The Xbox One version looks just as good if not a little better than its PS4 counterpart. It runs at a higher resolution and the world feels alive. It still has markings of its PS3 building, but it looks great regardless. I cannot wait to play Kiwami and Kiwami 2 on Xbox as well, as I never got a chance to finish those when they originally released. If for some reason you have not experienced the series there has never been a better time. The PS4 version is always on sale, it is in Game Pass for both Xbox and PC. Do not hesitate, play Yakuza and join me in experiencing one of the most unique and interesting games of the generation.

Funny enough Vanquish seems to be a better game after all these years. The cover-based combat just feels so much better now than I remember it. Not sure if that has to do with the rock-solid frame rate or just the passing time, but this game is sublime. Pulling off stylish actions feels natural. The sliding mechanic just works, and makes combat more fun than most cover shooters. This is a game that has stood the test of time and somehow works better today than it did ten years ago.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a game I might not have felt we needed, but could not stop playing once I dove in. It retains what made the original special while also adding enough to warrant a sequel. Moon Studios truly has carved out a spot for themselves among the pantheon of indie developers. I cannot wait to see what they do next and as for this title, there is simply no reason not to dive in. It is included in Game Pass and even at its asking price, it is more than worth the price of admission.

Underhero is not a difficult game, but it is a beefy one. Players could spend anywhere from 15-25 hours in it depending on how much they backtrack and collect upgrades and items. The combat continuously evolves to keep it interesting, and the charm manages to last all the way through. While there are plenty of games keeping us busy these days, Underhero is one that should be on your radar at some point. The light price tag and unending charm make it a sleeper hit and one I can whole-heartidly recommend.

I had taken a long break from Monster Hunter altogether and when I booted up Iceborne for this review, I fell back in love with the game. This is how you do an expansion. For me, Iceborne will go down in gaming history as one of those great expansions like The Shivering Isles, Undead Nightmare, and Blood and Wine. If you are remotely a Monster Hunter fan, this is a must have. If you have been interested in Monster Hunter but have yet to try it, do yourself a favor and pick up Monster Hunter World and this expansion. It’s the most accessible Monster Hunter to date and a fantastic entry into the series.

Zombie Army 4 is a fine end to the series. I feel like it could only go so far and while I was skeptical of one more entry, Rebellion has done a great job of making it stand out from its predecessors. It is a mindless shooting gallery that makes a fantastic chatroom game. Find some buddies and strap in to wipe out hordes of zombies. The slow motion kills are still satisfying and the themed levels make the slog more enjoyable. A fine game in a dumb fun series.

The only benefit to playing on PS4 to me is that I can hold the controller in a way that my thumbs are always on the face buttons which was something I couldn’t do on both the PSP and the Vita. So I would skip this unless it is the only way you can play Patapon (and I would suggest the first game because this picks up the story right after the end of that game). Even then I can’t actually say that it will work because of the calibration issues. This was an issue with Parappa the Rapper and again Sony just didn’t put in the work. Patapon 2 is a great game; this remaster is only just okay.

The Darksiders universe has always been an intriguing one, filled with larger-than-life characters, a deep, if not slightly confusing storyline and a glorious aesthetic that seems to come straight off of a 70’s prog-metal album cover. Genesis may position itself as merely a side story; just a small alternative look at one part of this universe. But it is so much more than that. It offers a more personal story and one that may seem insignificant at first, but has wider implications to the story as a whole. Tied to that is gameplay that is both fun and chaotic in equal measure and offers replay value to those who want to go back again and again.

My only gripe is that for how much this game wants to be seen like an RPG it never really does anything of interest with it. If the world is going to be big, fill it with quests. Fill it with more side activities. Even if the main focus is combat, give me a reason to explore the world more than just Dragon Ball flashbacks and collectibles I am required to have to upgrade skills. I think the Yakuza games and more importantly the Fist of the North Star game from the Yakuza team shows that the game can still have heavy emphasis on combat and still be a role playing game. Kakarot unfortunately just doesn’t hit that mark.

Glass Masquerade 2 is a great follow-up and gave me more of what I craved from the first game. It is weird to speak so highly of a jigsaw-style puzzle game, but Onyx Lute just makes this work so well. I am already ready for the third installment and I hope more people discover the sheer joy these games provide. You can grab both for very little on just about every console and I cannot recommend this series enough. It truly is the best of its kind and I cannot wait to solve more of these mental roadblocks.

In a bid to move the series forward towards a new direction, Atelier Ryza presents a new exciting combat engine and one of the best takes on alchemy yet, but falters with its plodding pace and a cast of forgettable characters.

Stone is a game that looks interesting on the surface. Sadly it falls short on delivering just about every step of the way. Achievement hunters should note that you can grab the full 1000 points in less than two hours and it is pretty effortless. I wanted to like Stone way more than I did. It just feels like it puts little effort into telling the story as interestingly as it is written.

Journey to the Savage Planet is a great freshman effort from Typhoon and one of the early surprises of 2020. I will be thinking about this game as the year goes on as one of the best surprises I had literally no interest in upon kicking it off. If you enjoy exploration games like Metroid Prime I highly suggest giving it a go. The charm, humor, and game loop are just fresh enough to keep players interested in this relatively slow time for releases. The price tag also doesn’t hurt.

Problems aside though Blacksad: Under the Skin is an interesting tale of murder and corruption that presents in one of the best takes on the adventure game formula-multiple endings, choices that really matter, and a cast of characters that are extremely engaging. I never felt like the story was coming out of left field with its ideas, and was shocked when I started figuring out what was happening. I love this game and if the Life Is Strange or one of the many Telltale series has ever been enjoyable, I think there’s a lot of enjoy in Blacksad.

In the end Sparklite feels like a game that could have been great, but ended up just being good. It leaned too heavily into shoehorning in mechanics that did not need to be there. With a little more focus and some expansion on its ideas it could have been something special. As it stands it is yet another pixelated indie game that I will enjoy experiencing, but be hard pressed to remember.

Overall Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is a good title that is marred by the expectations that the Modern Warfare name brings with it. The campaign has some really stellar gameplay moments that are brought down by the mediocre plot. Multiplayer was fun but felt a bit like the competition’s output (despite there being no Battlefield release this year) which may be a turn off for some. I don’t think Modern Warfare 2019 has done anything to make me rethink waiting for substantial price drops to play Call of Duty campaigns, because clearly multiplayer is still Activision’s main focus and that’s just not where I get my kicks.

Developers spend so much time trying to recapture that magic of classic pixel-style games and instead forget about what made them special. It wasn’t the look, it was the loop. There are plenty of 8 and 16-bit titles with mundane game play and nowadays it shows why some games stood the test of time. Be challenging, but be interesting. Don’t just punish players and throw lush visuals at them. Make the game play interesting as well. This is something Valfaris lacks, and I wish more indie developers understood when making these games that I very much want to play, I just lose interest in far too soon.

New Super Lucky’s Tale is an extremely polished director’s cut of a solid 3D platformer. I loved seeing its final incarnation finally see the light of day. I am glad more people can experience it now, but I do wish Playful would update the other versions, and perhaps even bring it to PS4 to complete the circle. Still, Switch owners looking for a solid, albeit simple platformer have yet another title worth checking out.

Either catching ‘em all, or taking on the Wild Area and the Gym Leaders, there’s plenty of content here even if some people think the National Pokédex removal is a deal breaker. It’s still a lot of fun and can keep players busy for hours on end. The style and look is great and it controls fantastically. Is it my favorite Pokémon game in the series? I’m not sure, but it still holds the standard for one of the best out there. Any RPG fan will get enjoyment out of this one and Pokémon fans new and old will have a great time exploring the Galar Region.

Ultimately, Need for Speed: Heat is a decent racer. In fact, I would say it is a great playing one. It’s just missing something new. Since Most Wanted on the 360, the formula hasn’t changed much. Payback tried to, but never really came into its own. Heat has everything that is needed to make a fun racing game, and it does so very well. Maybe I’m just looking for something and don’t really know what it is. I enjoyed my time with Heat and I’m sure other arcade racing fans will too. It’s a solid game that plays and looks great, even with the little grind that may come along with it.

Shenmue III feels like a game that would have been revolutionary in 2003. Maybe that is what the fans wanted. This is a game that flopped massively when it released and somehow has garnered a cult following that clearly wants more of what it delivers. Shenmue III delivers just that. A game that feels like it time travelled to 2019 from the Dreamcast era and I think that is just fine with the fans. They got what they wanted and I am thrilled for them, but anyone coming in to see what all the noise is about is likely going to come away confused as to why it took 18 years to create the game in front of them.

Despite some issues that makes it feel like a step below Azure Striker Gunvolt 2, Luminous Avenger iX is still a worthy inclusion in the Gunvolt Chronicles universe.

Jedi Fallen Order is one of the best games in the Star Wars franchise and one of the best games of 2019. It has some sore spots, but the story, characters, worlds, and combat more than make up for its shortcomings. Fans of Star Wars will love it. Fans of action/adventure games will have a fantastic time. It is great to finally see Respawn branch out and get a chance to craft something they clearly have a passion for. This is not a game to be missed and gives me hope for the future of the series.

People who love making model worlds (specifically with trains) and kids will likely get more out of this than I did. The ability to remap controls would go a long way with me though and I would jump back in to give it another shake, if for nothing else it brings back some nostalgia of playing with wooden Thomas the Tank Engine toys. While my score may reflect my current opinion on the game, Tracks is on Game Pass and it is extremely family friendly so there’s nothing to lose with trying it out.

All said this package is definitely a case of what you see is what you get. If you grew up loving these games and have been longing to experience them in multiple facets, this collection is right up your alley. If you never enjoyed them then why are you here? Digital Eclipse should truly be commended for upping the bar on classic game compilations, and if anyone opts not to use them for theirs in the future, I consider it a grave mistake. They take the time and put so much love and care into these things. Let’s keep that trend going. Game preservation so future generations can experience the classics.

There is a lot to like about Doreamon: Story of Seasons; the characters and the world they live in are well defined and a joy to experience. However, the game doesn’t push the genre forward in any way, and even takes the odd step back. But fans of the Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons franchise will definitely have a great time, as will fans of the anime.

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.

Overall Catherine: Full Body is a great experience built for both new players and veteran players alike. Not settling for a simple remaster, Atlus really pulled out all the stops at making this worth the money. Even as bad as I was, it was still a fun time. With all the different endings I think I’ll return to the game on an easier difficulty to experience it all, because the writing is so good and the gameplay is challenging but when in a good flow it can be highly addictive. Anyone like me who may have skipped over Catherine’s original release should remedy that with Full Body.