With Soldner-X Himmelsturmer, SideQuest Studios and Play-Asia have delivered a solid shmup that checks off all of the basic requirements, but if you simply need a shmup fix that takes advantage of your PS3, it really isn't a bad deal as long as your patience can hold it together.

There are many words that can be used to describe Squirrel with a Gun: wacky, silly, buggy, unpolished, and fun. The premise is so out there that you can't help but be hooked. The gameplay is solid and enjoyable enough that you'll want to see the journey to the end and beyond, even if you've grown tired of the joke and despite the various issues that still plague the title. The game could do with some bug cleanup, but even in its current state, it's fun enough that players who love off-the-wall concepts would be happy giving this one a shot.

If you're looking for a light RPG, then Ar Tonelico: Melody of Elemia definitely fits the bill because it's cheerful, well animated and utterly predictable. Combat is a breeze, even if you're farming for items, and the plot is lackluster at best.

Even after 14 years, Red Dead Redemption remains a good example of how to do a proper Western in video game form. The main adventure is more focused than the sequel due to the relatively smaller cast and scope of your travels, but there are also plenty of side-quests that make it worthwhile to divert from the main questline. Undead Nightmare remains one of the better zombie games out there, and it still feels distinct after all these years. You just wish that there was more work done to the graphics outside of adding HDR and upping the brightness, especially since they're charging $50 for a 14-year-old port. The game is still worth adding to your library, but you might want to wait for a very good discount.

The simplicity of Military Madness: Nectaris may be a turn-off for seasoned veterans of the strategy genre, but it proves to be a great game for those who are just starting to discover this game style.

A glorified map pack for the original Portable Ops. While the changes are going to appeal to the gamers who played Portable Ops online, they are the only possible audience for this title.

It's a near-perfect adaptation of an average slasher/monster film. It's a fun romp through a horror movie, and the tension of all characters being able to live and die contributes well to the overall feel. At the end of the day, though, it's not exceptional and lacks replay value. A $60 price tag is too high for the experience, especially with companies like Telltale Games and Dontnod Entertainment offering similar experiences for lower prices.

.hack//G.U. Last Recode is really for the fans. The ability to go through the whole trilogy with overpowered characters is perfect for those who want to reminisce without the grind, and the bonus fourth episode adds a natural closure to the series. It becomes a little harder for new fans to get used to some of the JRPG tropes and the meandering pace of the first episode, but things pick up later, so it's worthwhile to stick with it. All in all, those interested in a title that most likely influenced other anime like Sword Art Online should definitely check out .hack//G.U. Last Recode.

Band Hero works well enough on the DS. The core gameplay is good, and the song list is diverse enough that you can play this for a good amount of time before becoming bored.

In the end, Kong: Survivor Instinct is a pleasant surprise when compared to the rest of the Kong-related games up to this point. The story isn't that great, but it has enough of a hook to keep players going. The platforming can be quirky, especially during the big chase sequences, but it works fine most of the time to provide some fun sections. The same can be said of the combat, which has flaws but also gives players the chance to take care of enemies in a few fun ways. The adventure isn't too long, but it is satisfying enough once the end credits roll. It isn't a sleeper hit, but it isn't a bad experience to go through for a day or two.

This is a video game that tries — and admirably succeeds — at being, well, "Jackass," low entertainment at its lowest.

With everything but the sound category being wholly mediocre and disappointing (especially for players of the first Call of Duty), Finest Hour is just another sub-par release.

Rainbow Moon is a good game buried under tedium. It has a lot of fundamental strengths that lack an engaging push to keep you going. For a budget downloadable offering, it's absurdly long and packed with content, and the fundamental combat system is fun.

Destroy All Humans! 2 - Reprobed will appeal to fans of the original and a more niche audience that craves destruction without caring that the plot isn't too cohesive. Others who will be aficionados are players who like mayhem on foot rather than from a flying saucer and appreciate gameplay improvements, even if they make the title much easier. It's a fun experience for everyone who's willing to check it out, especially with the title's relatively low price point compared to many other PS5 games.

It's a real shame that these problems are so prevalent because there's a lot to like in Born of Bread. It's a very cute and charming game, and I enjoyed myself enough when playing it that I was willing to redo chunks of the game every time I broke something. I replayed sections until I just couldn't do it anymore. There's a good chance that there will be a bunch of patches for the game that will help it rise to its full potential, but at the moment, it's a bit too raw to readily recommend. I look forward to revisiting the title sometime later, after it's been thoroughly patched and stabilized.

All in all, The LEGO Harry Potter Collection on Switch is a fun game that is suited for all ages, and it's best played with a friend or family member. The gameplay is simple fun, and it delivers one of the better LEGO stories and environments. It's a step back for players who are coming from newer LEGO experiences, and the title has its share of technical issues on the Switch that occasionally interfere with the gameplay, but if you can look beyond those blemishes, it can provide some fun times.

This game is what the phrase "close, but no cigar" was made for.

If you demand your A.I. to be spot-on and choose cover that isn't made up of boxes of grenades, or if you get annoyed easily by not quite having the timing right to trigger pre-recorded sword combos, then maybe you should sit out this rather imperfect – but fun – FPS for the Wii after all.

MagnaCarta 2 is a reasonably fun, but rather flawed, RPG.

As long as you can accept its learning curve, Battery Jam is a fine multiplayer game. There are plenty of things that can be done, and it takes a while to get everything down before you can start playing and enjoying yourself. Once you understand the game, you'll find that there's some depth to the chaos, and even though there's no real meat to the game beyond local multiplayer, you'll enjoy the short bursts of fun it provides as a buffer between other multiplayer titles in your possession.

From an objective point of view, it suffers so many technical flaws that I would normally caution against purchase. However, from a subjective perspective, I enjoy the setting and ambience so much that I recommend it despite the bugs and inelegant performance.

The game may not have what it takes to dethrone WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2011 as best wrestling title of the year, but there's enough to make people look forward to a new entry in the series. If you're a big wrestling fan, be sure to rent Lucha Libre AAA, but since the online landscape is so desolate, be prepared to have a few friends on standby.

Voice of Cards: The Beasts of Burden is the same basic game as the last two, only with a different story. It really doesn't do anything to break the mold except be incredibly dark and depressing. If you found yourself enjoying the last two games, then you'll almost certainly enjoy this one, but if any of the previous game's flaws dragged down things, then you probably won't change your mind here. It's a nice, low-budget JRPG with some interesting story beats, but the consistent flaws between games have started to wear out their welcome.

Shadow Labyrinth is good if you set your expectations accordingly. The constant corpse eating makes the game feel darker than expected, while the mazes are a nice diversion. The overall mechanics don't stand out compared to other titles, but the basics are performed well enough that the game remains enjoyable. The presentation is good but not great, while the story and overall premise exists more as an exercise in head-scratching than something you're going to want to remember. Again, the game is better than expected but not extraordinary; Metroidvania fans will get some enjoyment out of this before moving on to stronger titles.

The game has many hours of enjoyment for someone looking for a little different twist in turn based action or even standard rts games. It has a quick learning curve and you can get into the action very quickly.

Truly a textbook case of how one major flaw can bring down an otherwise outstanding game.

All in all, Star Ocean: Till the End of Time is an adequate and enjoyable JRPG. Nothing about the game or the port is particularly exceptional, but aside from one particularly controversial plot twist, it doesn't do anything particularly wrong, either. It's a fun JRPG with a lot of replay value, and anyone looking for a nostalgic trip or to experience a somewhat obscure game will have a good time. A higher-quality remaster or port could've done a lot to elevate the game to the next level.

If you've beaten it on another system, however, pass on the Blackhand Edition. The changes are fun, but they're not enough to justify buying a lackluster game twice.