Echo truly surprised me in ways I didn’t expect. It’s very serious in its setting, absolutely nailing this mishmash of sci-fi horror and tension perfectly combined with stealth and A.I. elements that push the narrative further and extend to its moment to moment gameplay. I haven’t heard many people talking about Echo, and I surely hope that changes. If a sequel ever comes or a new setting with similar style ideas on gameplay emerge, count me in. Echo nails exactly what it’s going for. P.S. it has one of the most creative and cool looking start menus.

If you have a PS3 and love the action genre then you should not miss this incredible experience, unfortunately it is hard to recommend shelling out sixty bucks for such a short experience.

I just think by making the game simpler, they have created a fun playing game, but not a very deep one.

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.

Rusty Hearts surprised me. It has a good game play mechanic, fantastic atmosphere and art style, and some really good multiplayer modes. What is so surprising to me is not how good the game is, but rather that nothing is being charged for it.

Gripes aside, Routine is exactly what I wanted it to be. I want more. I would love to see these mechanics and this world taken further, especially if they can somehow make this more immersive with different ways to solve puzzles and the like. Extremely impressed. I simply cannot believe I finally got Routine let alone that it was this bloody good.

Overall, Greed Corp is a good game, and one that if you give it a couple of hours, it will be a game that you can at least appreciate.

AWE is a great idea, wrapped up in a bland package. Visually, the game is fine, but it just seems to lack punch. If you are a fan of Tower Defense games, and are looking for something a little different, then it certainly is worth checking out. Ultimately, AWE is missing a certain something and probably has little lasting appeal.

It’s hard to recommend Doom to those that have played it unless they fit certain criteria. If playing Doom on the go is a huge factor, it gets no better than this. It doesn’t look the clearest or run the smoothest, but 90% of the time players can still enjoy one hell of a game. Folks that never played this and are looking for their Doom experience, playing this first and then the other systems could be the way to go to see the differences. Lastly, if players just want to see how the little Switch that could performs and how much Doom pushes their console from a purely tech perspective, look no further. It’s super impressive, a technical marvel, and the port team Panic Buttons should be proud of what they accomplished. It’s just nuts!

There are a lot of titles that boast what Rampage does, but few have done it with the execution found here. Even if these words scare you, like they scare me, this game is still worth checking out.

LEGO Harry Potter is a solid entry into a fairly overdone franchise. Anyone who has lost interest in the games will not find a lot to pull them back in, unless you just simply love Harry Potter.

With Pit People, Behemoth tried something new and was only partially successful. It has excellent art design, unique world-building and some truly funny moments, but the problems with its combat and structure hinder what could be a hit. Understandably, the game’s weakest parts are those that the studio doesn’t have much experience with.

I am glad to have this series back, and this new iteration has been the most fun I have had with it to date. Sadly right now though it is only recommended as a local experience. Online is far too fickle at launch, so if that is what you are coming to King of Fighters for, you might want to wait it out.

Madden NFL 20 is a solid entry with plenty of new additions. I enjoyed the new Face of the Franchise mode and game play improvements, but I was really hoping for tweaked Franchise options and some improved commentary. Still, this is the biggest upgrade to the series in years and I will likely sink yet another 60+ hours into it. I fear the next-generation Madden will take some steps back, so for now I will enjoy Madden 20 for what it is. The best the series has been in a while.

An addictive game that really delivers a great bite-sized experience for the small price of $2.99.

What I was hoping for when I booted up Shiren the Wanderer was another anomaly – a title in the roguelike genre that I would enjoy, and that wasn’t what I found. Instead, what I got was a fairly standard entry in the genre- crafted well by a developer that’s been making these kinds of games for years, and even though I did not find the title to my tastes, I could easily see why someone else might.

Grid is a decent reboot. Sure, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that some may expect and the number of tracks are a bit lackluster, but what it is missing is made up for with great handling cars and a fun race gameplay. People looking for a good racer have found one here even with the issues it may have.

You'll never feel more like a badass and you'll never have a bigger smile on your face.

For those looking for that supplement to Diablo, Alienation should be right up your alley.

Having never played the original, I can say that I enjoyed Freedom Planet 2 even if the combat annoyed me at times. The Sonic like speedy traversal of each level was a joy to complete, the real issues only crept up when combat was needed. While it was nice to have some advanced moves, given how fast FP2 plays; the combat kind of felt out of place. Floaty combat with the high speed makes the boss battles frustrating; If people can get around that, they will find that Freedom Planet 2 is a peek into Sega’s heyday, with a cheesy story and heroes that ‘gotta go fast’ if you are in the need for some Genesis vibes, take a trip to Freedom Planet 2.

Dragonkin: The Banished is a good ARPG that occasionally hints at being a great one. Its progression systems show genuine creativity, and the combat is satisfying enough to keep players pushing forward. At the same time, the game struggles to fully distinguish itself from the heavy hitters that dominate the genre. That being said though, I really think this is one dragon hunt worth undertaking.

If you are a fan of Perfect Dark or even Goldeneye, then you should absolutely buy this game. It is ten dollars well spent.

Burnout Paradise is as divisive as it has ever been, but now for other reasons as well. Still going back to this game brought back so many memories of playing with friends and the sense of speed is simply unmatched. I really enjoyed revisiting the world and think anyone who has fond memories will find more than enough here to warrant the price tag. Newcomers who never played the original are in for a treat though. There is nothing quite like Burnout Paradise and I hope the series makes a full return with a proper sequel in the near future.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a solid foundation for a new IP with fluid combat and fun exploration but fails to topple its spiritual predecessor due to oversimplification of customization and a lackluster PC port.

It is hard not to appreciate what People Can Fly has done with this revered franchise. When we consider this is the fourth game in six years, it might be hard to imagine it still having any steam left. While the changes make all the difference, they don’t sacrilegiously alter the core mechanics; in fact I found them to be refreshing in almost every sense.

Halo Wars 2 is a great sequel, and being a fan of both the genre and the original game, I am extremely happy with how it turned out. Sure there is a clear microtransaction-heavy mode thrust into the mix, but when it is this fun I don’t mind. Besides, I don’t get competitive enough to get hooked on buying the cards. Add in co-op and the ability to play against solid AI and the package feels complete. Those craving that real-time strategy feeling that has been almost non-existent on consoles for a long time are in for a treat with Halo Wars 2.

There is a lot to love about Anger Foot, the bass-heavy music that blasts in your ears while kicking thugs all around a room really amps up the experience. There are some weird bosses and enemies too, one final form of a boss was literally just a beat-up car. Anger Foot is loud, rude, gross, in your face and most importantly it’s a lot of fun!

This year's game is probably not the most innovative when it comes to features, but the addition of True-Aim and the Ryder Cup more than justify shelling out the dough once again.