The concept behind PixelJunk Scrappers Deluxe is good. Mixing a beat-'em-up with garbage collection seems like a strange concept, but it all works thanks to the pacing of each segment and the simplicity of the mechanics. It's the little things — the paltry move set, the small opening for successful garbage collection, the need to repeat levels, the ease with which one can lose track of where they are — that pile up to drag down the experience a peg. It is still worth checking out for the semi-distinct nature of it all, but be sure to temper your expectations.

Tsukuyomi is an odd duck of a game. As an off-brand Shin Megami Tensei card battler, it's pretty fun, despite some obvious balance flaws and a low budget. The story isn't anything great, but it was enough to bolster the gameplay, and I had a good time playing through the main story. For a game that prides itself as being the work of Kazuma Kaneko, the AI-bloated art style deeply detracts from the experience. It's a fun enough experience, but it has enough warts that it can be tough to recommend.

Crime Boss: Rockay City has done something that few other games have accomplished since the advent of patching. The team has taken what was a very bad game at launch and made it good enough to be enjoyable. The missions may be short, but the lack of lag and the presence of better-than-expected AI companions makes each encounter fun. The presence of the player XP system makes the tweaked campaign and online modes worth grinding through. Coming in at a cheaper base price than its Epic Games Store launch price, Rockay City is a decent purchase for those who were disappointed with Payday 3 and exhausted with Payday 2.

The aspect that should pain gamers the most is the unfulfilled potential that the series has had since the first sequel.

It's not bad for a game that started as a literal pretender.

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is a fun game that is simply buried under too much to be really great.

TopSpin 2K25 feels like a reboot of the series rather than a proper sequel. The lack of game modes really makes the title feel like it's starting from scratch and trying to nail the fundamentals before approaching more offbeat stuff. Despite the occasional missing inputs and stuttering from time to time, the game remains enjoyable enough that you'll want to master the controls and get in a few matches against others quite often. It needs work for future iterations, but for now, TopSpin 2K25 is solid enough.

Undertow is a good fit for the Xbox Live Arcade. The action is fast and uncomplicated, it has plenty of options for the single-player and multiplayer experiences, and the tight controls do a good job of making the player want to partake in the action.

The focus on combat makes the game boring, and the lack of good puzzles and platforming of the same caliber as in Sands of Time make Prince of Persia: Warrior Within a slow ride that many fans should honestly stay away from.

Overall this game is actually well done and can be considered pretty fun, aside from the repetition, especially if you can find friends to play with, but it is also not aimed at the older audiences.

For Sparta is fine once you accept its general simplicity. The attempts at adding depth, such as the enemy variance and the multitude of power-ups, work rather well, even if it veers toward silliness, and the core gameplay remains tight and easy to understand. The lack of actual variety in the backdrop can become problematic, and the lack of any real progression can be a deterrent for those who aren't into classic high score chases. For those who are, For Sparta is worth looking into, especially considering the low $1.99 price tag.

Like any of the Mario sports games, Mario Sports Mix is best enjoyed with friends.

Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is an average but reasonable send-off to the franchise.

Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game is fine. It would've been nice to get some of the events from the Mario & Sonic series ported over to make this feel more robust compared to Sega's older Olympics titles, but what's here plays well enough if you don't mind some quirks — especially with the team games. The focus on multiplayer is warranted, since that's how the general public will approach it, but it would've been nice if there were more for the solo player to do. If you're looking for a party game and not a serious multi-discipline sports simulation, this isn't a bad choice.

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.

F1 2009 falls squarely into the category of average racer.

For every new mechanic implemented, there is something else botched just enough to render the neat new aspect moot.

Your enjoyment of the Desperate Escape DLC will be dependent on how much you can tolerate Resident Evil 5's combat system. If you couldn't stand it at all, this add-on will only solidify your hatred for the mechanic, as that's all you'll really focus on during the hour of gameplay. If you were fine with it, you'll be fine with this too, as it is a more adrenaline-pumping experience in comparison to the other DLC released thus far.

Even with all of the setbacks plaguing it, though, this Wii port of Blazing Angels: Squadrons of World War II has it where it counts. It adds motion-sensing functionality without sacrificing the fun — it, in fact, manages to enhance it in some cases.

A fun game that is quite adequate as a distraction for its target audience. For an adult, on the other hand, the game has only rare moments that qualify as entertainment.

Rock Band Blitz is an above-average music game and a worthy addition to the libraries of genre fans and dabblers alike.

I enjoyed Grid 2, but much like its predecessor, little about the experience was remarkable or noteworthy when compared to other racers. This is hardly a title that you'll need to drop what you're currently enjoying to check out, but it's something that I'd suggest purchasing when it drops in price. It's certainly worth a rental or demo, just to give you a taste of what Grid 2 brings to the table.

Pokémon Rumble Blast is a simple but fun game. The story may be forgettable, but the combat is easy to get into and despite the repetitive nature, it only feels like a chore if you play it for long stretches of time.

To say WRC 7 is a rally car simulation is a bit of a stretch, but it has nice simulation-like characteristics, such as vehicle damage, navigation call-outs, and car builds. I don't feel that it competes with the Dirt franchise very well, but it could be due to a lack of aesthetics in the menu and excitement in career mode. WRC 7 is still a quality choice, but it feels like the second option in a marketplace with a niche target audience.

Far Cry: Primal is an example of how ambition doesn't always translate to success. It's overly familiar and overly safe, and it does little with its concept.

You're getting the combat and battlefield strategy of the regular titles, combined with some of the more strategy-like elements of the Empire series.

The fighting alone is much improved and enjoyable to work with, and the graphics look quite nice, even though some flourishes are missing and the PC version isn't up to expectations. The modes are pretty hit-and-miss, and the legacy issues and hilariously outdated roster show that this isn't quite the comeback many people were hoping for. There's enough fun to be had here, despite the issues to warrant a look for those craving a "good enough" wrestling game, especially from those who were heavily burned by WWE 2K20.

There's a lot of potential in Fobia: St. Dinfna Hotel, and it has some moments of excellence. Unfortunately, the lackluster visuals, weirdly unfriendly UI, and general awkwardness drag it down. It's a fine game to play if you want to scratch the survival-horror itch and you've already gone through a lot of other titles, but it doesn't do enough to distinguish itself. I'd be deeply interested to see a more polished and refined sequel because the potential doesn't shine through as well as it should.

A veritable treasure trove for history buffs, aficionados of that particular time period, or people otherwise interested in how wars were actually fought through human history.

Senran Kagura is a difficult game to recommend because it often gets in its own way. If you're in it for the characters or the artwork, Senran Kagura amply provides.

It has good ideas - all of which have been attempted before - and executes them in a way that leaves the title covered in mediocrity at best.

All in all, Sunday Gold has an interesting premise and gameplay mechanics, but it doesn't come together as well as it could. Some parts of the game were completely engrossing and entertaining, but there are several segments that I did not enjoy. The story and puzzles are fun, but the combat is rather shallow and difficult, which isn't eased by the restrictive AP system and minigames. It's an enjoyable indie with a great idea, but the execution doesn't always match. If you're in the market for something new and point-and-click-adjacent, Sunday Gold is a great pick-up for all of its strengths. If you're hoping for a great RPG like Disco Elysium, you'll want to look elsewhere.

If you can forgive the controls, Azkend 2: The World Beneath can be a fun puzzle game.

If you're in it for the new maps, then you're better off waiting for the private match option since it can take a long time to see them under normal circumstances. If you want it for the customization, then the DLC has lots of satisfying options. If you want the weapons, then you'll be fine since both the Kinetic Mine and Harvester are great additions, while the pistol is only there if you want things to be tougher. At $15, the DLC is pretty expensive by itself, but if you want to add to the multiplayer experience, this isn't a bad pack.

Despite some of these nitpicks, N+ for the PSP is still as great a game as it ever was on XBLA or the Internet. While the formula is getting a bit passé, the physics and levels are still as sharp and tightly constructed as ever, even if the sound is repetitive and the multiplayer modes are inaccessible to most.

Even though Toy Soldiers: Cold War has a few new features, it doesn't seem to have quite the depth of the original.

Taken as a whole, Concursion is an interesting and fun title.

Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords is a fairly weak port of a flawed classic. The core characters and writing are still among the best in the entire franchise, but the gameplay is rapidly showing its age, and many of the flaws from the original release are still present. Fans of the franchise who may have skipped this particular entry should absolutely give it a shot, but for longtime fans, the Restored Content DLC is going to be the real game-changer.

At this point, it's difficult to say if The New Frontier pass is worth the money. The first pack, Maya & Gran Colombia, isn't worth the $40 asking price yet, but new content will arrive every other month, and the full New Frontier experience won't be complete until March 2021. As it stands, unless you genuinely love the two new civilizations or think the Apocalypse mode is going to tide you over for a few months, it would be best to wait until at least a couple of more game packs are out.

The beginning will probably put you off a bit, but if you're able to make it past that, there's some genuinely fun gameplay here that's worth checking out.

At the end of the day, Damascus Gear: Operation Osaka never extends beyond the realm of a fun time-waster. It's not bad if you're looking for a cheap, mech-focused, loot-heavy dungeon-crawler. If you love giant robots, then Operation Osaka is a fun way to spend $20. Beyond that, it's just another dungeon-crawler on a system that is awash with them.

In the end, Ember is a good RPG that caters more to genre beginners than veterans. The trimming of the traits and the abolishment of classes makes it easier for some players to concentrate on the gameplay instead of character and party micromanagement. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as everything from the gameplay to the story is rather solid despite not really doing anything to stand out from the crowd.

Overall, Metal Slug 7 for the NDS is a solid and difficult side-scrolling shooter that adds little to the franchise.

Like the original, Cooking Simulator VR is best enjoyed in short sessions if you're playing the campaign mode. It takes such a long time for things to ramp up that you'll want short sessions so you don't get burned out on the game. The sessions are going to be filled with fun, as you're either crafting chaos or preparing dishes that closely resemble the techniques you'd do in real life. Cooking Simulator VR is a solid VR game and stands as a good example for how to port simulators to the VR space.

As a game, Jet Set Radio isn't going to appeal to everyone. The mechanics are dated, and the look and feel, while still impressive, isn't as distinctive as it was in a prior generation. If you're up for a challenge, however, it's not a bad way to spend 800 Microsoft points. Just be prepared to swear - a lot - as you experience a piece of gaming history.

Evolve has rare highs hidden amongst tedious lows. When the title hits its stride, it is easy to see why it was designed in this way

It's an interesting approach to the Trauma Center formula, and I'm glad to play another game in that funky sub-genre, but at the same time, I'm waffling on whether I'd recommend this title for purchase.

There are better RPGs on the system, but for fans and those looking for something a little different, Black Rock Shooter will hit the spot for a while.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV is a rather bloated blockbuster crossover event that's shaped like a JRPG. If you're a die-hard Trails fan with a deep love of the franchise, then seeing your favorite characters interact will probably make up for the somewhat disappointing story. Anyone else should stay far away until they've played the first three Trails of Cold Steel main games in the series, and looking up the other games in the franchise couldn't hurt. I had fun with ToCS4, but it's a bit of a mess, and your enjoyment will depend on how much that mess appeals to you. I still have a soft spot in my heart for the series, but I can only hope the next game is more focused than this offering.

The Evil Within has its fair share of problems. The uneven camera, the forced letterboxing, some frustrating one-hit kill scenarios, oddly paced chapters, and sub-par story/character development keep this from being a must-play experience.

Veterans of the series will enjoy the enhanced play modes and the new tag dueling. Fans of the Yu-Gi-Oh! television series and card game will be happy with this offering, which gives you room to grow and features galore.

Origins is definitely a step in the right direction; the gameplay fits the nature of the original series well enough, and while it isn't the most challenging or overly original type of adventure game, it manages to be fun and does a great job of capturing the mood of the original Dragon Ball.

My Memory of Us feels like a game that is fighting with itself. On the one hand, the story is wonderful. Even though some players may not like the attempts to dull the harshness of the real stories, it remains a hopeful tale where the horrors can still be understood by those willing to look beyond the surface level. On the other hand, the frustration felt by the sometimes-unresponsive controls can obscure the message, as the controls can make even the simplest of things feel more frustrating. This is still a title worth checking out, but only if you're patient enough to withstand a control scheme that is at odds with the challenges in place.

Pinball Hall of Fame: The Gottlieb Collection is not a bad game. The pinball tables are varied and fun, and there's plenty of historical content for pinball aficionados to pore over. However, this is a port of a GameCube game, and no real changes have been made to the formula. Players will be disappointed that the improvements seen in The Williams Collection aren't here, and only hardcore pinball fanatics who are more forgiving about the title's flaws and shortcomings will find this to be a suitable addition to their pinball video game library.

If you're into games for the experience more than the narrative, Stela might work for you. A few of the puzzles took more brute force than smarts to solve, but nothing was impossibly difficult. The idea of plane-jumping is good, except for when you can't tell if the feature is active. The graphics look beautiful, but the early levels suffer from too many dark colors muddying the waters. It's too bad that the set pieces lack anything special to connect them together. Overall, while Stela may not be top-tier material, it is solid enough to warrant a look.

The campaign was short, the turret and tank missions felt tacked on, there was no multiplayer mode, the save points were very sporadic, varying difficulty levels were present, and the A.I. was abhorrent. Otherwise, CoD2:BRO is an enjoyable killfest, if you want a very linear, playable movie.

The core gameplay isn't strong enough to reach anyone who isn't a fan, but DBZ fans will be quite happy with the final game, warts and all.

Sniper Elite VR delivers where it counts the most — great sniping mechanics and a gory X-ray kill cam that looks phenomenal in VR — but the rest of the experience is a mixed bag. There's a forgettable story and mediocre shootouts when you're not handling a sniper rifle, and they both keep the game from standing out among more refined VR shooting offerings. If you are a fan of the franchise or you yearn for a good sniper rifle experience in VR, Sniper Elite VR is worth checking out.

This is a perfectly acceptable game, but it's also mostly boring and safe. We all know that the game of life boils down to "no risk, no reward," so this mediocre game gets a mediocre score.

It's genuinely entertaining in small chunks, but there is still a lot to be said for spending time with a good book instead, or by keeping a thesaurus or a copy of the Reader's Digest handy when you have the need to feel egregiously verbose.

There's a good game in Harold. The frantic pace at which environmental manipulation can be done and its use in sabotaging the competition breathes some life into an otherwise straightforward genre.

Due to its nature, it is difficult to rate Pattern like you would a traditional video game. It feels like a germ of an idea that has been released to the public in its current form; it's different from what the developer originally intended, but it's fascinating nonetheless. The decision to turn it into a diary makes it an artistic endeavor more than a traditional game with an explicit goal, and its endless nature can have several interpretations, none of which can be considered wrong. Regardless of score, your decision to try Pattern is dependent on whether you enjoy the genre; those who do will find this to be an experience that'll stick with them for some time.

That is about all there is to Nioh 2: The First Samurai: a few new missions, a few new skills, and endgame content geared almost exclusively for the top 1% of players. The Season Pass of the game is worth it for the first two DLCs, but the third DLC is so incredibly limited that you have to be a Nioh die-hard. If you are a Nioh die-hard, The First Samurai gives you more things to test your skills on and more ways to optimize your builds, and it's good at that. If you just want to put your Nioh 2 skills to the ultimate test, there is a lot here to potentially kill the heck out of you.

As a D&D and Neverwinter Nights fan, I wanted to see what an MMO version offered, and I came away feeling that it accomplished its goals, if only for a month or so. It's like a single-player sandbox dungeon; when I reached what felt to be the proverbial end, it was time to move on.

Super Man or Monster is good enough to provide a scant few hours of entertainment. The choice to play as either man or monster helps pad out the game's overall length and while split screen is a good idea, the imbalance of power means that anyone who picks a monster is almost always guaranteed victory. With a decent enough presentation, it is good for some mindless fun but don't expect to come back to the game once you see the end for both campaigns.

There’s a certain thrill in launching off a ramp and zooming through the air, flipping and spinning, especially when there’s no threat to you involved. On the other hand, there’s too much dilution of styles here, producing a weak mix of pure motorcycle action and free-roam exploration.

Cat Girl Without Salad: Amuse-Bouche is a brief yet amusing shooter. The silliness works well, and the varied weapons make you rethink every attack to keep shooter fans on their toes. The shooting is fun for those not normally skilled in either traditional or bullet-hell variants of the genre, but it really takes some effort to not complete the game in one sitting. This isn't a fantastic game in the genre, but it's worth owning if you're down for short and satisfying side-scrolling shooter jaunts.

At its barest elements, Dissidia: Final Fantasy is phenomenal.

Eternal Sonata is a beautiful game. It has excellent music, a reasonably well done dub and a curious and interesting setting. This doesn't change the fact that it is far too easy.

I would say the strength of this game definitely lies in its story telling.

Michael Jackson: The Experience falls short of being a great dancing title because of its own faults and that of the system on which it's running.

As a whole, Skeleton Boomerang is good. The game strikes a nice balance between being short enough for casual players to finish while also hiding lots of different things for completionists. Though the lack of checkpoints can be frustrating for those who aren't used to it, the game feels fair, since most of the enemies and obstacles can be easily overcome if you put some thought into it. There's nothing remarkable about the title, but for $10, it's a solid purchase.

As stated before, We Ski's biggest draw, and also its biggest fault, is sacrificing skill for accessibility.

The single-player segment is definitely fun while it lasts, but it's far too short and easy to be anything memorable. The lack of gameplay-altering unlockables and a fully featured multiplayer mode makes the experience feel a little too bare-bones to warrant a purchase.

LEGO Bricktales deserves credit for trying new things and incorporating the core building experience into gameplay, but the game doesn't quite hit the mark when it comes to polish. That said, if you're willing to be patient with it, there is fun to be had. It's just not as direct as putting together an actual LEGO set.

Rio is a solid minigame compilation for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The minigames prove to be fun for younger audiences, and the look and sound of the title reflect the movie quite nicely. The minigames aren't all that varied, though, so you'll get a sense of déjà vu after a while.

DBZ: HD feels like the developers actually put some effort into its creation. It's fun, and — dare I say it — somewhat innovative.

Rio is a solid minigame compilation for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The minigames prove to be fun for younger audiences, and the look and sound of the title reflect the movie quite nicely. The minigames aren't all that varied, though, so you'll get a sense of déjà vu after a while.

Ereban: Shadow Legacy is a flawed but enjoyable game. The presentation is fine, and even though the mechanics are simplified compared to other games in the genre, the stealth mechanics create some very cool moments. The overall game length is fine, and while the collision bugs can get fixed, the lackluster story doesn't do its part when it comes to motivating people to play to the end. Ereban isn't necessarily a must-play title, but it is well worth a look if you're in the market for something new.

Wanted: Dead is certainly an experience. It's a weird game with occasional flashes of something great. It's difficult to recommend it solely based on that. It's disjointed, repetitive, and feels more like a collection of ideas stitched together into the rough shape of a game rather than anything cohesive. For a certain kind of gamer, this is going to be catnip, but for the average person, it's probably going to be too weird to work, and unfortunately, the gameplay isn't strong enough on its own merit to overcome that.

City Life: World Edition has a fairly low replayability factor. Once you have beaten the challenges, the formula for doing so never really changes. On the other hand, the impressive variety of building models, as well as the ability to create new ones, definitely adds to the fun.

Truly, I did not want to finish this game. I found it to be as endearing as The Phantom Menace (which does not even warrant an underline).

The Adventures of Darwin shares many similarities to another obscure (when it was released) budget title, Katamari Damacy, but Darwin lacks the quirky charm and hyper fun of that game, and so will likely be forever relegated to the bargain bin.

Mirror's Edge is a shining example of when a game concept idea doesn't live up to its idea. The movement controls are solid and the graphics top-notch, but everything else just doesn't work. The level design begins excellent and grows progressively worse. The combat is awkward and tedious, and even as the levels grow less fun, the game throws more and more combat at you, as if hoping to distract you. To top it off, the title is remarkably short and the plot deeply unsatisfying.

If you can get past the tedious first stages, the game really begins to pick up although the infection meter limits exploration a bit too much for Scurge to recapture that special magic, but for those holding out for a classic Metroid game on the DS, Scurge may be exactly what you need.

Adrenalin Misfits is certainly a much better offering than Sonic Free Riders when it comes to board-style racing.

The shift in focus from combat to puzzles suits the theme, but it's somewhat marred in execution.

As the game stands right now, it kills time, and that's about it.

While NBA 2K21 is clearly different from its predecessor in several ways, I can't say it's significantly better than what we saw last season. The game still looks fantastic, the commentary is still top-notch, and many of the same battles you might have had with the previous edition are still there, like whether you want to spend so much virtual and real money. If you don't have any basketball games in your library and want to change that, then by all means, this is as good as it can possibly get. If your whole virtual hoops life is lived on 2K20 for now, then waiting for next-gen isn't the worst move you can make.

In terms of gameplay, the new boss fights are a huge chunk of the challenging content, and they're a ton of fun to play. If you enjoyed Kingdom Hearts III's combat enough to want to see it at its best, then Re Mind is for you. The Organization XIII fights alone are worth the price of admission in this case. If not, then $30 is difficult to justify for what amounts to a couple of add-ons to cut scenes that you've seen before and boss fights that you might not be able to beat.

The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest isn't that bad of an adventure game. The main game is quite lengthy, and the side quests only add more enjoyment to the adventure, especially if you go questing with a friend.

Your outlook on Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration is going to depend on your perspective. As a historical document, it chronicles Atari as a company but still seems focused on the 2600 and old arcade stuff above all else. As a game compilation, it still feels lacking in the latter half of the company's game history, as some of the more interesting titles from the 7800 era onward aren't here; one can argue that the company's output at the time doesn't make the job any easier, though. There are certainly enough curios to keep existing owners of Atari Vault interested thanks to the presence of new titles here, but it could've used more curation to make it an item that's worth celebrating.

If you enjoy the one thing that Alpha Protocol does well enough, you'll probably be able to overlook its downsides. There is little else to recommend Alpha Protocol, so if the idea of the fluid story line doesn't get you excited, then this game isn't for you.

It's really the technical things that stop Nat Geo Challenge!: Wild Life from being the best available nature-focused trivia title.

Groove Coaster: Future Performers is still a solid entry in the rhythm game series. The base game mechanics provide a fun rhythm game experience for a wide variety of skill levels — if you won't feel overwhelmed by the visuals. The soundtrack remains excellent, as always. The smaller song selection is disappointing, while the main story mode is fine if you can power through an uninteresting tale. Series veterans may come away a little underwhelmed, but newcomers may find this to be an enjoyable first entry before diving into the older but ultimately deeper Groove Coaster: Wai Wai Party.

Hotel Barcelona has a handful of flaws, but if you're willing to stick it out, there is a gem of a game underneath the rough surface. While I would've liked to see more polish and a few more levels to explore, the core gameplay loop is solid. I continually went back to Hotel Barcelona for "just one more run," even after I'd beaten the main story. It's also a good choice for busier gamers with limited play time, since a single run can be completed in a 15-minute setting. Hotel Barcelona is not a game for everyone, but if you're a fan of cheaper, quirky titles (like me), this is your jam.

Lords of the Fallen is not a bad game, but when compared to the Souls series, it is a lesser one.

It feels like Ubisoft's teams forgot everything they learned from excellent titles like Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. Die-hard fans of the franchise will find a lot to like here, but everyone else should go back and try the older, and better, Ezio-focused games.