Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Battle Destiny Remastered is a weird product. It’s not the best Gundam game on PC (that’s still probably Gundam Breaker 3, if I’m being honest), nor is it the most accessible. But for SEED fans, especially those who remember poring over the original’s menus with a translation guide in hand, this remaster is a nostalgic gift. For everyone else? It’s an old warhorse with a new coat of paint and a reminder that sometimes, the past is best visited with tempered expectations.

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is a pure dose of fan service to Marvel enthusiasts, with its long list of characters, recognizable locations and its nods to storylines and in-jokes, but I feel that these games have lost their way over time. It isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy my time with it, but I certainly won’t be going back to it time and again, trying to achieve that 100% completion stat.

For a budget priced remaster, it’s still a fun time, especially if you’re a fan of the Ghostbusters. The talent behind the game and story is decent enough even if the jokes aren’t as good as the original film. The gameplay loop can feel outdated, and the missing co-op mode stings, but the promise of it coming for free is still there. I still enjoyed my time with the game and people who have never experienced it, or haven’t seen it in a long time, will still find some enjoyment out of it, and you’re not breaking the bank while you do pick it up.

HyperParasite has a wonderful look and feel, but is marred by its “rogue” elements. It doesn’t do anything to push the genre forward and feels like yet another game that I would likely never finish due to tedium.

NBA 2K21 is a tough game to review. On the court, the game is mostly very good. The passing and dribbling feels excellent and the My Career mode is certainly well-acted. It could easily be a high 8 or 9 if the whole progression system didn’t feel so broken. If you know how aggressive the microtransactions are going in, and are willing to either stall your progress or spend the money, you’ll find a really good on-court game here. If not however, it’s likely to be a very frustrating experience.

While the addition of a few tweaks and online play will certainly thrill hardcores; anyone interested in taking the plunge for the first time will find themselves overwhelmed with menus and confusing customization options.

Monster Crown: Sin Eater nails the feeling of a more mature and darker, Pokémon game. With its story of revenge for a brother slain it comes out you hard and fast with an evil faction that feels genuinely terrifying instead of just a cartoon threat. The overall story is hit or miss and the overall freeform nature of the game wasn’t really for me, but if you are someone who loves less handholding in your games, well come get revenge with Asur.

While not without its glitches, there was multiple times my minions stood around when I raised the base alarm due to an agent being detected. Or when I gave my henchman a kill command to an agent and instead, he ran to the 3rd floor and back down again which allowed said agent to escape. These things happen but don’t destroy the sheer delight of ‘trying to take over the world’. I am extremely happy that Evil Genius was brought back, and I hope that we can see more and more entries into this zany world of evil scientist and crazy dictators.

The biggest problem Freedom Finger runs into is its lack of variety. The story and humor carry it for a while, but by the ends I grew tired of its monotony. I wish there was just a little more to it. The game looks cool, sounds great, and plays wonderfully, and it looks and runs good to boot. I just felt like it gave little reason to keep coming back for more. Lean into the ridiculous and add more modes or outlandish power-ups to keep things fresh, as it stands this is a game that I picked up once and put down without any intention of coming back. Still, I loved the time I spent with it.

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.

I enjoyed my time with One Piece Odyssey enough to join my sons in watching the anime. The Straw Hats crew themselves are a great group, I enjoyed the camaraderie and the jokes (even though I didn’t catch all of them). They care for one another just like any good family does and it was a touching story to see. Aside from the combat feeling overly easy for a good portion of the game, and the UI issues I would recommend One Piece Odyssey to fans of the series and non-fans alike. Especially if you are a fan of JRPG’s, this one has it all for you.

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.

Y’all know me, I am an optimist, I have high hopes for Skull & Bones and I am sure that Sony will step in and get this resolved and we can all get back to fighting for freedom and democracy together. But in the meantime, if you don’t mind maybe not being able to play when you want, or having random crashes and missing rewards then dive into Helldivers 2. These are all growing pains and can be resolved, at the end of the day this game is blast, made more so when you are playing with friends which is evident if you watch any of our gameplay videos. If you all pick this up and happen to be teamed with ZeroTolerance, just watch ya back because he is all about completing the mission, teammates be damned. LOL.

Despite being charming and oftentimes funny with some great set piece moments sprinkled throughout, Paper Mario: The Origami King’s repetitive combat and dull sense of progression hampers an otherwise enjoyable journey.

While Cross of the Dutchman doesn’t offer much innovation in terms of gameplay, Triangle Studios still manages to infuse a great deal of originality and heart into their small but feisty game which, while short, is packed with life.

J-Stars Victory Vs+ accomplishes what it sets out to do. It is pure fan-service for fans of anime, most importantly the series it includes.

A fun and addictive little puzzle game that makes its transition to the PC market well thanks to keyboard/controller support and removal of ads/microtransactions. It’s just unfortunate that the asking price is a bit steep for the content on offer.

The game is obviously aimed at more of a family audience where kids can play on their own or with their parents. In that instance, it works wonderfully with little issue. Those hoping that this might be the motion-controlled adventure the hardcore had be waiting for will find little more than a diversion that works well but doesn't revolutionize the medium.

Kao the Kangaroo is a lot better than I expected considering it was a revival of a game that was even lesser know when it originally launched. I miss these types of platform games and we truly still don’t get enough of them. While the difficulty is nearly non-existent it is still worth checking out for gamers that grew up with the likes of Ty, Tomba, and the Jersey Devil. A simple time when mascot platform games were a dime a dozen, now they are few and far between.

Senran Kagura: Estival Vesus might not do anything extremely different, but it’s apparent the fan base is perfectly happy with that and, ironically, so am I.

If you have four dollars to spend and want a game you can play for fifteen minutes, then it might be a good choice, but there are certainly other PSP Minis that deserve your attention and money elsewhere.

Even with the difficulties that are present, the platforming is never really clunky, and the overall experience is clearly a product of Grasshopper Manufacture. It is a strange ride that can keep players involved for a few hours. Saving frequently and keeping an open mind is a must, but for only ten dollars, you can get some enjoyment out of Black Knight Sword.

Unless innovation is your primary concern, you will get a much prettier game on 360 and PS3 as well as an incredible multiplayer experience.

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.

A solid, if slightly unneeded, follow-up.

L.A. Noire was a unique game that deserved a second chance. My biggest hurdle in recommending this version though is the price. Sitting at $40 on XB1 and PS4, and a whopping $50 on Switch, that is a financial pill that is hard to swallow, especially when I can snag the 360 or PS3 versions for under $5 at any local used retailer.

Overall, Nights of Azure is a rather unremarkable ARPG that just happens to have a gorgeous art style and a fantastic soundtrack. Even though it’s not likely to become the new flagship franchise for the developers at Gust, it’s a solid attempt at a new genre and a good distraction until the next Atelier title releases later this year.

At the end of the day, Space Cobra Adventure: The Awakening isn’t a bad game, but it’s not the triumphant return fans might have hoped for. It sits squarely in that “middling” territory: fun enough for fans of the character, but lacking the mechanical and narrative polish to recommend widely. For every moment that feels like a love letter to the source material, there’s another that reminds you of its rough edges. If you’re already invested in Cobra’s universe as I am, you’ll find things to enjoy here. If you’re not, this probably isn’t the game that’s going to win you over.