It is probably the purest throw back to the run and gun shooters of old.

World War Z is a fine co-op zombie shooter. It doesn’t have the spark that Left 4 Dead had or the customization Killing Floor 2 had, but that didn’t stop me from having fun with the game. At a budget price, it’s a fine game that Left 4 Dead fans can have some good fun in, and seeing the hoard mechanics in play is something to behold. If you have three friends that are looking for a co-op game to plow through, you’ll find a fun on here even with the issues that it presents currently.

Mortal Kombat 11 is a tale of two games- the one where everything just feels fantastic, the fighting, the story, the visuals. They combine to create one of the best fighting games ever crafted. Then there is the other side where grinding for all the cool stuff the game has is a real chore. I want all my Fatalities and skins, but the game is locking them behind this free-to-play feeling system that really tarnishes an otherwise incredible experience. I hope they clean those parts up, because I feel like this game could last for years as a fan-favorite.

Dangerous Driving feels like the little engine that could. When it works, it is a fantastic experience. It felt like Burnout never left. The lack of music and compromised original consoles though really drags it down a notch. I wanted to love this game a lot more than I did, but as it stands it is an incredible throwback to the glory days of Burnout racing. I hope Three Fields eventually gets to where they want to be and makes a true AAA Burnout clone. I would buy it day one. For now Dangerous Driving is the best alternative we have had in years.

I felt like Xenon was love at first sight. My first 4-5 races were absolutely a blast. Then the warts start showing up and really ruined the experience. I love arcade racers, and when one doesn’t deliver I am not happy. Especially in today’s world where the genre is so dormant seeing a game with so much out-of-the-gate potential stumble before it gets started is such a bummer. Perhaps they will stick with it and patch out some of these issues, but the window for success could be long gone by then. I really wish Namco Bandai would bring back Reiko Nagase and the glorious Ridge Racer series. The time is finally right.

Outward is an interesting title. It takes a lot of things other games have done and mixes it pretty well together to make a difficult but rewarding RPG. Some may find it pretty difficult, but taking one’s time with it and knowing when to fight and when to run will make all the difference, and if you’re having some issues, you can always get someone else to help out via co-op. Players looking for a mix of RPG and survival will have a great time even with its technical hiccups here and there.

Overall this collection is a step up from Volume 2. I would probably recommend this set for anyone unfamiliar with classic Williams tables because it encompasses a better selection of how unique the tables can be. The fact that Safe Cracker is fairly forgiving is also a big draw.

One Piece: World Seeker is by far the best the series has been in game form. Combat feels good even if it is one note. The world is simply stunning to traverse through and the story and characters really carried me through to the end. I wish it was more fleshed out in terms of variety. One Piece continues to be a series I have an affinity for even without ever having experienced the anime, which means I will most likely be on-board for whatever comes next.

This game has so much potential, but it is so barren I can’t recommend it. The visual and audio aesthetic are right up my alley, but I found myself bored. It harkens back to the No Man’s Sky release: plenty of space to do absolutely nothing. This feels like early access, not a full retail release. Skip until they announce any potential updates that add content to this.

The joyous sense of freedom in being able to engage and disengage a situation as I effortlessly transitioned between stealth and combat- the feeling of excitement as the awe-inspiring bosses and set pieces set the bar to new heights both in spectacle and design, Sekiro is a masterpiece that will influence future games to come for generations.

Operencia: The Stolen Sun shouldn’t be skipped. What is here is a wonderful RPG that is welcoming to veterans and newcomers alike. Because this is on Microsoft Game Pass there is absolutely no reason to not give this game a shot. There is absolutely something for everyone who enjoys RPGs.

Bringing the game to Xbox comes with no real upgrades. Sure it supports 4K resolution, but it would have benefitted from HDR for sure. The colors in the world are so vibrant and varied. There is no additional content, but at least Xbox gamers can now discover this incredible title. Do not pass it up, do not sleep on this one, Stories is one of the best games I have played this generation, indie or not.

Despite the lack of challenge and somewhat underwhelming story, I still found myself thoroughly enjoying the fast paced combat, and as I continued to experiment with different weapon types and skill loadouts losing countless hours, I knew the niche that God Eater has carved out for itself is most certainly well deserved.

Overall, DOA6 is a nice package. While the grind for the costumes is real, the quest modes is a great way to learn more about all the characters in the game, and while the online mode is sparse for now, the support for this game will come in due time. Aside from all of that, the most important thing is the fighting mechanics and DOA6 delivers in that aspect. This is a great fighting game for both beginners and advanced players. The ins and outs take some getting used to, but once you do, you feel the satisfaction of pulling off that amazing counter and finishing up with a devastating combo, and end the end, that’s all that matters. Fighting game fans will have a great time here.

Anyone who like unfairly hard games may enjoy this but everyone else should just skip this game. I waited to see if a patch would maybe make it better but that patch never came. I can’t say it isn’t worth the time or money because I’m sure someone will enjoy it, but there are so many better stealth and action games out there that I refuse to put a price point on any half baked recommendation I could give this. Just don’t pay full price because that is highway robbery.

DiRT Rally 2.0 nails everything it sets out to do. Players need to know going in though that this is a brutal game, unforgiving at times. Even with the easy option this is still no pushover. I had to earn every victory I achieved and that is certainly a turn-off for players looking for an arcade-like experience. Codemasters continues their trend of excellence and maintain their spot at the upper echelon of racing game design.

This game helped me understand why people love the original ToeJam & Earl so much. Back in the Groove basically renders the original obsolete. I would recommend it to any fan of the original and to anyone who wants a unique and less action packed game to play, even more so if you have friends to play with. It will be exciting to see what’s next for the funk duo and their friends.

When it’s all said and done, MX Vs. ATV: All Out is an ok racing game. There’s a few issues here and there with the physics that could get to me, and the fact that if I crashed it pretty much meant a last place finish for me, but I can commend the game for improving from their previous outing with Supercross. I pretty much disliked that game, while this one has some tweaks to the controls and enough content to keep me trying it out. Obviously, only motocross fans should apply here and with the cheaper price, the extra DLC, players can find some enjoyment here.

I am sorry to say that Anthem has fallen short in pretty much every way. Not only do I believe that Anthem was never originally conceived to be a Live Service game and was hijacked by EA to jump on that bandwagon, but also that this game was released in an unfinished state. This has left such a sour taste in my mouth because when Anthem is working well, it can be a real fun time; flying around, getting into intense battles against humans and beasts. But it has so spectacularly failed in all other areas that I simply cannot recommend this game. And with The Division 2, a game that has experience in the Live Service sector only weeks away from launching, I feel like this Anthem will just fall on deaf ears.

Ape Out is a game that is entirely the sum of its parts. Whilst many indie games look stylish, or sound cool, or have a solid gameplay mechanic, rarely do all three coalesce into something so memorably original. Ape Out will surely be one of the most unique games of 2019 and whilst it’s short, it packs a knockout punch.

Evaluating the worth of a remake can be difficult, as it’s often unclear how to weigh its strength and weaknesses in comparison to the original. This bodes doubly true when it’s the remake of one of my favorite games of all time. While I have some contention in regards to the changes made to the main campaign, the additional stories are well worth the cost of admission by itself for fans, and even though I hesitate to call “Elite” the definitive way to experience the beauty of Steins;Gate, there is simply no bad way to experience such an exceptional story.

Devil May Cry 5 is a return to the series in its truest form. Capcom has been a massive hot streak lately and I cannot wait to see what they do next. I loved DmC and thought it was a solid reboot, but I feel like continuing the original series was the right move. The combat feels great, the game looks outstanding, and the nostalgia is strong with this one. Capcom already has two game of the year contenders on its hands and it is only March.

Trials Rising is a great package for a small price. I really wish the late game wasn’t so grindy, but once I unlocked it all, I felt satisfied. The loot boxes are a waste of time and the customization did little to excite me. I just want Trials like I fell in love with. I come for the tracks and the challenge. Give me that and I need little else. Everything surrounding those things just gets in the way.

Jump Force is not a bad fighting game. In fact, anime and manga fans will have a good time here even if they are a casual player of fighting games. The issue is that it is wrapped around a boring a tedious hub world for pretty much everything you do. The story is decent, but the actual cut scenes can be questionable and make the entire package look low budget, but in the end, it’s a fun flashy fighting game. You’re just going to have to wade through some mediocre stuff to get to it.

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.

Crackdown 3 is exactly what I wanted. That is most glowing praise I can give it. I loved the original game, I really despised the second one, and this entry brings me back to what made that original so special. It never attempts to stray from being the big stupid sandbox it sets out to be. While not pushing the series further it does great at respecting the source material. For those that have Gamepass this is a treat. Download it and play it. For $60 though I feel like the price tag might be a touch much.

New Dawn adds a bit while keeping everything running the same way. Over the years, I have enjoyed my time with all the Far Cry games and this is yet another one I had a lot of fun with. The setting is both fun and interesting to explore, the expeditions add a new layer, and while not as important as some other games, the RPG elements at least point players in the right direction for improving. Sure, it’s another Far Cry game, but that’s never been a bad thing to me. Pick it up for you’re looking for a smaller scale Far Cry adventure with a few new twists thrown in.

Kingdom Hearts III is a great game. Sure I had my issues with it, but the overall package is jam packed with things to do, a fun story, and a flashy and deep combat system all wrapped around a fun RPG. Fans of the series have nothing to fear here, and even newcomers can jump in and enjoy their time with it without having too much of a problem following the story, and even if the story is not your thing, the combat will keep action fans and RPG players entertained throughout. This is the best Kingdom Hearts game to date.