The second outing feels like the balance the game should have had, and it is a lot more fun. For players willing to suffer through it once, it almost makes up for the tedium. The problem arises once again in that there are so many games out there that work on the first try. Maybe the developers will patch out the issues, and if so Ruiner is a great idea with some truly questionable mechanics that make it a chore to play more often than it should.

My time with Superstar Saga has been a joy – filled with hearty laughs and exciting boss encounters. Even though I can’t say whether it’s a remake worth revisiting to those who finished the original back on the GBA, I can say with confidence that those who missed it the first time around are in certainly in for a good time.

Once again Image & Form continue to pour heart, soul and quality into their games. Steamworld Dig 2 is another near perfect entry in the Steamworld universe, and the enhanced art design makes me wish that they go back to both the original Dig and Heist and update them and release them on the Switch. I would be the first in line to buy them again.

Thankfully, the game is adamant about auto-saving constantly, so it helps circumvent some of the frustration. Even with all these issues, I still persisted in playing because beneath the technical problems that hopefully get ironed out over time, this is a gem of a turn based RPG and I recommend, even with its faults, fans of the genre need to give some attention to Battle Chasers. It might come from a small development team, it might be rough around the edges, but it’s could be one of 2017 most unexpected RPG hits that more people should be aware of.

One Piece: Unlimited World Red certainly looks and sounds the part of a solid One Piece game but it drops the booty with its stiff controls and unsatisfying combat engine.

Cuphead is a rare case where the long development cycle didn’t ruin the final product. This game matches its incredible look with stellar game play. In the sea of games releasing this year Cuphead stands tall as one of the best. There is little reason to skip this gem, it even comes with an outstanding value price and plenty of replay. Don’t sleep on Cuphead. Now if you’ll excuse me I need to listen to the soundtrack one more time.

Freedom of choice is a wonderful thing, and this game has it in abundance. In a way, it saddens me to think that I have likely already missed numerous small-yet-endearing side quests; that I’ve passed characters by without ever knowing the stories they have to tell. This game is magical, and magically intense – it is an experience that has been passionately and painstakingly realised by developer Larian. How to sum it all up? I’ll (finally) be succinct and simply say this: Divinity: Original Sin 2 is one of the best RPGs I have ever played.

Tricky Towers is a party game first and foremost, best played with friends. Grab some extra controllers and have hours of fun trying to knock the bricks out of your mates. The ease in which your friends will be able to grasp the mechanics is Tricky Tower’s greatest asset, and it is worth the asking price alone.

In the end, I feel like Blue Reflection had some good things going for it. I didn’t mind the story even if it was a bit melodramatic more times than not, and the combat was in the right place, I just wish it would have offered up more of a challenge. Obviously, this is not a game for everybody, and the game knows its audience and caters to it the best way it can. Still, many fans of this style of game will find it overly simplistic and not difficult at all. While I enjoyed my time with it for the most part, there were still a few times I rolled my eyes at the things on screen. That’s going to happen with me in these games. Still, the target audience for Blue Reflection will enjoy it for the most part, although it may very well be too simple for their tastes.

Caveman Warriors takes on the cartoon style similar to the games it draws inspiration from. Over-the-top characters and animations look good, and as I mentioned the diversity in levels and enemies goes a long way to keep things fresh. While it is likely already forgotten, Caveman Warriors is a solid, if not overly challenging game set to a backdrop rarely used. I loved the idea behind it, even if its execution fell flat sometimes.

The final game in the series is the most refined. It also benefits from being the first game on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, so the fidelity is the best by far. The conclusion to the series continues to refine what makes it appealing. The fighting still feels great, if not a bit shallow. It was fun seeing the evolution of the franchise in one package. It is hard to argue the value here. I have always enjoyed the Ultimate Ninja Storm games even without knowledge of the source material. The fighting is fun and the stories are always over-the-top madness. This package delivers hours of fun and a solid look into the lore of Naruto.

Project Cars 2 is the definition of what a sequel should be, taking everything great from the original game, bringing it back, and introducing new and interesting features. Everything feels finely tuned and the options are unparalleled. This is a dream for racing fans and a treat for anyone who even slightly enjoys the genre. Don’t sleep on this one, there are few racing games that offer this much in one package.

The tutorial here had me extremely impressed and brought the entire package and themes of the game to the forefront. Now if the multiplayer continued that or there was a single player story to keep this momentum going, this would have been an overall good package that takes advantage of its best elements. The driving is solid, the combat is ok, but the theme is excellent and it’s all surrounded by a game that just feels lacking. I love what the developers are going for here, but it feels like a huge squandered opportunity.

Death of the Outsider is a fun, bite sized Dishonored game that opened my eyes to the series once again. I enjoyed the open-endedness of the entire experience, and while I didn’t get a lot of details of the story, it was still enjoyable and fun to see. Dishonored fans will love this one as well, and people that may have been turned off from the first game may find this one much more enjoyable. There’s still some issues with stealth and difficulty, but in the end, it’s a fun experience overall with some great options.

Hidden Dragon Legend is the classic example of a game trying to be bigger than it’s potential budget or development. There is a great idea here marred by too many issues for me to really recommend this to anyone except the hardcore action or indie supporters. There is fun to be had, but it comes with serious caveats.

Marvel vs Capcom Infinite makes a poor first impression with its lackluster visual style and a roster of characters that are missing many fan favorites. Even though it’s impossible to completely look past the issues in the presentation, the combat engine is solid and the addition of the Infinity stones is a boon to the series as a whole. While those who only enjoy playing fighting game for the story mode can safely steer clear of this title, those interested in a deep, flexible and entertaining fighting game will find much to like here.

Pokken Tournament is a game that deserved a second chance. A Pokémon fighting game is still one of the best concepts out there. I wish it was more fleshed out, and perhaps a sequel will do just that, but DX marks yet another solid first-party title to add to the Switch’s already stellar year one of games.

I pretty much dreaded returning to this game for review after the first go, but I still persisted. The theme of wet t-shirts, water guns, and silly antics is something that I could overlook regardless of how much it just made me uncomfortable at times, but the core gameplay mechanics here just didn’t do it for me. Who could I recommend this game to then? Players that are fans of the storyline and banter between the girls, and the overall visual design of the game might be pleased, but anyone looking for anything past the busting babes or wet shirts are bound to be disappointed.

Many aspects of Time Recoil show potential, but the only part that is actualized is its gameplay. The typically confusing time-travel plot impedes enjoyment as does the randomness in levels, which nearly diminishes that stellar gameplay.

With a price tag of $39.99, it is really hard for me to recommend this game in 2017. Although there aren’t that many 1-on-1 shooter/fighters on the market, I do believe that your money would be better spent elsewhere. Maybe wait for a price drop before picking this up, if you really think that this will interest you.

As a game, The Last Day of June is repetitive, slow going, and at times absolutely depressing. Getting stuck trying to solve a puzzle can make that process feel even slower. The repeating story and nature of the themes at play lead to having to experience a lot of the same scenes again and again with seemingly no way to skip them. A blemish on an otherwise solid story telling experience. As a game, there isn’t all that much to it and can easily be played by many, but as a story telling emotional experience, it doesn’t get much better that this. I began the game thinking this was something completely different than my expectation lead me to believe. Shortly after the intro moments, when I realized that The Last Day of June wasn’t a title about the end of summer but the last day of a person’s life, the reality set in that this was going to be an emotional rollercoaster, and it surely is.

There’s a lot to enjoy here both solo and as a co-op experience. Any fan of Destiny 1 should take a look at this game, and anyone that has had interest in it but hasn’t pulled the trigger on it just yet should rest easy knowing that while it has a few issues here and there, Destiny 2 is a great game that champions over the first game in so many ways. I highly suggest it to both FPS and RPG fans alike.

Visually Blacksea Odyssey has a look all its own. Sharped edges mixed with retro effects actually work. It doesn’t show well in screenshots, but the game feels good in motion. There are issues with some enemies as they are large and the screen doesn’t scale properly, but for the most part the game looks good. Blacksea Odyssey feels unique in a sea of games in the same vein. There is enough here to keep players interested while not frustrating too much with its roguelike elements.

This is just the first episode in a 3 part arc and it left me wanting more. While there is no time element here to mess with, the backtalk is interesting enough. Though story wise, there might be something going on, more than meets the eye if the end moments are any indication. Deck Nine has taken the franchise and totally captured what fans of the first game loved about it. The dialog, story, and drama that comes with it all. While there were a few moments of framerate stutter on the Xbox One, it was very few and far between. Otherwise, this was a solid first episode and if the quality keeps up, the entire prequel will be a nice companion pieces to the original game. Hopefully not taken anything away from it, but only adding more.

It’s difficult to say if Danganronpa V3 met my nearly unrealistic expectations, as even though much of the gameplay and story beats felt familiar, the true vision of V3 and how it ends has left me feeling conflicted in a way I have yet to fully digest. It’s an unforgettable journey full of love and betrayal- one that steps past the point of no return and bravely takes another leap forward to a world without hope or despair.

Baja: Edge of Control is anything but special, but at $29.99 it is hard to fault it too much. I had fun. I love off-road racing games and this one just scratched that itch. The track diversity is nice, I just wish it didn’t turn into such a grind as the game went on.

Aside from a few very rare moments of fun, that’s ultimately the problem with Drive Girls. It has a unique premise but nothing else stands out, and what is left is a game that is neither very fun, very memorable, nor even interesting. It’s a game that I could only recommend to the utmost hardcore fans of niche games, and that’s knowing all the caveats. It’s just a title I couldn’t get into, I couldn’t enjoy, and ultimately felt like barely any effort was put into to make it engaging or stand out. The premise alone sounds so interesting, so its makes the final results hurt even more. This is one flat tire.

Despite the flaws with its pacing, Metroid: Samus Returns feels like true classic reborn- with all the polish expected of a modern release and stands proudly among the other fantastic 2D entries to the series.