Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is a great example of a game that might be inspired by something else but nonetheless manages to be darn fun on its own. It's easy to write it off as a Hades knockoff, but there's enough fun in this game to enjoy it on its own merits. The core mechanics can occasionally be a touch awkward, and the narrative never really grabbed me, but the moment-to-moment gameplay was plenty of fun. If you're looking for a different flavor of action-RPG adventure, Towa hits the mark.

There are two ways to look at Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection. The games aren't that great. The first Bubsy game is tolerable, but each sequel has enough bad design decisions that you need the patience of a saint and a healthy helping of cheats and the rewind function to want to reach the end. As far as being an interactive historical archive, this collection is only matched by Atari 50 and the like. It's packed with enough extras and behind-the-scenes material to be fascinating — even for those who aren't fans of the series. Ultimately, it is good that this compilation exists, as even the bad games should be preserved for future generations. The chances that you'll actually want to play anything are very slim.

Losing game after game can be frustrating, but when you finally nail that perfect run, the endorphin rush is exhilarating. Ridge Racer is a game that inspired a legion of others, and it is also a game that holds up on its own. Sitting down to play today is just as thrilling as it was in 1993, and the new leaderboards ensure there is always a reason to take "one more lap."

LEGO Voyagers is an awesome co-op experience that lasts for just the right amount of time. In four hours of playtime, you'll get a delightful little puzzle platformer with good, simple puzzles and lots of heart, even if there isn't dialogue to drive things along. The presentation is fantastic, and even though the game has a few minor issues, players should give this game a shot if they're a genre fan looking for a new co-op game to play.

In the end, Dead Reset is a fun romp despite its limitations. The acting is quite good and does a good job of carrying a story that contains a few plot holes. The major branching points don't happen until the very end, but this game is enjoyable, and the experience doesn't overstay its welcome . While this isn't the type of game to change anyone's mind about the limitations of the interactive movie, it's fun enough that you'll want to complete at least one run before thinking about moving on to something else.

Katanaut is a perfectly fun but ultimately rather forgettable Dead Cells-style title. It's perfectly competent at what it sets out to do, and the strong presentation goes a long way, but at the end of the day, it doesn't manage to carve out its own identity. It's absolutely worth a shot if you're burned out on similar games, but don't expect quite as much replay value.

Everybody's Golf: Hot Shots is fine overall. The core gameplay experience remains unchanged, the performance is solid, and the modes are plentiful enough to keep you occupied for a very long time, even if that means that unlocking the roster can feel like a grind. However, the courses you play are merely fine, some of the mechanics feel dated, and the presentation lacks polish. Longtime fans may pick up this title anyway, considering how long it has been between entries. More casual fans will have a good time, but don't go in expecting the high standards of the previous titles in the franchise.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is a weird sequel that doesn't manage to feel like an expansion on the first game, but it doesn't manage to be its own beast either. It exists in a middle ground between trying to reinvent the franchise and trying to keep what people liked from the first game, but I'm not quite sure it managed to meet either. It's not a bad game, but it feels disjointed and unfocused enough that it also lacks anything to strongly recommend it.

Cronos: The New Dawn feels like an average game coming on the heels of the amazing Silent Hill 2 remake. The reasonably fun gunplay is dragged down by a lackluster story and occasional moments of annoyance. It has a lot of cool ideas, but none of them quite hit the mark in the way I hoped. It's still a perfectly fun little survival horror romp but doesn't quite go anywhere above that. It's absolutely worth a shot if you're looking for something to fill the Dead Space-shaped hole in your heart, but it could've used a little extra punch.

Edens Zero really is a game made for existing fans, specifically those who aren't too picky about their gameplay. The combat is serviceable enough to provide button-mashers with some fun, and the open world gives the game some legs once the story section has been completed. For those new to the series, the rushed and initially convoluted storytelling provides a terrible first impression, while the gameplay's stunted nature makes you wonder why the game was made into an action-RPG title instead of a more straightforward action title. Overall, the game can be decent, but it fares poorly when compared to many other anime-based games on the market.

Super Robot Wars Y is a darn fun entry in the franchise, and it tries very hard to bridge the gap between the Super Robot Wars 30 style and the style of older games. It isn't perfect, with a tad too many stages and the poor utilization of some series, but if you're a fan of Super Robot Wars, there's a whole lot to like, and in the long run, it's probably an even better introduction to the franchise than Super Robot Wars 30. If you like cool giant robots and insane fan fiction plots, there's nowhere better to turn than Super Robot Wars Y.

As a whole, The Knightling is an enjoyable romp. The lighthearted storyline and tone complement an adventure that feels open and engaging at almost every opportunity. The use of a shield as your only weapon and pseudo multitool is novel but very enjoyable, and the presentation is good overall. It needs a little more polish and bug fixing for the game to be considered solid. For adventure fans who are looking for something that doesn't follow the Souls-like trend, The Knightling is worth checking out.

Chip 'n Clawz vs. The Brainioids is a fine game overall. Despite some control issues with the strategy portions, the mixture of third-person action with RTS elements works thanks to the approach of simplicity over complexity. The campaign lasts for a decent amount of time, with collectibles and the quest for a five-star rating giving you a reason to replay the stages. Versus mode works fine, while the addition of split-screen play gives the game some legs if you're having a tough time finding anyone to play with online. Chip 'n Clawz has a few quirks, but it is a fun experience for those looking for a title that's a little more involved than running and bashing in small arenas.

Gears of War: Reloaded is a very solid game, even if the base is nearly 20 years old. The concept of a cover-based, stop-and-pop shooter may feel out of date, since so many other games have done this since the original title's release. The feeling of fast but weighted movement and meaty gunplay is still unmatched after all this time, though. It is a game that's easy to pick up and play without any compromises, and the title still has a great presentation despite the minor touch-ups from the original remake. For PS5 owners in particular, Reloaded is a perfect way to experience a very influential modern classic.

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is a polished and enjoyable, if slightly unambitious, entry into the franchise. It does everything it needs to, and it does it well. It's a notable improvement over the original game in terms of quality of life and general design. The worst thing about it is that it's a predictable entry in the franchise, which makes it a fantastic starting point for those looking to get into Story of Seasons, but it might feel too safe for longtime fans. If you have any interest or love for the franchise, there's a lot to like, even if it feels safe.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a wonderful revival of the long-dormant franchise, and it combines excellent combat with an engaging pseudo-Metroidvania gameplay style. I had a rollicking good time from start to finish. My only real complaint comes from the somewhat finicky precision platforming, but even that is limited to some optional, late-game areas. If you're a fan of the franchise, there's a lot to like, but this latest ninja revival is good for newcomers and longtime fans alike.

Overall, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a well done remaster of a game that remains as classic as it ever was. The changes are a mix of positive and negative, but there aren't any that drag down the experience. At worst, they're a matter of preference. For many people, this title is likely to be the optimal way to experience Metal Gear Solid 3, and it's easy to be impressed by the sheer amount of work that went into capturing the classic original.

EA Sports College Football 26, especially patched up, will definitely get you ready for this year's IRL college football season. But I can't shake the feeling like it slipped a half-step or two. The honeymoon period is over. Let's see how they respond.

Mafia: The Old Country is a playable movie first and a game second. It's a well-crafted, engaging, if sometimes overly predictable narrative of Mafia intrigue. If that sort of thing appeals to you, then there's a whole lot to like, and it's probably worth playing for that on its own merits. As a game, it feels somewhat lackluster, with most of the actual gameplay feeling like the bare minimum before one can return to the story, and it's supported by some great set pieces. If you want a cool period crime drama, then The Old Country has you covered, but don't expect much more beyond that.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is good once you come to grips with the approach. The minor gameplay tweaks are welcome, but the presence of some longstanding bugs test your tolerance for having an authentic experience. The game has a mostly fantastic presentation, but what will hold your attention is the gameplay with a world that isn't as sprawling as Skyrim yet is just as packed with interesting things to do and some side-quests that can grab your attention better than the main questline. If you have a powerful PC and want to experience this with good gamepad support, you'll be happy with this remastering of a modern classic.

The Switch 2 version of Hogwarts Legacy can be ranked a step above the Xbox Series S iteration of the game. The presentation is miles above the original Switch version, and by comparison, it doesn't feel as if anything was compromised to make the port work. The presence of mouse controls gives the game more range in the gameplay department, but the base game was already strong enough that the new control scheme is more of a bonus rather than something that changes one's stance on the title. If you owned the game on the original Switch, then it feels foolish not to do the $10 upgrade. For Harry Potter fans who either want a dedicated version of the game on the go or own nothing but Nintendo consoles, this title is a must-have.

Lies of P: Overture serves as an excellent return to a game that surprised many players in a good way. The story does a very good job of setting up the events of the main title. The new weapons keep the combat feeling fresh thanks to how dramatically different they are. The game is still tough, especially if it has been a while since you last played the title, but the different difficulty levels help to ease people into a genre that can be notoriously unforgiving. For fans of the game, the Overture DLC feels essential.

Spy Drops is a game with a novel concept but bad execution. The idea of smaller missions for a bite-sized stealth experience is neat, and the game mostly nails the graphical aesthetic of a top-tier game from the original PlayStation's timeline. Everything else, especially the stealth mechanics, are so poorly done that the whole experience feels like an absolute chore to get through. Unless you're the forgiving type who's absolutely craving any kind of stealth experience, don't bother with Spy Drops unless it massively overhauls everything with patches.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is a better sequel in just about every way. While the actual fighting mechanics remain unchanged due to the absence of new additions, more characters from the start and expansions to a few modes give the game some real legs, whether you're playing solo or with friends and rivals. While this still doesn't reach the heights of the developer's previous Naruto titles, this is easily the best of the Demon Slayer titles so far, and it's an easy purchase for fans of the series and anime fighting games in general.

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.

By itself, Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings game is fine. The aesthetic is accurate, and the emphasis on cooking makes it feel very different from many other games of this type. However, the game feels like it is lacking in other areas that are seen as genre staples, making the game feel rather light at first glance. This is before you start to compare the game to other licensed cozy life sims and see that those games have much more to offer before the amount of stuff to do starts to dry up. Again, this game is fine, but there are better examples of the genre.

In terms of overall design, I really feel like Wuchang: Fallen Feathers falls firmly in the "solid and fun but not exceptional" category. While the boss fights are fun, they didn't knock off my socks. I had a good time with it, and it's a solid entry in the Soulslike genre. It does its job quite well, but it doesn't really stand out from the crowd, either. It has some great design choices. I hope to see other games in the genre adapt in the future, but otherwise, it's a fairly by-the-numbers Souls game that is a good time but a little too safe for its own good.

In the end, RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business is a solid and more focused version of the kind of things offered by the main game. The story is straightforward but good, while the flashbacks become essential to the story instead of acting as diversions. While the gameplay remains relatively unchanged, it is still a thrill to walk around as a nearly invincible metallic man. The addition of the cryo cannon is neat, even if you might not use it all that much. The game does lack polish in places, but the solid shooting and darkly humorous interactions with the tower's populace will make you more forgiving of some of the visual anomalies. If you're a fan of the franchise or shooters in general, you'll have some fun with Unfinished Business.