De Blob is a solid title that feels good to return to. Why they remastered the original as opposed to the sequel seems like a weird choice, but for those that never had a Wii it is a good pickup. It might get swallowed during this time of year, but I recommend giving it a look once things settle down a bit.

Metal Slug Tactics successfully reinvents the classic Metal Slug series by incorporating strategic elements and roguelike mechanics. While there is a story here, it never really felt like anything more than a reason to continue to push the player forward. I mean ‘stopping a megalomaniacal man who is all about world domination’ is pretty straight forward. But where this game truly shines is in the excellent strategic elements, even if they are more difficult than I would have liked. MST might not be the return to the Metal Slug series that many fans are hoping for, but it is, nevertheless, a fun and worthy entry into the series ongoing legacy.

For what it is Silent Hill: Homecoming truly does fit its namesake in bringing the franchise back to its roots.

Visually, the game packs a solid punch with the Euphoria physics engine as the highlight of the package.

The humorous dialogue and quirky cut scenes are enough to keep you entertained, but the steep learning curve and frustrating checkpoints will kill the arcade vibe.

In the end Commander is a combination of good ideas that just don't seem to click, it may be the result of an overly grand scope but the Commander is sadly not greater than the sum of its parts.

This was a title that was built to be played on the Vita, and it needed a lot more attention in the way the controls and display resolution were handled, but it felt like very little care went into porting this title.

While the simplistic controls and lack of any real challenge ultimately hurt the game, it still manages to be fun if only in small doses.

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & The White Guardian features a fun combat engine and many fanservice cameos that long term fans of the series will surely appreciate. However, as a direct sequel to a now defunct mobile game, it can’t quite shake the feeling like it was created just to try and salvage some money from the failed predecessor by reusing models, music and boring randomly generated dungeons. For those die-hard fans of the series like myself, there is definitely fun to be had here but for everyone else, perhaps I could recommend another title in the series instead.

I enjoyed the original Tails of Iron, its hand drawn art and the story is what really did it. Tails of Iron 2 delivers more but polishes some of the rough edges that the original launched with. The new setting of the game is nice as well as the additions to the combat. The best addition by far is the ability to dial down the challenge, I love that we are seeing these sliders more and more in “soulslike” games. Whiskers of Winter is a solid sequel, even if it played it safe by not really making drastic changes to the formula from the original.

If you are a veteran of the Xbox or PS2 versions then there is no reason to take a second tour, however if you have never experience this title or are just plain tired of playing CoD2 and PD0 than this game is a great addition to your collection.

Spongebob Squarepants: The Cosmic Shake is a standard platform collect-a-thon that is held up by its content and humor. I was smiling the entire time I was playing it and it lasts just the right amount of time. I feel like Rehydrated was a touch more interesting on the whole, but this follow-up is more than worth your time if you are a fan of the genre or subject matter. Spongebob is timeless and can be enjoyed by anyone of any age, even if your nostalgia for it is as nonexistent as mine is.

Sudoku Ball Detective is an interesting concept that will satisfy players in need of a spin on the genre. If you are not a fan of the quirky number puzzles then the additives are not going to sway your opinion.

For fans of the series, there’s a lot more Hotline Miami to play here and it still has its moments. For newcomers or people that didn’t get into the first game, it may be a difficult one to get on board with. Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Scars Above is a solid sci-fi romp with an identity complex. It wants so badly to be a Soulslike and instead feels more like a game that just borrows ideas without understanding what makes them work. I enjoyed my playthrough, but I wish it would have leaned into its own ideas instead of trying to mimic something else. The story is interesting, the game play is fun, but I wish it wouldn’t have taken so much inspiration from other titles.

A Virus Named TOM is a decent little puzzler. Fans of the genre will enjoy it, and if you can play the co-op, you and a friend can have a really fun time taking on the challenges. Casual players may have a difficult time with some of the puzzles.

The Ezio Collection is a solid package of three incredibly well-designed games. Probably the best set to remaster for the new generation, but the port is not the best, and if you already beat them all, this is more a trip down memory lane than anything else.

Antstream Arcade is a solid solution to a huge problem with gaming. Sadly the technology is not at a spot where it makes it easy to recommend. The value is unquestionable, but the performance leaves a little to be desired. Still I have hope they will iron this out over time, and their license mentality is great. So far only five games have left the service and all five are coming back. So the library will only grow over time. I look forward to seeing how it evolves and for those looking for a retro fix, $30 to check out 1300+ games is definitely a solid deal. Let’s see how it evolves over time, I just hope the streaming tech is improved as we move forward.

Armored Core V is really designed to be enjoyed one way, and only that way. If you have a dedicated group of friends to play with, then I highly recommend giving this game a whirl. The missions are varied, and teaming up to take over territories is truly a blast. However, if you intend to fly solo, there is no happy medium to the game's structure.

The game has a special charm to it that is hard to describe. I was never bored while playing, but I was never blown away either. It’s very standard in most aspects, but the dynamic quests and Shadow War PVP really help the game shine.

Atelier Iris 2 isn’t going to change your mind about the genre, in fact as far as RPGs go it really doesn’t offer anything new and revolutionary. But if you are simply in the mood for some old-school goodness you can’t go wrong with this solid follow-up.

The graphics in this game are surprisingly good.

Overall, the X-COM 2 Collection offers a great deal of content for a small price. But unless you don’t have any other means of playing it; or if you absolutely must play in on the go, then you and your wallet would probably be better served buying it on a different platform.

Golden Tee Arcade Classics is a decent package with some awkward controls. These games have a place in history, and it is great to finally see them come to modern consoles, but the controls are going to throw off a whole new generation of players. I was excited to dig in until the game humbled my skills with its controls. I still love having these available to play whenever I want, but unless you have deep-seated nostalgia for the series, there are better golf games to check out.

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.

Mercs is all explosions with little care given to the wrappings. The lack of real story actually keeps the game playable and in the future Pandemic may be better off forgoing the pretense of plot.

Divinity II: Ego Draconis is not going to change the genre with its new elements, but it is worth checking out if you really are a fan of the genre.

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!