DICE's newest take on the virtual battlefield does a lot of things right, despite firing a few blanks along the way, such as the lack of a co-op mode in the main campaign.

If you don't care what era your action takes place in, then Call of Duty: World at War manages to be an exciting addition to the series.

For the rest of it, though, The Walking Dead: Episode 2 - Starved for Help is an intense and often gory ride, and in a period of time when moral choice systems in games come down to a question of "living saint" versus "petty jackass," the moral choices you have to make in this game are actually pretty refreshing. I'm often really annoyed by this kind of adventure game, but The Walking Dead is an exception.

It has mostly superficial similarities to the first game, but it's one of the most genuinely enjoyable and fun JRPGs to come out in a long time. A charming story, delightful cast of characters, exciting gameplay and amazing presentation combine to make a game that is a boatload of fun to play. Its only real flaw is sometimes getting too bogged down in its own systems, and the story could be meatier. JRPG fans of all ages should find a lot to love here, and it's a must-have for anyone who loves the genre.

If you can soldier past what makes it feel as battered as its namesake and push aside its past baggage, potential survivors might find that New Vegas' odds are worth betting on.

As a whole, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition is literally the complete package for fans of the series and genre enthusiasts. It's not the best platformer around, but it is a fun journey, especially with the additional DLC characters. I wish the developer would've embraced the Metroidvania aspects more, gotten more creative with some platforming segments, and included a few more environments for the DLC, but there is not much else I can hold against this truly fun platformer.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a perfect party game, provided your party likes a bit of stress every now and then. The puzzles are deviously fun, and the many permutations for each bomb mean that it'll take quite some time before repetition sets in. The game setup is also brilliant, and it makes the Switch's configuration one of the more sensible ways to play the title. As long as you have a bunch of people who aren't shy about barking loads of information to one another, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a nice addition to your party game lineup.

It's a little disappointing that the mechanics, story and gameplay haven't seen any noteworthy updates, but it's a great port.

The controls are terrific, and the sound is simply amazing.

If you have a passing interest in the world of golf, I highly suggest checking out Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11. It's definitely the best entry yet in the series, and golf fans shouldn't pass it up.

A title that is only limited by two factors, your imagination and the ability of the title to match it.

Crysis 2 feels like a much more refined version of the first game. The plot isn't amazing, but it's much better than the first game, and the pacing is well done.

Ultimately, Rare Replay is a must-buy title if you have even a passing interest in a handful of the included games.

It is a better adventure, in my opinion than the original game and definitely a level up from "Shadows of Undrentide."

A fun and truly enormous action game based around that most perfect of gaming goals: blowing up anything that so much as <I>thinks</I> at you funny.

A fantastic game that falls short of perfection because of its length. Great story, action, graphics, and sound make this a game to remember, but coming in at less than 7 hours of gameplay really hurts the value.

OlliOlli World is a delightfully charming little platformer. It has its own sense of style, and it's dripping with personality. The gameplay is a delightful mix that's easy to pick up and play but difficult to master. If you're looking for something that scratches the Tony Hawk bug, then OlliOlli World succeeds in spades. Just don't get frustrated when your near-perfect run is ruined by a stray cat sitting at the very end of the level.

Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 is a little late in coming to the PS3, but it still manages to be one of the console's most thrilling shooters.

Shadow of Mordor is the rare Arkham clone that transcends its status.

With Thronebreaker, CD Projekt Red has succeeded in making a fun, single-player experience about a simplified card game. It's a polished, story-driven experience that has a lot going for it. It's not a masterpiece, and there are some minor gripes, such as the difficulty (or lack thereof) and the absence of meaningful decision-making, but it is still an incredibly entertaining game. If you're into The Witcher and on the lookout for another story in the same universe, you can't go wrong with Thronebreaker.

If you can get over the admittedly wonky premise, you'll find an intense, involving horror experience.

Shin Megami Tensei V is pretty much the sequel that fans have been waiting for. There are a few potentially controversial decisions, such as the emphasis on an open-world area instead of the franchise classic dungeons, but they ended up working out in the end. The gameplay was fun from start to finish, and the 40-hour runtime seemed to fly by thanks to excellent pacing. If you liked Nocturne but wished it were more modern, SMT5 is the game you've been waiting for.

As of right now, World Tour puts on a solid show, but when the next game comes around, we're going to be expecting one hell of an encore.

Despite some of my qualms with the production and PC port quality, I highly recommend picking up Horizon: Zero Dawn for the PC. Yes, there is some risk of encountering the issues that others have seen, but fortunately, Steam's generous refund system serves as a comforting protection against wasted money. Overall, it's an easy recommendation for all cohorts of gamers. Players who didn't have a PS4 can experience a well-crafted world with a captivating story to flesh it out, and those who already played it back in 2017 might still enjoy the PC version's improved visuals and frame rate. This is a great way to refresh your memory on Aloy's adventures before the sequel releases in 2021 for PS5.

Your opinion of Planet Coaster will be completely dependent on what you're seeking. As a management simulator, it hits the basics but doesn't introduce anything revolutionary. As a creation game, it shines because the design tools are powerful and the amount of structures that can be used is almost limitless thanks to a vibrant and active community. Ultimately, the game is fun once you get a grasp of the tools, and it's an excellent title to jumpstart a revival in theme park simulators.

'Splosion Man is one of the most enjoyable and unique platform games I've played in years. The gameplay is simple to pick up but full of complexities to master.

No doubt inspired by Nintendo's Legend of Zelda series, Beyond Good & Evil HD is an ambitious title that deserves to be played. It may not be groundbreaking today, but it is a key title on any essential list of video game gems. If you can force yourself to adapt to the controls, the experience is worth the hassle.

There are literally only a handful of racers released in the past few years that can even come close to the experience that this game provides; the customization, sense of speed, longevity, sound, and graphics all are about as perfect as can be expected.

When all is said and done, all I have left to claim is that GT Legends is the single best racing game I've personally ever played. Bold words, I know, but I truly feel that way.

F1 2010 isn't for everyone, but if you like it, you'll like it a lot for quite a while.

Prey is simply exceptional. The story is twisting and confusing in a way that is exciting, and it makes you crave the next scene. The survival-horror approach to combat and gameplay creates the right amount of tension, while the crafting elements and ability to use almost anything in the world allows for emergent solutions thanks to the different approaches to almost every situation. Most of the flaws are technical in nature, and they're not enough to severely impact the game, so Prey earns its place as one of the hallmarks of this platform generation.

As a multiplayer experience, Gears 5 offers up a wide variety of options, and something is sure to please almost every type of player. There are some rough edges, especially with the way character upgrades are handled, but the core gameplay is solid and satisfying. Combined with the campaign, Microsoft and the Coalition have given players an amazing value, especially if you are getting the title via Game Pass. It may not be perfect, but it'll provide hours of fun, and that's what matters.

Fight Night: Champion isn't a perfect boxing game. The addition of the referee is distracting at times, especially since it feels like he wasn't implemented well. Veteran players will lament the fact that their old practices make for a twitchier boxer until they learn the proper control scheme, and the training games aren't exactly exciting. Despite this, there's still plenty to love about the game. The Story mode is engaging, if familiar, and the Legacy mode gives the solo player something to work toward. The online mode performs well, the game still impresses graphically, and the fighting engine feels like a better tweak of what was offered in Fight Night Round 4. Boxing fans, both die-hard and casual, will find plenty to enjoy in this game.

Despite its flaws, Hitman: Definitive Edition is a solid installment in the Hitman franchise and serves as a quality introduction to a reboot of a classic title. The Definitive Edition is a great way for players to pass the time until Hitman 2 launches.

Altogether, I came away from Resident Evil 5 feeling pretty impressed, and while the change isn't nearly as radical as it was when Resident Evil 4 was released, it's still a really solid follow-up that keeps everything that worked from the previous title.

God of War: Origins Collection isn't a bad deal for die-hard God of War fans. While neither game is the best that God of War has to offer, they're still more of the same exciting, action-packed gameplay.

Despite its vast and seemingly bottomless variety, it feels like many mini-games of varying quality threaded together loosely around a hollow core. It aims high, but falls short and doesn't really excel in any of its many genres.

Dark Souls Remastered doesn't make any dramatic changes to its original release several years ago. The struggle to progress is constant, but just as every moment could be another death, it could also be a moment of great triumph and self-accomplishment. Playing at 60fps makes me wonder how I ever managed to play at half of that rate several years ago. It's a beautiful remaster, even if it isn't a complete overhaul. It's a great entry for newcomers or a great walk down memory lane for fans of its original release.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor is easily one of the best strategy-RPGs on the Nintendo DS and may even be one of the better strategy RPGs ever made.

Despite Virtua Tennis 4 releasing a few months from now, it's safe to say that Top Spin 4 will be a difficult game to beat. The physics and fatigue system make this a deep sport simulation, while the improved control system and streamlined character leveling mechanic is simple enough that newcomers and casual players won't feel overwhelmed.

Battlefield 3 is a fine objective-based multiplayer shooter, but that's it. In all other respects, it comes up short.

Die-hard fans of UFC and of the sport will immediately have fun with UFC Undisputed 2010 while the more casual fans will enjoy the superficial upgrades.

In the end, Monster Hunter Tri takes all the essentials of the MMORPG format and ports them, almost perfectly, to the Wii.

Invisible War kind of looks like it was meant to be a much, much better game than it is, with a lot of half-finished ideas that aren't taken quite far enough.

As a whole, Assassin's Creed III feels lacking. Considering how positive most early impressions were coming out of E3, perhaps my expectations were set too high, but there are clearly a number of disjointed elements that feel half-finished or poorly thought out. This is the issue of having so many cooks in the Assassin's Creed III's development kitchen, and the final product ends up being far more disappointing than I would've expected. It's not without some merit, and it's not something to skip if you're invested in the universe or overarching story, but if you found your interest waning with Revelations, AC3 could be the final nail in the coffin for some players. It's worth a rental, but I wouldn't classify this as a must-play game.

Taken at face value, Toki Tori 2+ is an incredibly well-designed platformer with a distinct Metroidvania vibe. However, it is let down by its visuals and sometimes frustratingly slow progression and backtracking due to certain puzzle sections.

Regardless of whether you're an old-school platform fanatic or someone who has never picked up a platformer in your life, Outland is a game worth checking out. An impulse buy with retail production values, it's hard to go wrong with this one.

With all of its content and features, Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker is the definitive version of the game.

From the single-player to the co-op and multiplayer, every aspect of the game sings with quality as they successfully blend old traditions with new mechanics. There's already a ton of content in the game, which is great at giving you many possible ways to access it all. While the PC is the preferred platform to play the game, the Xbox One version is no slouch, as it still comes up with a solid experience. Overall, action fans will have a blast with this title.

A worthy follow-up to the last Colin MacRae game, but while it's competent and looks fantastic, it leaves a little something to be desired in a few key areas.

Halo 5's single-player campaign is fun, but the game is at its best when you're coordinating with others and attacking objectives as a team.

Coming from a PC-centric point of view, you should purchase Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition if you're a fighting game fan. All of the improvements are a massive upgrade from vanilla Street Fighter IV, with the redone online matchups almost being worth it on their own.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure is a solid game that's full of charm for fans of the cozy game sub-genre. The map is large and varied, the number of characters feels like the right amount. The activities blend in well with the light adventuring aspect, and there are a few quality-of-life changes that feel like they should be adopted by other cozy games. The only knock is in the more prevalent progression gating, but if you aren't bothered by that, then you'll enjoy what this licensed game offers.

With a plethora of deep features, an incredible online mode and some of the most immersive animations and graphics ever, 2K7 far outshines the competition.

Day of the Tentacle Remastered is a solid port of an excellent cult classic.

The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is an addictive game, but it shows its age in several ways. It's the full Skyrim experience, and all three additional DLC packs are unlocked from the beginning. It's a game-changer that players can play a game as time-consuming as Skyrim while they're out and about. However, you have to ask yourself if a solid port of a six-year-old game, portable or not, is worth the $60 price tag.

The game looks great, boasting beautiful landscapes throughout the city and Fortuna Castle, where a majority of the game takes place. The combat animations also flow unbelievably well, adding a certain realism to taking out your foes.

You need to buy The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction. It's the closest modern science will let us get to actually being the Hulk, plus without the possible side effects of gamma radiation.

Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon relishes in the idea of punishing you. The roguelike nature and quick action puzzle elements can feel overwhelming, and it'll feel like a miracle when you beat the game for the first time. The solid mechanics are enough to keep you coming back, and the bevy of unlockable characters makes this similar enough to the original Shovel Knight in that the content will seem endless. For fans of unusual puzzles and Shovel Knight, Pocket Dungeon is perfect for you.

The bottom line is if you're a Metallica fan, there's no reason for you not to be playing Guitar Hero: Metallica right now.

The combination of setting, graphical tweaks, and additional content have done nothing more than forge the experience into exactly what it should have been from the very beginning.

Guacamelee is an impressive effort from Drinkbox Studios. It's a simple, solid and well-made Metroid clone in a time when Metroid clones are nonexistent.

In every way, No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle is a better game than No More Heroes.

Yakuza: Like A Dragon is a wonderful addition to the franchise. It hits the mark with a likeable new protagonist and an engaging new combat system without losing what makes Yakuza great. It suffers from issues like a low difficulty (another Yakuza staple), but it features top-notch humor and charm. If you like Yakuza, then you'll like Like A Dragon. It is everything that makes the series great and is one of the freshest entries since Yakuza 0.

Revolution makes a great starting place for new gamers to learn the ways of Civilization while avoiding being overwhelmed by the massive amount of things present in Civilization 4.

Spore is not the gaming paradigm shift it might have been touted as, and it is quite possibly overrated. However, that's not to say you should dismiss it outright, since it's a highly impressive and ambitious undertaking unlike any other before, ultimately hitting more of its lofty targets than it misses.

Long after you're finished building your automotive empire, you'll still have editable races, online contests and simple cruising sessions at your disposal. It's good for a quick play or for a long stretch.

Overall, Red Matter 2 is a great sequel that builds on the strengths of the first entry and further improves upon the visuals and gameplay. It simply looks and runs phenomenal on the Quest 2, with mostly captivating puzzles and an interesting mystery to solve at its core. It's not perfect and still exhibits some bugs, and I probably could've done without the shooting sections, but that's a small price to pay when the rest come together as well as this. If you own a quest, this is a six-hour adventure you don't want to miss.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds is a solid fighting game that's easy to pick up. The redesigned controls and gameplay mechanics mean that pretty much anyone can jump in, but the game could do a better job in teaching some of its more advanced mechanics to newcomers.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is a very strong game that's dragged down by a lackluster plot and weak story structure. If you enjoyed Human Revolution for the gameplay and exploration, you'll find a lot to like here. This is not a story-driven narrative that advances the world of Deus Ex, but anyone who enjoyed Human Revolution will have fun with Mankind Divided.

Little Goody Two Shoes works well because it incorporates many different elements while still being engaging. The humor contrasts well with the horror, as do the visual novel dating elements when combined with the survival, horror, and puzzling-solving sections. The story is both horrifying and entertaining, making it a perfect fit for those who favor moody unease instead of gore. Genre fans looking for something wildly different from other entries in the genre or who want something subversive would really enjoy Little Goody Two Shoes.

For those who have played the game countless times on either the PS2 or the Wii, there's really no point in owning this version unless you're a super fan of the series or this entry in particular. However, if you've never tried the game before or owned systems that didn't get Resident Evil 4 iterations in the past, this is a great time to get the game.

Killzone 3 is a fun game, but it's also a pedestrian one. Nothing, aside from its PS3 exclusivity, makes it particularly notable, and in the shooter genre, if you're not named Call of Duty, then you'd better do something different and better than your competition.

Deceptively cute, strikingly subversive and creatively inspired, Stacking appeals to both the casual and hardcore audiences in a single shot.

F1 2011 is a good game built on a solid foundation that is only improving with each annual installment. Still, Formula One racing is not every gamer's cup of tea. It's strangely addictive, but it doesn't have the pick-up-and-play nature of a Burnout game. Dirt and Grid are more down to earth than Burnout, but F1 makes them look a lot like OutRun.

In the end, Axiom Verge is an excellent homage to Metroid that also brings some interesting touches to the table.

If you are a hardcore basketball simulation player who enjoys not only managing your favorite team through several seasons but playing against like-minded people as well, you probably already have NBA 2K9. If not, go and grab it now. Until NBA 2K10 hits, this will be the best basketball sim you'll ever play.

If video games were movies, the Sega Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage would qualify as a remastered collector's edition. The only thing missing is some sort of digital archive section to highlight the original manuals and packaging. Although the Streets of Rage games can be had in alternate forms, you would be hard-pressed to find a better way to experience these three titles outside of the original cartridges.

At the end of the day, Dungeon of the Endless attempts to scratch a lot of itches by meshing together a lot of different genres, and it manages to do so in a satisfying way. The collection and allocation of resources aren't the most intriguing aspects of the game, but the gameplay is still pretty solid. Meanwhile, the character selection and roguelite elements provide plenty of replayability. The visuals and music are predominantly well developed, but the UI could use some extra attention. For enthusiasts of pixel art, 16-bit music, and games that utilize light strategy elements, Dungeon of the Endless is for you.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage sets itself up as the real definitive version of this long-running entry in the series. Online play is still the main focus, and it helps that the performance is good, while cross-play ensures a longer than expected online life for the game. The single-player content is fine from a purist perspective; it'll keep you busy with fight after fight, but don't expect anything deeper than that. It looks and performs well on the system, and that's all you can really ask for. This is a great addition for Switch 2 owners who love fighting games, but it would be really nice to get more info on a brand-new entry rather than another port of this title.

Congrats to the Fight Night team for putting this together; for the time being, this is as real as video boxing is going to get.

When you take it all into consideration, Mortal Kombat is a pretty good entry into the series, namely for the surprisingly high-quality story mode, but it falls short in other areas. You'll spew vulgarities almost every time you have to choke down a 1v2 fight and when the AI suddenly gains near-psychic prediction abilities, but when it's an even 1v1 fight, the game is a lot of fun. The choice to essentially reboot the series was a wise one, and now is probably your best chance to get caught up with the Mortal Kombat story, short of replaying the originals. However, some truly asinine fights will certainly dull the enjoyment from time to time.

Streets of Rage 4 is the perfect love letter to Sega's fan favorite beat-'em-up franchise. It captures the spirit and soul of the games while adding great new mechanics and tons of style. At its heart, it's a short, sweet, and well-made game about punching criminals until you can punch the biggest criminals of all. The price tag might be a bit steep if you're not someone who loves beating things up with friends, but for Streets of Rage fans, it is everything it should be.

An exemplary game to hold aloft as a challenge to future game creators to either match or exceed.

Your interest in BioShock: The Collection on the Switch is going to depend on if you belong in one of two specific camps. If you still lament the cancellation of BioShock for the PS Vita, then the collection will be perfect for you. It may not be a new story in the universe, but it fulfills the desire to take the familiar world with you on the go. If you've only owned Nintendo consoles and you don't have a gaming PC, then this is also a good fit, since the experiences are not to be missed. Everyone else can make the argument that the game is cheaper on other platforms with better performance to boot, but we should be happy to see the extension of BioShock's reach with this release.

In high definition, DMC4's graphics and animations are nothing short of stunning, following the series' signature fantastical, pseudo-Gothic style fully detached from any comprehensible real-world time period.

As a single-player game, Need for Speed: Most Wanted is simply good.

If Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is Naughty Dog's last run at the series, then it is good to know that they ended their involvement on a high note. Everything that made the series so memorable is present, from the witty banter and deep characterization to the white-knuckle action. Chloe and Nadine make a perfect duo, so you aren't going to miss Sully and Nathan. The lone new change, the expansion to a semi-open world for a majority of the game, works since the world isn't too large, and it means side activities are part of the game. For action fans, The Lost Legacy is a title that can't be missed, even if it's your first foray into the game world.

I found the single player mode of this game to very exciting and enticing, and I enjoyed the realism, strategy and cinematic moments that occurred during actual game play.

Overall, SoulCalibur 6 is a solid reboot of the franchise. It doesn't reinvent the wheel but focuses on sanding off the rough edges and returning the gameplay and storyline to the basics. The result is a game that's a distillation of what makes the SoulCalibur franchise fun. There's enough room and depth for people to get into the real -gritty of the gameplay, but there's also a lot of room for enjoyable fighting. It's a bit difficult to justify the purchase just for the single-player portion, but it's excellent for a couch party game — just like SoulCalibur should be.

For the $10 price of admission, Worms 2: Armageddon is a hard game to pass up if you've ever remotely been interested in the series. There's a slew of content here and lots of replay value due to the massive quantity of unlockables and level of customization that the game allows.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a pitch-perfect revival of the NES classics. It captures the same fun run-and-slash feel of the original games while modernizing enough to be exciting to play, whether you're a returning fan or a newcomer. The fantastic soundtrack and excellent graphics elevate it and make the entire package shine. The closest thing I can come to as a complaint is the somewhat low difficulty level, and that is more in comparison to the franchise as a whole rather than this game being too easy. If you're a fan of action-platformers or a Ninja Gaiden fan in general, you'll find a ton to love in Ragebound.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is exactly the game it promised to be: a heartfelt, funny, clever and incredibly fun tribute to a classic beat-'em-up and the cartoon on which it was based. The old-fashioned version of the Turtles might seem a bit odd to kids who are used to the more modern versions, but even they should have a ton of fun beating the heck out of the Foot Clan with their favorite of the timeless terrapins. If you feel nostalgia for Turtles in Time, then Shredder's Revenge is made for you, and I'm darn glad it is.

Dragon Quest III: HD-2D Remake is a charming and well-made update of one of the most classic RPGs of all time. It doesn't reinvent the mold and is too safe for its own measure, but at the same time, it's easily the most accessible and fun version of the game to date. You'll need to have some tolerance for dated design choices, but if you've ever wondered why people love the classic Dragon Quest so much, this is the game to play.

If you're willing to put up with the infuriating AI and lack of courses, then you'll find a lot to love about Split/Second.

Overall, Gordian Quest is fun deck-builder that's similar to a Griftlands-style campaign that's absolutely packed with content. It goes all-in on the RPG elements, which is both its greatest strength and biggest flaw. It's not as addictive as some of the strongest games in the genre, but it's still fun to play. I wish the developers had trimmed off some of the fat, but since they didn't, it means that you're getting a game with tons of content for a very reasonable price.

Fuga: Melodies of Steel stars anthropomorphic children as they confront the horrors of war in a tank armed with a soul-sucking Super Cannon. It feels like something I never could have anticipated playing, but it works. The characters are likeable, the gameplay is engaging, and I felt genuinely awful when something terrible happened to one of my charges. It's the rare game that comes out of left field and does most things right, and if you're a fan of JRPGs, you'll find a whole lot to enjoy with Fuga. Just … don't use the Soul Cannon, please.

As we near the end of this review, I have a small secret. I'm not someone you'd call a "fan" of the Wizarding World, at least not in the sense where I've got my own wand or want to down a butterbeer. I enjoy and appreciate the world that was built and the characters in it, but it's not like I got fully sucked in. That changed a little after a few dozen hours of playing Hogwarts Legacy. If you're a fan, you're in heaven, and if you're not ... well, this game might not make you love magic, but you'll certainly want to like it.