Yes Layers of Fear has a ton of jump scares yet everything else comes together as well to offer players a feeling of truly descending into madness. Sometimes a game comes along that sees a team of people coming together to create something unique and scary all the same. That’s Layers of Fear in a nutshell and it scared the living hell out of me.

SVR 2008 is definitely a step ahead for the series from a gameplay standpoint. The new controls, fighting styles, and ECW content really take the series to the next level in terms of in ring action. However, the disappointing 24/7 mode and the return of some nagging problems keeps this title from being the truly great experience it could be.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with Viral Survival. As mentioned, they do a good job of keeping the gameplay mixed up between modes and making it addictive enough to keep you coming back and wanting to play more.

For anyone who has enjoyed the classic arcade-style baseball game in the past, the genre is finally back to its original, fantastic form. Do not hesitate to pick up Metalhead’s latest no matter which console you own.

With the downfall of Mimimi Games, I feared that the real-time genre was all but lost. It’s still a crying shame that their final game, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew didn’t get more attention because it had a fantastic story and excellent gameplay. But the developer may be gone but their legacy is strong with Artificer games; Sumerian Six is a triumph in the genre with its immensely replayable levels, forgiving stealth approach and its quirky characters. Made so much better now that I can play it on my Xbox. Artificer has crafted an enjoyable game that blends the occult and science in an interesting story AND lets you knock out some Nazis, what’s not to love here?

This “late-to-the-party” edition is chock full of enough extra content to make the wait worthwhile, and if you have already seen all Bullworth has to offer on the PS2 there is enough here to at least warrant a rental.

Toy Soldiers is a nice introduction to the Block Party, and a game that should entice fans of the genre. If you are worn out on tower defense this game will certainly not pull you back in, but for those still digging it, this is one of the best on the service.

For being handed what I would consider a horribly tainted license, Choice Provisions did well combining their expertise with it to make something pretty good. I would still recommend their own Runner series before recommending Bubsy: Paws on Fire, but any fan of those titles looking for can’t go wrong with this game. Bubsy: Paws on Fire is hands down the best Bubsy game. Anyone with any nostalgia for this despicable bobcat should find enjoyment here, even if in only short bursts.

Prototype 2 is just what the doctor ordered for a lot of gamers, myself included. It is big, dumb and tons of fun. Think of it as one of those Summer Hollywood movies that you go see simply for the special effects and you'll get the idea. There is nothing overly special, but I had a blast while playing the game.

While Beholder isn’t exactly a title that’s set to shake up the indie scene, the intriguing premise and solid execution makes it well worth seeking out all the same.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is a redemption and course correction that the series sorely needed to compete against some fantastic FGs out on the market already. If not for the overpriced DLC and lackluster single player content, it could have been “THE” anime fighter to beat. As it stands, it’s one I’m sure to go back to play from time to time and eager to see played at a high level during the majors coming later this year.

All the years waiting have certainly paid off in presentation and gameplay, but a lack of certain standard features is likely to disappoint some. Still if you love the series, don't mind losing some of the core aspects and are in need of a great sim racer for your PSP you will be hard pressed to find a better offering.

Fans have been clamoring for a new game in the series, and it is likely that Capcom is gauging true interest with this collection. If you are like me and cannot wait for a true Darkstalkers sequel, do not hesitate. Buy this collection now. These two games are still high on my list of favorite fighting games from the 32-bit era.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 is another outstanding package of classic games that reignites my love for the series. I wonder if THUG will even be in consideration, and honestly, I don’t have nearly as much nostalgia for those games, I kind of fell off at that point. I still played them all, but my memories are from those first four games. I would love it if this sparked the return of the series for a new game, as I feel like the remakes have run their course.

Overall though Tales of Valour was a fun experience, I would have liked a single player that was more like the first game, but I still had fun with the content that I was given.

Fans of torture games such as Super Meat Boy and Trials will undoubtedly find a lot to love about Spelunky. It is brutally difficult, but never unfair. You will spend so much time replaying the first set of levels that, in theory, it sounds like it would get boring. But after hundreds of deaths I am still coming back for more. That speaks volumes about the game's design. If you want a challenge and enjoy the harsh consequences for your actions, then Spelunky is your game.

Even if you don’t have a lot of experience with the franchise, the on-ice trainer will help get you up and running quickly. If you’re coming solely for Be a Pro mode though be prepared for a lackluster experience, but with the new franchise mode fleshing out the experience there should be plenty for most sports gamers to like.

Even with these quirks Trap Team is still the best game in the series to date.

Mario Strikers: Battle League is a great game that suffers the same fate as its Switch sports brethren. It plays great, looks outstanding, but simply lacks content. I truly hope we see more characters, stadiums, and modes as the game goes on. There is a lot here to love, but it feels shallow in the content department for sure. Still if you love the arcade mentality of Mario sports this game is a no-brainer and yet another exclusive gem for Nintendo’s aging platform.

Lunar is a special series that is of its time. Both games hold up for me, and for anyone that enjoys classic RPGs, this is a must-have collection. I had a fantastic time revisiting these games and am so glad they are finally available without having to go through other means, or spending a small fortune on classic hardware. I do wish they had used the original voice actors and sped up the movement in Eternal Blue, but this is still an easy recommendation.

Tekken 7 feels like the return for the series. After some bumps in the PS2 and PS3 era this series really feels like it is regaining its footing. There is a lot of content here for casuals and solo players, and the hardcore will love the under-the-hood changes. There is something for everyone, which most fighting games fail to capitalize on. If you have been out of the Tekken game for a while, it is finally time to return.

NCAA Football 13 gets so many things right that it is impossible to fault it too much. The problem is that most of the things it fixes and addresses are not things a lot of people will notice. This leaves you feeling like you are paying essentially $60 for last year's game.

BlazBlue Entropy Effect isn’t a bad game at all; the story is confusing and has seemingly no connection at all to the BlazBlue games but its gameplay is what you come for. Overall presentation isn’t bad but like all games of the genre, it gets repetitive in the end. But I must say that I was hooked on its gameplay loop but I still don’t know anything about any of these BlazBlue characters but sometimes a great gameplay loop is all you really need anyway.

At the end of the day, Get Even took me by surprise. I was expecting a standard FPS and what I got was a strange, intriguing psychological thriller that had just as many puzzles and investigation parts as it did shooting and stealth parts. The storytelling is superb and the overall design is something to really take a look at. At $30, I’d say you can’t go wrong with Get Even. It has really jumped up there in my best sleeper hits list and I suggest people really check it out if they’re looking for a good catalyst for storytelling.

Ether One is a sharp, unique game that deals with a tragic subject in an empathetic way, and it’s definitely worth checking out.

Riptide GP Renegade is a solid follow-up. I really wish they would tweak the difficulty though, as it stands it gets far too difficult, far too quickly in career mode. This stunts progression, and makes continuing on a real grind. However, if you are like me and simply love the wave racing genre, this is yet another solid entry in a category we get far too few games in.

Adventures of Pip looks like just another 2D indie platformer on the surface, but from the first level it shows it is so much more. The experience of the team involved shines through, making this one that definitely deserves more attention.

Just like mustaches, not everyone can appreciate what The Order 1886 was trying to accomplish, but if you know what you’re going into, you just might walk away loving it as much as I did flaws and all.