Still, if you already know basketball well, or you're willing to learn to play that game to play this game, it's a solid title including a surplus of detailed features and plenty of variety in gameplay action. Newcomers shouldn't expect to be stars right from the opening tip-off, though.

Pokémon White Version 2 is a perfectly fine expansion for people who want more of the original.

The Metronomicon is a game for those who want their rhythm games to be a little different. Though the story is inconsequential, the various RPG elements spice up an otherwise nice twist on the standard rhythm game formula. The different modes give the game some legs, while the soundtrack is absolutely fantastic. Despite a few flaws here and there, The Metronomicon is certainly recommended for rhythm fans.

Overall, People of Note is a fun and fluffy RPG. The plot isn't life-changing, but it's bolstered by a strong combat system, excellent music, and some surprisingly fun puzzles. The musical numbers may not work for everyone, but they gave it their best shot, and there's at least one song for everybody. People of Note isn't the first musical RPG, but it emphasizes that the two genres go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Even if you already have the Zuma games, Sparkle 2 is worth getting for match-three puzzle game fans.

Griping aside, Hard Corps: Uprising is a game that delivers exactly what it promises. It isn't going to be for everyone, but for those who appreciate the challenge of old-school gaming, it's a must-buy. For the rest who are going to whine that "it's too hard," go play Black Ops. This game is exclusively for the hardcore.

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.

Tchia might be a game-long love letter, but it's a real love letter. It's a fun little exploration game, and the BotW-inspired movement mechanics make it a delight to move around the world. It shines most when it is an outpouring of love for New Caledonia's culture and environment. It's rare that I've played a game that makes me want to visit somewhere more, and it's hard to pay Tchia higher praise than that.

All in all, the content in Dark Souls II: Crown of the Sunken King boils down to around two hours for a playthrough, although deaths and retries have the potential to bloat that number.

In the end, Yuki is a nice bullet hell shooter for VR. The premise helps the campaign mode make sense, and the use of VR works quite well despite being an on-rails experience. The roguelike nature might throw off some players, especially since some of that genre's more recognizable features seem absent, and the amount of repetition needed to reach the game's real ending might not be for everyone. Shooter fans who don't mind a more playful experience will really enjoy Yuki.

Aside from the races in FlatOut mode, FlatOut: Head On is one of the most genuinely fun and entertaining racers I've picked up in a long time.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is a solid pack with two good games and one OK game with little in the way of polish or improvements. It's not hard to negatively compare it to something like Mass Effect: Legendary Edition in terms of content and quality, but that doesn't change the value of the games within. If you like challenge and struggle or enjoy feeling like the coolest ninja on the block, Ninja Gaiden is a franchise well worth checking out. Just be careful not to throw your Switch across the room when you die for the gazillionth time.

Etrian Odyssey II: The Heroes of Lagaard is tough. It is not always fairly tough, it can be frustrating, it can be aggravating, it can make you want to drive your stylus through the DS and throw it out a window. It's also unbelievably fun, quite challenging, and a fantastic game for fun or travel.

Griping aside, Hard Corps: Uprising is a game that delivers exactly what it promises. It isn't going to be for everyone, but for those who appreciate the challenge of old-school gaming, it's a must-buy. For the rest who are going to whine that "it's too hard," go play Black Ops. This game is exclusively for the hardcore.

As a port, Shantae delivers. Minor issues like button remapping aside, once you get over a few things like the lack of a map and a more brutal life system, you'll find this to be a classic platformer that shows off just how good WayForward and this series was from the beginning. Fans of both the series and of old-school gaming would do well to add this title to their Switch libraries.

To a certain extent, de Blob 2 isn't really for me, but I can appreciate its appeal. It gets a little repetitive after the fourth level or so, and for somebody like me who cut his teeth on Mario games, it's very easy.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a darn function action game that unfortunately avoids the heights that one might expect, given the pedigree of the developers. The very fun core combat shines, but everything surrounding it feels underbaked. The rushed ending and lackluster second character keep it from shining as brightly as it should. It's still a fun character action game with some satisfying and meaty combat, and it's something that fans of the genre should enjoy.

A very good PSP title. For veterans of the series, the sequel will feel very much like the three-year-old predecessor.

Unless you already own the HD remakes on the Xbox 360 or PS3, you should try Resident Evil 4 Ultimate HD Edition on PC. From the story to the gameplay, the title still resonates today and stands as one of the more harrowing entries in the series.

Retro/Grade is a novel game with a great concept and great execution but suffers from an unfortunate pitfall.

Persona fans should certainly check it out, and anyone with the patience for a slow and somewhat grindy JRPG will find a gem in the rough.

It's a clinic in movie tie-in game making, with broad appeal, interesting gameplay, and stellar presentation.

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.

Blood & Truth ends up being a strong title that adds more value to the PSVR platform. It may just be an evolution of the light gun game, but the immersion and action movie sensibilities coupled with a better-than-expected story for the genre does wonders as far as making it stand out among other VR titles. Provided you can handle the bouts of motion sickness, Blood & Truth is a VR game that's worth experiencing.

In the end, Wildfire is a solid stealth title that plays well on the idea of restricted power. The various uses of your three elemental powers works well in adding a puzzle element to the stages and makes each stage feel chaotically fun, while the stealth emphasis and lack of focus on killing makes the endeavor feel fresh. The journey is a long one, but it doesn't feel like it drags on, thanks to the various objectives thrown your way. Wildfire is a wildly enjoyable romp that genre fans will absolutely enjoy.

The enjoyable combat and in-depth combat system carry the by-the-numbers plot, and the entire experience is fun. In a genre filled with world-saving, melodrama, and danger, it's nice to have an RPG with such relaxing goals.

It has some flaws, including a rather lackluster interface and average visuals, but it makes up for that with plenty of in-game depth.

It was always about the gameplay, and with the classic gameplay mixed in with various modes and a tight control scheme, there's little left to complain about.