In closing, Tales of Vesperia is a must buy for fans of the series, and a Must Try for those new to the series, or new to the genre. Vesperia is, what I hope, the tip of the iceberg for next gen capabilities as the series continues.

Persona 5 Royal is the definitive version of the game, and unlike the recent Tokyo Mirage Session re-release on Switch, the new content adds a lot to the experience. It may be a big commitment to play through the whole game, but there is no better reason for old fans to re-visit this world or new fans to get their first taste.

For pinball fans looking for more, this pack is quite the steal.

Otherwise, Quiplash provided tons of laughter and its ease of use makes it pick up and playable by almost anyone. The ability to stream and get people in the game is another great feature and really can liven up any party, online or off. Just like in real life though, who you bring to the party will determine just how crazy it ultimately gets.

Everybody’s Golf was exactly what I was looking for in a relaxing, yet fun game. It has the makings of a great arcade golf game and some pretty nice longevity with the online mode. The single player is no slouch either even when it does get slightly grindy. The customization is giant, and the way the game teaches the player the simple mechanics of golf and slowly discusses the more complicated aspects of the game and how to do certain shots really makes the game accessible to pretty much anyone. I highly suggest this one to anyone remotely interested in it or the game of golf. There’s a lot of content here, and for the most part, it’s all good.

Even with an exclusive license and no reason to improve their game, Tiburon and EA Sports continue to refine the best football experience ever made.

It’s charming, fun, lighthearted and has a plethora of content to play and create. It’s a shame that the experience of LBP 3 couldn’t be a little more polished or the story mode just a little longer, because these are the only two blemishes on an otherwise excellent addition to the series.

Just in time for the 35th anniversary of Final Fantasy, THEATRHYTHM FINAL BAR LINE impresses with its wealth of content and feels like a true celebration of its timeless legacy. Whether you are a beginner who has never played a rhythm game before or a veteran of the genre, if you like Final Fantasy music, this is one title you don’t want to miss.

Definitely the best of the series, and easily the most streamlined of the genre. The option for importing songs is disappointing, but everything else is finally up to par with that other music game.

Everything about Gears of War 4 is as polished and perfectly executed as I expected. The Coalition have done an outstanding job in continuing the series, and I am genuinely excited to see where the series goes from here. This new trilogy has opened up a brand new story that is sure to entertain for years to come, and now PC players can join in on the fun. The series is in good hands, and anyone who enjoys Gears is in for a treat when the game launches. [Tested on an Origin PC]

NHL 18 will satisfy hockey fans; that goes without saying. Its real achievement though is in its design, which will seamlessly teach and assist a player who knows nothing about hockey. They’re likely to stick around too, because as it turns out, hockey is a blast in videogame form.

Jitsu Squad is the definition of a pleasant surprise. I only learned about the game a month ago, the console launch has brought it to more platforms and I had an absolute blast playing through it. If you are like me and cannot get enough of the genre Jitsu Squad is a must own. I find myself revisiting this game over and over and learning the nuances of combat. That is a great sign of a great game. Definitely do not sleep on this colorful brawler.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is one of the best entries in the series to date. It really showcases the power of Sony’s new console, especially with the SSD loading times and switching between dimensions.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is a must-have for players that enjoy the series. It is a lot better than my memories led me to believe, and I cannot stress how good the dungeon design in this game truly is.

Definitely recommended for fans of the genre, as this is the pinnacle of what Shinji Mikami created all those years ago.

One things is for certain though, The Division is a great step in the right direction for people coming together to take down the enemy or working alone. They might have similarities to others that they have followed in their footsteps, but everything looks to be coming together extremely well and I have faith in the Division’s future.

Cave Story 3D provides the perfect blend of action and adventure that embodies the days when Jason was the kid with a mutated frog and an awesome tank and not the kid that wandered away from his Dad and got lost in a mall.

Batman: Arkham Knight may mark the end of Rocksteady’s trilogy, but it goes out with a bang. There is so much to love about it, it is easily in contention for one of the best of 2015.

Quantum Conundrum is a great game that stretches your brain and forces you to think in different ways. It's fairly long as well, and I spent about 10 hours finishing the main game. There are goals related to time and the number of shifts needed to solve a puzzle, which adds some replay value. It's a terrific game for puzzle and platforming fans alike, and at $15 it's a great bargain.

Mevo and the Grooveriders is a fantastic little game, it has so much charm to it, and a pretty original gameplay idea that works, that you're going to find yourself having fun playing regardless if you're a FPS veteran or a boyfriend/girlfriend who got suckered into trying it in the hopes of getting you a gaming addiction.

Dragon Ball FighterZ is simply a marvel. For Dragon Ball fans it is a no-brainer, for fighting game fans it is a must-have, even for those like me who know next to nothing about the series. It is extremely easy to get into, a blast to play, and it looks outstanding. This is a sleeper of 2018 for me, and I cannot recommend it enough.

Clocking in at around twenty hours, there is little reason to play through a second time but as is the case with a great book, once picked up it’ll be difficult to put down and when this abearrant tale has finished bearing it all, you’ll put it down with a smile on your face.

MLB 14: The Show is a fantastic first offering on a new platform. I am impressed that every single feature is included, and the visuals are truly stunning.

Sure, the combat can be argued all day long by purists of the series, but if that is your hang up, you are denying yourself an amazing game to play. Fans of the genre, series and games in general definitely need to see what Ninja Theory has achieved here. It's easily an early contender for my favorite games of the year.

The depth of the mechanics are to be lauded as I think it’s the best cult management game out there. It refuses to go for simple concepts like “drinking the kool-aid” to build faith and actually makes each character in the cult have their likes and dislikes and forces the player to figure out the best way to deal with the cult as a whole so as to not lose faith in the player. The art and sound design just bring this whole game together into one of the best games I’ve played this year.

Laser League should be the next big thing since Rocket League. It all really depends on the player base and how many dedicated players it will bring. There’s a lot to unlock here, and while it is complex at times, the main core gameplay is as simple as can be, which is what makes it so addicting to play. I highly suggest this game to anyone that likes team-based games with a little strategy. It’s fun, easy to pick up and play, and even more fun to master.

Guitar Hero World Tour manages to do a lot of things very well, but the problem arises when you realize that with so many options it is hard for one of them to stand out. The song list is excellent, but suffers now because of not being backward compatible with previous games. The music studio is an excellent first effort, but hurts from sound quality and complexity.

Braid was an iconic game for its time and revisiting it has been a treat. Say what you will about its creator, but most of the issues are not present in this package. This is still a game I think about regularly. It really defined a service and elevated indie games to a new level when it came out. Solving these puzzles still felt magical all these years later. If you have never played this title, do not skip it, even if you have it is worth revisiting. There are certain games that feel timeless, and Braid is easily one of those.