Going into Shantae: Half-Genie Hero as someone who had no experience with the series has left me feeling impressed by the undeniable charm of the titular heroine, and has all but guaranteed that I will be going back to check out the earlier games in the franchise for some more half-genie action.

Forget about 1,2 Switch; Snipperclips is the perfect way to show off the multiplayer aspect of the Switch. Whether you want to team up to solve puzzles or throw down in a papercut match to the death, this game is an absolute hoot; and all at an extremely reasonable price tag.

Ultimately The Pathless is a very good game, with exceptional art direction and an interesting (if a bit shallow) story. I loved the interactions between The Hunter and her eagle, and found the boss battles to be a high point. The game’s six hour runtime helps to keep the somewhat repetitive gameplay loop from becoming tedious, but it also means it’s more difficult to justify the game’s $40 price tag. I believe that with some expanded lore and a lot more variety in the puzzles on display, Giant Squid could have easily stretched the game out to 10-15 hours. Still, The Pathless is undeniably a great game and a worthy (and unique) addition to the PS5 launch lineup.

A perfect example of how to make a sequel. Sega and Monolith have fixed everything that was wrong with the original and made it an all around better game. The entertaining story and genuinely creepy atmosphere is well worth the price of admission and the substantial story mode is satisfying and challenging.

A fantastic game with an engaging story that only manages to slip up towards the end. The unforgiving amounts of violence are enjoyable and the demonic powers more than make up for its lack of innovation in the gunplay department.

Rage 2 is above all else just a big dumb fun time. Sure it has a lot of shortcomings, but the minute-to-minute game play is so well-polished I couldn’t help but have a great time. So much so that I found myself going back and completing areas in full even after credits rolled. It is the kind of game I shut my brain off and just go into a zone and lay waste to all enemies in front of me. The combat feels great, the powers are incredibly fun, and so much of the game just made me feel like a total badass. I can finally forgive the end of the first game, Rage 2 is simply put, a blast.

Its clear that the franchise is on its way from breaking out from the shadow of its older, more popular sibling, Madden.

I’ve always thought thinking of the future could be scary, but Observer takes it to the next level. The story should keep players on edge, and the constant assault of visual and audio overload go a long way to truly make this not only a game but an experience. From excellent world building, to fantastic sound, I was pulled into the game from the moment I hit start and the white words scrolling on black began. It’s bleak, dark, depressing, and twisted. The gameplay elements are typical of the genre, but never felt annoying to me, and require a bit more thought then most others in the genre.

This is one of the few times when a game does something so different it will make or break the game entirely, but if it is your thing, it will be hard to beat when it comes to overall quality.

Some of the games included here have not seen the light of day since they were initially released. These collections really showcase that Capcom used to really produce a ton of great fighting games across the spectrum. This collection also showcases that maybe the well is running a bit dry, and I am not sure we see a third iteration unless they want to bring us the other Star Gladiator and Rival Schools titles. I am definitely down for more, but curious what is left in the tank. Still, I cannot recommend these collections enough for people who love fighting games. Some of these titles showcase Capcom at their peak and revisiting them has been an absolute delight.

Those that found JC2 underwhelming or repetitive won’t find much to change their mind here, but for fans like myself that simply can’t get enough destruction, Just Cause 3 delivers on all levels.

The diversity of the control styles is incredible and it opens up the doors to what the system is really capable of.

If you like a good puzzle or just want to try something new, Antichamber will stretch your mind and twist your perception, and it’s definitely worth checking out.

Triangle Strategy weaves a mature story full of intrigue and places the player in an unenviable position of having to make some very tough choices with meaningful consequences, all the while challenging them to face encounters that will test their strategic mind. In other words, it’s a compelling good time.

Transformers: The War for Cybertron is definitely a love-letter to fans of the G1 cartoon series. All of your favorite characters are here and somehow mixed in with a genuinely fun and competent shooter.

The biggest take away from Far Cry 5 was the fact that it was just pure fun. The missions were both fun and entertaining, the visuals are fantastic, and the shooting is refined and on point. Fans of the series have more than likely already picked this up, but if you remotely enjoy first person shooters, this is a must own. It’s not perfect, but it tries its best to be and you know what? It got close.

Despite my griping about Serious Sam 2 not getting any love in this collection, I do think it is a great place to start with Serious Sam. Not only is it a set of great games, but there’s also multiplayer and co-op. This is a set of games anyone who has loved the new Doom games should at least try, and at the regular price of $30 there’s very little reason not to. Serious Sam 3: BFE still goes for more than this collection on PC by itself, no DLC. It’s a steal, especially if you can grab a friend to play the whole campaign with.

After many, many hours in Marathon I have come away with an overall positive impression. The game is held together by the tight shooting that Bungie is known for, but it oozes a style all its on which helps it stand out from the pack. For those that love the chase of loot and the thrill of a PvP fight then Marathon is probably for you. It feels like it’s a more hardcore version of the extraction shooter, at least in comparison to Arc Raiders. Don’t expect to have our hand held in this game, which is what a good hardcore experience should offer its players. If you like that type of experience, then Marathon is waiting for you.

Even if you’re not a Metal Gear fan, if you enjoy lots of action and some fast-paced combat, you should really pick up Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.

It may borrow a lot of its aesthetic and mechanics from a certain pointy-eared hero, but it has a charm all its own. I can’t recommend it enough to fans of the adventure genre. The small price is more than worth the hefty adventure that lies ahead.

Road Not Taken is a beautifully presented game of small acts, survival and humanity.

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 is the definition of a perfect sequel. It keeps what made the first game work and improves what didn’t. I loved this iteration much more than the original and can see myself playing this for a long time. I wish the cars were more available and not packaged as DLC, but I get why they are doing that. I wish I got some carry over from the first game, but on its own Unleashed 2 is a great time that I cannot recommend enough.

Fans of Mega Man should definitely check it out, as the fan service and museum alone are worth the price of admission to hardcore enthusiasts. I am now awaiting the inevitable Mega Man X collection, or at least DLC adding 7-10 to this package.

Pikmin 3 is a fantastic game that oozes with charm. The levels are short enough that they scream “just one more day”. It also helps that game play is so tight, and the design feels so good. While it may not be my most anticipated franchise from the Nintendo stables, I cannot help but fall in love with the quirky Koppites and their quest for food. Pikmin 3 is one of the best reasons to own a Wii U so far.

If they continue to deliver this caliber of game I really don’t think the fans will miss Core Design too much.

There’s a lot of quality in this release, but it’s a hard one to recommend while the original game is playable on the same console for far less. I’m still not sure why Nintendo would put so much effort into this game at this time in the 3DS’s life, let alone with a title that can already be played on the console. If slightly dated graphics don’t matter, then the original can be had for a fraction of the cost. Otherwise there’s still a lot of content for $40 in the main game alone, and there’s of course the addition of the Bowser Jr.’s Journey. Regardless of the version however, Bowser’s Inside Story is one of the best in the Mario RPG titles and should be played.

With a bigger focus on action the sequel seems more suited as a handheld game than its predecessors, thus making it yet another must own DS title.

If you enjoy the genre at all, Black Rock has certainly crafted one of the finest action/racing games ever created and they continue to prove their expertise in the genre.