As it stands, the game can be considered a noble attempt with failed execution, and only those with a good amount of patience or excellent lighting should consider trying the game. Everyone else would be better off waiting for a sequel or a patch that irons out the game's technical issues.

While the game is challenging, it's because it lacks many of the improvements of recent games, not because of good design. Those hardcore faithfuls looking for a nostalgia trip will be pleased.

Ultimately, the title is a good rental, but those who really want to have some fun with cooking should still go with the Cooking Mama series or the book on which this game was based, How to Boil Water, as it is a more satisfying experience.

Scooby-Doo! First Fright is a decent brawler that is intended for children but serves as a very poor example of a Scooby-Doo licensed title.

There's no feeling of being "unleashed," and the actual implementation of Force powers is drastically inferior to older games like Jedi Outcast.

The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince is a good game burdened by some unfortunate flaws. The story is engaging from beginning to end, and it can get pretty emotional at times. The concept of changing forms to deal with different situations is good, while the presentation catches your senses. Some will lament the game's lack of challenge, while others will hate how the game sometimes feels like it's limiting your controls so you'll encounter death more often than necessary. The narrative may compel you to play it, but you'll only enjoy it if you have the patience to deal with its issues.

If anything, treat this game as training wheels for future dance games. It is a great place to learn about the genre, but it won't be long before the audience graduates to meatier fare.

Of the games in Capcom Arcade Cabinet - Game Pack 5, the only real standout is Pirate Ship Higemaru. If you are only interested in a few titles, then it's probably worth considering Pirate Ship Higemaru as a stand-alone purchase. As a three-game pack, however, Game Pack 5 isn't that exciting unless you're a hardcore retro gamer.

Although the gameplay is a bit repetitive and shallow, the graphics are certainly a pleasure to look at in each area, and the cut scenes with voice acting are a nice addition for a Nintendo DS title.

Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012 has plenty of variety, but it's also terribly frustrating, and that is the kiss of death for nearly any fitness game. The lack of direction, spotty fitness tracking and inaccuracy of the Kinect sensor all combine to create a package that just doesn't provide compelling reason to come back for more. The only way fitness games work is if they're more fun than actually going to the gym, but Your Shape fails that test on nearly every count.

The addition of motion controls is an interesting experiment, but the actual execution leaves a bit to be desired when you find yourself with a couple bogeys on your tail.

Heroes hasn't stood the test of time, but if you ever thought "Lunar" was fun after 1996, this game will be a classic in your eyes.

Beyond: Two Souls is fun like a summer popcorn action movie. There are likeable characters and good set pieces, but it falls apart if you analyze it too closely.

There's very little to recommend Rayman 3D, even when keeping in mind the 3DS' rather limited launch lineup. There's the core of a good game here, but that's about all that this version of Rayman 2 has going for it.

To be fair, it hasn’t broken any new ground, didn’t dazzle me with its graphics, and included that same annoying pseudo-speak that all of these games seem to integrate.

The kind of game that needed a lot more work before it was released. While it's great to play as football legends, the roster creation system is incredibly restrictive, and it's impossible to field the kind of team of which you've always dreamed.

Cosmic Top Secret is a conflicting experience. On the one hand, the story is excellent. Even with the meandering parts, the narrative is fun, and you uncover endearing characters that are a joy to watch. On the other hand, while the unique presentation pulls you in, the clunky controls and inconsistent platforming bring you back out. It's still worth checking, provided you aren't easily flustered by the gameplay mechanics.

But on balance, when there are many excellent, enthralling adventure games for both children and adults lining shop shelves, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix doesn't quite meet muster.

When Revengeance is firing on all cylinders, it is a sight to behold. Watching Raiden tear through enemies while a dynamic speed metal soundtrack plays in the background is undeniably impressive. After spending an extended amount of time with the game, though, it becomes obvious that beauty is only skin-deep. Revengeance is more impressive to watch than it is to play, but it's certainly no Bayonetta.

Fritz 9 is ideal for players interested in seriously developing their chess games, but fails to do much for the casual player or players new to the game.

Subjecting your kids — or even yourself — to a bit of gaming history might just provide the incentive needed to appreciate how far video games have come. Add in some very real replayability and the ability to play Pac-Man Vs. with a friend, and the control issues and inclusion of a couple of questionable games becomes much more forgivable.

Overall, Warriors Orochi 2 is a solid game, but the repetitive gameplay and missions that make up the majority of the game prevent it from being anything more than a rental.

Surf World Series is a decent game for those who want to surf without learning how to physically do so or go to the beach. Once you come to grips with the trick system, the controls are rather good, and you'll get plenty of fun from riding the waves and pulling off some realistic tricks. For that alone, those looking for aimless fun will enjoy playing this in short bursts. This isn't recommended for anyone who's looking for a title with a long campaign or online competition.

A very average title. Good-looking graphics are plagued with frame rate problems and questionable camera angles.

It may not sound like it, but I enjoyed many aspects of Cyberpunk 2077. It doesn't hit the highs of The Witcher 3, but it still has a lot going for it. However, it was released in such an unfinished state that it's hard to give it a positive review. It's an 8.0 game hiding in a 4.0 game wrapper. I might change my tune in a few months, when patches have rolled out, but even when playing the best version available on the PlayStation systems, there's no getting around it: Cyberpunk 2077 might have been mocked for its delays, but it needed more of them. You'll still have fun if you pick it up now, but unless you're dying for it, it's best to wait until it's been patched and improved.

The game itself should appeal heavily to Yu-Gi-Oh fans, with the online gameplay adding a near-infinite amount of replay value while saving the player the hefty costs of real cards. However, be prepared for a massive amount of grinding in order to unlock all of those cards, as well as a confusing interface and poor game manual.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a game that's saved by its characters. Their personalities are as fleshed out as we'd expect from a Don't Nod adventure game, they're the driving force in getting you through the story. The presentation is top-notch as usual, and the tweaks to the choice system give the game enough room to feel a little different from the studio's past adventures. It's just too bad that the story isn't paced so well, and the tale feels like a setup for something bigger in a future game rather than something that is more self-contained. The game is still fairly enjoyable if you know what you're getting into, but don't expect the title to feel as complete as others, like the first Life is Strange or Tell Me Why.

If you like driving recklessly and crashing into things, you won't be disappointed. If you're just looking for a chance to actually drive a big rig truck, look towards Sega's Eighteen Wheeler game.

A good start for a new wrestling franchise. The fighting animations are fluid, and it's refreshing to see a wrestling game go back to the fundamentals as opposed to gimmicky matches and auxiliary items.

There's no argument that the gameplay in Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers is timeless. It strikes the right balance between technical flash and grounded mechanics to provide an experience that captivates all types of fans, whether they're jumping into fighting games for the first time, stopped playing from Street Fighter III onward, or never stopped playing fighting games. The various extras, however, feel half-heartedly done. From the Buddy Battle mode to the abysmal Way of the Hado, few things feel fully fleshed out, while parts of the presentation fare worse than the work Backbone Entertainment did almost 10 years ago. At least the online works fine this time around, which may be enough to entice some players. With a price tag of $40, the game represents a very steep cash grab, so unless you're adamant about getting Street Fighter II on the Switch, it's best to wait for a sale or a price drop.

I wouldn't classify this as a must-play title, but if you're starved for a Trials HD experience on a non-Microsoft platform, Urban Trial Freestyle does just enough to do the trick.

Lost Planet 3 fails to have its own identity. It is technically competent, and there are moments of fun to be had by shooting enemies.

The biggest problem with Evil Dead: Regeneration isn't that it's not simple fun, but that it never rises above that in any way that Evil Dead fans might hope, or that comedy-horror genre fans might expect.

Monster House could just as easily have been called My First Resident Evil. While less violent and more family-friendly, many of the same aspects are there and will make Monster House feel strangely familiar, from battling monsters to solving illogical puzzles. Sadly, the low difficulty level and cartoony feel make this title a poor purchase for any but the youngest of fans.

As a big fan of AG racing, I'm disappointed to see Redout II not live up to its potential. It's possible that the game will improve over time as updates are released. As-is, the Xbox version of Redout II feels more like an early access title with some good ideas than a fully polished game.

You should pick this one up only if you can handle a certain level of broken in your fighting game mechanics, and only if the control lag doesn't bother you.

Altogether, I enjoyed MLB Power Pros for the PS2, but I don't think it's a perfect casual game experience. It still straddles the line between hardcore and casual, and it occasionally dips too far into either side to be enjoyed by everyone

It's a pretty solid portable title, but it's definitely lacking that extra factor that the console titles have, where I feel like a complete powerhouse in the game and can mash buttons and mow down enemies until I get to a boss encounter.

Despite its look, Resurrection is so clearly a PSOne game at heart that it is difficult to stomach as a modern release, and despite the extremely slick production values, it is not the sequel fans were hoping for, nor the proper modernization that the series deserves.

With its lower price point, Bust-A-Move Universe was supposed to be a no-brainer for puzzle fans to pick up alongside their new 3DS consoles. The core of the game is still brilliant in its design and just as addictive as it ever was. However, the lack of modes and the reduction in difficulty has created a title that feels like a huge step backward for the franchise. If you don't mind the lack of multiplayer and are perfectly content with what's available here, try renting Universe. Otherwise, it's best to wait around and see if a new version will rectify the mistakes in this one.

A mediocre release.

While there's fun to be had here, most people will want to look elsewhere to get their dogfight on.

Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier is a very casual RPG for hardcore gamers.

If you enjoy adventure games on the PC, you could do worse than Art of Murder: Cards of Destiny. For the price, it'll provide you with a pretty lengthy and well thought-out adventure, but there are enough problems with the story's presentation to keep it from being an excellent, must-have purchase.

Monster Jam Showdown is a title for the fans who aren't so critical of their games. Performing stunts is undoubtedly fun, but the stadium events are boring even though they mimic what you'd see in a Monster Jam event. The races are enjoyable until you get stuck behind a truck or crash into a rock wall and spin around unrealistically. The number of available events makes for a lengthy single-player mode, while multiplayer is a good addition. Young players enamored with monster trucks will enjoy this title the most, while all other racing fans should approach it with the above caveats in mind.

Ultimately, LEGO Marvel's Avengers delivers plenty of fan service, but it fails to top its predecessors. Instead of something new and innovative, LEGO Marvel's Avengers is a by-the-numbers sequel that scratches the LEGO itch but doesn't offer much more than that. It's also the easiest LEGO game yet.

Smurfs Kart is pretty smurfy, at least in some parts. It nails the mechanics of Mario Kart quite well, the presentation is quite nice despite the low frame rate, and it has a good sense of speed. That said, the small number of tracks, vagueness on weapons, and basic modes mean that most Smurfs fans will knock out everything in an afternoon and struggle to return. It's not that bad of a kart racer for the Switch, but only die-hard fans of the recent cartoon will want to make this their main kart racer.

From a gameplay perspective, Destroy All Humans! is purely inoffensive and average; it proves itself to be somewhat entertaining in small doses. In all other aspects, the game lacks a soul of its own, choosing instead to use what others have already done.

Despite the time delay, Greg Hastings Paintball 2 is the same decent paintball game you've seen on the other consoles last year.

Balan Wonderworld is a great idea on paper, and it's perfectly playable from start to finish, but it's held back by some baffling design decisions and boring gameplay. The idea of a protagonist who swaps between costumes to collect Mario-style shines could be great, but the costumes are too simple, the environments are too boring, and the gameplay is too basic. It could possibly be a good game for extremely young players due to its low difficulty and cartoony graphics, but even then, I would recommend one of the many other offerings intended for that demographic instead.

Ace Angler: Fishing Spirits is strange. The fishing is easy to learn but difficult to master due to the lack of tutorial or feedback system. The coin concept is off-putting enough until someone has a surplus of coins to play with. The story mode does a better job of easing you into the game mechanics because it removes the token mechanic and provides focused goals. The minigames and online play are fun, but they're terrible for the overall goal of the game. The coin-pushing game is a very slow burn unless you get lucky. There is an audience for this type of quirky game, but you need to have enough patience to learn the system.

In the end, Jet Kave Adventures is fine. It looks nice and does the basics well enough that you won't get frustrated by mistimed jumps or falling off ledges. The gameplay fails to bring about any excitement in the back half, while the many mechanics designed to make this easier make it perfect for kids but not anyone who is considered fluent in the genre. It isn't a terrible game by any means, but you can tackle a few other, better platformers before trying this one.

A prime example of potential wasted. Even getting past the terrible use of the Shadowrun license, the game itself just feels half-finished. The lack of variety and polish that shows in every stage and every character model just accentuates this every time you put the disc into your 360.

Overall, there is a lot to do here, but between the amazing and fun moments, the collection interjects a myriad of frustrating, irrelevant, or tedious content. Given what's included, the $40 price tag is fair, and you'll have at least 30-40 hours of gameplay to enjoy.

A title with an interesting concept that gets too bogged down in its own mediocrity to use that concept well. Most of the game can be played on autopilot - issuing simple commands and then watching lackluster ship models fight until one explodes.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep The Board! appeals to a very specific type of player: someone who's already a big fan of the series and also loves digital board games. The concept is fine, and the day/night cycle and demon fights make this an intriguing party game. That said, between the mediocre collection of minigames, small board selection, unfair CPU characters, and poor online performance, there's not much to keep players interested for very long. It's not a terrible party game, but you'll only be tempted to grab it if you really, really need to play a party game.

Sometimes, the flaws make the masterpiece, and sometimes, the flaws just make something flawed. More a case of the latter than the former, Cars is a game that is a rental at best, unless you have children who are really, really into the movie, or if you really liked Kirby Air Ride but didn't care much for all that replay value.

No More Heroes on the PC is a tough one to rate. On the one hand, the gameplay can feel dated due to the empty open world and the crass nature of it all, along with the roadblocks to slow your ascent to the top; those are the same elements that have made it endearing to those who enjoy the Suda51 game style. On the other hand, the lack of PC options, from graphical tweaking to no keyboard and mouse support, make this feel rather bare-bones. It's still playable, and those who pick it up will have fun, but it could have been so much better.

While I'm not particularly excited by Personal Trainer: Walking, it does what it's advertised to do. I think that Nintendo could have made the product a bit more interesting given the cartridge space, and asking people to fork over $50 for this seems a little steep, considering what you get out of it.

Naughty Bear mostly coasts on its great concept. Its execution aims high and fulfills some of its promises, but not enough to remain engaging.

If you like CCGs, you'll have fun with Fable Fortune, but it'll be the same fun that you've already had elsewhere. If you've picked up Hearthstone at any time in the past four years, you won't miss anything by skipping this one. If you haven't picked up either, it's probably more worthwhile to pick up the one with a larger player base.

For those who are not fans of the franchise, "bland" is perhaps the best way to describe Wild Arms 5.

Dynasty Warriors fans will be happy with this offering because the gameplay is still the same but you now have the opportunity to fight in something that doesn't involve the Yellow Turban rebellion.

There's little reason to own Kung Fu: Panda Legendary Warriors unless you don't own the first, more platforming-oriented title, or you do own that title, hate the platforming and really want more of the combat.

At the end of the day, Sudoku Ball: Detective is still your basic game of sudoku. The ball gimmick doesn't really affect general gameplay, while the four specific modes only benefit those who want some added pressure to their game.

For everything that it does right in a given area, it does something wrong.

Here it is, Gundam fans: The game you have been waiting for. And, as usual, the rest of us are left with our copies of Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram -- not Marz -- with the sad notion that there will never be another game like it again.

In the end, Lost Planet 3 isn't all that bad. The gameplay is solid enough as long as you're on foot, and the story is well acted even if it doesn't end up being very interesting.

As an update of an older title, Turtles in Time Re-Shelled is an enjoyable nostalgia romp, but there isn't a whole lot here that is going to justify repeated play attempts.

The NHL 2K series which in my opinion had a stranglehold on NHL games for so long seems to have been done in by the loss of ESPN sponsorship as well as a completely inexplicable complacency in the department of upgrading and redesigning the game.

It may sound like I'm negative about Demon's Rise: War for the Deep, but it's great for people who want a combat-focused tactical RPG with different character classes. For anyone else, the minimal plot, simplistic gameplay, and low-quality visuals will probably turn them off before they can get deep enough to see where the strategy element shines. It's very much a game made by fans and for fans, and anyone else will probably be better off looking at the recent XCOM 2 release or even Mario + Rabbids for their tactical action.

Skully has its heart in the right place but can't quite execute things correctly. The movement is zippy when you're in ball form, but you're not going to find too many things to challenge you. The puzzle mechanics are good, but you won't have to think too hard about your next move. It's a fine experience that's not too enthralling due to its unevenness, so it's difficult to stick it out to the end.

While Zatch Bell! Mamodo Battles may be a lot of fun, especially for any Zatch Bell fan, it fails to be more than a button-masher.

Foreclosed is an interesting idea that doesn't lean hard enough into its premise to succeed. The neat comic book styling and intriguing "identity theft made law" neo-noir setting give a strong first impression, but the core gameplay is tedious enough that it becomes a chore to get through to reach the more interesting bits. In the end, it feels like it squanders its potential, especially when it all but begs comparisons to similar games that offer the same ideas but are executed better.

All in all, Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed is an uneven experience.

J-Stars Victory Versus+ has a lot of heart, but that heart doesn't guarantee good gameplay.

Scrapland is the symbol of what games without multi-million dollar ad campaigns should not be. Trying for something unattainable is synonymous with creating something subpar. And that's all Scrapland is, when it's said and done.

Ultimately, MediEvil doesn't have much going for it except for nostalgia. Everything about it is unexceptional, and it feels lackluster when compared to similar recent attempts to update PS1 classics. Without a fondness for Sir Dan and his antics, I'd be hard-pressed to say why MediEvil is worth playing. It's a game for fans, but little has been done to make this offering stand out. Perhaps it would've been better if Sir Dan had been left to his peaceful rest, but we can hope for a genuine next-gen MediEvil someday in the future.

There's nothing really wrong with PokePark 2: Wonders Beyond, but there isn't a lot right with it, either. It is an adorable but mediocre game.

As mentioned at the beginning of the review, your appreciation of Star Wars: Episode I: Racer appearing on the Switch will heavily depend on the rose tint of your glasses. On the one hand, the presentation is especially rough, and the lack of difficulty for most of the campaign makes the task of unlocking everything a chore — at least until the final few races become competitive. On the other hand, the sense of speed in races is still present, and the track design isn't bad when you consider how fast things are going. While those who have played the game before might get a kick out of being able to play it again on a modern, portable machine, others may be fine leaving this one alone.

Ultimately, the biggest issue with Bejeweled Blitz Live is that it simply doesn't have enough meat on its bones. As a free game, it's a wonderful diversion, but at 800 MSP ($10 USD) for a download, it feels a bit thin.

Much like its predecessors, Malicious Fallen is a game with a good idea and less-than-stellar execution. Since it has three times the amount of content when compared to the original and doesn't feel painfully short now, it's easier to accept the idea of a title consisting of nothing but boss fights. The general combat feels fine if you aren't fighting the camera or befuddled by some difficult-to-read systems for your abilities and stats. As mentioned earlier, those who didn't like the original title won't be swayed by this entry, but those who have played the previous two games will find it difficult to justify the $30 asking price when they have to replay two-thirds of the content again. However, Malicious Fallen can be an intriguing game if you're tired of the current offerings on the market.

Crime Lab: Body of Evidence is a perfectly mediocre point-and-click adventure game that's hindered by a dull plot and a few design flaws.

Manhunt 2 doesn't quite live up to the hype of its predecessor. It is incredibly violent, but it doesn't have the same effect as the original due to the muted kill sequences.

The result is a decent platformer that doesn't quite hit the mark of the first game, leaving behind a title that can be fun for platforming fans but is better as a rental than something to consider owning at a cheaper price.

All Zombies Must Die could have been a much better game. The level-building RPG elements as well as the weapon-crafting add some much-needed depth to a genre that is usually shoot first, but never ask questions. However, the constant backtracking, repetitive quests and lack of real variety dulls away whatever fun you'll be experiencing. The bad humor and lack of online multiplayer don't help things, either. With so many other zombie-themed twin-stick shooters on the market, it would be best to save this one for future gaming dry spells you have with local friends.

At $2.99, it is a tempting enough proposition for the fun it delivers, but it is ultimately a pass unless you have other likeminded players around you.

Phantom Brave: We Meet Again is not the worst thing you could play, but in the world of strategy RPGs, it's trying hard to be.

SX Superstar isn't a horrible motocross game. It isn't a great one either, or even above average. It will find itself forever in the middle, a so-so effort from Acclaim.

Parcel Corps is loads of fun in short bursts. It's one of those games that you can play in between other big titles as a palette cleanser. You have to be able to overcome a few things like the unorthodox control scheme to get the most out of it, and if you can get the game for cheap, it's worth a look.

I don't think that Jewel Master: Cradle of Rome is going to hold the attention of most players, and it's obviously being geared toward the casual market, not only because it's on the Wii but because it's available at a budget price.

A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is a decent horror experience. The story is fine if you're a fan of the situation instead of the characters that don't give you much material to sympathize with them. The gameplay is authentic to the movies, but it can also feel ridiculous with the amount of debris that you need to be aware of. The game nails the tension necessary for a horror game, but it is also laid on so thick that it can feel tiring if you're playing in long sessions. In the end, while it could've been a tighter experience, it is still a game worth checking out if you're a fan of horror games where you can forgive some questionable game design decisions.

Diehard fans of the "Ghost in the Shell" series will likely want to play through it at least once in order to dissect more of the series' story. Otherwise, I would say this game is only for people who really like shooters, and even then, it's a moderately short game.

Conga Master Party is one of those games that is a novel experience for a short amount of time. You're not really going to find a game that essentially takes Snake and changes enough of the mechanics that it feels fresh again. With that said, the novelty wears out quickly, and although the multiplayer tries to balance things out, its shallow depth means that Conga Master Party is a game you'll play once or twice before shelving it — until your choices thin out again.

Smelter is an average title. The side-scrolling action is rather well done and, taken on its own, makes for a strong platformer. The strategy portions lack depth, and when combined with your overall weak state, it makes the experience a bit of a slog. The title is ambitious, and those willing to forgive the strategy portion should check it out.

It may not have the strongest story in the series, but the gameplay is enjoyable due to the number of weapons and crafting options at your disposal.

Chances are you'll be better serviced with any one of Namco's arcade collections.

However, as someone who was pretty lukewarm on the concept to begin with, Gardening Mama hasn't done much to change my mind, and the irritating controls went a long way toward making me dislike the game altogether. If you can get past that, then you might enjoy the sim aspect of Gardening Mama for the DS, but for me, it was pretty much a wash.