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.

As for the game itself, it lives and dies with the multiplayer for me. I loved the new Hunter mode, and I still enjoy the core online game more than most other shooters. The campaign on the other hand just felt like a mess. The enemy AI is atrocious, and the sheer execution is just boring at times. Despite its brevity, I found myself wanting it to end long before it actually did.

Last Rebellion is a game that will likely become a niche title down the road, and for good reason. The combat system is definitely something special. If only everything else had come together this game could have easily been a must-own.

The problems arise when you realize the game is able to be finished within one sitting and there really is no reason to go back through outside of unlocking some Gamerscore.

Yes, some aspects are nowhere near where the bar has been set on current titles, but this game is something that is a truly unique experience as well as a love letter to fans of the survival horror genre. You really can't go wrong with picking this game up if you have the time to invest in it.

Strength of the Sword 3 is one of the better combat arena games that have been released recently. By concentrating on skill over button mashing, you have a game that requires more attention than most. It may have a few issues, but seeing as it was made by just two guys trying to make it in the game development world.

All in all Superfrog HD is not a bad game. It has a lot of content for its price, and tries to bring on the charm with its characters. Most of it works fairly well. The jumping and the camera may become a bother, but the game is not so overly difficult that players won’t mind a bad jump here and there.

Hurry Up Hedgehog is a decent game for the Nintendo DS that suffers from a few problems, but this board game turned portable video game has some innovative ideas that may lead to more quirky board games finding a home on the Nintendo DS.

Military Madness: Nectaris is not a bad game, just one that is well behind the times.

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

Overall, the game is definitely fun in short doses. It has a nice style and gameplay, which is a breath of fresh air in today's market. You may also learn a few things about history along the way!

The problems arise when you realize the game is able to be finished within one sitting and there really is no reason to go back through outside of unlocking some Gamerscore.

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.

Feels kind of like a $30 title in a $60 dollar package. While the gameplay is solid, the shallow modes, disappointing lack of polish, and overall mediocrity really prevent the game from reaching the high quality of previous NASCAR games.

Transformers Prime is not a bad game. It just lacks any sort of pazazz. The levels are straight-forward, the gameplay non-offensive and the multiplayer is just throw-away. Fans of the show might find enough to warrant their purchase, but if you own a 3DS, you can get the same experience for a lot less money. This is definitely one of those instances where the game was a quick port to fill a slot in the launch roster, nothing more, nothing less.

Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2 is the type of niche game that will be overly-criticized by most and adored by its fans. If you are a card-carrying member of the Gundam army there is no reason not to pick up this ridiculously-stuffed disc full of content.

As it stands, it will take a very specific type of player to stick with the game long enough to mine its deep-buried enjoyment.

If you prefer your games with a little more grey matter, then Hamilton will be right up your street. The game's niggles are far outweighed by the joy that gave be gained by finally working out a tough level, and couch co-op is something not often seen, but works well here, even if you do end up screaming at each other!

F1 Race Stars isn't a bad game. In fact I had a lot of fun playing it, especially offline with friends. The problems arise from its lack of creativity in power-ups, and the bland career mode. There just seems to be so much filler for a game that should shine through simplicity. When it gets that core concept right, it excels. The rest of the time you are left wondering why they made the decisions they did. Fans of F1 looking for a solid kart racer (imagine how small that window is) will be pleased, but there are better options for everyone else looking for a solid title in this genre.

Die hard fans of the franchise will no doubt be pleased with it, but the lack of any real new gameplay elements means that, if you are new to the series, you may as well buy the first game.

Die hard fans of the franchise will no doubt be pleased with it, but the lack of any real new gameplay elements means that, if you are new to the series, you may as well buy the first game.

King of Fighters XII is not a bad game; it just came out at a bad time. The re-birth of the franchise really feels like ten steps backwards, and it wouldn't be so bad if the competition wasn't so stiff right now.

Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2 is the type of niche game that will be overly-criticized by most and adored by its fans. If you are a card-carrying member of the Gundam army there is no reason not to pick up this ridiculously-stuffed disc full of content.

Everything about Legendary from the story to the set pieces screams epic proportions and honestly I really wanted to like the game a lot more. However, the small setbacks really take away from the experience and cause the game to go from legendary (pun highly intended) to just plain decent.

Battle of Z may not be revolutionary, but it does offer something a little different and rather fun for the DBZ fans out there.

Atelier Annie is a strange game that could find a small but eccentric audience. With nice colorful graphics, a whimsical musical score, and the addition of alchemy; Atelier Annie just might be the stay off of the RPG path that you might be looking for, even if the lame ass dialogue gets on your nerves.

Despite its shortcomings, Painkiller is well worth it.

There is a lot of hope buried under the surface and if they can manage to unleash it, the game could truly live up to its namesake.

King of Fighters XII is not a bad game; it just came out at a bad time. The re-birth of the franchise really feels like ten steps backwards, and it wouldn't be so bad if the competition wasn't so stiff right now.

As a whole, Medal of Honor is not a horrible game; it just needed some more time for it to truly shine.

As a whole, Medal of Honor is not a horrible game; it just needed some more time for it to truly shine.

I'd even go as far to say that most hardcore players will find this expansion a little lacking with only 4 new characters and a rebalancing structure that hinders more than it helps.

While it does bring some good things to the table, NHL 2K10 unfortunately stumbles on the most important aspects of a good hockey game. Sluggish game speed, unreliable controls, and bland game modes leave the game several steps behind its competition.

Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory is in the middle as far as how well it stacks up to the previous titles. I still prefer Mk2’s battle system over Victory’s simplistic nature. The story and character interactions are well improved in Victory, and these aspects kept me playing. Victory is not a bad game by any means, but it is a clear example of changes made in all the wrong places.

Still, if you have some friends over or some online buddies that have the game and want to have a decent time solving puzzles while trying not to kill one another, Tiny Brains offers some decent fun.

All in all, I think Warlock: Master of the Arcane is a decent little strategy game. It has some problems, but that didn't stop me from putting in over 15 hours into it. If you want to be really good at the game, you'll need to become a rather hardcore player. This game is not really for the newcomers to the 4X genre, but if you enjoy a good challenge in the same vein as Civilization, you can still have a good time game for the inexpensive $20 price tag.

101-in-1 Explosive Megamix is the kind of game that handhelds were built for; plenty of variety, with little substance to back it up.

Sure the game may not be the prettiest on the market, and while there isn't a lot of competition it does have some major hang-ups, but for what it is it is quite enjoyable.

Although I didn’t have as much fun as I have had with previous map packs, Apocalypse is still a good offering for Call of Duty fans. Treyarch still know how to make fine maps, and Dig shows that they can get mileage out of recycled content. However, after 16 DLC maps, I think it’s time to move on and look towards the next installment of this relentless franchise.

The visuals and characters scream casual kid's game that parents tag along to, while some of the complicated mechanics and platforming elements will frustrate even veteran gamers.

As a sniper game, it’s not a bad choice, just one that’s saddled with some unfortunate gameplay and presentation issues.

The conversations in Poker Night 2 are fun, and it fits the feeling of playing a poker game with these characters. For 800 points though, the game falls into a sort of middle ground where it’s hard to fully recommend.

Presentation may be lacking, but as a whole Pool Hall Pro is a decent game of billiards for a reasonable price. The motion controls work well enough that you won't be wrestling with them, and the sheer amount of modes make up for a lot of the other shortcomings.

The combat is satisfying and the mixture of magic keeps things fresh from beginning to end. The backtracking and repetitiveness cause the experience to drag out longer than it needs to be, but at least you feel like you got your moneys worth when all is said and done.

The combat is satisfying and the mixture of magic keeps things fresh from beginning to end. The backtracking and repetitiveness cause the experience to drag out longer than it needs to be, but at least you feel like you got your moneys worth when all is said and done.

Ryse is a title that should be played when you have nothing else to play or are bored with what you do have. But I do not recommend sitting down and playing this from start to finish in one swoop – which you can do, it is only about nine hours – as you will get bored relatively quickly and often.

The gameplay is simple enough to understand and it works rather well for what it does. I just wish there was some sort of tutorial level or maybe an introduction story mode that eased you into the gameplay rather than pushing you headfirst into the fray.

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.

This ends up feeling like a project half-baked. The polish to the visuals and presentation are sublime, while the game play remains untouched and frustrating more often than not. I would have loved to see this game make a true comeback. Fortesque is such a lovable character and his world is infinitely interesting and fun to play around in. However, the sloppy combat, punishing game play, and lack of modernization make this a chore to play more often than not. I want to bring back the glory days of PSOne era characters, but not like this. They deserve better.

It’s a throwback to when shooters were about reflexes, not morality meters. It doesn’t care about narrative twists or prestige storytelling it just wants to entertain you for a few hours, and in that sense, it mostly succeeds. If you’ve got friends to play with, this is a good weekend pick. You’ll have a blast tearing through demons, laughing at the ridiculous story, and remembering why simple, over-the-top shooters still have a place in 2025. If you’re playing solo, though… your mileage may vary.

If you can convince your buddies to join in, there is a lot of fun to be had. If solo is the name of your game, you might want to wait for a sub $5 sale.

Even if the translation and menus are busted "Are you sure to quit?" and the game seems archaic by today's standards there is still plenty of fun to be had.

Inferno Pool is a cool concept hindered by slippery controls and poor replay value.

Without the online multiplayer to sustain the title outside of its short lived single player campaign, there just isn’t that much game here and even though it’s priced well at a modest $9.99, I feel it’s a title for the hardcore boxing game fans that have been waiting for a dose of action on the go and nobody else.

PO’ed is a game most people have never heard of, and even those of us that do rarely talk about. It was always relegated to that game where you hit farting butts with a frying pan on the schoolyard, and since nobody (outside of myself) had a 3DO, most people had never even heard of it. Still, I love revisiting these classic shooters, even the ones not so fondly remembered. It was a different time and games like these were an exception instead of a rule, and that made it exciting. Keep doing what you do Nightdive, I will buy and play each and every one of them.

If you love melee combat looters and prioritize minute to minute action over any degree of lasting depth or narrative impact, you may find some enjoyment here. For most of us though it seems Godfall’s ultimate destiny is to be placed on the “Oh yeah, THAT game” shelf with the rest of it’s fellow LALG’s.

Fracture tries to be more than every other shooter and at first it succeeds. Unfortunately after drilling through the game the hectic action and abundance of enemies causes you to forget what separates it from the rest of the herd and it quickly becomes what it is trying to avoid.

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.

With a friendly price tag and polished visuals you will be hard-pressed to find enough faults to not recommend this game to anyone who enjoys space shooters. While online is sorely missed and the flawed mission design will ensue rage there is still plenty here to enjoy.

While the combat is fun and satisfying, the game is hampered by its repetitive nature and difficulty as you progress. Anyone looking for some Kung Fu action will certainly find it here, and it definitely is more fun with a friend. Playing in short bursts will increase the longevity of the game.

Rad Rodgers struggles to find its groove through most of the game, but it does spark that nostalgia I grew up with. I wanted to love it more than I did, but never actually hated playing the game. There are bright spots when the design or poor writing isn’t dragging it down.

Ultimately, Tesla vs. Lovecraft isn’t particularly innovative but is, nonetheless, extremely enjoyable and easy to pick up and play. Milestone challenges and higher difficulty levels will encourage players to come back for more. However, a woefully underdeveloped story contributes to an overall lack of personality depth, which leaves this game feeling less memorable than its solid gameplay perhaps deserves.

My time with Mx VS ATV: Supercross was unexpectedly fun, and for fans of MX Supercross it seems like a no-brainer.

I wanted to love Hellboy: Web of Wyrd as a lover of beat-em up games but more so as a HUGE comic book fan, sadly the game just fell short in a few too many areas. As I said the art style is just beautiful to look at, I cannot understate how amazing it looks but once you start moving and the weird frame trick issues pops up everything just comes apart for me. Lance Reddick made for a fun, threatening, caring, funny, thoughtful portrayal of Hellboy, and whether that is attributed to Mignola’s writing or his own talent it was a fantastic take on the character. It’s just so upsetting that the rest of the game was not as strong as the narrative.

Chaos Code -New Sign of Catastrophe- is a solid, albeit unremarkable fighter that plays well, and even though it lacks many features I would consider a staple in a modern day fighting game, the budget price point helps to forget what is unaccounted for. However, what can’t be ignored is the incredibly small player base where it’s a struggle to find a single match online. In a market steeped with excellent titles like Blazblue, Guilty Gear and UNIEL, just that one glaring flaw alone is enough to make it very difficult to recommend.

Fans of the series will be happy to know that there is a serious amount of content to be found in DW 6. Outside of the lengthy single-player modes players can also return to previous levels with different scenarios in the challenge mode.

Blue Estate is not a bad game, and some of the things it does using the DualShock 4 are interesting, but for all intents and purposes it’s a light gun game that will last players a short time, and it’s a rather expensive one at that. I would recommend it, but at a nice sales price.

For a single play through of the story, it’s alright, but for lasting appeal, it really doesn’t have it.

I would pass on Mighty Fight Federation despite the huge amounts of charm this game has. Even the music is good. Unfortunately, it’s just an unbalanced mess.

Smurfs 2 is a safe platformer that just so happens to be attached to a big summer movie. Parents with kids heavily into the movie could certainly do a lot worse as far as a game is concerned. Being able to play co-op is a huge bonus, and I could easily get lost playing this for hours with my son. It is a solid outing that hands out Achievements like Smurf Berries (for those that care). If you’re a parent whose child is obsessed with The Smurfs, I definitely recommend checking it out.

From the view to all the fancy stuff you can do, Madden is the football game. But, if you are tired of all that realism and just want a blast from the past, or just want to get your kid into football, Tecmo Bowl Throwback is the game for you.

If you love generic Japanese action games with half-naked emo chicks, then this will satisfy your hunger for the mediocre-ness they provide. However, if you are hardcore shooter fan looking for the next “great thing”, then steer clear of this one. Bullet Witch is a niche title that will find it’s audience but never extend any further than that.

I think a big problem here is that this is likely for a younger audience than the original Carmen Sandiego games were for and as someone that doesn’t watch this new show it’s hard for me to tell if I’m right on that assumption. There are weird callbacks to the 1985 original and I’m not sure who that is for? Will children know the number of stories the Sears Tower is? Will they even know Sears? Probably not. It’s a weird pull. Regardless, there isn’t much to say because even with my complaints there’s still a level of charm here. Narrowing down suspects based on clues and then hunting them down is neat and there is some educational value to this game… just maybe save yourself $30 and use your Netflix account to play it on mobile.

PopoloCrois follows in the footsteps of other hybrid genre JRPGs like the Atelier series, and instead of alchemy mixes in a heavy dose of a farming instead. While the farming aspect of this hybrid title is compelling enough, the dull combat and a snail’s pace holds it back from greatness.

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.

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.

Phantom Abyss can be a run roguelite with its free-running, puzzle solving, and trap avoiding adventures. But throw in the phantoms of real-world players who act as a guide of what to do and not do through these temples takes things to another level. Mileage can vary though as a lot of the puzzles, temples and traps are reused and thus can make the game start to drag on and feel repetitive. Being in early access for so many years though there is quite a lot of content here that players can dig through before fatigue will set in. And with all the talk about Indiana Jones lately, why not start practicing your whip skills.

Crayola Scoot is releasing at a bad time. It is a little pricey for sure, but man I had a blast with it once I got the trick system down. This is a game that could definitely be fun for families to dig into, or fans of colorful titles with neat mechanics. It is impossible to ignore how much fun can be had, but I fear it will simply be overlooked due to the timing of its release.

Jump Force is not a bad fighting game. In fact, anime and manga fans will have a good time here even if they are a casual player of fighting games. The issue is that it is wrapped around a boring a tedious hub world for pretty much everything you do. The story is decent, but the actual cut scenes can be questionable and make the entire package look low budget, but in the end, it’s a fun flashy fighting game. You’re just going to have to wade through some mediocre stuff to get to it.

Still, it is a decent time for players that are new to the series or haven’t tried this game out before. Just keep in mind, those awesome moves you’re pulling off will get old eventually.

The Jigsaw traps are definitely the highlight of the game even if they do get a tad bit repetitious.

I love the shooter genre, and feel like we don’t see enough of these titles anymore. I am always happy to see a new one crop up, but with its lack of modes and hefty price tag, it feels like this game is really taking advantage of the players like myself just wanting a new game in the genre.

The term so close, yet so far away fits perfectly here. I adore so much of what this game does, but the combat becomes its Achilles Heel. With some tweaking this could easily be a franchise action RPG I would gladly play every few years. As it sits now, the frustration kept me from enjoying the best parts of Shiness and its world.

Despite having a few more shortfalls in comparison to Episode 1, this instalment also ends with something of a cliff-hanger in attempt to keep players hooked.

Dangerous Golf is a weird game. On paper it sounds perfect, exactly what I would want from the guys that made t-boning cars so much fun. However, in practice it feels empty. Nothing about it screams “one more hole.” Even with the changes they have made this is an empty game that lacks anything to keep me coming back for more.

Fate/Extella is a title that has a lot to live up to due to the immense popularity of the Fate series as a whole. However, it doesn’t do much to stray from the typical formula set forth by the countless other musou titles on the market. It sports a serviceable but unremarkable combat engine, along with a story that felt just as disposable as one of the tens of thousands of enemies I left in my wake.

I think when a game is ported to a more powerful platform, it’s a great opportunity to truly make the game shine, not make it worse by omitting key functionalities. Still, for fans of the genre who love beating down countless enemies as cute anime girls and don’t shy away from a serious challenge, they can expect to have a good time with Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds.

Do Not Fall may have its frustrations, but the overall game play is sound. If you really enjoy puzzle platforming games, it’s not a bad choice.

Rollers of the Realm oversells its limited RPG element quite a bit in advertisement, and perhaps that was smart, because it managed to pique my interest enough to give it a try.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the story, I just didn't like the lack of emotion that this game evoked. With a name like Asura's Wrath, and being heavily story driven, its disappointing to not feel Asura's pain.

Masters of Anima is a frustrating game. The mechanics seem to work against the player creating more chore and less fun. With some tweaks this game could be a sleeper hit for sure. As it stands though it ends up being more of a hard pass.

Brawlout is pretty much what you would expect it to be, a mediocre attempt at a genre that has its main event as a console exclusive. Playing on your own won’t be much fun and neither will be trying to grind out the coins to unlock the cook stuff. But get some friends together and there is definitely some fun to be had.

Cobra Kai is a fun game that falls victim to a lot of the genre’s downsides. I enjoyed it for what it was, but have a hard time recommending it mostly due to the $40 point of entry. The game has enough content, but it drags at times. This leads to a game that would have been an easy win if it was priced a little lower. I understand why with having the actors portray their roles, but this game could have done better with soundalikes and a lower price point.

If you are someone who enjoys their racing games with more structure, something like Gran Turismo or Burnout Paradise, then you may find that Trackmania2 will leave you cold. However, if you are fan of the first game, or fancy flexing your design muscles, then there is a lot of fun to be found here. Just make sure you know what sort of game you are getting yourself into.

The song list is great if you love classic Eddie and the guest bands while not relevant, offer a solid mix. Not being able to export the songs into GH 5 or download any new tracks really hurts, but the lackluster presentation hurts even more.

If you can forgive the exclusion of online, this trilogy is still more than worth picking up if you have fond memories. Chaos Theory still stands up as one of the best games of last gen, and the other two are nice for nostalgia if nothing else.

Alpha Protocol is not a terrible game by any stretch of the imagination. Instead it is a collection of truly next-generation ideas wrapped in a last generation package.

Angry Birds is fun, and there is a reason so many people love the franchise.