Nothing adds to the atmosphere of a game more than ultra-realistic graphics, and Gladiator certainly proves this to be true.

Overall, Populous DS is a fantastic game that will find a warm reception with any who remember its previous releases. It's easy to recommend the game to those who may have played it 20 years ago and would like the chance to step into godhead again.

At the same time, it's difficult to really get excited about Table Tennis. That seems to suit Table Tennis just fine, as it doesn't seem to want to put a lot of effort in to excite you.

Something with Samurai Legend’s promise and retro appeal doesn’t come along too often, and seeing it developed more fully in a longer game would result in one of the best action RPGs ever.

Despite its gorgeous world and accessible veneer, Sakura Wars isn't going to win over the masses. It's simply too restrictive design-wise to achieve the broad appeal of games like Persona and Yakuza. For those willing to look past the blemishes, there's a certain beauty to be had here. It may not be the next Sega cult-hit, but Sakura Wars is a powerful love letter for series fans. It' not half-bad for anime fans, either.

Realistic instruments and an easy-to-use set of creation tools are innovations that should become common across all rhythm games. While only players who are able to overcome the painfully shortened and poorly vocalized set list will truly enjoy the title, all fans of the genre will find something to like.

Fireteam Bravo is stable, cerebral, and while it is admittedly problematic and somewhat generic, it is stable and simple enough that it's perfect when you've got a half hour to kill and a wifi connection nearby.

As a sum of its parts, Assassin's Creed: Odyssey is a big adventure that has its highs and lows but ultimately provides an enjoyable journey through Ancient Greece. The story is great, and the world is breathtaking, which is arguably the most important part of the game. Unfortunately, it is held back from achieving greater honors by repetitive and shallow gameplay that is sometimes forced upon you through level-gating and grinding. There is lots to do if you put your mind to it, but it's also very far from a masterpiece. Maybe some of the post-launch content and updates can improve the game further to make it a better adventure to play through down the line.

Doom on the Switch is impressive. It's pretty much the same game it was over a year ago, and that is not a bad sign. It obviously isn't perfect and won't be everyone's cup of tea. Some may be bothered by the technical hiccups, while others will rejoice in the newly awakened third-party support that has brought them one of the better FPS experiences in the past two years.

If you're an RPG fan looking for something new and different ... stop kidding yourself and go look into the Shadow Hearts series.

I'm not happy that players can't completely divorce themselves from the ground game if they want, as well as the fact that an overt Imperial from the ground game can advance down the Rebel Pilot missions if they so choose, and vice versa.

NBA 2K26 retains its standard as being the most complete and polished hoops experiences out there, but I think one of the things that's holding it back for this old player is the feeling that it's still finding its way on how to nail all of the story elements in its MyCareer mode. It's done it before. I'd like to see them do it again.

Another Wonderful Life gets by on a startling amount of charm that makes a return visit at least worth a lengthy rental, even for farming veterans.

The Bigs 2 is a very solid arcade baseball game. It set out to improve upon the original title with more content, and it mostly succeeds. The arcade nature of the game makes it ideal for playing with friends rather than a serious investment of solo time. With a season mode in place and Become a Legend mode being a fun, if often frustrating, experience, The Bigs has quickly shaped itself into the best baseball that 2K Sports has to offer. It's not on par with MLB: The Show, but it's a great arcade alternative to America's pastime.

Thankfully, the story and the platforming are the main focus, as they rightfully should be.

While the porting process didn't harm the game, Fable III has a solid yet decidedly dated core. Combat is fun but has a slew of issues that detract from what it otherwise could have been, and that's a sentiment that could just as easily to be applied to most of the game.

I think it's quite entertaining and does many things just right. However, it's clearly unfinished and was rushed out the door.

My personal opinions about the overproduction of WW2 titles aside, Brothers in Arms DS is utterly playable and an incredibly ambitious graphical step for the DS. It's slick, action-packed and surprisingly atmospheric for such a small screen, although its problems are very noticeable, and getting shot through supposed "cover" can get extremely irritating.

A good entry into the turn-based strategy genre. It doesn’t offer a depth of play of some of the bigger titles, but it is fun and, more importantly, easy to pick up but difficult to master.

The game play is engaging if you’re willing to work through some control issues. I only wish the multiplayer mode was better and more popular.

Ultimately, Darksiders II often makes you think of how it is similar to other games in certain respects, but it still feels like its own creature. The combat is enjoyable if a bit mindless, but considering how some of the puzzles can be, that might not be a bad thing. However, since skills and gear have such little leverage in the game, it feels like something substantial is missing. The rest of the game doesn't suffer, and the title is certainly engaging, but Darksiders II feels like it hasn't lived up to its full potential.

PQ2 provides a challenging 3D puzzle-solving environment with excellent replay value thanks to the built-in puzzle editor and an extensive online puzzle-sharing system.

Be forewarned that you need to have patience to play this game. Your matches are long, and the gameplay can sometimes seem slow, but any fan of collectable card games should definitely pick up this title because I've never seen the genre represented so well as it was here.

Though there are a few classics missing from the group, the compilation is a nice mini-encyclopedia of games that still carry appeal more than a decade later, and is a good deal at $20 for Sega fans and old school gamers alike, with a few added unlockables granting it a bit more value.

A fun, challenging game for the first three stages, with varied gameplay and a likeable heroine... Once you get beyond that point, you'll find it increasingly frustrating... or you'll start cheating madly in the name of basic survival.

Galaga Legions aspires to be a Galaga for a modern age, and in some ways, it is. But by excluding so many surrounding enhancements, such as more single- or multiplayer modes, arcade shoppers of today might be a little miffed at getting what would have been a complete package back in the quarter-pumping days.

If you're reading this review, having never played a Metal Slug game before, then all you need to know is that it's an insanely over-the-top 2D action game in which you play the role of a commando who kills a lot of people.

Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy might not be ambitious, but if you enjoy Atelier titles, it's a solid and engaging experience. It's basically the original Ryza title, only larger and more polished. The Atelier franchise usually keeps things fresh with a new protagonist and cast for every game, but with the full cast from the original title, Ryza 2 can sometimes feel like a repeat of the previous adventure. This isn't bad, since the original Ryza was fun and the gameplay is solid, but it can sometimes feel a touch too familiar.