All in all this is a solid collection of an excellent series of games. If you haven’t played the games before this is a great way to jump in to all of them at once. The four button setup makes these games relatively welcoming for newcomers, and an in-game move list helps as well (although a full training mode would have been preferable). As a longtime fan of the series I greatly enjoyed the museum content and the ability to play SamSho V: Perfect for the first time. I would say it’s a must buy if you’re an experienced fan of the series and want a chance to explore its history in a unique way.

Wasteland 3 is a great ride and fans of the genre should thoroughly enjoy it. It’s an added bonus that familiarity with Wasteland 2 is really not a pre-requisite for picking up Wasteland 3 – the game is accessible and holds up in its own right. Whilst the player-controlled characters lack any kind of development, fortunately this oversight does not apply to the rest of the inhabitants of Colorado Springs. There’s depth to the game’s story and its setting, and for the most part decisions have consequences. With around 60 hours of content, Wasteland 3 is well worth the investment.

Windbound is a fantastic adventure wrapped in a questionable package. I remember distinctly being super excited for this game from the trailers. I wanted it to be a Zelda-style adventure in the absence of titles like it recently. The mixture of mystique and survival though just doesn’t work well here. The things that make each of these genres interesting are not combined effectively most of the time. What I wanted to do in discovering Windbound’s mysteries felt at odds with its base mechanics. I wanted to love this title a lot more than I ended up doing.

Madden 21 is the first time I have found it hard to recommend upgrading. It truly does feel like a roster update in a lot of areas. Franchise mode is super disappointing for me. I spend hundreds of hours in it yearly and I can’t tell a difference between the game I played last week and today. The developers have said they are listening and have heard our requests. This could be patched in. I still want to see this game on new hardware, but as of now I am having a hard time saying Madden is worth the annual upgrade for gamers.

Fairy Tail is a straightforward game that does enough to keep it interesting throughout. Those of us not familiar with the show will have to put in a little extra work to understand everything that is going on, but fans of the series will really enjoy the pieces here. There is even an added epilogue treat that should really excite people who know the story. While there are a lot of anime games pumped out regularly, this one feels like it plays it safe where it needs to, while still delivering an enjoyable experience all around.

Skully is a game that is easily forgettable and hardly recommendable. It is something that if you got free through a Games with Gold you would be encapsulated for all of 30 minutes and then likely never play again. It had promise with its quirky story and unique mechanics, but it never capitalizes on any of them, making it feel like yet another game lost in the ether of releases in 2020.

Battletoads is a game that shouldn’t work in 2020. The originals were brutal tests of patience and I mean come on, it has been nearly three decades. Who under 30 actually remembers these characters? Still, for someone like me it is a real treat to see Microsoft once again return a former beloved Rare property back to its glory. I like where this is going and if we can bring the rest of the crew back, I will once again relive my youth. Banjo, Conker, and Joanna are next on the docket, let’s hope they see the same love and care as these toads have.

This is not a bad collection; the games are a lot of fun and play well, but like its Arcade counterpart I can’t recommend it at this price, especially when I feel this is the weaker of the two collections. M2 does great work and it’s on display here, but I think these two collections should have been bundled together and sold at full price, not in two separate collections bundled at full price each.

Despite being charming and oftentimes funny with some great set piece moments sprinkled throughout, Paper Mario: The Origami King’s repetitive combat and dull sense of progression hampers an otherwise enjoyable journey.

I cannot recommend this collection at this price. M2 definitely brought their museum quality curation to this collection with how many versions of Darius have been included in this including the extremely rare, maybe not released Sagaia (Version 2) but compared to M2’s other releases this is no more than their Castlevania Collection or their SEGA Ages releases. It’s hard to justify this price other than the fact that all home releases of Darius seem to be a bit pricey. This is made worse by the fact that this collection only has the arcade games: there’s another separate purchase for the console releases and when they are both purchased, they come close to $100. Do not get me wrong, this is a very good collection, but it is very hard to justify a purchase at full price for what is essentially 3 unique games and 4 variations.

There is a lot to love about Desperados III, but it is worth noting that the game is not forgiving. It will take time and patience to push through its massive campaign. The game definitely encourages experimentation on several levels and those easily frustrated by repeating parts of games will find the difficulty overbearing at times. As someone who has issues with games like that though, I found myself drawn to this one more so than others. The quicksave led me to take more chances and the variety of characters and abilities kept it interesting.

As a package The Bioshock collection delivers, but once again (as has been with the other two 2K collections on Switch) the issue of value raises its head. Yes, fifty bucks for three fully fleshed out games and all their DLC seems like good value. But only if the only console you own is a Switch. This collection released 4 years ago on PC, Xbox One and Playstation4 and as such can be picked up for a fraction of that price nowadays. The games also play much better on these platforms, with the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X recently getting a 4K 60fps update. I guess it comes down to whether you think having versions of these great games on the go is worth the cost. But for me, no matter how good these games are, I would recommend waiting for a price drop.

I really like Fight Crab. It’s something different and I hope the absurd nature of the concept attracts players. I think the somewhat wonky physics mixed with the desire to consistently up the ante throughout the campaign made me excited to see what was in store come the next level in the campaign. I hope maybe some DLC will come to add some more levels and items to make this game even crazier, because as of right now it’s a fairly light package as a single player experience, but I can imagine that this would be a great game to pull out with friends over. Fight Crab is something very different and I hope it pays off for Calappa Games.

Destroy All Humans! Is still a fun game in 2020. With the quality of life improvements and updated visuals it passes as a game that could have been released today, just not a showcase piece. I loved these types of B-tier titles last generation and am glad to see them making a somewhat return to prominence. Now if we could only get a new title in the series of the same quality I would be down with a next-gen version of Crypto’s shenanigans. Just forget that Big Will Unleashed ever existed and we will be just fine.

Easy to pick up and play, CARRION is original, absorbing and entertaining.It also has an excellent soundtrack – it’s cinematic horror vibe is the perfect accompaniment for the bloodbath that ensues.

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.

As Switch ports go, this is definitely up there with the best. Turn Me Up Games have done a great job is stuffing so much gameplay in to a small cartridge (even if the game will still take up over 12GB of space on your console or SD Card), and if you have never played these games before, then this really is a viable option. However, as with all three of the 2K Switch collections I cannot help but mention that these games are available on all modern consoles, and at a much cheaper price. So, if you already own a PC, PS4 or Xbox One, those might be the better ways to go.

So how do I review something that I can barely play? I suppose I can start by not recommending it as that section is so brutally unfair that it’s not fun. It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten frustrated at a game but this game got me there. I am disappointed because this game was really cool until that point and I am sure it is really cool afterwards too but I’m not going to sit there and bash my head against something that clearly puts luck over actual skill.

Disintegration is a solid game that relies too heavily on the wrong pieces. The multiplayer is limited and the campaign feels haphazard at times. I still really enjoyed my time with it and suggest everyone give it a look down the line. Not sure if the multiplayer aspect will have a tail outside of the launch window, but the campaign is solid and the mix of styles really sets this game apart from a lot on the market.

While many of the elements here made their debuts in other games in the genre, Sucker Punch does an amazing job of weaving them together in a way that not only creates a satisfying gameplay experience but also enhances an already stellar narrative. I cannot think of a better way for Sony to send-off the generation.

Beyond Blue is a relaxing experience that will appease players who cannot get enough nature documentaries on Netflix. I loved taking my time and scanning creatures and just exploring the ocean. There is a lot of interesting info wrapped around a solid gaming experience. Beyond Blue is the kind of game that players will just know they will enjoy by looking at it.

Project Warlock isn’t going to set the world on fire, but what it sets out to do it does well. I found myself loving certain sections while struggling with others. With a few tweaks it could easily become a fan-favorite title that scratches that itch so many other games attempt and fail at.

There were a few technical glitches, but nothing game breaking. It feels like the best B-tier platforming game I have played in a long time, and doesn’t feel as dated as I expected it to. I think fans of SpongeBob, parents, and fans of 3D platformers should really think about getting this game. It’s a lot of fun and it’s being released at a discount price, which is crazy because it’s clear Purple Lamp Studios has put a ton of work into this remake. It’s probably one of the best ways a person looking to just have some fun can spend $30.

Xenoblade Chronicles is a fantastic game. It has some feelings of Final Fantasy XII, but at the same time, feels unlike any other game. The combat is complex and challenging, exploration is both fun and rewarding, and the story and world is something to be seen. Fans of the original game can still have a blast here and people who never tried it before on Wii or 3DS should most certainly pick this one up. This is one of those RPG that will be on top 10 lists for years.

Last of Us 2 is a hard game to critique. On one hand it sets new bars for performance capture and visual fidelity. Naughty Dog is truly head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to these areas. The world is impeccably detailed and the game is a true showpiece for visual fidelity. On the other hand it is just not fun to play at times. Whether it is the uncomfortable nature of what is happening or the fact that the game play feels like an afterthought to everything else included in the package. Combine that with a story that is sure to disappoint fans of the series and we have a mixed bag of emotions. There is no doubting the quality of this game, but I am not sure I needed or even wanted this sequel upon completing it.

Overall, the X-COM 2 Collection offers a great deal of content for a small price. But unless you don’t have any other means of playing it; or if you absolutely must play in on the go, then you and your wallet would probably be better served buying it on a different platform.

Minecraft Dungeons is a solid game that is not only cheap, but accessible. It also helps that it came out on everything and Game Pass owners get to check it out for free. It is great seeing Microsoft expand the series out to more genres. The recognizable fidelity aids in it reaching a larger audience and the price tag makes it an impulse purchase. It also helps that the quality is there. I think anyone who takes a dive into Minecraft Dungeons will have a great time.

Shantae and the Seven Sirens is a great addition to the series and a return to its more Metroidvania roots. I loved it a lot more than the last iteration and continue to look forward to each new chapter. While the series is not as well-known as other games, I feel like it should be. The quality is there and each version just seems to add enough new to keep it fresh. This is a title that should not be overlooked, and it is available on absolutely everything, so there is no excuse not to give it a go.