Overall, Resident Evil: Village is a solid entry into the franchise. It isn't quite up to the sheer excellence of Resident Evil 2 or Resident Evil 4, but it has a lot of genuinely fun moments and solid gameplay. The only thing that might hold it back is that it returns to the ridiculousness that Resident Evil loves to embrace, and that might disappoint fans who were hoping for something more grounded. If you're a Resident Evil fan who has stuck with the series through Alfred Ashford and Jake Muller, then you'll probably feel right at home with Village.

It doesn't tamper too much with the underlying engine that made the first game so great but adds just enough novelty to justify a second iteration.

It's a very fresh FPS in a genre that feels more stale every year. It's certainly one of the better new IPs that I've seen this year, and I'm very curious to see what People Can Fly do with the sequel.

Sk8land is the best attempt yet to convert the old boy of skateboarding to a portable.

Madden has been wasting away on the current hardware for a while now, and while it is still a good football game and has a lot to offer, it doesn't rise above and really blow away the previous version.

Until Fallout: New Vegas gets a major patch that fixes the problems, it can only be recommended to gamers who have a high threshold for frustration.

I highly recommend Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride because it's an example of great storytelling, solid gameplay and excellent overall presentation.

It may lack multiplayer or online play, which many, including myself, were hoping for, but the single player campaign clearly makes up for this.

Fetch-quests and sometimes tedious level-grinding aside, Raven Software has refined and polished their product to a shiny sheen, and you should reward them for it with your money.

They have made a Bond game with an identity all its own - the GoldenEye precedent has been broken.

Excellent graphics and sound, especially for the driver camera, offer something awesome to the genre, while the controls are as tight as ever. Add this to a mostly solid campaign mode and opponent AI that does more than stick to pre-determined racing lines, and you have a racing game that can stand up well with the best of them.

Despite its flaws, Saints Row: The Third succeeds because of its mandate to focus on fun. The story may not be epic and the graphics may not be mind blowing, but when all is said and done, Saints Row: The Third probably has more "holy sh*t!" moments than any other game currently on the market. Combine this with a twisted sense of humor, and you have a recipe for success.

Though GT 5 screws up a lot of the details, the overall experience remains one of the best in gaming, and Polyphony proves once more that when it comes to realistic racing, it's on a whole different plane than the competition.

It combines a lot of typically dissonant elements into a smooth, polished package, and despite a few small problems, it's well worth your time.

In spite of Skate 2's flaws, it may just be time to crown the Skate franchise as the new king of the skate park. The game manages to be thrilling while eschewing some of the more ridiculous aspects of the Tony Hawk titles (grinding a telephone wire, really?) , and the motion-based trick system is much more immersive than pressing buttons once you get the hang of it.

A remarkably faithful but also remarkably flawed version of a great party game.

An awesome game and earns a great deal of respect and admiration, but doesn’t quite earn what I wish it would.

My only real gripe about Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is that I wish there were more of it. Miles and the rest of his circle are absolutely capable of being compelling enough to carry a game for twice the length. I just like this kid, and I think a lot of other people will, too.

Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster is a solid remaster of a genuinely amazing game. While not every change is for the better, almost all of them are understandable side effects of porting a game between systems that have very different capabilities. All of Bravely Default's strengths are still present, and if you're a fan of Final Fantasy V or Octopath Traveler, then you'll find a lot of those games' high points present. I would've liked to see more of an upgrade to the game's final quarter, but even with that, Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster is still one of the best RPGs on the market.

Danmaku Unlimited 3 is another excellent shooter on a system that's quickly becoming an appropriate home for them. The frantic action you'd expect from a bullet hell shooter is improved with interesting attack patterns and a set of mechanics that rewards both quick kills and exhibits some flair during gameplay. There's a nice balance for both veterans and genre newcomers, with the latter being served especially well since the game's difficulty and lack of continues foster a need to improve while ensuring that death isn't immediate. Topped off with a great presentation, DU3 is a high point for the genre, and despite the deluge of shooters on the Switch, it's a title that fans shouldn't miss.

Overall Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection is a solid, if overpriced, collection of some excellent dungeon crawlers. The same core gameplay remains strong to this day, but series vets might be annoyed at the lack of Untold's features. Any of the games is an excellent game on its own and provides gameplay for quite a while. If not for the price tag, this is an incredibly easy game to recommend, with or without Untold features. Even the most hardcore of Etrian Odyssey fans may want to stick to one game or wait for a sale.

It is an adventure game through and through, and it manages to capture the feeling of fun and exploration in a way that few games can.

Borderlands is one of the best co-op games on the market. It's fun and easy to pick up, and its unique combination of RPG and FPS elements makes it unlike anything else out there.

The most enjoyable gaming experience I've had this year. The story was one of the best ever, and the acting is top-notch.

The title's bite-sized action will hook you right from the start, and once you start playing, this is really one of those games that's extremely difficult to put down (especially since you know that the next level is only 30 seconds long).

If you're lucky enough to not have been plagued with port issues, then you'll find Nioh: Complete Edition to be a wonderfully difficult action game. Though it brings along a high level of difficulty that seems to be en vogue for recent action games, its emphasis on faster action makes it a perfect complement for the competition. Similarly, the loot drops are a great addition, and the oddball story makes the game feel more distinct. It would've been nice to see more PC-specific optimization, but Nioh is worth checking out for fans of difficult action games.

Madden NFL 11 is easily one of the most solid efforts in recent years, and it's definitely the sort of game that nearly any football fan will be pleased with.

At the end of the day, I'm not sure what else you could expect from a remaster of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. It was a great game in 1999, and it's aged better than most in its class. If you're looking for some solid RTS gameplay, single-player or multiplayer, look no further than Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition.

Dredge has no right to be as good as it is, but it effectively plays to its strengths and mixes solid systems with a strong theme. If you're not into fishing or Lovecraft, Dredge won't be your cup of tea. However, if either even slightly tickles your fancy, I can almost guarantee that you'll have a blast delving into the twisted mysteries of Dredge — and you'll even make a decent buck with mutant fish while you're at it.

It’s definitely not for children and it’s not intended for those with a low threshold for frustration, but come on. Who doesn’t love making people’s heads explode?

While it does not bring anything significantly new to the genre, Battle for Middle Earth 2 is a solid RTS.

There’s a certain, “been there, done that, bought the t-shirt” feel to the game and what’s going to determine the long-term success of the game how much the mod community endorses the game.

For only $29.99, you won't find a better or more complete online experience for Xbox.

It is proven that if you give Disgaea 2 a bit of your time, it can swallow your life. Submit to its will.

A solid game, allowing for wildly varying tactics.

The only thing holding back this game from being a must-own for everyone is the confusing plot, but even then, players should be able to enjoy this title for its fantastic gameplay and amazing music.

Perhaps the highest praise I can give the title is that despite Sony's concerns with overpricing a multiplayer-only game, Warhawk, lacking all single-player capabilities, is worth every bit of the full price for games of this console generation.

Madden 16 feels like EA has finally caught up to the current generation of gaming and can now start to improve the venerable football franchise by even greater strides.

Control Ultimate Edition is a great title, especially since the DLC adds more enemies and gameplay mechanics into the mix. If you rush, the complete bundle will take you about 18 hours to complete, but if you take your time and explore and complete side-quests, you'll take at least 25 hours, which is quite meaty for a game of this caliber. If you have yet to experience Control, Ultimate Edition is the best way to do so on the PC. The combat is tight, over the top, and satisfying. The premise is so good that you want to dive deeper, but it doesn't always come together. While it's a great game to play, Control could have been an even stronger experience, and that takes away some of its thunder.

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

The original Street Fighter IV sent the series back to the top of the fighting game heap, and Ultra Street Fighter IV does everything it can to make sure it stays there.

Simply put, Trine 2 is an excellent game. All of the best elements from the first game, from the puzzles to the use of persona switching, come through with minimal changes while the addition of online multiplayer brings in a much-desired feature.

After everything I've mentioned so far, it's not a surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed Spiritfarer. What initially looked like an eerie combination revealed itself to be a thoughtful, relaxing, and enjoyable journey that deals with loss and caring in heartwarming ways. It's not a flawless masterpiece or a crowd-pleaser, but it knows what it's good at and executes it to an incredibly satisfying degree. If you vaguely enjoy titles like Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon or Stardew Valley, be sure to pick up Spiritfarer.

Overall, UFC 2009: Undisputed is an addictive piece of work that fight fans, no matter the discipline, should try out at least for a few hours.

Out of nowhere, Trion has delivered a solid MMO with a balance of smart innovation and polished imitation, and it sets itself apart enough to be worth a look for those who are seeking something different than the same old grind.

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 is a very safe sequel. It's the same characters, same gameplay, and a very similar plot, but with some additions and new mechanics and general upgrades. The result is an experience that feels familiar but has enough adjustments and changes to feel fresh. The excellent combat system is as good as ever. I can't help but hope that the next game shows a little more ambition, but at the same time, I'd happily play another entry. Sometimes, it's OK to stick to what works, and Fuga 2 shows that this particular franchise has a lot of life left in it.

All in all, Child of Eden is an amazing example of what the Kinect hardware can do when placed in the right hands. It's also a brilliant piece of entertainment that is just as enjoyable to watch as it is to play. If you own an Xbox 360, this is a game that needs to be in your collection.

Like many ports of current generation titles, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a solid iteration of an excellent title. The game absolutely nails the feeling of a classic Indiana Jones adventure with a great balance of puzzle-solving and action. The dialogue and humor are spot-on, the places you visit are as varied as can be, and the presentation is still incredible on such a seemingly underpowered device. It would've been nice if the DLC were included in the package, and there are still some gameplay elements that don't feel fully fleshed out, but this remains a title that is well worth playing — no matter where you're playing it.

If you already have Civilization IV and have played it to no end, you're probably interested in one question: Are the upgrades worth it? My response: The scenarios are what makes this worth it.

All in all, Hitman is exactly what a Hitman game should be. It's not long in the traditional sense, but it's dense and packed with content. The mechanics are a little rough or hand-holdy at times, but that's a minor problem in the overall scheme of things. Whether it's a brutal, close-range assassination or a subtle poisoning, Hitman gives you more options than you know what to do with.

If some of the A.I. flaws are corrected the enemy presence is beefed up in a sequel it would be a near perfect experience, but as it stands this game is still a blast. They have succeeded in creating an immersive, fun, and most importantly original game that is easy to pick up and play.

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.

FIFA 18 is the most gorgeous-looking soccer title to date. This is the second time the Frostbite engine has been used for the FIFA games, so the change may not seem as dramatic, but the development team has been able to achieve what it wanted with the engine. The title features tight and responsive gameplay as well as better visuals. Additionally, the Ultimate Team mode is by far one of the most interesting and encouraging ranking systems I've seen in video games. For those looking to dive head-first into a soccer game, FIFA 18 is your best choice.

Despite the length of the game, Vanquish is a delight to play.

It finally feels that enough improvements have been made in the challenge system, load time and game mechanics that it's more than the usual yearly rebranding.

Super Mario RPG is a delightful remake of one of Square Enix and Nintendo's most quirky and charming games. It takes a light hand with the changes, but just about every change it makes is for the better while still allowing the charm of the original to shine through. Most importantly, it is faithful to the original where it counts and retains the same basic fun throughout. Super Mario RPG is probably the best "beginner's" RPG on the market, but it's also a darn fun time.

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse is somewhere between an expansion pack and a sequel. There's a lot of familiar content bolstered by some fresh content and strong mechanical changes. It's more Shin Megami Tensei IV, so if you enjoyed the previous game, you'll find a lot to like here, even though it can sometimes feel too familiar and repetitive for its own good.

Far superior to the game which spawned it in all areas. The landscapes look great, the character system provides some depth of play as well as a sense of worth, and the space combats are the "twitchiest" I've seen without being uncontrollable.

Darwinia is, all told, wonderful. It's the kind of game that would show impressionable young kids the breadth and scope of the medium without overwhelming them with mechanics.

If you like the WWE, this is pretty much the most complete package you can find. There are some glitches, but the tuning of the gameplay, combined with new wrestling features, expansion of staple game modes, and addition of some cool new ones ensures that there's plenty of substance to go with the style.

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

Puzzle Quest is truly a masterpiece.

EA Canada has done a stellar job in taking the Bond license and creating an experience that is right up there with watching the multi-million dollar budget movies.

Perhaps an online component would have improved on this, but as it is, it's only half of the game, albeit a pretty entertaining half.

It's definitely not for children and it's not intended for those with a low threshold for frustration, but come on. Who doesn't love making people's heads explode?

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered on the Switch is a great port of a very good JRPG. Its stellar presentation and unique mix of known JRPG systems make it an engrossing experience that every fan of the genre should experience at least once. It isn't perfect, with some frustrations around its combat system and AI, but that doesn't detract from everything else it does as well or better than many other JRPGs in recent memory. If you have a Switch and are intrigued by Ni No Kuni, you cannot go wrong with this game.

Prodeus is a classic Doom clone through and through, but that isn't a knock at all. It nails the core mechanics well from the level design to pacing. While the enemies feel like reskinned versions of what you're familiar with, the gameplay loop works thanks to some solid shooting mechanics. Even though it lacks real innovation in the space and the multiplayer is practically dead, the inclusion of a map maker along with a plethora of custom maps almost negates those issues. Overall, shooting fans will like this one, and curious players can use as an entry point into the re-merging boomer shooter genre.

It's a very fresh FPS in a genre that feels more stale every year. It's certainly one of the better new IPs that I've seen this year, and I'm very curious to see what People Can Fly do with the sequel.

As it stands now, this is a worthy successor to the original DS title, and puzzle fans should definitely pick it up.

Look past the bad-boy façade, and you’ll see that this new iteration is even better than the last.

What a wild ride it is. I didn't want Yakuza: Like a Dragon to end. A part of me wonders if I grinded out battles and business minigames more than was intended, simply because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Ichiban and friends. Fortunately, the story wraps up nicely and leaves the door open for a possible sequel — even though it wavers a bit near the end. This isn't farewell to Ichiban. With a new cast of charming characters, Like A Dragon feels like the start of a new saga in the Yakuza franchise. Until next time, Kasuga-kun.

Berserk Boy is a fine side-scrolling adventure that's elevated by its high-speed movement and fast action, which takes it above being another Mega Man-style clone. The inclusion of some light exploration elements also gives the game some legs to make it more than a mostly straightforward adventure. However, the overall low difficulty is a little disappointing, while the need to be a near-completionist to get any ending is irksome. It remains a good game, but it could've been better if some of those quirks had been ironed out.

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is an extremely polished and deeply enjoyable entry in the franchise. It doesn't break the mold or introduce wild new gimmicks, but it focuses on giving you more challenges, more options, and making the basic experience shine. This is a fantastic entry point for newcomers and a welcome return to form for longtime fans. It is the embodiment of what Shiren the Wanderer should be: easy to pick up, difficult to master, and addictive enough that you keep coming back.

DmC: Definitive Edition lives up to the name. Almost every change is for the better, and while there are a few things to quibble about, it's rare to think of a single port that has had such a significant impact on the core gameplay.

Doom: The Dark Ages is a welcome attempt to reinvent the most iconic shooter franchise of all time rather than sticking with what had previously worked. Some of the changes work, and some don't, but for the most part, the gameplay is extremely fun, even if it didn't hit the highs of Eternal. An extremely weak plot, some feeble side mechanics, and a somewhat underwhelming soundtrack drag down things a tad, but if you enjoyed Eternal and 2016, then The Dark Ages still has a lot of fun in store for you. Just be prepared to parry like you're playing Metal Gear Rising.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is a grand old time. Just don't expect anything too out of the ordinary.

All in all, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is exactly what it was marketed as: the revival of the Igarashi Castlevania games. It might not have Konami's IP, but it has the feel, the gameplay, and the style that no other game has quite been able to replicate. You'll love it if you're a fan of the franchise, and it's a great place to start if you're a newcomer. Some annoying design decisions and general performance issues hold it back. In the end, morning has come to vanquish the terrible night, and Bloodstained is hopefully the start of a new generation of Igavania.

This is definitely a good-looking $15 game, but there's just not enough meat here to sustain it for a long period of time.

Ghost of Tsushima brought me epic joy, which is a special thing to find in the bottomless library of experiences out there. I'm deliberately leaving out the description of a moment in the game during the second act that is probably one of the dopest sequences I've ever seen. I don't want to spoil it. I'd rather you see it for yourself, either by playing or seeing it on the internet later. When the credits rolled after the final scene, I felt like I was in a movie theater and ready to applaud. I got to binge-watch and play the samurai story of my dreams. For anyone else who's ever picked up a long, empty wrapping-paper tube, held it with two hands a few inches apart, and swung it like a samurai, I have good news: We found it. We've got our game.

Overall, The Zodiac Age is a game that genre fans will absolutely love.

Kid Icarus: Uprising is close to being one of Nintendo's best. It is exciting, funny, and packed to the brim with content and style. Unfortunately, it is held back by an awkward control scheme. In order to enjoy Kid Icarus: Uprising, you have to give the game the benefit of the doubt and work with its flaws and foibles until you are comfortable with them.

All in all, Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition is a solid remaster of a fun and enjoyable JRPG. It has its flaws and foibles, including a relative weak final story arc and a somewhat inconsistent battle system, but it's one of the most popular Tales titles for a reason. It's plenty of fun to play, and fans of JRPGs will easily overlook the flaws for what is a genuinely enjoyable romp through an old game style.

A great game, especially for kids, and the gameplay is simple but deep enough for anyone to enjoy.

A great story that is worth playing through at least twice, of course when a game is this good, you always want more.

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.

A stunning achievement in modern gaming. It is entirely in 2D and uses only three buttons, but it is one of the best games available on the PSP.

Crafting one of the best versions of their game in years, 989 Sports also succeeds in crafting one of the best games currently on the market.

It's by no means a perfect game, but it excels at almost everything it sets out to do. It has an incredibly detailed and faithful presentation and is a unique attempt to capture the essence of the franchise in an interactive experience. If you're a fan of horror and haven't played Isolation yet, this is still one of the more interesting and tense horror games out there. Even if you have already played it, this is the best way to jump back into a game that has aged incredibly well, both visually and in terms of gameplay mechanics.

I expected Persona 5 Strikers to be like Hyrule Warriors and got a genuine Persona sequel. It might be thinner on content than the 100-hour behemoth it is based on, but it's still plenty of fun to play. The combat system takes some getting used to, but otherwise, it's like slipping on a comfy pair of well-worn slippers. I welcome the chance to revisit the world of Persona 5, and Strikers is a wonderful send-off to the Phantom Thieves.

Aside from the minor visual issues, there is little to criticize about Darksiders II. The game is packed with content, is visually striking and features some brilliant level design. It expands on the mythology of the franchise, giving players a world that is both bigger and better than the original.

One Finger Death Punch 2 is the kind of game that fits the Switch so well. The game is easy to pick up for brief bouts of guaranteed fun due to the simple controls and pitch-perfect action. The amount of modes and levels gives a player a ton to work with, even before taking online leaderboards into account. There's little to complain about here, so the title should be in your collection unless you're averse to fast action titles.

The games included in Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story may not be for everyone, but the experience most certainly is. Digital Eclipse is quickly establishing the Gold Master Series as the video game equivalent of the Criterion Collection film releases. If you have even a passing interest in video game history, you won't be disappointed.

An incredibly fun game. Although its difficulty level can sometimes drive you up the wall, the simplistic, addictive gameplay is more than enough to keep you glued to your X360 for hours.

With its copious amounts of content and impressive new locale, Fallout 3: Point Lookout provides a definitive reason to head back into the Fallout universe yet again.

In many regards, I Expect You to Die 2: The Spy and the Liar is a good continuation of what made the first game special: great level design, a funny spy story, and great pick-up-and-play gameplay. It doesn't do much to evolve in any meaningful way, but it doesn't need to. The great, albeit short, stages are a lot of fun to solve, but they can be frustrating to repeat as you trial-and-error your way through to the final credits. If you loved the first game, this one is sure to please.

I haven't had this much fun with video game football in years and years, and it's been cool to witness the unifying power of EA Sports College Football 25. It's been the runaway hit of the summer and has secured an immediate seat at the sports pop culture table. I was legitimately sad when this series dropped off years and years ago, and its return — even with its flaws — was cause for celebration. College Football 25 clearly understood the assignment. Now we'll see what happens next.

The narrow appeal of its surreal setting won't make fans out of everyone, but if MIDI music brings a misty tear in your eye and you find yourself fencing against your shadow while watching Ninja Scroll, then No More Heroes could be what your inner swordsman is craving.

If you're a fan of the franchise or a fan of JRPGs, you need to run out and buy SMT4.