Transformers: The War for Cybertron is definitely a love-letter to fans of the G1 cartoon series. All of your favorite characters are here and somehow mixed in with a genuinely fun and competent shooter.

The freedom present means that no two missions will play out the same and the tense difficulty will challenge you to constantly improve your tactics. Just make sure you come in with the right expectations, because run and gunners need not apply.

A fighting game featuring characters from multiple beloved series I’ve come to adore through over a decade of fierce competition should have been nothing short of a dream come true. However, reality has a bad habit of encroaching on all precious dreams, and while the final product plays well enough, it stands not as the glorious celebration of Arcsys fighters history but instead as bittersweet reminder of what could have been.

Dragon Quest Heroes II is a solid sequel to a refreshing take on the musou genre. I love that Omega Force has been expanding on the style for a while now. These themed entries are often much more interesting than the standard ‘Warriors’ games. Still, some of the changes feel not for the best, and the combat started to drag on the longer I played.

While the Gamecube version is lacking some of the bonuses of the PS2 and Xbox versions, it is still very solid.

Persona 4: Dancing All Night proves yet another success in branching out to another genre for the folks at Atlus. If not for the relatively short list of songs and lack of multiplayer, this could’ve easily been the premier rhythm game on the Vita.

NCAA Football 13 gets so many things right that it is impossible to fault it too much. The problem is that most of the things it fixes and addresses are not things a lot of people will notice. This leaves you feeling like you are paying essentially $60 for last year's game.

Spec Ops: The Line may seem like a standard third-person military shooter on the surface, but once you dig a little more, you discover its dark side. War is hell, and no game has delivered that point better than The Line. The decisions you are forced to make and the outcomes they deliver are incredibly gritty and representative of the things soldiers likely deal with in battle. The mind is a powerful tool, and having never served, I have massive respect for people who have had to deal with things like this. If you are looking for an emotionally charged military shooter, Spec Ops: The Line is a must-play.

With Bandle City the developer Lazy Bear Games has done an excellent job of bringing the world of the Yordles to life. As I said the graphics are all bright and colorful with a whimsical vibe throughout and a soundtrack that’s among the greatest for the genre. I had no idea what to expect from this game when I started it but I ended up loving every moment.

The Legacy of Kain series deserves to come back, and this collection is a nice first step. These games are dated, but still excellent. The price tag is decent at $30, but I do wish it had a little more meat to it. Still, I can highly recommend these games. Just be prepared to deal with the quirkiness of the beginning of 3D gaming. It will take some time, but the investment is worth it.

Candle: The Power of the Flame is a beautiful game with a charming and emotionally resonant story. That may not be enough for players who don’t want to spend a good deal of time on challenging puzzles and helplessly wandering the play area for a long time, searching every nook and cranny. The overall design is good most of the time, but at times when it doesn’t translate to the player, it quickly crosses into frustration.

R.U.S.E. is a breath of fresh air in a genre that consoles have seemingly not been able to perfect. The inclusion of Move controls in the PS3 version really make a difference and even with a standard controller, the game plays great.

Sure it may have some small setbacks, but the gamble Two Tribes took with Toki Tori 2 really paid off. The clever design and simplistic mechanics really click, and when that discovery of how it all worked hit me, I was in love. The Wii U may not have a plethora of must-own titles, but if you own the console, this game is definitely one to pick up. The eShop could continue to be a spawning pool for brilliance like this; let’s just hope developers continue to bring their great vision to the platform.

The main game is a little bit on the short side, but there are collectables to find and target times to hit for the puzzle rooms, so there is plenty to do once you finish the core game.

For gamers anxious for a great puzzler that they can hit the road with, Dokuro is a great choice. Fans of the genre will love the art style, characters, and cleverly designed traps. Casual fans of this particular style of game though may find themselves boxed in by some random spikes in difficulty and some occasional glitches in the touch controls. In the end, those of you looking for a fun and unique experience will certainly be satisfied here.

Saints Row: The Third Remastered is an impressive return to this title. The developer went out of their way to bring this title back with plenty of upgrades and overhauls to make it feel like we remember. I do wish the game remained locked at 60fps on the newer consoles, even if it sacrificed some of the resolution though. As it stands this is the best version of the game to date and a perfect excuse for me to overrun Steelport once again.

Droplitz is a simple and addictive puzzle game that will keep even the most avid puzzle gamer occupied for some time. The online leaderboards are a welcome addition, but a lack of head-to-head challenges really hurts some of the replay value.

Suda's crazy story actually works, and the jokes are downright funny at times.

SHIFT is an interesting game featuring a bit of humor and crafty puzzles using a single, inventive mechanic. It isn't without its flaws, but if the $3.99 price tag for only a few hours of play doesn't scare you off, I'd definitely recommend checking it out.

Roguelike fans will have some fun in Quest for Dungeons, just keep in mind, this roguelike doesn’t mess around and when you die, you start over from scratch.

de Blob 2 is a solid game that I am glad has made a return. While the remaster portion is a little of a misnomer, it is nice to see the game back. Now with these two remasters out of the way hopefully THQ Nordic can get on crafting the final chapter in the Blob trilogy. Bring it back, and make it beautiful. Colorful platformers are always welcome in my world.

Bonkies has a place in the party game universe, and it succeeds in making an entertaining night for players that have a good grasp on video games. Unfortunately, for the players looking for a new couch co-op game to play with non-gaming friends, this may end up being a one and done kind of game. Luckily, there is a single player that is pretty decent for when the friends actually do go home. If you’re into puzzle games with a deliberate frustrating twist, this is your game. If you don’t think you can handle the semi-rare feeling of completing a level, you may want to wait for a price drop, at least.

I had a lot of fun finding out the various ways I can mix and match spells and the different gun types, but the narrative in Wizard with a Gun is lacking. Honestly the game feels like it is really just meant to be played with a group of friends, which it does feature 4 player co-op. Having the extra guns with a different set of bullets would make some encounters WAY easier but more to that just having a person to play and talk with would do a lot. The gameplay loop isn’t bad it just wears then if you are playing solo, if you have a group of friends who enjoy games like Don’t Starve Together or even Ark then you all should take a look at Wizard with a Gun. Its unique blend of sandbox and twin stick shooter is a lot of fun for a while alone but I can see it being endlessly fun with friends.

Dark Forces is a game that more people should get the opportunity to play. It is a product of its time, but it is also packed with quality. Star Wars Doom was the best descriptor, and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t find that appealing. This remaster brings all of that back and cleans it up very nicely. This is a game that everyone should check out as it has been limited since its release, now you can play it anywhere on anything, and that is what makes gaming today so awesome.

Discounty isn’t trying to be a sprawling life simulator, and that’s exactly why it works. It focuses on shopkeeping and small-town charm, and in those areas it succeeds. The store management loop is fun, the characters are memorable, and the atmosphere is cozy in a way that few games pull off. It does stumble with clunky controls, slow pacing, and a lack of meaningful downtime activities, but those issues don’t outweigh the charm at its core. In the end Discounty is a refreshing spin on cozy sims that makes running a supermarket surprisingly engaging.

The Top 40 music game is actually long overdue and I don't think it would be any more sensible to make this entire thing DLC as it would require people only wanting these songs to purchase both the original game and an entirely new pack.

Watching the unlocked videos was nice, but not enough to make me care about this game as much as I wanted to.

While not as deep or engaging as the other titles in this franchise, Downhill Jam finally takes the series in a new direction. I can really see this becoming a nice offset from the traditional game and even enjoying some real success. Vicarious Visions has done an amazing job considering the limitations of the Nintendo DS.

Crysis 3 is not a bad game by any means, and it is very ambitious in many aspects, but as far as game play and story go, it is not going to impress anyone.

On a whole this is one outstanding collection granted players come into it with proper expectations. Sure the original Duck Tales is a blast, but most of these games have not aged as well as one would hope. Still, I cannot recommend it enough, it brought back memories. From the music to the insane difficulty, I had a blast. The rewind feature allowed me to see them all, and the new leader boards and modes make it worthwhile.

Perhaps this is due to my less than favorable inclination for puzzle/platformer action games as I seldom search out for games of this genre, but Hob felt lacking an identity- a clear element to call its own that really makes it standout amongst the rest of the games in the genre. While it most certainly looks pleasing to the eyes and feels competently made, I never felt excited to get back into the world of Hob after picking up a controller for another play session. As much as I would love to say that Runic Games went out after creating their best work yet, I cannot in good conscious as Hob is a solid, albeit unremarkable game.

Fight ‘N Rage is a fantastic beat ‘em up. It has simple controls, good mechanics, and a lot of diversity to go along with it. Fans of this genre should not hesitate to pick this one up and even if you only play solo, you’ll still have a fun time with it.

Capcom has delivered yet another fantastic HD remake.

If you’re a hardcore strategy fan it’s definitely worth a look, and if you’re new to the genre and have the patience to learn, it’s not a bad place to start.

Dead or Alive 5 has been a long time coming, but I definitely feel it was worth it. Fans of the series are likely to be satisfied with the amount of content within. The new characters are great, the guest characters are fun and the new mechanics create a new way to play without sacrificing familiarity. This is a supremely polished title outside of the questionable online portion. Hopefully, they can clean that up shortly after launch and continue supporting it with future costume and stage DLC. This game has legs if things come together, and being a fan as long as I have I can say, it feels good to be back.

On the surface WRC 8 would look like a game made for rally fans, but it misses the mark by miles and with there being so many other fantastic rally and racing games already out there to choose from, I can only recommend that you go looking elsewhere.

Knights in the Nightmare is a miraculous achievement in game design, and one hell of an RPG experience.

Mortal Shell is built around a solid foundation with a fun and responsive combat engine propped up by strong visuals. While some obtuse design choices and an uninteresting world holds it back from escaping the moniker of being, “just yet another souls-like”, it’s guaranteed to scratch that itch, at least a little.

With a solid start for MyPlayer mode, and a strong big picture batting and pitching mechanic in place, I'm quite optimistic for the 11th iteration of MLB 2k.

10 Second Ninja is certainly well designed from a gameplay standpoint, but misses out on being great through the shear difficulty of it. But if you enjoy a real tough challenge, and if your reflexes are sharper than mine, then it might be worth a shot.

Anyone looking for a fun time with friends or a new breed of arcade shooter should pick up Rival Megagun and any fan of game music should definitely listen to Dominic Ninmark’s soundtrack. Stellar work all around.

With easy to learn controls, great arcade gameplay and some fantastic catches, this game should be played by any baseball fan.

Overall, DOA6 is a nice package. While the grind for the costumes is real, the quest modes is a great way to learn more about all the characters in the game, and while the online mode is sparse for now, the support for this game will come in due time. Aside from all of that, the most important thing is the fighting mechanics and DOA6 delivers in that aspect. This is a great fighting game for both beginners and advanced players. The ins and outs take some getting used to, but once you do, you feel the satisfaction of pulling off that amazing counter and finishing up with a devastating combo, and end the end, that’s all that matters. Fighting game fans will have a great time here.

After becoming familiar with its systems, Pharaoh offers tremendous city building flexibility and a plethora of challenges unseen in any other city builder. A New Era has introduced numerous quality of life features found in contemporary city building titles to an already solid classic. From sandbox to successive dynasties, with new options to tune the game to your playstyle introduced, Pharaoh: A New Era beyond satisfies.

Brothers in Arms seems to wish they were cool enough to eat lunch with Band of Brothers and ends up taking itself all too seriously. It is an earnest backdrop for a game in which the "fun part" is supposed to be blowing people into tiny bits.

If you would call yourself a SoulCalibur purist and long for the days where you could show off how good you were in SoulCalibur II to everyone in the world, this might be for you, otherwise it’s just another cash grab HD re-release with very little new substance.

Even the reversion of the melee controls from the original didn’t make me like this game any less and for those of us who have been waiting for the sequel since it was announced in that now classic trailer, Dead Island 2 delivers on the promise and provides and fun, sunny jaunt in a zombie filled ‘HELL-A’ that is an absolute blast with friends but also fun in solo.

I loved my time with this game and it being offered on Game Pass for Xbox owners only sweetens the deal. Even still Switch and PS4 owners should not hesitate. For $20 this is one nostalgia trip worth taking, even for those that didn’t necessarily grow up with the games it attempts to mimic. A good game is still a good game regardless of generation.

Sonic Superstars is a great Sonic game that steps outside its comfort zone for the series. When they have done that in the past, it hasn’t always panned out for them. Superstars manages to make it work though even with the seemingly pointless time attack and battle modes. The campaign is enjoyable, the new character is interesting, and everything just looks and sounds delightful. There is little to complain about and once you get used to the new style, it really works on all levels.

As a collection, both Monster Hunter Stories games have received an excellent glow-up. The visuals both look great with enhanced graphics, and I loved the newly recorded voice lines for the characters. Hardcore series fans may be put off by Monster Hunter Stories’ easier combat that can be mastered quickly but I had a good time with both games. Finding and then training the monsties made me feel like a kid again playing Pokémon for the first time. I think that younger fans will find more to enjoy here, with its simplified combat and less mature story, Monster Hunter Stories’ is a low barrier entry into the larger Monster Hunter Universe. Despite its shortcomings, this one is worthy of the hunt.

While Jump Jet Rex might not be the longest game ever, it’s hard to deny the amount of fun there is to be had with a Dino and a pair of jet boots.

Cluster Truck had me on the edge of my seat and also completely defeated at times, yet always having a blast in the process. Sounds like a win, win to me.

The game is shallow, but focused, and Insomniac's aim is clear: short, sweet, episodic content - but Quest for Booty gives the player the sense that Ratchet just isn't meant for episodic styling.

Desperate Escape will likely please the action-oriented fans of the series, but those that prefer the refreshing take Lost in Nightmares delivered, should probably stay away.

From the shoot-out at the beginning of the game to final confrontation with Sosa, this game does not disappoint on action. You may find the side missions some what boring, but selling cocaine and cussing out random people has never been more fun.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Reflex may have more subtitles than it needs but it is a respectable port of one of the greatest first-person shooter experiences of our time.

Uprising once again proves that the Call of Duty multiplayer game is very safe in Treyarch’s hands. There isn’t a dull map in there, and Zombie mode continues to improve and add to the experience. If there is something to moan about, it would have to be the cost of the DLC. Picking them all up can run you as much as the original game.

Galactrix is a big game, more than your average downloadable offering and an engrossing blend of RPG and match three puzzling. The zero gravity board adds challenge and strategy, and the gameplay formula is so addictive and the quests so numerous that it is a difficult game to put down.

I certainly had my doubts about Pokkén when I booted it up for the first time, but it’s safe to say that it’s thoroughly won me over. The vibrant visuals with some spectacular animations, along with a combat system that’s deceptively deep but simple to grasp makes Pokkén easy to recommend to anyone, whether they be a fan of Pokemon or not.

Brothers in Arms seems to wish they were cool enough to eat lunch with Band of Brothers and ends up taking itself all too seriously. It is an earnest backdrop for a game in which the "fun part" is supposed to be blowing people into tiny bits.

This is certainly one instance where length of included content doesn't justify the price tag.

Volgarr the Viking is a brutal throwback to classic game design. Those wanting a challenge and who don’t mind repetition should not miss this.

Trails in the SC is the satisfying conclusion to what I consider to be the best original RPG series on the PSP/PSV, and should not be one to be missed by any JRPG fan.

Racing games are not nearly as prevalent as they used to be, and arcade racers even more so. Trackmania Turbo scratches an itch I had forgotten I had, taking me back to the days of massive arcade cabinets and split second failures. The progression is addictive, and the wacky track designs kept me coming back. This is one racing game I think everyone should take for a test drive.

The Surge 2 has some really satisfying moments. It’s worth an investment based on the wealth of customisation options available, solid progression and genuinely fun combat. These innovations go some way to making up for the lack engrossing story or meaningful characters. However, the overriding sense is that the positive traits of Surge 2 often feel suffocated, mainly by a lack of visual and narrative investment in the world that surrounds its core mechanics.

Time Loader was a nice breath of fresh air for me. It was simple, fun in execution, had a nice little story to tell, and was never overly long. It may be a bit too simple for the hardcore puzzle fans out there, but even then, they can find enjoyment out of this one with everything else it has going for it. This is one game that many will find themselves wanting to see all the endings and it is one that is worth it.

Deceive Inc has a new and unique premise and an engaging gameplay loop but its lackluster combat which is going to be inevitable in each match just pulls this otherwise killer spy simulator and sends it out to Die Another Day. While it has the benefit of being unlike any of the other hum-drum deathmatch games out there at the moment, I just hope that it can find a large enough player base to stand the test of time.

While Trails Through Daybreak II’s story doesn’t reach the heights of the previous entries, the expanded combat, re-introduction of side activities and a fun playground to test the might of the best teams I could muster made for a very enjoyable time all the same.

This is an entirely fine sequel for those who want a cute and casual creature collector, as it provides enough busy work to keep you entertained for a minimum 25 hours or so. The exploration and graphics are some of the new game’s highlights, also bringing in new slime species and a higher focus on gadgets. If you liked playing the previous game, then Slime Rancher 2 is more of it, for better or for worse.

It’s still Assassin’s Creed to its core, and won’t bring in any new people or those that completely have tired from the franchise. Yet I can proudly say Syndicate sits right behind Assassin’s Creed 2, Brotherhood, and Black Flag as my favorites out of the franchise.

Sure, there are some odd choices such as only including three characters, but the actual game more than makes up for these quirks. If you have ever loved the series, this is a must have.

It’s a great start to a new franchise, one of the best looking 3DS games I’ve ever played, and if you’re looking for a RPG with heart and spirit, Yo-Kai Watch is the right choice and a great start to a new franchise.

Coming into this without the nostalgia glasses is always an interesting perspective. Will a game that people have loved and wanted to see again resonate with a completely new player? In this case I believe due to the ease of play and how much simple fun the game can be, along with how intense the matches can ultimately get, this is a no brainer. It might be a relic of old arcade fun, but there must be a reason so many people love it, and it seems truly good gameplay mechanics don’t age if Windjammers is anything to go by.

As someone that hasn’t really been exposed to the series proper, the only expectation I had going in was that it would be a fun couch gaming experience and in that regard, Super Mario Party is a rousing success as I saw nothing but smiles all around during my numerous play sessions with over a dozen different people. However, those smiles were short lived as they soon faded when we realized that there were only four boards to play and the rest of the other modes were simple novelties at best. A shame as this party was one I was glad to be invited to- I just didn’t feel the desire to stick around for too long.

All in all, Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam is still a fun RPG that fans of the previous game will enjoy.

Divinity: Dragon Commander is a classic example of the sum of the whole being greater than its individual parts.

Even with room to improve, The Show 12 for the Vita is the best portable sports game I've ever played, and it should be in every baseball fan's library.

Simply put, Zuma's Revenge is a blast. While lacking the difficulty of the original's adventure mode, the score challenges, iron frog mode and boss battles more than make up for it. New mechanics and some terrific powerups combine with excellent gameplay to make a great, fast paced strategy game. The combination of simple gameplay and strategy make it a classic "just one more" game, and something all types of gamer can enjoy.

Plan your actions, think strategically, and a lot of fun can be had.

Singularity is a solid FPS with a working gimmick and a solid narrative.

NBA 2K22 has a few things that make this upgrade feel worthy. The new play mechanics are excellent, and it continues to excel on the presentation front. The microtransactions are still super gross and I wish some of the other modes such as Blacktop would get a proper overhaul as they are starting to feel dated. Still being the only NBA game in town it does upgrade nicely. I found myself deleting the old version to play this one, and not being a huge NBA fan that is saying something.

With so much focus on creating an interactive experience in games today it is always nice to see one that simply focuses on being fun. The Club may not be the most intricate experience you will have on the consoles this year, but it certainly will be one of the most intense.

If you enjoy difficult bullet-hell games then you will probably enjoy SideScroller. On the other hand, if constantly dying and repeating the same sections of the level over and over again makes you want to quit, this game probably isn't for you.

Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 is everything a sequel should be. It builds on the strengths of the original with its stylish visuals, tight controls and a fluid combat engine that reminds me of how I felt when I was playing some of my favorite 2D platformers in the past. If not for the low degree of challenge and obnoxious Amiibo addition, it could’ve been a perfect game.

I feel like the best way to describe how I feel about Dying Light 2 is by saying: “I don’t mind it.” It’s got some good things going for it and when it takes off, it gets going well. The problem is it takes a long time to take off. The story gets better eventually, and parkour skills take time to acquire, and the combat boils down to block, dodge, and swing. There’s a lot to do here, but I feel like the mechanics of the game itself gets in the way of really letting the player explore what’s around, and in the end, the rewards just may not be enough to bother with a lot of them. That’s not to say I didn’t have a fun time with the game. I did. There are some great shining moments here and when the story ramped up, I was in it until the end. If you have the patience to get to it, you too can have a good time, but don’t say I didn’t warn you that it will take some time to finally get to it.

MAG is yet another fantastic addition to the PlayStation 3 library and one of the most addictive online experiences I have had in quite some time.

TGC2 represents my introduction to this series, as I did not play the original entry. Quite honestly I found this advantageous while writing this review, because I didn’t have any preconceived notions about the series going in. While this created some challenges for my initial onboarding into the game, I feel like it allows me perspective to judge the games merits objectively, without chalking weaknesses up to “well it’s better than the last one”. In general I feel like this is a solid budget title with a fantastic course creator and a lot of options, but it’s hard to recommend it to less hardcore fans of the sport.

Hyper Light Drifter is a sensory overload from a visual and audio standpoint.

Fans of UFC will get the atmosphere of a real UFC match, while fighting and sports game fans have enough here to have some good fun.

The series is getting long in the tooth, but I still think it has plenty left to offer, and if they continue with the vehicles in future games, I hope they iron out the problems presented in this version.

I love this world; the actual battlefields are beautiful upon spawning in. From the lighting to the landscapes the artists on this team have truly given us some spectacular looking playgrounds. Some of the best I’ve seen in an RTS game, sadly by the time the battle is over they will resemble a scarred warzone but still no less beautiful. The characters in the Usonia campaign were very well done, which was helped by excellent cutscenes and voice over artists. I am now playing through the main story in order to fill in some of these holes I have by starting with the DLC campaign, but I am loving every moment of it so far. I am so happy to return to my love of RTS games and found that in my absence the genre has grown and changed in a fantastic and wonderful way.

I am addicted to Hot Shots Golf World Invitational. It still has a lot of collectibles, a good challenge and, overall, a fun experience. The only things that irked me are minor problems that can be overlooked, but also can be frustrating to deal with at the same time.

The game is quirky and humorous and full of things to see and do. So much in fact that it should keep you occupied for months on end.

I may have not been around in that era, and don't have those roots of gaming, but if you can bring the style back and make it work in 2010, you are definitely doing something right.

Robocop: Rogue City is an absolute gem of a game. While not as polished as a AAA title, it still manages to look great in motion and function just as well. The bugs I found were minimum and usually happened when I killed an enemy near a guardrail, for some reason they are all programmed to fall over no matter how far away from the rail they may be. But I never ran into any real issues here, Rogue City is as solid as Robocop himself. I would be remiss if I didn’t shoutout the excellent audio in Rogue City, from the excellent Peter Weller reprising his role as Alex Murphy/Robocop to the inclusion of an EXCELLENT piano version of the classic movie theme if you are a fan of Robocop, Rogue City has been made for you. Playing Rogue City, I couldn’t help but think that Teyon has done for Robocop what Rocksteady did for Batman. They managed to highlight another side of the character in the interactive space by allowing players to really embody the ‘cop’ part of Robocop.

Mighty Gunvolt Burst is exactly what I wanted it to be. A proper clone of a genre I still love to this day, with enough new to make it feel modern. The platforming is tight, the challenge is solid, and everything just feels good. I grew up loving these games, and while I am not quite as skilled as I used to be, I still enjoy the challenge they deliver.

By far and away the best thing about Tales of Kenzera: Zau is its narrative, Surgent Studios have proven themselves to be quite the masterful storytellers. A story tackling grief, acceptance and loss is rare in this day and age and the team have done extremely well of making it relatable. Not only that but the world and imagery in Kenzera is some of the best I’ve seen and I hope that this is just the beginning for these tales of Kenzera, as I am certainly ready for more.

Star Wars Outlaws is a rollercoaster of a game that I loved and hated in different ways. I could be having the time of my life one minute, and the next be frustrated and want to turn it off. It feels like a game that with some tweaks, could be a classic. I think after a while it will iron out and be remembered as a truly fun and great game. As of now it has a lot of issues out of the box, and its inconsistency makes it harder to recommend outside the most hardcore of Star Wars fans.