ARMS is a truly unique experience that digs into my nostalgia with games like Punch Out! I just hope the free DLC will make it feel more fleshed out. Quality cannot be argued here, but content definitely feels far too light at launch.

The game is rather simple in design, but never felt boring even when the combat got far too easy. The character level progression was addicting, and co-op with some friends is a really enjoyable and implemented well.

With all the extra time between 2K20 and this entry, I expected several things. I expected the roster to be out of date, and it is. Many of the 180+ wrestlers featured here are no longer with the WWE (although that’s more WWE’s fault than 2k’s). I expected many of the wrestler characterizations and storylines to also be out of date, and they are (for example, Seth Rollins is still operating under his “Messiah” character). Most importantly I expected some big improvements, and while some of the items here definitely meet that qualification the game is still stuck in a rut with respect to AI and physics/clipping issues. There’s talk that WWE may look to partner with EA on future games, so this may be the last go around for the team at 2K, but if it’s not I hope that their focus for WWE 2k23 will be on fixing some of these issues so that the solid base they’ve built can actually live up to its potential. Hopefully I’m not revisiting that sentence again next year.

From the simplified difficulty to a lack of online play it is clear the game was not designed for the hardcore. But what it does do is take a recognizable franchise and make it fun for the whole family, and in that it succeeds remarkably.

Players that have graduated past the simplistic design of the original Star Fox games won’t find much to bring them back in, but those that still enjoy doing barrel rolls will feel right at home with Fox’s latest adventure.

Since 2009, Atlus has released many games and made strides in both storytelling as well as gameplay, and despite its many improvements, Strange Journey falls short of lofty standards Atlus has set for its modern games. Despite it certainly being the definitive version of the game to play, it leaves much to be desired under the shining banner of Shin Megami Tensei.

As it stands NCAA Football 14 is enough to get by, but not enough to revolutionize the series.

Exactly what the developers said it was going to be, a straight-forward shooter with a decent story and unique environment interaction. Sadly the length of the single-player and a lack of any type of multi-player mode really dampen the experience.

Tomba! 2 Remaster isn’t trying to reinvent itself, and that’s both its strength and its limitation. For fans, this is the best way to revisit a cult classic without fighting outdated hardware or muddy visuals. For newcomers, it’s a fascinating snapshot of a time when developers weren’t afraid to make games this strange and unapologetically playful. It may not convert everyone, but for those who missed it or loved it the first time around, this remaster proves that Tomba! 2 is still as loud, bizarre, and lovable as ever.

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

SVR 2008 does quite a few things right, the new fighting styles and ECW content really add quite a bit to the gameplay experience. However, the disappointing 24/7 mode, outdated graphics, and sometimes frustrating control scheme holds it back from living up to its full potential.

While it doesn’t do anything criminal it also fails to do more than coast by on its laurels. The motion controls work better than any other game of this type and the visuals, while not stunning, are technically proficient and impressive.

Aven Colony is a unique take on the genre. It is also one that works surprisingly well on consoles. For those with the itch to build some cities and don’t mind the alien landscape I definitely recommend it.

If you loved playing Boggle before, this new version for Xbox Live Arcade will likely be to your liking.

All in all, Romancing SaGa 2 is a decent RPG with some very interesting mechanics that were revolutionary for its time. There’s some issues here and there with the old style of game play where players aren’t told where to go or what to do. Then on top of all that, the game is not going to go easy on you. This one is for the fans of this style of game and for people looking for a bit of nostalgia. For those, you’ll find a finely crafted RPG with some interesting mechanics. At the same time, the price is a bit steep for a 25 year old game at this point. I would still wait for a slight sale.

The bottom line is that fans of the series and arcade b-ball will find plenty to love with Phenom. Whether you are looking for the story driven single-player or simply want to fool around with the multi-player this game will satisfy your hunger for over-the-top style street ball.

Darksiders III is a game that fans like myself will enjoy. While not as polished as the first two entries it continues the story of the Horsemen respectfully. I want to see how this saga ends so badly, and I hope THQ Nordic gives Gunfire Games more time and more money to craft the next entry. The rough edges are going to drag some people down, but I promise the conclusion is worth the ride.

The unique art style and combo based scoring can become addictive, if that's your thing, but if you're looking for something to blast a ton of bad guys and take on human opponents, you may want to look elsewhere.

As a fan of the original two BloodRayne games I am excited to see one of my favorite dhampirs back in the gaming spotlight. On the other hand, I wish that Ziggurat would have brought those remastered games from PC to console. Betrayal: Fresh Bites isn’t a bad game at all, its just not a great example of BloodRayne at it’s best; even with the new HD bells and whistles. My hope is that this game will give Rayne some attention and make the developers see that she is a character worthy of not only a remaster but a brand-new adventure.

Serious Sam is a lot of fun, issues and all. Not every game has to take the gamer on an epic journey, emotional or otherwise sometimes just having enough baddies to blast and a good one liner is enough. And like I said in the outset of this review I regret waiting so long to jump into this franchise. Even with the issues that I experienced, and I promise you there was many, I still can only think of one word to adequately express what I think of Serious Sam 4… Fun. Serious Sam 4 is just fun, and in a time where real life is so very serious its nice to have a game just be fun again.

If you're looking for a new way to play your old tunes it's a fun change of pace, but newcomers probably won't find enough here to merit a purchase.

Rock Band Rivals is tailored for the fans that care about competition, which is likely the biggest install base for the plastic instrument game.

Escape Dead Island was a surprise for me. For a budget title and a spinoff of the series, it’s way better than it should be.

While the arcade cabinet look and authentic sound effects drive home the nostalgia, T.N.K. III is not nearly as competent as some of the other pre-NEO GEO releases that SNK has been pumping out lately. The $2.99 price isn't bad, but there are better options out there.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is a game about moments. Encountering a brand new monster, obtaining a powerful weapon or when a Drake crashes your goblin slaying party with a storm of hellfire- all moments that are memorable and fun to experience. The issue is that getting to those moments are oftentimes an absolute slog of tedious stamina and weight management, battling the same group of wolves and bandits for the thirtieth time.

The only benefit to playing on PS4 to me is that I can hold the controller in a way that my thumbs are always on the face buttons which was something I couldn’t do on both the PSP and the Vita. So I would skip this unless it is the only way you can play Patapon (and I would suggest the first game because this picks up the story right after the end of that game). Even then I can’t actually say that it will work because of the calibration issues. This was an issue with Parappa the Rapper and again Sony just didn’t put in the work. Patapon 2 is a great game; this remaster is only just okay.

For a game, Murdered: Soul Suspect feels far too simplistic. There’s not much of a challenge as far as puzzles go in both the investigations and in the demon stalking sections.

Storm is a soothing puzzle game that teases the brain just enough without getting frustrating, and that is a win in my book.