Overall, Pepper Grinder is a very good game. Some stages have unique gimmicks that blend well with the base move set, others just challenge players with the basics. I like Pepper, she has a lot of character for a silent protagonist and the soundtrack is quite good too. There’s a lot to like with Pepper Grinder, I just really wish the boss battles were better or absent because they weigh down the rest of the experience.

R.U.S.E. is a breath of fresh air in a genre that consoles have seemingly not been able to perfect.

WRC 9 is a nice update and yet another game taking advantage of the new hardware. Most likely overlooked the game when it initially came out. If you enjoy simulation racers this is definitely one to put on your radar. The Series X enhancements are a nice addition to an already solid rally game.

If you missed out on this game on Wii U I cannot recommend it enough. However, if you are like me and already sank double-digit hours into the original, you will find it hard to justify another $60 for this game.

Abzu is something that was never even on my radar. Then I booted it up, and never let go. Every area was an experience, and it made an impact on me. I don’t spend my time trying to figure out what it means, I just enjoyed the ride, and it is easy to recommend. Especially to those that enjoy the idea of swimming in the depths of the ocean, and exploring the alien life found below the waves.

Tropico 4 may not look massively different from the previous game, but the improvements made under the hood make this game a must for anybody that loved Tropico 3, or anyone that loves management sims.

An interesting entry for the series. The parts I enjoy have been improved, and are the best they have been in years. The campaign is one of my favorites of the year, and Zombies continues to innovate and find ways to be super fun. The multiplayer though feels throwaway and not all that exciting, which is what gives the series legs. The inclusion of Modern Warfare Remastered softens that blow, but I am curious how the community will react over time.

Star Wars: Squadrons is a wonderful entry in EA’s use of the license. It took long enough to get a proper dogfighting game, but the one they deliver should appease fans. The campaign is short, but sweet. The online is a blast with friends, and I hope it continues to flourish with players for a long time.

It changes up the formula enough to keep things feeling fresh, its look and feel is fantastic, and the overall package will keep fans playing for hours on end. It really is a sequel worth the Pac-Man name, and I for one absolutely love it.

When a game goes above and beyond to deliver an exceptionally well thought out and designed world, it’s breathtaking and amazing, but when the actually gameplay is so dull, so methodical, so repetitious with no variation whatsoever, it’s puts an extremely strong blunder on what could have been an amazing play through.

There is a lot of crap to wade through in gaming today. So when something as special and fun as Horizon Chase Turbo comes along, I feel the need to shout it from the rooftops. If you grew up in arcades loving those classic sit-down racing games, this is one you need to play. I cannot wait to spend more time with it, and hope the devs get a chance to make more titles that rekindle my childhood nostalgia.

The game is one of the hardest in the series, the bosses are still awesome and the old-school challenges will keep you pulling your hair out for months.

Overall, Top Spin 3 does a great job approximating the real talent it takes to play tennis at a competitive level.

Annihilation is another fine showing from Treayarch. I know that some people may have gotten to the point where they no longer want to spend 1200msp on another map pack, but while it is of this quality, I have no problems in recommending it.

This is yet another solid collection of classics from Capcom.

One issue players of the original Sorcerer King might have with this iteration is that there really doesn’t seem a whole lot new to justify a purchase here. While owners of the first game are, to be fair, offered a discount when purchasing Rivals, other than the new conditions for victory and new champions this expansion still feels fairly bare.

Everybody’s Golf was exactly what I was looking for in a relaxing, yet fun game. It has the makings of a great arcade golf game and some pretty nice longevity with the online mode. The single player is no slouch either even when it does get slightly grindy. The customization is giant, and the way the game teaches the player the simple mechanics of golf and slowly discusses the more complicated aspects of the game and how to do certain shots really makes the game accessible to pretty much anyone. I highly suggest this one to anyone remotely interested in it or the game of golf. There’s a lot of content here, and for the most part, it’s all good.

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.

While not without its glitches, there was multiple times my minions stood around when I raised the base alarm due to an agent being detected. Or when I gave my henchman a kill command to an agent and instead, he ran to the 3rd floor and back down again which allowed said agent to escape. These things happen but don’t destroy the sheer delight of ‘trying to take over the world’. I am extremely happy that Evil Genius was brought back, and I hope that we can see more and more entries into this zany world of evil scientist and crazy dictators.

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.

The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition is a weird release. While Xbox owns the developer, Private Division still retains the distribution rights to the first game. Which means the normal free upgrade is not here. Instead we have the definitive version of a great game locked behind some weird monetary decisions. If you never played the original, this is by far the best package available. If you did and are looking to upgrade what is here is nice, but not worth another $60. If you own all the DLC this is a solid $10 upgrade. Still I wish it was more accessible or at least a save transfer existed. It taints an otherwise solid release.

I love a lot of what Rift Rally is offering. There is a healthy amount of content and the setup is fairly painless. It is worth mentioning though this is not a cheap entry. The standard edition clocks in at $130 which feels steep for those only mildly interested. There is also a Collector’s Edition that comes with a special RC car, a Hot Wheels Die-Cast car, and a special unlockable car in the game for $150. The price is fair, but be sure you have the interest and more importantly the space before diving in.

Mecha Break isn’t a bad game. It’s not a great one either. It’s a classic “7 out of 10 that could be a 9 if it just tightened up.” The bones are solid; mechs feel powerful, battles look great, and customization is top-notch but the meat on those bones feels undercooked. It needs patches, balance tweaks, and maybe a stronger narrative core if it wants to hang with the genre big boys. Still, if you’ve got a soft spot for stompy robots like I do, there is enough here to have a good time with; but mileage will definitely vary.

Reus 2 is a rare gem; a god-game that encourages creativity and patience instead of chaos and destruction. It’s a strategy title that rewards thoughtfulness, experimentation, and curiosity. Abbey Games clearly learned from the first outing and refined it into something both deeper and more approachable. The Xbox version looks great, runs smooth, the only real wrinkle is the controls feel clumsy with a controller. Hopefully we can see a patch or two that will address this, but even with that issue players on Xbox will find more to love than hate with Reus 2.

Something magical happens when you turn on the 3D. The look of game makes sense.

Deathtrap has the workings of a tower defense game, with the complexity and depth of a hardcore RPG.

I enjoyed my time with One Piece Odyssey enough to join my sons in watching the anime. The Straw Hats crew themselves are a great group, I enjoyed the camaraderie and the jokes (even though I didn’t catch all of them). They care for one another just like any good family does and it was a touching story to see. Aside from the combat feeling overly easy for a good portion of the game, and the UI issues I would recommend One Piece Odyssey to fans of the series and non-fans alike. Especially if you are a fan of JRPG’s, this one has it all for you.

Mega Man has never been known as a walk in the park when it came to difficulty and this port tries its best to stay true to the original feel. Fans new and old should most certainly check out this collection. I highly recommend it.