Trinity Trigger has some really good ideas that sadly never get fleshed out. The story is quite unique and really could have been something if handled with a bit more care. What begins as a Legend of Mana-esque journey, soon delves into a mess of broken combat, poor directions for the player, and lackluster graphics. Which is really a shame, because with some more time in the oven Trinity Trigger might’ve been able to help differentiate itself from the sea of other RPGs out right now.

Sherlock fans will enjoy the story and mystery, and puzzle fans will get their fix. If you're a fan of point and click adventure games and graphics are not a big concern to you, you may want to give this game a shot, but keep in mind; it will not control or look too pretty.

Everything about Hammerin' Hero screams old-school good times. Enemies are highlighted in red, one hit can knock you out of the game, and there are a plethora of things to unlock. If you are a fan of this classic 16-bit style of action/platformers and own a PSP there is no reason to pass up this addictive little gem.

This is a beefed-up version of the original game, and still stands as one of the most impressive co-op shooters available. If you have a friend to play with this is one of the best experiences you can have with this type of game. But if you intend to fly solo this is definitely not the game for you. The campaign is short, the helper AI seriously has some faults and the game just wasn't designed to be played alone.

If you have a PS4 and you enjoy a more methodical FPS and want to see some really pretty visuals, Shadow Fall is a good choice.

Puchi Puchi Virus is a must own for puzzle gamers simply because there is nothing quite like it on the DS, or any other system for that matter. The gameplay is simple enough to be picked up and played quickly, however challenging enough to keep even the most skilled player busy for many hours.

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.

The one thing I was most excited about with Sons of Valhalla was the city-building aspect but sadly this ends up being a really shallow experience. As a fan of StarCraft, WarCraft and any number of games like that, I had hoped this would be similar but on a 2D plane. There is no real depth or strategy that takes place when building the city or training units. If you have a lot of big units, chances are you will prevail. I didn’t hate my time with Sons of Valhalla, I had just expected more from it.

With plenty to see and do and a large variety of ways to cause chaos and mayhem Just Cause will satisfy any gamers appetite for destruction.

I cannot help but find enjoyment in the creative setting, excellent visual style and intriguing story. Even with all of its problems The Saboteur is one enjoyable trip down the overplayed setting of World War II.

With the level of creations online now you can see the frustration caused by the editor. Tracks are not nearly as inspired as those found in ModNation. It just seems like LBP Karting took more shortcuts in its design than the two games that make up its core.

It isn’t inherently awful, but it suffers from being overly average. It also doesn’t help that the best parts of the game take so long to uncover so those of you with short attention spans will likely grow tired of it long before it picks up.

If you're like me, you already invested a considerable amount of time in Skyrim. If that's you, Dawnguard is well worth the $20 investment.

If you don't enjoy old-school looks, repetitive gaming and blips for music, then you obviously aren't the one this game is aimed at. However, if those things give you goose bumps and memories of beating up the same enemy over and over then Scott Pilgrim is your game.

The premise is solid, but the addition of avatar-forced game play really threw me off. The handling could have been greatly improved without grinding for hours to buy new parts. Still, at 800 pts ($10) it is difficult not to recommend checking out for those who enjoy the genre.

If you care about playing with Colts and Payton Manning, or you just have to have real teams and stadiums then Madden is your option. But if you want to play a good football game with the players of yesteryear then pick up All-Pro Football 2K8.

Jotun isn’t a long game by any means, but it packs in a lot. The diverse environments are beautiful, the boss fights are expertly designed, and Norse mythology is just cool. It also tells a personal story that makes the ride all the more enjoyable.

While I am glad to see MechWarrior make a return; its just not the one I’ve been waiting for. While the latest expansion Legend of the Kestrel Lancers adds new mechs, biomes and a linear story missions its still more of the same, so if one doesn’t like the base game…. Then the expansion isn’t going to do much to change that.

Project Spark is a fantastic creation tool with some severe growing pains.

What I was wondering was answered in episode two, and was well done enough and has me wanting to see what will happen in the next episode.

Evotinction is a solid first-effort from this developer. The bones are there for a fantastic follow-up. For this adventure though it is worth knowing what you are getting into before diving in. If you enjoy tense stealth adventures, this could be for you. If you are looking for even a remote amount of action, best to look elsewhere. As it stands this curiously titled game is a solid, if lacking adventure that definitely has my eye on Spikewave Games.

Mafia: The Old Country is a solid entry in the long-running franchise. I love the focus on the story, and the runtime is welcome in a world of bloat. The performances are stellar and the visuals fantastic outside of the performance issues. Anyone who enjoys a good mob story should not miss this.

Typoman: Revised creates a unique and clever experience that ends just in time to salvage a positive experience. The game may not be perfect, like Limbo, but it still looks and plays great, has a message that resonates, and is a genuine surprise in its own right.

The lack of online and the feeling of taking a few steps back from the last effort are the only real deterrents to this overall solid experience.

Even with a cheaper price point, it’s hard to recommend this pack.

Despite its flaws, God Eater 2 Rage Burst is a pretty fun game to play, with a fun cast of characters and a fast paced combat engine. If it had a larger player base on the PC for the multiplayer component to thrive, it would have been an easy game to recommend. However, as it stands now, I can only speak of this title as a single player experience and as such, its leaves much to be desired.

The Vasara Collection is an unusual choice for a modern game port. A game not many people would have heard of and a genre that is more niche than most. I would certainly recommend turning down the difficulty for most people to ensure that you have a good time. But if you are the sort of person that loves the kind of challenge a bullet hell game provides, well there is certainly some of that in there as well. There is plenty of game for the low price point and I definitely had some fun mixed in with the frustration.

This is actually a decent HD remaster. For a game that I played a ton of when I was 15, it was still fun to go back to with a new set of eyes and experiences under my belt. It may be a much more simplistic adventure compared to other action games nowadays, but checking in on this gem was enjoyable all the way through. Fans of the old series will have a fun nostalgia trip while players that missed out on it at the beginning of the PS2, can find some old school fun here and the $20 price tag is perfect for this one.

For the Sega fans looking for some games to take on the go that even look pretty decent in 3D, this collection has something for everyone, although the price point may be a bit too steep when some games are short lived.

Lumo has a heart. It’s filled with a charming aesthetics, classic retro style gameplay, fun references to other franchises, and just offers a solid good time for platforming fans.

This is by no means a bad thing for those who enjoy this solid, albeit tired formula, but I can’t help but ponder when the true revolution for this series will take place.

The addition of online play is certainly UMK’s biggest selling point. If you are a huge fan of the series and plan to take the skirmishes online there is no reason to hesitate picking this one up. This is by far the best portable Kombat game to date.

Grid Legends is a great game that was simply released at the wrong time. PlayStation owners are more likely to jump on Gran Turismo 7, and Xbox owners are most likely still satisfied with Forza Horizon 5. It is hard to slide between these two franchises and achieve much success. Still there is a trial on EA Play so give it a shot. I had a great time with it, but quickly forgot about it after a week. I do wish the game felt more like a successor as opposed to an upgrade to Grid 2019.

While it didn’t blow my mind or redefine just exactly what puzzle games meant to me, it was solid, albeit unspectacular puzzle experience that I’m sure the fans of the genre will enjoy.

Kirby offers a fantastic experience for the amount of content it provides and the price.

Like Total War, when the players massive armies clash in battle it is a sight to behold, luckily the game offers the option to simulate battles and watch the AI troops clash. This, to me was massively more enjoyable than trying to struggle through the games clunky combat. While I loved the depth offered in the RPG elements of the world, I came away disappointed enough by the combat that is just made the whole experience feel like a chore to play; combine that with the lack of a real story and I Mount and Blade II: Bannerlord just didn’t turn out to be the total medieval simulator game I was hoping for.

The story, characters and even the very world that Wolfeye Studios have created for their freshman outing is so very unique and dare I say ‘weird’ that you can’t help but become wrapped up in them. I haven’t enjoyed a mash up of supernatural and westerns since Darkwatch and if you played that game, you know that’s high praise.

For such a simplistic game, I’m amazed at how deep it can be.

If you have already been down this road, there is really nothing here to warrant a second play, however if you haven’t played the second entry in the Lords of Shadow narrative, this is the one to get.

The graphics in this game are surprisingly good.

Overall I had a fun time with Cogs, it's a fresh spin on puzzle games, and while some puzzles are scream-inducing hard, in the end you feel a huge sense of victory when you solve a super hard puzzle, and who out there doesn't like to see a rocket ship take flight, after you've connect a system of pipes to its 6 engines!

Heidelberg 1693 is a familiar game with a unique hook and dreary art style. I loved the time I spent with it and recommend anyone with some patience check it out. It will beat you down, but once you get into the groove it is hard to put down. Definitely one of the better indie games attempting to mimic that NES glory.

It’s hard not to draw comparisons to Joe Danger when talking about Action Henk; the influence in both gameplay and design is there for all to see. But Action Henk falls short in too many ways, allowing Joe to speed off in to the sunset, leaving Henk in his dust.

Asylum is one of the best games of last generation, and City is certainly no slouch (if not a bit too big for its own good), but for those that have beaten these games to death such as myself, this collection is definitely not a must-have in season full of stellar new IPs and sequels.

It retains enough of the classic charm to keep the veterans of the series happy, while adding enough of change to peak the interest of newcomers.

The striking visual style, the intriguing premise that’s expertly tied in to the gameplay- it all felt like it was going to be a special experience. But at the end of day, the poor balancing of difficulty and dubious mechanical design choices makes this one really hard to enjoy and even harder to recommend.

Coming in at 19.99, this is a collection that man Mega Man fans will surely want to add to their collection. It’s a great spot to have all 4 of these titles in one place, and fairly accurate to their original releases. Some new players might be off put by the jump in quality between the older and newer games in the pack, or even the difficulty some of these provide, but for the price, it’s a nice little package to have.

Mulaka continues to show the prowess of developer Lienzo. They are slowly honing their craft and I expect it to continue. I look forward to their next game, but for now anyone who enjoys games such as Zelda or Okami would do well to check this title out. It is available on virtually everything and worth the investment even with its shortcomings.

In the end Human: Fall Flat is exactly what I expected it would be, but with more to it than I anticipated. I loved digging through each area. Even when Bob fell to his death, respawning and trying again never bothered me. The simplistic design and clever physics-based puzzles offer up an enjoyable romp that is more than worth the price of admission.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is not a game for everyone; you have to have a strong stomach, you have to like hack and slash games and you have to know the story of Wolverine to fully appreciate it.

TMNT: Tactical Takedown is a decent time if you love the turtles and aren’t expecting a revolutionary tactics game. It has heart, humor, and enough ninja action to keep fans entertained, truly my only issue is the writing in some areas but even its not enough to distract from how much fun this tactics game is; just like my first time trying pineapple on pizza, I was surprised with how much I really enjoyed this unique mash-up and wouldn’t mind another tactical Turtles game.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is a solid successor to the original game, but not one that feels like it was three years in the making. Anyone who enjoyed the original will find enough content and fan service to keep them busy for quite some time, but anyone who grew tired of the original will likely call it quits long before the credits roll.

Ashes of Ariandel is a good time for those looking to give themselves an excuse to boot up Dark Souls 3 again, as if that is even necessary. It has some great new enemies and a cool location to explore. Those looking for new PVP gameplay will find it here, but overall the package is solid and not extraordinary.

Ranging from the simplistic to the absurd, the Escapist 2 offers a great variety of ways one could escape from prison. Scoping out a new prison for its vulnerabilities and formulating a plan to carry out is a great time, but getting to those thrilling moments of misadventures are often plagued with days of scavenging, looking for those one or two materials I desperately needed and as the tedium began to set in, I wasn’t looking for a way to escape from the prison but rather from this cycle of boring, repetitive gameplay.

Fans of the sport and franchise have a lot great modes to look forward to, with not only single player races but multiplayer also. Newcomers, as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into and are willing to invest the time, you’ll be racing like the pros with ease.

Project X Zone 2 is a deeper, more satisfying experience as it is greatly improved from the original in every single way. It’s a shrine to a great cast of characters we’ve grown fond of over the years, carefully crafted by people who love these characters just as much as we do.

It may be a bit overly simplistic at times when traditional Zelda fans come into it, and the single player can be a bit boring with micromanaging each Link, but if players can find some friends to play either online or locally, there’s some great fun to be had, especially if you allow the crafting bug to bite you.

Stories is a game that has a lot of heart. Sure, there are plenty of things in this game that I have seen before in some form or fashion, but it never stopped me from having a fantastic time with it.

Directive 8020’s over reliance on stealth segments, cheap jump scares and jarring story transitions prevents it from being one of the best in the series. However, it impresses with strong performances, atmosphere and the addition of the Turning Point system that makes replaying the game to see new plot points more convenient than ever, making it a solid new entry in the Dark Pictures Anthology.

There’s plenty of little life improvements but to me, and I realize this is extremely biased, is where PokéMon peaked and to remake PokéMon Diamond and Pearl this well is quite something. I think it’s hard to find complaints with Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl outside of simply not liking the formula of PokéMon. There’s so much to discover and do that it comes very close to feeling like living in the world of PokéMon and I suppose that’s all I ever wanted. Let me compete with friends on whose PokéMon is the cutest, see who is the toughest, and then let us hang out in the dingy underground digging up fancy gems together. Maybe when we’re done I’ll save the world from some evil group and catch some legendary PokéMon too. It brings me back not just to my teens, but to the feeling I had when I borrowed my friend’s copy of PokéMon Red and for a game to continue this long and still hook me after all this time is more praise than I can necessarily articulate.

I may sound a little harsh on the game, but Sideway: New York is not bad by any stretch. It does have some annoying parts, but the art style and constantly changing perspective is something you don't see every day. For the most part, the game is enjoyable.

While the fan service is a bit heavy handed and some of the gameplay elements feel a bit dated, at its core DT2 is a competent, albeit unremarkable first-person dungeon crawler.

Mother Russia Bleeds is a great game with some truly oppressive decisions, with the lack of online co-op being the most obvious. Still, those looking for that Streets of Rage itch to scratch, this does it, and does it well. I just wish there was a bit more to it, of and of course online co-op. Not sure I mentioned how much this game suffers from not having that option.

I really enjoyed my time with Mages of Mystralia. It’s a neat little game that has a lot of heart. There are a few issues here and there, but nothing that really bogged down the experience for me. The presentation is stellar, and me being a video game music fan I found the soundtrack alone worth the price of admission. It helps out a lot that the puzzles and abilities feel rewarding and fun to use. I would suggest picking this game up for anyone that enjoys an action adventure game with some puzzle solving thrown in. It’s a pretty great time.

Sniper Elite V2 Remastered is a nice throwback in the series. While it is more linear than its follow-ups it still packs a visceral punch worth checking out. For those that exhausted the original it might be a tougher sell, but for anyone that passed it up the first time around it is definitely worth a look. Those slow-motion shots still never get old, even to this day.

In the end Sparklite feels like a game that could have been great, but ended up just being good. It leaned too heavily into shoehorning in mechanics that did not need to be there. With a little more focus and some expansion on its ideas it could have been something special. As it stands it is yet another pixelated indie game that I will enjoy experiencing, but be hard pressed to remember.

In the end, Landflix Odyssey is a decent game. Sure, it can be a bit lame on the originality, but the platforming works well and the gimmick for each show is fun. There will be times you’ll be fed up with the trial and error style of gameplay, but I always found myself going back to it for one more try. It is definitely one of those game where you have to play it not the way you would but how the developers made it. For the platforming fans, it’s a decent trip. If you’re not really into perfecting a level in a game, I would suggest looking somewhere else for your platforming fix.

The Gex Trilogy is a great collection with a few missing pieces. It was a lot of fun to revisit these games as I loved playing them in my youth. The new rewind feature makes the games much more playable, and the updated controls make the second and third game tolerable. Limited Run Games did a great job with this collection, and it is worth it alone for the interviews and extras. Hopefully we can see Gex return in the future, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. He was definitely a product of a certain time.

Savage Moon is an enjoyable game, even if it lacks the charm and obsessive allure of PSN alum PixelJunk Monsters.

I really wanted to like Atomfall, as I said that first trailer I was already intrigued by its weird and very British world but its narrative was boring to me. While its visuals for the various zones are drop-dead gorgeous at times, its ‘Leads’ system, while certainly unique; just leads to more frustration that innovation for me. And when you combine that on top of the combat system that has a reliance on melee but then refuses to give you the ability to block an on-coming punch while simultaneously letting you get beat-down by 13 dudes… nah, I had to fall off of this one.

As it stands, it’s a difficult title to recommend at the current asking price, except to those that are die-hard fans of the genre.

My only gripe is that for how much this game wants to be seen like an RPG it never really does anything of interest with it. If the world is going to be big, fill it with quests. Fill it with more side activities. Even if the main focus is combat, give me a reason to explore the world more than just Dragon Ball flashbacks and collectibles I am required to have to upgrade skills. I think the Yakuza games and more importantly the Fist of the North Star game from the Yakuza team shows that the game can still have heavy emphasis on combat and still be a role playing game. Kakarot unfortunately just doesn’t hit that mark.

While there is some semblance of enjoyment to be had here for those who like to see numbers go up, to see a series I’ve adored and followed for nearly two decades take inspiration from garbage mobile games in the spirit of greed and becoming bastardized as a shell of former self, breaks my heart.

Salt and Sacrifice is a greatly ambitious title, melding a number of gameplay elements from other popular series but it comes at the cost of overall polish and focus, leaving a frustrating experience that feels like a step back from its predecessor.

At $10 a piece these episodes are just long enough and entertaining enough to keep digging through them.

Warhammer: Chaosbane has the potential to be a top tier action RPG in the likes of Diablo, Torchlight, and Grim Dawn, but as it stands now, it is a fun 10 hours with the endgame content being watered down. Now, developers EKO Software has stated that their plans are to support this game throughout the rest of the year with updates and new additions, of course, only time will tell on that. Currently, almost a month after release, the newest patch that hit the PC version is still waiting approval for the consoles, so that’s been fun. Until then, you get a decent loot-driven action RPG that is fun all the way up to the level cap, after that, it becomes a bit of a bland grind.

Atomic Heart is a game I was excited to finally play, but went in with low expectations considering how long it was in the oven. The end result is easily one of the best games I have played this year and an experience I recommend everyone dig into. It won’t be for everyone, but for those that it is for it will be an amazing experience. There is just so much to this world and I had a blast exploring the world of Facility 3826. I am still digging into the side content and hope they continue to iron out its issues as time goes on. I cannot wait to see what is next from Mundfish, I just hope I don’t have to wait another decade to see it.

All problems that I had aside, Hybrid is a decent game, in which a lot of people will likely sink a lot of time into. The concepts that it introduces such as the persistent world of seasons and cover to cover combat are clever, and the game can be fun at times, but I would play the 60 minute demo before dropping the fifteen dollars, considering there is nothing outrageously new being brought to the table.

So, will I play Earthworm Jim more than a couple of times? Absolutely! The humor and sound effects alone keep me smirking and coming back for more.

As I said in the beginning, I really love this game, while I never got to play the original version; Freedom Wars Remastered is a fantastic game. Blending the best of Monster Hunter and adding some kick-ass movements and abilities with the Thorn system, I really want Bandai to bring this franchise back. I am so curious what a new entry into this series built from the ground up with the new tech would look like. With any luck this was just a test to gauge public interest; and if so, I am extremely interested in the future of this franchise.

For $13, players looking for a unique experience will find it here. Keep in mind, there is some trial and error platforming awaiting would-be players that can get nerve-racking after a while, and some of the dialog delivery is off, but the world itself is colorful and interesting and while it may be delivered slightly off at times, the story is rather interesting.

Fighting EX Layer is a hard sell to casual fighting game fans. Its lack of modes is its biggest downfall. For those who grew up with Arika’s work though it is a pure joy to play. I hope they continue to support the game and add more and more content as it goes on. Perhaps it will be featured at EVO next year instead of just a side option. With the announcements of new characters, stages, and even crossover characters, the future looks bright. I just hope the momentum continues.

I really wanted to love Rogue Trader, especially with how much I love the universe but more so because I had just come down from the high that is Baldur’s Gate 3. And perhaps this is unfair but the majority of my playtime was me grumbling because what is 1 step in BG3 was 5 or 6 in Rogue Trader. I do realize that both games are built on different rule sets but I just didn’t have fun playing with the one in Rogue Trader despite how much I love the universe. All of the bugs and issues I ran into didn’t help anything either, if you are interested in this one, I would suggest waiting for a few patches before really digging in.

Gears of War Ultimate edition seemingly does well enough on PC and everything that was on the Xbox One version is offered here.

There is a lot to be said about the sheer amount of characters and being able to team them up together. Playing with friends is also much more enjoyable than flying solo, when it works properly. The upcoming DLC is exciting, the return of a mindless beat ‘em up feels good, and I just love a solid comic book title. I don’t think the price of admission is worth it in the end, but when this hits $30-$40 I definitely recommend it. There is plenty here for Marvel and non-Marvel fans to enjoy.

When I started playing Talent Not Included, I was blown away by its tight controls and stage setting. Towards the end, I was still enjoying it, but my enthusiasm waned considerably compared to where it once was. Still, its unique presentation and complementary design does make for a good time.

Control and graphic issues aside this game is a must play for anyone who is a Marvel Comic book fan. Not only is the story engrossing, but the huge cast of characters is a comic book fans dream come true. Hopefully Activision will produce a sequel to wrap up the loose ends to this great game.

While I had some issues with both the puzzle selection and the game’s execution on Android, it’s still a great value for the $16 asking price, especially considering that according to Level5 this game is identical to the 3DS version coming later this year, at likely more than twice the price. That makes it a compelling choice for those who own a 3DS, and a no-brainer for any puzzle lover who doesn’t own Nintendo’s handheld.

Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted is a good time, just not a great remake. It captures the heart of the original perfectly, but doesn’t do enough to justify itself as the “ultimate edition.” If you’ve never played Plants vs. Zombies before, this is absolutely worth jumping into. For returning players, though, it’s more of a comfortable rerun than a revitalized revival.

There is enough new content and features to make it stand up as a game on its own. It is a pleasure to play, and addictive too, although playing for too long at a time can lead to levels of epic frustration.

Omega Force has become a machine at crafting these, and for those not yet tired of the setting, there is still a copious amount of fun to be had here.

If you have ever been a fan of this series or simply a fan of arcade shooters in general; then there is no reason not to buy this compilation. While you could probably blaze through all seven games in a day or two; you will never grow tired of ripping through them over and over with a buddy in the co-op mode.

Overall, this episode did a good job in rejuvenating me into the series. The previous two episodes got the series off to a good start, but after the last one, I had a hard time getting excited because the puzzles were starting to become too difficult for me to handle.

Fans of Worms will find enough new here to keep things fresh while newcomers can have plenty of fun too.

For the price tag I highly recommend checking out this sleeper hit. I was shocked at just how much fun it brought me out of nowhere.

I can’t wait to be able to talk about this one in detail, it surprised me how much I liked it. Even if it kind of feels like a roguelite, I don’t care; being able to mastermind this show by picking the cast and placing things around to evoke emotions was fun, every. single. time. If you like dynamic games where you, the player will kind of set up the dominos and watch them fall I feel like you will be hard pressed to find a better game than The Crush House. Not only was it fun setting up the various shots and seeing things unfold amongst the various castmates but the mystery here is the real draw. Go into this one as blind as you can, you will thank me for it.

Guitar Hero: Smash Hits is a great collection of tracks from previous games, re-constructed for the current evolution of the genre. If you are ok with that, and don't mind swapping discs to access this content, then do not hesitate purchasing it.

In the end, all but the hardcore Disney fans among us will be disappointed in what Epic Mickey brings to the table. Despite its huge concepts and lofty goals, EM functions as a barely serviceable action/adventure/platformer on a system that has two of the best in the genre already available.