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.

While serious gear heads will hate the lack of customization and the sim freaks will scoff at the outrageous handling there is a certain charm that comes packed with RR6.

SBK X Superbike World Championship is overall just a pretty average game. Yes, it will appeal to the diehard fans of these types of games, and I am sure they will sink quite a few hours into it. The problem lies again with what I said about spreading out their game modes.

It’s an excellent title to introduce those unfamiliar with roguelikes to the genre, and those already a fan will find much to like here.

The Xbox One version feels just as good as on the other platformers with no noticeable issues of concern in comparison. If there are still players that haven’t had a chance to check out Saturday Morning RPG, for the price and quality, this can’t be beat.

Any fan of Zen Pinball should not hesitate to pick this one up. It really is one of the standout tables in the library. I highly suggest it.

Super Cloudbuilt is a game I thought I would enjoy playing and ignore the story. The reverse ended up happening. The narrative is interesting and the one thing that kept me playing. The game surrounding it fell flat for me on so many levels. I wanted to love it more than I did, but in the end it never clicked with me.

Chromagun is videogame love letter to Portal, with an entirely different and unique puzzle mechanic. It may have made a bad first impression in its pre-release version, but eventually won me over. It’s a game I have a lot of confidence in recommending to puzzle game fans.

Yes these games are products of their time, but I adore seeing them return in 2018. For those that have fond memories these are a no-brainer. My one gripe is that the price of $20 feels a bit much. I would have liked to see them both bundled for that price. Still I can’t stay away. Returning to Turok feels so good. Now if only we could get a remaster of Shadow of Oblivion, or even better, a brand new game in the franchise.

In a lot of ways Skydrift Infinity feels like the airborne version of the old Hydro Thunder racing games. The sense of speed, the lens flare and power ups are all present in Skydrift, and it really took me down memory lane. Skydrift Infinity is a really fun game that needs more content, more tracks and maybe more events would be nice. Local multiplayer is nice if you have friends in the same house but without an audience in multiplayer I can’t recommend this game as someone who is looking for online only racing. However, if you want a solid arcade flying racer and you feel the need…. the need for speed; then this could be the game for you.

With so many games aiming for the gamer dollar it is nice to see one that could have been an easy cash-in spend so much time paying attention to the finer details. Games aimed at younger players don’t need to forget the fundamentals of what makes people fall in love with gaming. Think back to titles like Mario Bros. and how they were accessible, yet finely tuned and how it hooked an entire generation on the hobby. Kids are smarter than some developers give them credit for and I am thrilled to say that Marsupilama: Hoobadventure is one of the best attempts at the genre I have seen this year. Definitely recommend checking it out on whatever platform you own.

Conan Chop Chop pleasantly surprised me, while I was drawn to it solely based on the Conan brand it really turned out to be a quite enjoyable, co-op romp through the lands of Hyboria. I mean for $20 this is a game that is complete, offers lots of replay ability and has tons of unlockables to chase by way of completing the collection of weapons, armor and runes. The family friendly approach is another great move in my opinion as it will surely help to attract a new audience, in fact after playing it my daughter has asked questions about Conan. I smiled at her and told her we can talk about when she’s older, but for now we can play some more Conan Chop Chop.

Loot River is not a bad game by any stretch of the imagination; it, like many new IP’s just needs some tweaking to iron out some of its technical issues and I have no doubt that with its truly unique blend of traditional roguelikes with a dash of a block puzzler, that Loot River will quickly carve out a place for it on the ever-growing roguelike mountain.

As I said I don’t know what cricket is, and to be honest this game helped me expand my knowledge of the sport. Knowing things like the fact the Queen got involved at one point and demanded a rule change about it being boring to try and hit the goal post. And they even took cricket to outer space and would play in zero gravity. It was fascinating to see how much the game of cricket has intertwined with human history. While Cricket thru the Ages isn’t a long game, it is quite a fun one, made even more so if players can find a player 2. And with its simple one button controls literally anyone can play.

Graven does a lot of good things, it’s a dark fantasy old-school, FPS for starters. Adding in bits of classics like Hexen was a great way to go here. But mixing in elements of RPG’s is what really set Graven apart, the ability to interact with the environment with magic and other things for puzzle solving was a lot of fun. But the puzzles are time consuming and will require a lot of backtracking and searching and then there is the soulslike stuff…ugh. But even with all of that, welding magic, swords and crossbows in this adventure was a solid good time.

There’s a strong identity here, a clear vision, and a combat system that has depth if you’re willing to invest the time. As a newcomer to the series though, I was constantly bombarded with terms, weird items and new systems that felt overwhelming, especially since there is no pause in the game. And then there is the story; if I was asked to explain this game I would have nothing other than “it’s hard, and has anime vampire girl” Code Vein 2 is stylish, punishing, and unapologetically dense. It just might also be a little too closed-off for its own good, and I think a lot of returning fans will be upset with some of the changes, especially the removal of co-op.

The PS4 version is very serviceable and really makes me wish we saw other games in the genre actually hit consoles.

Still the game re-ignited my love for the genre and I have already shredded far more hours into this one than I had planned to invest.

At the time of this writing a few patches have gone out that have corrected most of the larger bugs, but there are still issues with spawning too many special infected at a time and other little issues. While these things can be frustrating, they don’t destroy the fun of Back 4 Blood when playing the game as it’s meant to be. That is playing multiplayer with a group of friends smartly navigating a nightmare filled world. Those looking to have a single player experience on the other hand may not find as much here to love, while Turtle Rock is working to fix the progression and reward issue for single players at the time of this writing there isn’t an ETA for those fixes. So, for that reason I wouldn’t recommend this for solo’s just yet, however for those folks who have been waiting for Left 4 Dead 3, or heard about how fun the original ones were and never tried them and have a team ready to face the undead… then what are you waiting for cleaner? Get out there and kill some ridden!

At the end of the day UFC Undisputed 2010 is certainly not a bad game, it just lacks a lot of what makes the console version so special.

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is a pure dose of fan service to Marvel enthusiasts, with its long list of characters, recognizable locations and its nods to storylines and in-jokes, but I feel that these games have lost their way over time. It isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy my time with it, but I certainly won’t be going back to it time and again, trying to achieve that 100% completion stat.

For fans of not just the three games in this series but the lore behind them, this DLC is almost a must play for the story alone.

SingStar Queen is a great addition to the band-specific discs that Sony continues to release. If you are a fan the 25 songs on the disc are more than enough to warrant a purchase.

As someone thoroughly tired and uninterested in anything Musou, I can say without hesitation that Spirit of Sanada did very little in changing my opinion on the genre. Having said that, the focus on telling a tighter, more involved story along with the addition of a variety of RPG elements is a step in the right direction and deserves praise- hopefully pointing towards a renaissance for the genre.

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is hands down Illfonic’s best game to date and by and large probably the most approachable asymmetrical multiplayer game on the market. Having OG Ghostbusters on board with some new blood is an awesome way to get people into the lore and making it so that player can create their own character was a super smart move as well. I’m excited to see what the team will add into the game, perhaps Dr. Venkman will show up down the line, maybe a playable mini Stay-Puft ghost; whatever it is I am excited to get more. I hope that this game sees a longer lifespan than the developers’ previous games, with all of the polish and the obvious love for the license this is one scare fest that everyone should experience.

The combat system, amazing fan service and thought out presentation make this arena fighting game something both Naruto fans and fighting game entusiasts will highly enjoy.

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.

Tachyon Project seems to take a lot of inspiration from Geometry Wars but puts its own spin on things. Taking cues from one of the best twin stick shooters ever made, isn’t a bad thing in the slightest.