Yet another fantastic update to a classic franchise from Capcom.

In the day and age where DLC is sometimes criticized because it could actually have been included in the retail disc, it is nice to see some substantial content for a game that already came packed with so much.

Another fantastic update to a classic franchise from Capcom.

Titans of the Tide is a very competent platformer that is further enhanced if you are a fan of SpongeBob and his cohorts. I had a great time even without in-depth knowledge of the show. It plays well, looks great, and is genuinely hilarious at times. We need these types of games, and I am glad SpongeBob continues to carry that torch. For the price, this is more than worth your time.

Ultimately, if you as a player thought you were going to enjoy Blast Brigade vs The Evil Legion of Dr. Cread based off seeing various forms of media, then you should go pick it up right now. It is a rewarding adventure and certainly one of the better Metroidvania games that have come out recently; and that’s taking into account my issues with the platforming and the pacing issues. With an art style that invokes memories of Saturday morning cartoons with my younger brother, and a dash of 80’s action movies; Blast Brigade vs The Evil Legion of Dr. Cread is the mash-up I never knew I wanted. With its rewarding exploration, thoughtful map design and some genuinely funny writing; Blast Brigade manages to shine bright in a field already crowded with stars.

Even though it may be a rather short experience, and the controls can be rather tiresome, I can’t really downplay Evoland. The satire on the entire evolution of games and the comical use of RPG tropes had me playing and smiling throughout my experience. For only $10, you get a rather charming title that never overstays its welcome. I was hoping for more by the end, but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the overall experience.

Sure, it didn't make Spike's VGA list, but Escape from Adventure Island is a hit with its target audience. Rest assured, your 5-9 year old will enjoy the game - and the learning.

Clocking in at around six hours with dozens of cyber unlockables hidden away waiting to be found and giant cyber bosses just begging to be cut down, this cyber ninja comes out slicing and dicing in his return to the proverbial cyber stage.

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.

Overall, I felt OlliOlli was quite addictive and fun to play, and while I’m not the type of person to try to always go for the high score, it had me pondering, “I could get a better score than this” and going back to a previously completed stage.

Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth is a pretty good game overall, while its story is simple and its gameplay not terribly difficult most experienced gamers can knock it out in 7 hours or so. The game boasts some great graphics due to the awesome sprite work, and it has an extremely catchy soundtrack; which is always a nice bonus. I think Team Ladybug managed to put out a game that has something for quite a varied audience. Those that are fans of the novels or anime series will surely find something to love, but those of us who enjoy ‘metoridvania’ type games will find a lot to appreciate as well; and who knows maybe even turn the next generation of fans onto Record of Lodoss War as a whole.

Volgarr the Viking is a brutal throwback to classic game design. Those wanting a challenge and who don’t mind repetition should not miss this.

If you love the idea of post-apocalyptic worlds with a new spin on the traditional idea I recommend picking this up. If you have the patience to get past the annoying parts this is definitely a diamond in the rough.

A great revival of a classic franchise. If you were a fan then there is no reason to pass up on this offering as it brings just enough to the table to make it worth your while. The lack of online is easily the biggest setback and makes you wonder how such an imperative feature was left out.

Monster Train 2 is a truly enjoyable experience that feels like the developers have successfully built upon it upon its predecessor’s foundation. Even though it took me a few runs to really get a handle on all the systems at play, once I did I was ‘full-steam ahead’ (these train puns doing it for you?). The new clans, strategic depth, and progression system are all a reason for any fan of the rogue-like deck-builders to try this game. Not to mention the banging soundtrack, some bright and colorful art for the cards and enemies and Monster Train 2 feels like a perfectly blended match made in heaven.

The Monster World collection isn't for everyone – people who like side scrolling action RPGs will enjoy Monster World IV but may be put off by the slow pace of the other two games. It's a nice package though, and a great way to enjoy some older games. For fans of the series, Monster World IV is probably worth 800 points alone; the two other games and the trials mode is just the icing on the cake.

Duke Nukem 3D is a classic, but after the disappointment of Duke Nukem Forever, I am ready for a truly next generation of the series. I grew up on its lame humor and ridiculous settings. I want a proper sequel so I can once again make those alien bastards pay for shooting up my ride.

While the story is a bit too predictable for my tastes, everything from the visuals to the combat felt very polished from beginning to end. It’s quite unfortunate that this is likely the last game Imageepoch will release, but perhaps they will rest well knowing that they went out on a high note.

The new Reflex controls are great once you get used to them, but they also alienate the casual audience by making the game a bit more demanding than some gamers are willing to put up with. Still if you have enjoyed the series you know what to expect here.

Luigi’s Mansion 3 is far and away the best entry in the series. It uses a familiar formula with a unique twist to create a single player adventure worthy of the quality we come to expect from Nintendo’s first party lineup. The stellar animation and presentation are unmatched, and the addition of co-op play is a huge bonus. Nintendo continues to deliver exemplary titles for its newest console. It almost feels like they can do no wrong on Switch. Yet another game that Switch owners should not miss out on.

It’s not the longest or the most in depth RPG, but for the price, the theme, and unique style, Hard West is clearly worth your time in gold and offers a fairly authentic western experience, well besides the demon and supernatural overtones that is

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 there is a guide on how to make a sequel, Pandemic read every chapter a dozen times. Taking everything that made the first game good, taking out everything that held it back, and adding just enough to make it fresh is certainly a recipe for success.

Hopefully when the next iteration arrives we can finally see a graphical upgrade worthy of calling it next-gen.

The Foundation is a great expansion that I had to wait too long to play. I really hate timed exclusive content, and especially DLC. If not for a review code I might have passed on this simply because Control was so far out of my mind at this point. I am glad that is not the case, and if you are like me forgot this existed, it is time to remember. I cannot wait for the second pack and to once again return to the Oldest House to learn more about the Bureau.

Coming in at 19.99, this is a collection that man Mega Man fans will surely want to add to their collection. It’s a great spot to have all 4 of these titles in one place, and fairly accurate to their original releases. Some new players might be off put by the jump in quality between the older and newer games in the pack, or even the difficulty some of these provide, but for the price, it’s a nice little package to have.

As the follow up to the worst game in this long running series, D7 had a lot of work cut out for it. Thankfully, the team at NIS was up to the task and addressed most of the issues, putting together a welcome package to remind me why I loved the series in the first place. While there are still some improvements to be made, I’m more than happy to report this is certainly a much needed course correction for the series at large.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is a game that is worth its price tag and so much more. It will take gamers months to finish all it has to offer. Pick up the season pass and likely have dozens of more hours to play. It is a massive game and something that feels like a swan song before another two-year hiatus for the series. I feel like they threw too much into the mix this time though. I could literally wonder around for 1-2 hours and do absolutely nothing, while I could also spend two hours just navigating through menus to upgrade and plan. There is a lot here, so for those that love the new direction of Assassin’s Creed, this is the game you need to buy this holiday season.