Omen of Sorrow is a really good fighting game that works well and has some really interesting mechanics that change the entire aspect of the fighting game, but because of the price, it bring down so many other aspects of the game making it a difficult purchase to recommend. Maybe when the game lowers in price, more people will pick it up. That’s the only thing I can think of that would help more than anything. It’s a good fighting game, but when there’s no one to play it with, you can only enjoy it for so long.

While the formula has not changed much in these games, they are still fun if you enjoy the subject matter. Being a massive DC fan it is cool to see some weird and obscure villains in this ridiculous roster. LEGO DC Super Villains might feel like a game built on a template, but that doesn’t make it not fun. If you are not tired of the formula and love playing the bad guy, this title might be for you.

Nearly every title from this company feels the same for the most part and that is a genuine problem with how many games they put out. Only the hardest of hardcore Warriors fans should even look at this title. Otherwise, there’s better games of this type from the exact same people.

As someone that hasn’t really been exposed to the series proper, the only expectation I had going in was that it would be a fun couch gaming experience and in that regard, Super Mario Party is a rousing success as I saw nothing but smiles all around during my numerous play sessions with over a dozen different people. However, those smiles were short lived as they soon faded when we realized that there were only four boards to play and the rest of the other modes were simple novelties at best. A shame as this party was one I was glad to be invited to- I just didn’t feel the desire to stick around for too long.

Overall 2K19, while certainly not perfect, is the best version of this series that we’ve seen yet. Tons of options and modes, a nearly endless list of creation options, some cool new gameplay changes, and a fantastic career mode add up to a game that long suffering WWE fans can really sink their teeth into. Some glitches and an overall staleness to the style of the gameplay in the game keep it from really getting to it’s potential though in my opinion. At the very least there’s a good base here, but I feel like we say that every year.

Starlink is a game I expected to groan and roll my eyes at. Instead I found myself enjoying it on multiple levels. The StarFox content makes it a must-own on Switch though. It feels like a chapter in his journey. Nintendo has done well to partner with Ubisoft on their projects, and it is paying off. While the toys are unnecessary this game is heaps better than it has any right to be.

Luigi’s Mansion on 3DS is strictly a remake for people who either no longer have a copy of Luigi’s Mansion or have never played it before. To anyone who still has their original Gamecube copy, just play that; the additions are not worth $40. It’s still a great game by all accounts because the design of the game is fun and it is completely playable, but the controls in this version are just awful and with Dark Moon on the same console there’s absolutely no excuse for that.

At the end of the day, Call of Cthulhu is a pretty fun game. I enjoyed my time with it throughout and it really had me going every time I booted it up. Sure, it’s not the best looking or the smoothest playing game, but it has the atmosphere and some interesting mechanics that I think any horror fan should check out. I was expecting something completely different from what I had thought this game to be and what I got, I realized I liked way more that what I expected.

If you love games like this your best bet is to save your money and pour it into buying extra copies of Pilotwings Resort in the hopes that a resurgence in sales will lead Nintendo back into the genre.

With Dark Souls Remastered you should know exactly what you are getting; a full fat port of a revered and classic game with all of the extra bells and whistles the little console can afford. You may have already picked this remaster up on another platform, and if you have then you may want to side step this release. But if you missed it, or if taking Lordran with you in your bag is too appealing to turn down, then follow the flame and praise the sun.

While not inherently bad, Nickelodeon Kart Racers just feels a bit bland. The racing is totally fine and I had some decent races here and there when I bumped up the difficulty, but with a limited roster of characters from only four franchises, it boils down to a limited feature overall, and for 40 bucks, I would say that is a steep price to pay for something that I could be done with in about a weekend. Players looking for another kart racer and have experienced their fill of Mario Kart can find some fun here, but I would most certainly wait for a price drop. Even then, don’t go looking here for a bountiful game. There a fun one-off experience and that’s about it.

Soulcalibur VI is a great way to bring back the franchise. There is a ton of content to be found and outside of a few omissions, the roster is great. Character creation leaves the door open for plenty of interesting designs. The Xbox One version had a few loading hitches and issues, but it never hindered my enjoyment. For anyone who grew up playing the original in dorms with friends, this is the first entry to capture that magic in years. The soul still burns, and it burns hot.

I wish there was more I could say about the game. There is so much to discuss, but that would take away from the experience. Avoid spoilers, avoid videos of this game, just buy it, play it, and fall in love with this world the same way I did.

Hollow Knight will stick with me for a while. It blends a Metroidvania and Dark Souls in near-perfect fashion. Its tight gameplay as well as its fantastic look and music immersed me into caring about a mysterious civilization of bugs. If Soulsvainia is a new sub-genre, then count me in. Also, count me in for the next thing that Team Cherry releases.

This has to be one of the more original Dark Souls-like games available, and anyone looking for a fresh take on the formula will be able to find enjoyment in Immortal: Unchained as long as they are willing to overlook a fair lack of polish.

Crayola Scoot is releasing at a bad time. It is a little pricey for sure, but man I had a blast with it once I got the trick system down. This is a game that could definitely be fun for families to dig into, or fans of colorful titles with neat mechanics. It is impossible to ignore how much fun can be had, but I fear it will simply be overlooked due to the timing of its release.

Torna ~ The Golden Country marks a wonderful send off to the world of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 with its cast of likeable characters, compelling narrative and a revamped combat engine that feels even better than the original. Having spent more than 150~ hours in the world of Alrest combined through the two titles, I can’t help but feeling that I still want more- a desire that serves as undeniable proof to the excellence of this series.

Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII is exactly what is advertised. It is the most complete multiplayer package the series has ever seen. The three modes complement each other well. The Battle Royale mode is fantastic. Multiplayer feels great for veteran players. Zombies is neat if not a bit mundane before it ends. Still, there is a lot here, and for those wanting that online CoD experience will find plenty bang for their buck. I miss the campaign, but they have definitely made up for it for those interested in killing other players online.

In the end, players will get a pretty fun beat ‘em up that is both serious and zany at the same time. The combat, while repetitive, is always satisfying and the wonderful moments of brilliance shine brighter than the dullest of fetch quests. Fans of Fist of the North Star will have a blast here, while fans of beat ‘em ups and the Yakuza series will enjoy the familiar feel of the entire package. Give this one a shot if you’re looking for some bloody good action with a goofy twist.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is a game that is worth its price tag and so much more. It will take gamers months to finish all it has to offer. Pick up the season pass and likely have dozens of more hours to play. It is a massive game and something that feels like a swan song before another two-year hiatus for the series. I feel like they threw too much into the mix this time though. I could literally wonder around for 1-2 hours and do absolutely nothing, while I could also spend two hours just navigating through menus to upgrade and plan. There is a lot here, so for those that love the new direction of Assassin’s Creed, this is the game you need to buy this holiday season.

Overall this is a great pack of three classic tables. Any fan of pinball of any skill level should add this to their collection, even if they already own the Pinball Arcade renditions. The challenge modes bring new life into these tables and the Single Player enhanced versions of tables allows for whole new ways to get big scores (and knock pinball fan, Ubisoft and Palette Swap Ninja’s own Dan Amrich, down a few notches on some leader boards). Zen Studios really brought their own style into these tables that make them feel at home alongside their own Zen Studios designed tables.

Shenmue is part of gaming history and there is a reason that it has continued to be revered all this time. But please remember what you are getting in to when buying this game. Yes, it looks a little shinier and it is of course the first time the two games have been available as a collection on a console that isn’t the Dreamcast (Shenmue II was ported to the original Xbox) but if you have never played these games before, expect a little resistance. It may also be worth holding on a little while and picking it up in an inevitable future sale.

Overall Forza Horizon 4 is the greatest game I feel just kind of meh about. I mean there is absolutely nothing wrong with so many aspects of this title. It is polished, fun, smooth, and gorgeous. I think I am just growing tired of its structure. Still it feels like this title may see more updates than any previous entry. It has dozens of hours of content already packed into it. It is visually stunning and a blast to play with friends. It is hard not to love what Horizon 4 does.

What is a competent platformer with satisfactory puzzles is marred by these terrible moments of me dying repeatedly to unfair AI. The snarky part of me wants to place a picture over the complimentary parts of this review just like this game puts stuff in the foreground so I can’t see what I’m doing just to prove how annoying that is. This game isn’t bad, it’s annoying. With moments of really solid gameplay peeking through maybe pick this one up on sale but otherwise there are better games doing similar things out there. Pick up Unravel 2 instead.

Shinobi Striker could have had some decent material if the combat and camera wasn’t so clunky. The issue is that because of this mixed with the overly dull mission structure and chaotic multiplayer makes for just a bad experience overall. If only there was some redeeming quality to it, I would suggest it to maybe hardcore Naruto fans, but aside from the visuals looking pretty good, that’s all I can say. My time with Shinobi Striker was a boring, frustrating grind that I really don’t think is worth your time. Even for the hardcore Naruto fans, I would say at least wait for a major price drop.

For those who may have wandered away from Destiny 2, the choice on Forsaken may come down to whether or not friends are jumping in. For newcomers, the Destiny 2 Legendary Collection is $60 and includes the base game and all expansions to this point, which is a ton of content for an enjoyable if flawed shooter.

NHL 19 is a solid game and one that packs plenty of ways to enjoy its core mechanics. Not having played a hockey game seriously in almost two decades it feels like a really good place to step in. There is a lot to unpack here, and I had fun with more than one of the modes. It also has a great training mode for those like me who want to dig deeper into the ins and outs of the sport. EA may not tout this game as much as their other sports games, but they should. This is yet another quality pillar in the EA Sports library.

Mega Man 11 is exactly what I wanted from a new Mega Man game in 2018. The robot masters are fun and interesting. The stage designs are absolutely stellar, and the accessibility is incredible. Anyone can play this game and have a good time. There are so many ways to enjoy Mega Man in 2018. Capcom is on a roll lately and this gets me even more excited for the return of DMC and Resident Evil. Keep it going Capcom, now get to work on Mega Man 12.