractive game for the casual set, but quirky Kinect controls keep it from greatness. This is the perfect example of a game where Kinect should have been an option, rather than mandatory.

The graphics were amazing, and the story unfolded in a quick, action-packed manner.

It's fast, merciless and brutal, but it's not a lot of fun to play. Unless you're out of other options for 2-D brawlers and have money burning a hole in your pocket, hold off on Shank. It's still a decent title, but for 2 GB and $15, there are better ways to spend your hard drive space, money and time.

The only gripe you can come up with for the Midnight Mountain Ski Pack is that it doesn't add much else aside from the three nighttime courses. There are no new challenges, no new outfits, and no option to toggle day or night settings for the existing challenges.

For people who have already distanced themselves from Koei's game series, this title will do nothing to change their minds about the genre. For fans of the formula, though, the decision of purchasing this game comes down to whether or not they can live with its trade-offs. For those who can live with the changes, the game provides a fun experience that will last for quite a while.

I stuck mostly with the on-field stuff, and it was solid enough for me to keep tinkering around with rivalries, tradition and the spread offense. But it won't make fans of the pros change their allegiance.

Aragami is a satisfactory stealth game. It's not exceptional, but it has its high points. The shadow-dancing teleport mechanic is the centerpiece of the game, and it is at its best when you have large, open areas to sneak through. It's at its worst when cheap deaths or unenjoyable boss fights dominate the experience. It's a fun budget stealth game that will probably tickle the fancy of anyone who's looking for one. It might not break new ground, but sometimes, it's just fun to be a ninja, and Aragami deliveries that in spades.

At the end of the day, Rad Rodgers: World One is a cute first taste of a throwback platformer. The game is not particularly long or deep, but it's an enjoyable romp. It's fun to play and has solid level design and enjoyable mechanics, but the nostalgic throwback theme is wasted on generic foes and settings. Fans of old-school platformers will find a lot to like here, including a number of jokes clearly designed for them, but newcomers might find it too generic.

Half of the appeal of X-Men: The Arcade Game is nostalgia, but the other half is still a genuinely fun experience. No, it's not as flashy or deep as any current-generation game, but there's still something to be said for taking control of Wolverine in his bright yellow spandex and mindlessly ripping through hordes of evil robot minions. If you're a solo player, you might want to pass, but if you regularly play with a group, especially a local one, then it's worth checking out.

Gear.Club Unlimited is an all-around simple affair. Almost all of the races are short, which is complemented by the very lengthy campaign. The racing is purely arcade in style, and it's more exciting when playing against others instead of against the passive AI. It may not look like a AAA title, but the performance holds up well, and the sense of speed feels right. While not the greatest representation of what a traditional racing game on the Switch should be, Gear.Club Unlimited will hopefully serve as a catalyst to bring more racing titles to the Switch.

Bard's Gold is decent. The gameplay is good enough, but many will be driven away by the high level of difficulty in the opening stages, especially with a few unfair elements at play.

Heroland is a charming game that simply lasts too long. The first impression is super positive, reminding me of Half-Minute Hero and similar delightful titles, and for the first few hours, the gameplay strikes a good balance between engaging and hands-on. As time goes on, it starts to drag, and only the quality of the translation can help push the game over the finish line. If you can play Heroland on something portable, it is far easier to recommend, but it just doesn't have what it takes to be a sit-down-and-play game.

Half of the appeal of X-Men: The Arcade Game is nostalgia, but the other half is still a genuinely fun experience. No, it's not as flashy or deep as any current-generation game, but there's still something to be said for taking control of Wolverine in his bright yellow spandex and mindlessly ripping through hordes of evil robot minions. If you're a solo player, you might want to pass, but if you regularly play with a group, especially a local one, then it's worth checking out.

Edna & Harvey: Harvey's New Eyes isn't for everyone. The humor won't tickle everyone's funny bones, and the presentation of both the audio and graphical standpoints leaves something to be desired — despite some of the good things it does.

I loved and hated Hitman: Absolution. It wraps its stealthy assassinations within a slim and challenging margin of comfort. Often, that's due to clunky mechanics that don't share the same kind of experimental freedom as other sandbox games, especially when unexpected glitches can ruin a half-hour of careful exploration. You can expect many hours of gameplay against a detailed backdrop of revenge, murder, and deliciously unsavory characters and comic book-styled villainy. It's not as beautiful a kill as it could have been, but the lengthy contract can still make a compelling argument for giving this wetwork collection a second look.

Depixtion is the nice middle ground between the simple Picross games and the more complicated ones that try to throw different genres into the mix. Veteran Picross players should be able to quickly pick up the concept of using different shades of color and different color layers, and it won't be too daunting for newcomers either. The puzzle selection in Depixtion can seem low compared to its contemporaries, but it will take some time to get through them all due to their layout. Overall, Depixtion is a solid puzzle game that fans will appreciate having in their libraries.

Players are going to have mixed feelings about the Until Dawn remake. The story remains as cheesy as ever, while the characters and performances elevate the experience. The changes are mostly good, with the better camera and touched-up graphics winning out over the changing of the soundtrack. However, the game really needed more time to polish out the bugs, especially since there's still plenty of time to get things before the movie hits. It's still a good title, but it could've been so much better if it weren't for the technical issues.

Zombie Party is best enjoyed in short bursts with friends. The shooting is fun because of the guns and mods that can be employed, and the variety keeps the fighting fresh. Even though the game sports quite a few modes, there's no escaping the grind if you want to make some headway. If you can stomach that, this title is perfect for quick bursts of gaming or as a nice break between bigger, more involved titles.

The Hong Kong Massacre teeters between magnificent to mediocre quite often. Its gunplay mechanics are good, but the dodgy AI will ruin the experience due to your very high fragility and their impeccable aim. The levels look awesome at first, especially when the action gets kicked up, but the environments blend into one another after a while. The trial-and-error nature can get tedious, but if you don't mind that, then you'll find lots of high-tension action here. The Hong Kong Massacre isn't a must-have, but it isn't a bad title to play, either.

Mega Man Star Force may not reinvent the Battle Network formula — or even make any large-scale changes to it — but at least these re-heated leftovers are pretty good.

Battlezone treads a well-worn path in almost every respect of gameplay but still offers hours of enjoyment to any gamer, from the hardcore, who want to master their friends, to the casual, who can easily dip in and out of the pick-up-and-play control system.

Crazy Machines Elements succeeds in being a good title but not necessarily a great sequel. The core concept is still good, and the additional tools help the game feel fresh.

It's a good title for kids. It controls well, the levels are interesting, and the references to Pac Man 25 years ago are respectful.

Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition is an unsatisfying remaster of an excellent game. Everything that made Bulletstorm a delight has been faithfully replicated, and the game runs extremely well. It's still one of the most enjoyable shooters in the past decade, and it's aged remarkably well. At the end of the day, it's about as bare-bones of a remaster as they come, but it still bears the price of a brand-new title. That's difficult to justify when the original is available for around $5 . If price is no object, Bulletstorm is still a top-notch game, but otherwise, it's probably better to wait for a price drop.

In the end, Slaycation Paradise is a fun game, provided you're willing to overlook some of its shortcomings. The short gameplay loop works well enough, and the variety of objectives stops the game from falling into a rut. More levels would've been nice, and multiplayer would've been even nicer. For those looking for a little more out of their twin-stick shooters, Slaycation Paradise scratches the itch well if you're fine with the lack of levels and multiplayer.

Like Smash Bros. before it, the single-player experience becomes dull pretty quickly, but the multiplayer salvages the game.

Shadow Puppeteer is a fun and simple co-op game.

Farming Simulator 15: Gold Edition can be something of a guilty pleasure for some players. It isn't the deepest when it comes to handling the business side of farming or dealing with animals. It's also rather sterile when it comes to making the levels feel alive.

It's a real shame, because when you're doing almost anything but fighting in AI2, the game is an enjoyable enough experience.

While there are a ton of match types, a fairly sizable roster of ECW, Raw and Smackdown stars, and the inclusion of the new Superstar Fighting Styles, these positives cannot offset the terrible sound and voice acting, middling graphics and the train wreck that is the 24/7 mode.

For the most part, Cloud Cutter nails down the basics of the classic shoot-'em-up. The shooting isn't overly complicated, the enemy bullets don't overwhelm the screen, and there's always a moment where something is blowing up. The levels feature a variety of activities, and it feels like it comes in at just the right play length. As long as you provide your own motivation for playing through more than once, you'll enjoy your time with Cloud Cutter.

Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom deserves a lot of praise for accurately capturing the feel of the anime and translating it to video game form. Unfortunately, once you get past the accurate representation, there isn't much to the game.

For rhythm fans who want something different and a little tougher, Kickbeat is worth checking out.

There are some promising features here, but most of them are either implemented poorly or tacked on as an afterthought, and the camera angles and difficult passing game don't help things. Madden NFL 06 is really for fanatics only.

Although the game has a well-designed and highly customizable driving system, it fails to build upon the gameplay with quality surrounding features, like compelling online play or an extensive career mode.

Alice: Madness Returns isn't a bad game; it's a game that isn't quite good enough. Tighter controls, a little more testing, and either much less or much better combat would've turned Madness Returns into one of the all-time greats. Right now, it's picturesque but annoying. It's fun to look at, some of the stages are OK, and there's a lot of variety both in the level design and in the basic gameplay, but as a game, it's frequently half-baked.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure feels like the definition of an unnecessary sequel. It doesn't feel like a natural continuation of Life is Strange, and in many ways, it is kind of a step backward for the characters. At the same time, it doesn't have enough of its own voice and ends up feeling weaker than True Colors or Life is Strange 2. It's nice to see Max again, but fans would've been happier if she hadn't shown up again. Taken entirely on its own merits, Double Exposure is a relatively fun little mystery, but it's too bogged down for its own good.

Alice: Madness Returns isn't a bad game; it's a game that isn't quite good enough. Tighter controls, a little more testing, and either much less or much better combat would've turned Madness Returns into one of the all-time greats. Right now, it's picturesque but annoying. It's fun to look at, some of the stages are OK, and there's a lot of variety both in the level design and in the basic gameplay, but as a game, it's frequently half-baked.

The immediate association with Haze as an underperforming FPS with lofty ambitions will be Saber Interactive's TimeShift, where the boat anchor, besides some awkward but forgivable vehicular control mechanics, was an excellent gameplay design hook that worked well, but almost no one got it, so no one used it, and ergo the title was ultimately just another shooter.

At the end of the day, Godfall is a game with a dull story, boring world, uninteresting loot, and simplistic combat, but it looks pretty and feels nice to play. It's not a bad game for a quick playthrough, but it's not something that is going to keep your attention for very long, despite theoretically being designed for loot-grinding fun. Considering the new game price of $70, it's difficult to recommend Godfall, even if you're very hungry for a new game for your PS5. Once it comes down in price, it'll be easier to justify picking it up for a mindless hack-and-slash weekend, but at the moment, it doesn't do enough to really be worthwhile.