Mario Party Top 100 is a great look back on the history of mini games from the franchise, and I can’t fault it for that. It really brought back a lot of great memories and I appreciate that. Those that never played the games prior can have an interesting look at some of the more fun and insane mini games Nintendo has concocted over the years, but it’s a really obscure view of what made the Mario Party games fun overall. Even though the mini games were a blast, the other half is missing, and it’s just not a party without them.

Sadly the end result is that when its put up against the tower defense titles on the PC it really can't compete.

When it focuses more on being a game than an interactive movie, I think there’s a lot to enjoy. While I personally had technical hiccups, I don’t need to talk about those as this game has enough faults in its gameplay pacing and story that can’t be fixed with a small technical patch. It’s not a bad game, but it’s mostly forgettable.

I wanted to love Superhot more than I did, but its simplistic design and lack of variety really hurt it, even with its short campaign length.

All in all, it’s a decent ride of a game and done really well, but I find that because of the high price point, only the shump veterans should look into getting it. Casual fans will find themselves done with the game way before they get their money’s worth out of it. If you can find this at a discount, I would say grab it for the game play alone, but for $35, I’d hold off for now.

If you are in the mood for some solid third-person action, great hand-to-hand combat, and some kickass driving sequences then this game is certainly worth a second look. Oh and it doesn’t hurt if you are a big fan of Mr. Johnson.

Elex is a game that I like on a core and fundamental level. The exploration is fantastic and the world they created is this place that truly feels like a mixture of so many other games before it, yet it still stands out on its own to do its own thing. The mythology is interesting here but I tended not to care for any characters I met or myself, I had fun with the gameplay mechanics and world. This is still for the hardcore open world RPG fans that have been fans of PB before or able to accept games of this caliber knowing the plethora of issues that can occur. We know what to expect at this point, I just hope one day they can go past those expectations, keeping what makes their games great, and fixing more of what hold their games back.

How to Train Your Dragon is definitely a step backwards for Activision in terms of licensed games. It doesn't have the same level of polish and dedication that the previous offerings brought to the table. Still I respect the fact that the developers did something totally out of the ordinary for this game instead of the run-of-the-mill platformer we are usually spoon-fed.

Let’s be realistic. For an annual sports franchise, it’s not necessarily practical to expect huge evolution year on year. It’s also fair to say that at a minimum, players should expect EA to deliver incremental quality of life improvements and make an effort to hone their overall experience of the game for the better. Whilst there is only so far the needle can be pushed year on year, the launch of a new Madden on next-gen systems presented EA with an opportunity to really raise the bar. That’s why it’s particularly disappointing that Madden 22 only offers stagnant content and, sadly, creative disinterest.

Lost Sea is a fun diversion, it’s colorful and beautiful in a cute way and offers some fun moments. It just seems better played in shorter spurts than longer durations and unfortunately the game punishes those that prefer that play-style.

With Pit People, Behemoth tried something new and was only partially successful. It has excellent art design, unique world-building and some truly funny moments, but the problems with its combat and structure hinder what could be a hit. Understandably, the game’s weakest parts are those that the studio doesn’t have much experience with.

While the PSP is certainly not short on RPGs Dragoneer’s Aria does offer a nice diversion from others in the genre.

As a game it’s a good amount of content for a fair price, but I would advise checking out the demo before jumping in.

Death’s Gambit has style, personality and some potentially innovative ideas that takes it well beyond a mere copy-cat Souls game. Unfortunately, the game’s inner demons quickly reduce things to a repetitive grind. That grind doesn’t always feel like it’s worth the time investment, despite the enchanting visual glamour. It’s worth a look because of its unique style, which really is a cut above the rest, and it is clear that White Rabbit have had a good crack at producing a game that tries to be creative with an established formula. However, be prepared for a journey that’s a bit of a slog in more ways than one.

Playing against other human beings is where Worms shines the most and it’s just as fun as I remember it those many years ago.

I like this game. It plays really well, but the sexualized content is not for me at all. If this is your kind of thing, this is a great game to play. If you really can’t get along with the anime breasts, I would say stay far away from this one. Even then, the combat is a pretty well done.

The Last Tinker is not a bad game, just one that fails to live up to its promise.

While the combat is simple, the presentation unpolished, and a clear lack of co-op hurts the replayability, the core game is still tons of fun to play and gamers looking for a mindless beat-em-up will find plenty to love in Activision’s latest iteration in the Shrek franchise.

Deadlight tries to do something new with the zombie genre by paying more attention to solving puzzles and using platforming elements to get away from zombies. While I applaud the effort, it just falls flat. Dodging the fast, pack-forming zombies is extremely frustrating, and if caught by one, you are as good as dead. Topped with jumping that requires absolute perfect timing, the result is multiple retries that add frustration and suck the fun out of the game.

In fact I thought despite the QTE, and some other frustrating parts it was a pretty fun game.

All in all, Way of the Samurai 4 is a decent game that some players will enjoy.

The Last Tinker is not going to give action fans and people looking for a challenge a ton, but it does offer up a rather fun and interesting game that has both a great art style and a nice, kid-friendly story at a casual pace.

Madden 21 is the first time I have found it hard to recommend upgrading. It truly does feel like a roster update in a lot of areas. Franchise mode is super disappointing for me. I spend hundreds of hours in it yearly and I can’t tell a difference between the game I played last week and today. The developers have said they are listening and have heard our requests. This could be patched in. I still want to see this game on new hardware, but as of now I am having a hard time saying Madden is worth the annual upgrade for gamers.

I’m not saying Surgeon Simulator is a bad game. I mean, it is, but it’s supposed to be. The game is interesting in multiple ways, but in the end, I found myself enjoying about three hours of it and then deciding I didn’t have the time or the patience to do some of the later surgeries.

I didn’t hate FBC: Firebreak at all, in fact I rather enjoyed my time running through its jobs with my friends; even if we had seen everything the game offers after the first day. But Firebreak isn’t a perfect game, it has a lot of issues, especially with the balance and the constant disconnections which for an online-only game is utterly unacceptable in my opinion. The good news is that all these issues can be fixed, but if I’m honest; I miss the days when players could buy a game, take it home and play it with no issues from start to finish, I know digital is the way but it shouldn’t make these developers dependent on the ‘patch’ crutch. I don’t know, just an ‘old man shouting at clouds’ I guess but FBC: Firebreak is fun to play as long as you have a solid team and temper your expectations.

Bound by Flame is a great, terrible game.

Styx is a solid game with polished mechanics that simply fails to justify its higher asking price. Combine that with its release date being sandwiched between so many ‘must-have’ titles and it doesn’t even fill a void of having nothing to play. Still, it is a solid stealth game, and one that provides plenty of entertainment in its solid campaign. I just cannot justify the steeper price for what still feels like a lower-budget title.

Felix is a fun game; this package just doesn’t pack a lot of punch. One game with variations does not feel worth the asking price. Unless you have an extreme affinity for Felix the Cat this is a hard retro release to recommend. I had a good time revisiting this game, but it just falls short when it comes to value. Only bother if you are a huge fan of the original games.

That’s where I stand with Scarlet and Violet. It’s got the trappings of a great Pokémon game, but I think this is most certainly a learning experience for both the players and the developers. Hopefully, the next generation will improve on both the pacing and the technical issues found here. In the meantime, players can get a lot of enjoyment out of this outing, just remember, even though this is a choose your own adventure style game, it doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want when you want.

At the end of the day, Mato Anomalies feels like a budget title with a lot of things going for it. It has some decent mechanics and some interesting story bits if you are willing to read a lot. The RPG side of the game can have some difficulty spikes and level grinding side dungeons will be needed in some instances, but for RPG fans and visual novel fans, if you can get past the different mechanics and are willing to learn some unconventional ones, this could be a decent experience for you even with the lower budget feel.

That’s where I stand with Scarlet and Violet. It’s got the trappings of a great Pokémon game, but I think this is most certainly a learning experience for both the players and the developers. Hopefully, the next generation will improve on both the pacing and the technical issues found here. In the meantime, players can get a lot of enjoyment out of this outing, just remember, even though this is a choose your own adventure style game, it doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want when you want.

I completed Kings Quest Chapter 2 and I muttered to myself “That’s it?” It’s not a horrible chapter, but it’s a far cry from the way the game started out.

This is a game that just feels like it exists. I was drawn in thanks to my connection to the Smurfs from my childhood. Playing with my son he enjoyed the game, but had little interest in learning about the characters. It feels like the game is more built to tug at nostalgia instead of bringing in new interest. Even so the core game is enjoyable enough to recommend for parents looking to play games with their kids. It is easy enough to play while also not being too simplified for the sake of being a ‘kids’ game. Definitely worth checking out for parents and kids alike.

If everything read up until this point has you nodding in agreement or wanting to check this out, forget the numerical score, the $60 price tag might just be worth it. Otherwise wait for a price drop…if it ever happens.

Gloomhaven was a tough one to review not because the game itself is bad, despite feeling clunky to navigate using a controller; no, it’s just after playing for many hours I realized that it’s just not for me. Its systems are deep and allow some great tactical plays to happen. The game allows for players to enjoy with four of their friends but much to my chagrin it doesn’t have a quickmatch function; so sadly, I was playing solo. I think with friends this would be more fun, just like playing a session of D&D is more of a blast with friends. I would recommend this version for those like me who were intrigued with the board game but just know that Gloomhaven is not for the timid.

If you are a fan of the show, and I mean a very large fan, then you owe it to yourself to check out this amazingly funny diversion.

Overall, Transformers Prime is decent game for a system in its twilight years. My two biggest gripes for this title are the lack of graphical fidelity, which could not be helped, and not allowing the player to use a classic controller. A multiplayer mode is also available, but it just feels like a tacked-on bonus for two players. However, if you can look past those things, Transformers Prime offers a solid gameplay experience. Nintendo Wii owners can finally have a decent game worthy of the Transformers name.

There is fun to be had in Gangs of Sherwood but it is really only found playing multiplayer either with friends or strangers. Not only does this make each act not feel as long, since there will be more people to pummel enemies but when players fall in combat it is better to have a friend pick you up than lose half your gold that you need to upgrade your character’s attributes. The entire game just feels like a mix-mash of ideas and things and while some things work, others are done better in other games.

Badlands offers local co-op, multiplayer, and a ton of levels to keep players going, yet it feels like a game made for quick access, and I found myself getting rather bored after 30 minutes of play.

With its simple design and helpful tutorials, Nova-111 is easy to get in to, but don’t be too surprised if the game doesn’t hold your attention for too long.

There’s a strong identity here, a clear vision, and a combat system that has depth if you’re willing to invest the time. As a newcomer to the series though, I was constantly bombarded with terms, weird items and new systems that felt overwhelming, especially since there is no pause in the game. And then there is the story; if I was asked to explain this game I would have nothing other than “it’s hard, and has anime vampire girl” Code Vein 2 is stylish, punishing, and unapologetically dense. It just might also be a little too closed-off for its own good, and I think a lot of returning fans will be upset with some of the changes, especially the removal of co-op.

I’d really like to see what the developers do next, if it’s anything like The Little Acre, I’ll definitely be eager to play it. For new comers to the point and click genre, this is a perfect game to experience. Veterans of the genre, while not offering much challenge or length, can still find lots to love in everything else it brings.

Viking: Wolves of Midgard is a solid clone of the genre, but ultimately feels half-baked. The asking price feels a bit too steep when compared to other games, but I did have a good time playing co-op. I just wish there was more, and it was more polished. This will be a great game when it drops in price, but for $60 it is hard to recommend it over others doing similar things.

Players won’t find combat in Lifeless Moon, instead this game is made for fans of classic sci-fi, the stuff from Rod Sterling’s Twilight Zone, the kind of sci-fi that makes you think about it after you turn it off. And for all those reasons I really enjoyed this game, while I did find it overly easy at times moving through the world and the various biomes and figuring out its story was the real payoff, and if you like that type of sci-fi then you should check this one out before you get lost in Starfield.

Amazingly I still had a fantastic time with the game thanks to the idea that I am a huge movie buff.

American Fugitive is a neat take on the top-down crime drama. I like a lot of its ideas, while others hold it back. I would love to see more from this team with these ideas in mind. Clean up the padding and add fast travel and this game could really be something special. Also, give me the option to zoom the camera out a little more, as it stands it feels a little too close to avoid oncoming traffic.

Disney Infinity is a series that should be awesome. A virtual toy box of beloved characters tossed into a game that should at least be competent enough to be fun. I gave the original the old college try, and was sorely disappointed at its lack of said fun.

Overall, while Throne and Liberty is a visually impressive and ambitious MMO, its overly complicated mechanics can be a significant barrier for many players. Simplifying some of these systems could help make the game more accessible and enjoyable for a wider audience. Developer, NCSOFT has done an excellent job in creating a rich and immersive world and I have enjoyed many of their past MMO’s, but the complexity of the mechanics needs to be addressed to ensure that players can fully appreciate and enjoy the experience.

In the end, Mable and the Wood isn’t a bad game. It takes a familiar concept and throws in something different with combat and traversal, and it works for the most part. I just think some of the execution and sense of direction was handled poorly. I almost expected after beating a boss that I would have to spend 20 minutes trying to figure out where to go next after getting a new form to use, and that’s not ideal. People looking for something different will find it here, just know that it comes with some issues, but altogether, it is a decent experience.

Perhaps the most important educational achievement of Fate of the World: Tipping Point is to make players actively consider the next 200 years, rather than just the next election cycle, and show that we're already setting down paths which will channel our options for as long as we can foresee.

A case of trying to flesh a mini-game into a full experience. It simply fails to offer enough content to warrant the hefty price tag, and I found myself coming back to it less and less as time wore on. The concept is fantastic for a portable game, but the amount of content and execution kills it dead in its tracks.

Amazingly I still had a fantastic time with the game thanks to the idea that I am a huge movie buff.

As a whole, Arc Rise Fantasia is a very average game. There is not much that really stands out. The story is fairly interesting, and the battle system can be fun when you are not in a boss battle, but there are many parts of this game that needed to be improved.

Mother Russia Bleeds has a great title and a unique look with its ugly and yet beautiful 2D sprites. Unfortunately, the combat gets dull rather quickly, and with the lack of online multiplayer, it’s a difficult game to recommend to anyone but the true enthusiasts of the genre.

With a bit more focus and a little more tweaking, Assassin's Creed could have been a great game. Unfortunately, it fails to deliver on many promises we've heard over the last year.

Monster Rancher was a product of its time and it has aged better than some. For those wanting a Pokemon equivalent, this game is not for you. This is more aimed at hardcore simulation fans who carry a nostalgia from that era of gaming. It is cool to have these games available again, but without the CD functionality it feels like a hollow gesture. I wish we could have used QR codes or something to that effect, that is what made Monster Rancher unique, and now it is just a really deep simulation with a nostalgic wrapper.

There is just not enough actual game here to satisfy anyone outside the Bakugan fanbase. If you are however a huge fan of the show and have been dying to get your hands on the digital interpretation then by all means do not hesitate. There is enough here to keep you interested, and interacting with the characters and engaging in battles will be more than worth it for you.

ASX is a fun, throwaway distraction. It certainly cannot compete with 'real' fighting games, but its charm, music and 'nuttier than squirrel poo' storylines help it stand out a bit.

Traverser has a lot of charm, and the voice acting and world itself kept me intrigued. Puzzles are either simple or a bit more complex, but never absolutely hair pulling. Controls are the biggest frustration factor, along with trial and error moments concerning puzzles and bosses.

It's a solid game and can definitely provide some fun, but it's not anything unique that you'll be itching to invite people over to play.

Supermarket Mania is a quick, simple little game that offers a decent challenge and can keep you busy for about 3 or 4 hours.

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’re big into side scrolling beat ‘em ups, Dusty Revenge is not a terrible choice for your money; just remember it’s all about the game play over the story and sometimes that game play is a little off.

NeverDead is a unique game that is marred mostly by its poor design choices. Still, I found myself really enjoying the ridiculous premise and limb severing game play.

Lynked: Banner of the Spark doesn’t reinvent the roguelite genre; it just reinvigorates it. It feels fresh and fun and it’s full of charm with its village building mechanic. It’s a game that is full of heart and weird bot jokes. I just wish there was more time spent on the optimization because these glitches and bugs are enough to have me give up the spark.

As a huge fan of the AEW product, it’s hard for me not to be disappointed in Fight Forever. The gameplay on offer here is certainly a solid, if flawed, base to build off for future updates. There just isn’t very much to do at present. The game does succeed in capturing the overall fun-loving spirit of the promotion, and If the developers stick to their plans to add modes, wrestlers, and additional creation suite options (as well as putting time and effort in to squash the clipping and AI issues) they could have something good here in 6-8 months. As it stands now, there is no doubt that Fight Forever is fun to play but if you’re someone who favors the creative side of wrestling gaming or if you intend to spend nearly all your time playing the game on your own, you’re going to run out of things to do pretty quickly. It may be helpful in that case to wait for some future updates before jumping in.

Ultimately Mega Coin Squad isn’t a bad game, nor is it a memorable game. It’s something to pass the time on for a few minutes.

Ultimately, AI: The Somnium Files is a game that has moments of brilliance that are obscured by a disjointed narrative and investigative process. Aside from the Somnium sequences – which are, admittedly, very cool – the game failed to motivate me to truly engage with its overarching story. I just didn’t find it appealing. That said, it may be worth a look for fans of the genre (or detective stories in general), who are likely to feel at home here if not altogether blown away.

It’s got a lot of little issues or oddities, but it hard charm and heart, and at the center of it all is a decent platforming title.

Way of the Samurai 3 is a great idea that is just lost in the past. The developers really had an opportunity to fully realize the potential of the game with the new hardware and failed.

Even though the bargain price point justifies its rather short length, the sequel bait ending and lack of variety in the gameplay leaves much to be desired. However, a visual novel lives and dies by its story and this one’s well worth reading. It just remains to be seen where the series goes from here.

LEGO Horizon Adventures is a weird game. On one side it is well-designed, looks good, and the voice performances are outstanding. On the other hand, I am not sure it will have a wide appeal. Horizon is the most successful polarizing game I have ever seen. Everyone has played it and it feels like a majority do not care for it. Combine that with a LEGO game and you get an awkward experience that feels like the definition of “who is this for?” Still, it is a solid game that anyone who wants more of that world will certainly enjoy.

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.

Suffers from ancient game design. If you enjoy mindlessly mowing down hordes of enemies level after level then Sam may be right for you. There is nothing mechanically broken per se, but the tedium will wear on gamers accustomed to epic events and intelligent AI.

For players with a party of friends to enjoy it with, Wild Run is infinitely more enjoyable, but simply as a racing game, it feels painfully average.

Perhaps with a better balanced career mode and some optimized loading times we can finally get the tennis game we have all been dreaming of, for now TS2 will simply have to do.

If you already own it on the previous consoles there isn’t much here to warrant a second purchase, but with a few tweaks and some polish this game could easily make a comeback in the world of games.

Lords of Shadow 2 is worth playing through if for nothing more than to get closure to the series, but it is easily the weakest of the three Mercury Steam entries to the franchise.

A gorgeous game that plays well and offers a unique experience all around. The frustration of going back to see all it has to offer, though, is a huge barrier to entry. While the price point of $20 is appealing, a simple stage select or a modern save system would have vastly improved the experience.

Amazingly I still had a fantastic time with the game thanks to the idea that I am a huge movie buff.

Soulstice is a solid outing that I wanted to love and recommend more. It borrows heavily from games like Bayonetta and Devil May Cry without fully capturing what makes those titles so special. Still for a fairly new developer taking a stab at the genre it is filled with promise and in an era where games are supported I hope a patch can sort out of some the minor issues over time. I had fun with the game and hope they continue to improve on their craft. I am always down for character action games and if you are like me and miss the days when these were a dime a dozen, Soulstice is likely right up your alley.

The town of light does some really unique and innovative things for the horror genre but its adventure game aspects are simultaneously mundane and confusing. Still, its real-life horrors stick with you longer than the more fantastical and gruesome images that are commonly seen in other games.

Ultra Age is anything but ‘Ultra”, and that’s alright. While its not the best example of a modern-day Devil May Cry it is however an excellent example of Devil May Cry from the PS2 era. Whether on accident or on purpose the game felt just cheesy enough that it could be an homage to DMC’s heyday or maybe it is just a cheesy story about a kid looking to find the secret to immortality. Whatever side of the line you land on, the constant will be that Ultra Age is a lot of fun to play. While its systems might not be deep; the enjoyment of juggling combos/blades and enemies is worth the 7 hour length.

Project Warlock isn’t going to set the world on fire, but what it sets out to do it does well. I found myself loving certain sections while struggling with others. With a few tweaks it could easily become a fan-favorite title that scratches that itch so many other games attempt and fail at.

Double Dragon Revive is a love letter to the franchise, but one that occasionally forgets to stamp it properly. It’s not bad game per say, there are flashes of brilliance where it all comes together, and for those moments, it feels like the return I hoped for. But just as often, it reminds you that sometimes, bringing back the past isn’t enough. If you grew up with the Lee brothers and just want to relive the glory days with a friend, you’ll probably have fun as long as they can come over your house. If you’re new to the series, though, this isn’t going to make you a believer.

At its heart Super Mega Baseball feels like those old games I loved, I just wish they would have just focused on making the core game work and left out the additional systems, which not only don’t enhance the game but actively detract from it.

In the end, The Silver Case is a strange, but interesting title. I can’t really fault it too much for its design. This is a game from 1999 after all, but some of the dialog choices made and what could have been fixed a bit in a new translation could have helped the hokey exchanges from time to time. While it’s not a bad game, it is most certainly an acquired taste, but when you dive into it, the story is what will propel you to keep going, and it’s actually not bad as long as you can look past the old mechanics.

Stiff and smooth animations just make it comical at times. A moment of screen stutter also occurs when the game auto-saves at times, highly annoying but I was able to largely get used to it. All these issues aside, I was still having a blast playing this, and I can see myself stepping into the world of 7 Days to Die on and off at times.

As much as I liked The Dark Descent, A Machine for Pigs feels more like a quick expansion than a full on sequel. Fans of the first game will enjoy this quick romp through a new environment, but with its short play time, no replay value and removed mechanics, I still have to recommend a price drop.

Super Cloudbuilt is a game I thought I would enjoy playing and ignore the story. The reverse ended up happening. The narrative is interesting and the one thing that kept me playing. The game surrounding it fell flat for me on so many levels. I wanted to love it more than I did, but in the end it never clicked with me.

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.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is a solid alternative to Smash, and it is on basically every platform. It won’t overtake the king or even make it worried, but for the lower price (I have seen it on sale for sub $20) it is more than worth checking out. I had a ton of fun with it and just wish it had a bit more content and a bright future.

For the hardcore JRPG fans, There’s some good to be had here but only if you’re willing to wade though some pretty rough mechanics and difficulty.

Giga Wrecker Alt. is a game that teeters on the brink of a great experience. It has some wonderful ideas that are hampered by the lackluster controls and frustrating execution. The world and its surroundings are great, the ideas are fantastic, but it just never hits that sweet spot of being something I felt compelled to keep coming back to. I struggled to get past some parts while others were a pure joy to play. It is the definition of mixed emotions.

FIFA 16 has a few nice additions, but failure to fix some of the franchise’s ongoing problems, along with a massive focus on FUT leaves it feeling stale; especially seeing as PES seems to be scoring highly in reviews.

A decent offering. It does have some control issues however, and can be very frustrating at times because of this.

Full of charm while lacking in spirit.

Way of the Samurai 3 is a great idea that is just lost in the past. The developers really had an opportunity to fully realize the potential of the game with the new hardware and failed.