While I appreciate 2K not cutting out anything, I do wish they have toned down these aggressive portions of the game. Still, even with these issues NBA 2K21 on Xbox Series X is mighty impressive. The game is a graphical showpiece and the amount of content is undeniable. If you skipped the previous gen versions, this is the one to get. Those that bought the upgrade version are going to be pleased. This is the most impressive sports game launch on a next-gen console in years, and more than worth the price of admission.

Either catching ‘em all, or taking on the Wild Area and the Gym Leaders, there’s plenty of content here even if some people think the National Pokédex removal is a deal breaker. It’s still a lot of fun and can keep players busy for hours on end. The style and look is great and it controls fantastically. Is it my favorite Pokémon game in the series? I’m not sure, but it still holds the standard for one of the best out there. Any RPG fan will get enjoyment out of this one and Pokémon fans new and old will have a great time exploring the Galar Region.

Diablo 2 Resurrected is a masterpiece in its own right; it evokes a freshness all the while hitting players with an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. The sheer joy that is had when delving into dungeons to destroy the Lord of Terror and by extension is brothers (the expansion Lord of Destruction is included in this release with all of the classes/items and fixes that it brought back in the day. But players can play vanilla Diablo 2 but its not recommended for beginners) is indescribable. I am getting a giddiness just thinking about returning to the game, and not too many current video games can evoke that kind of feeling; and that’s where Diablo 2: Resurrected shines brightest.

It is a skateboarding fan's dream, with you being able to jump into the unique culture, and creating a team and a character that you can call your own.

Puppeteer is an odd game. There is no better way to put it, but it is also unique and charming in its presentation. I found the platforming and combat a bit rudimentary for my tastes, but I still couldn’t stop pressing forward to see what the next level looked like.

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

While it’s a bit disappointing to find that there are some key modes that are missing from the package, I hope that in the next iteration they’ll put out the complete package with everything that we expect from fighters released in the modern age.

It does a lot of great things and sets the template for future games. The foundation is great, and they just need to flesh out the modes in the future and fix the glitches that crop up. It feels good to have this series back, and I hope it serves as inspiration to improve Madden as well.

Only time will tell, but so far A New Frontier is entertaining and exciting in the best ways possible.

The main story only lasts about 10 hours, but it is 10 hours you will not soon forget.

This game just clicked with me and felt like the perfect marriage of stuff like Elder Scrolls and Mass Effect. Great story, great characters, and a world that is fun to explore with combat that never got old. I had a great time in the Living Lands, and I cannot wait to go back to a previous save and explore some more.

Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap is a fun, nostalgic romp that brings some of its legacy issues along for the ride. For those that can adapt to that, it is a great game. I am all for bringing back lesser-known titles, especially from consoles such as the Master System, as long as the same love and care is poured into them.

At the end of the day, I’m not here to judge the players or the market for this version of the game, I’m here to judge the actual game. From what I played, I can see a person picking this up and still having a fun time with it, but if I had the option to play it on another system or PC, I would choose to play it there. The resolution is an eyesore to say the least, but the gameplay is still smooth and works very well for the entire game. Take that as you will.

Octopath Traveler 0 is a curious game- as a sequel to Octopath 2, it’s more steps down than it is up but considering its origins as a mobile game, I’m very glad they decided to give it the single player game reimagining as the story is one well worth experiencing and the system of fielding all eight characters at once is something I’d like to see explored further in the true sequel.

Overall this is a fantastic title. I loved it from start to finish, the look, charm and old school fusion gameplay made this a welcome treat to the otherwise wasteland that is the summer release months.

There really isn’t much to say about the MMX Legacy Collection. Given my fondness for the series, I’m always happy to have more people discover the pure platforming bliss that most of the series offers and while there certainly is value in keeping things faithful to the original, I would have much preferred a collection of true remasters as it would have gone a long way to justify the asking price.

Those who really liked Dishonored and want to try it again on the new systems can have a decent time with the Definitive Edition. People who missed out get a complete package, but need to keep in mind that this game is not easy, and manually saving after each section will become a priority while playing.

Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth continues the proud tradition of the franchise with its stellar character customization and level designs as it poses a daunting challenge, well worth conquering- one tile at a time.

If you enjoy the genre and, like me, love a good Hong Kong action flick, this game is a must own. It does so many things better than most open world games; things we definitely take for granted. Sure it has some rough edges, but the overall experience is more than worth taking.

Lumines Supernova is easily the best iteration of the game to date. The amount of content here is simply outstanding. Unfortunately if you have been a fan of the series for a while a lot of it is going to feel a little too familiar.

Let’s be honest here, many of you are going to upgrade every year regardless of what is added or changed. For those of you that look for major changes before jumping on board, I do think this year’s changes on PS4/PS3 are well worth the purchase.

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate earns the “Ultimate” in its moniker with visual and gameplay improvements as well as a wealth of additional content compared to its original counterpart on the 3DS. Whether you were first introduced to the MH series with Worlds or you’re a long time fan that’s kept up from the beginning, there’s a lot to enjoy here. It presents some of the very best of the various generations of MH, sporting a roster of over 90 different monsters to hunt but with that history, it carries the tried and true conventions of the franchise before the fifth fleet made shore on a new world and changed everything. For better or worse, that’s for you to decide.

I really enjoyed my time with Company of Heroes 2 once I got over the initial learning curve. As I mentioned, this is not the case for players returning from the previous iteration, though they will likely find little in the way of true innovation outside of the new weather effects. Still, this is a solid RTS that showcases what the best developers in the business can do with the genre. If you are a fan, I definitely recommend giving this one a look.

The visuals are appealing, the controls are solid and the music is engaging.

The N.Sane Trilogy is the epitome of what is right with the gaming industry. Seeing Activision bring back a fan-favorite game, and giving it the proper work it deserves is awesome. The price of $40 for all three games is a bargain, and this isn’t just a quick and dirty port, Vicarious Visions really retained what made these games so special to us all those years ago. I really wish Crash Team Racing was included, but there is always hope it comes later down the line. Now about that Jak and Daxter remaster…

Taking Tower Defense to a playful and portable level, Ninjatown is more fun than a plateful of ninja cookies. The succinct levels make for great bite-sized portable portions of gameplay, and the ninja antics will have you gobbling it up.

A cut and paste version of MotoGP 3 for the Xbox and it shows that more often than not. Fans of the series will certainly find plenty to enjoy, but if you have already been down this road before there isn’t much here to solidify a purchase.

A fantastic game that deserves to be played by everyone. It is easily accessible, truly addictive, and loaded with tons of content to warrant the $50 price tag. However, if you have already played through the first two games there is little here worth coming back for unless online co-op and more Achievement points are your thing.