I don’t even know which direction to start ripping NeverDead to pieces from first. From the uneven repetitive combat to the unbearably frustrating “health” system, this action game is an absolute disaster.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 had a lot to make up for, being the follow-up to one of the most divisive games in the beloved RPG series. For a franchise that was built on every iteration being wildly different from the last, Final Fantasy XIII perhaps changed a little bit too much in removing many of the core elements that the series—and JRPGs in general—are known for. While that game took over 5 years to develop and was met with confusion and in some cases rage, Final Fantasy XIII-2 is a game that went from announcement to release in about a year. Is it possible that a game so rushed could hope to right the perceived wrongs of its predecessor? The short answer is “yes”, but there’s a pretty big “but…” to go along with it.

Command and Conquer is a real-time strategy game released for the PC in 1995, and ported to the Nintendo 64 several years later. It brings with it updated graphics and a few bonus missions, but the core gameplay remains the same. With clunky controls and straightforward missions, the game doesn't offer anything unique, but the foundation is still solid.

Not many games have bored me like Puddle has. This game is a victim of itself, providing a very simple and laid back gameplay mechanic that is so relaxed that it may put gamers to sleep. If it’s not putting you to sleep, it’s frustrating you with gameplay situations that you would rather not be in. While the game is somewhat acceptable in short bursts, playing for any time longer than ten minutes will either enrage you or tire you. Simply put, you probably wouldn’t care enough to play the game. 

It is a total shame when not enough people are playing a game like Quarrel, a unique mashup of Scrabble and the strategy genre. I have some small hope that word of mouth and internet buzz will make more and more people shell out the five smackers to try it out, and I need your help.  If you just give the game a chance, you’ll find that it’s enjoyable from the outset and becomes addictive as you dig in for some intense wars with words.

I'll be honest; Double Fine Happy Action Theater had me laughing out loud on a fairly frequent basis. As I made my way through the game's default Director Mode, I experienced 18 mini-game toys that were all completely unique in their construction. Because you can't win or lose and the game gives you no directions on how to play, each mini-game is all about experimentation and just having fun. With such a low barrier of entry and gameplay that accommodates up to six simultaneous players, it's almost impossible not to have a blast with Happy Action Theater.

SoulCalibur has long held a special place in the hearts of fighting game fans.  The combination of weapon based combat combined with exaggerated, yet memorable characters was a welcome change of pace from the Tekkens and Virtua Fighters of the day.  While never accused of being the deepest of fighting games, its trademark accessibility assured that both the core and casual fighting fans could enjoy their time in the ring.

Physics simulations have always made for fun playgrounds; whether you're just tossing objects into stacks of blocks or using the elasticity effect to rocket an object across the screen, it's mindless destructive fun. Logic would dictate that tossing in a few game objectives would make for an instantly enjoyable game, but with Newton vs. The Horde the resulting product is the exact opposite.

Going into Stonekeep, I was fully aware it was a budget priced WiiWare release, but still, I was excited. It’s not very often you see a company willing to revive an extremely old and niche series, much less one that’s a first person RPG dungeon crawler. While a big deal back on the PC two decades ago, these days you just don’t see many of these types of RPGs. But alas, Stonekeep quickly and effectively dashed my excitement after just a few short minutes.

Treasures of the Sun DLC integrates seamlessly with the main quest of Dungeon Siege III. If you’re starting a new game, the quest becomes available after opening up the Causeway for the first time. If you already completed the game, you’ll notice an auto save that takes you back just before setting forth on the final leg of the game. From this file, you can jump into the new content. People you talk to are aware of Jeyne Cassynder and her plans for domination, and the entire section feels like it belongs in Dungeon Siege III in both narrative and gameplay.

Remember couch co-op? There was something special about having a buddy over, ordering a pizza, and flopping on the couch to marathon through a great game. That intimate kind of cooperative game play has kind of fallen by the wayside in recent years, thanks to the proliferation of stable online matchmaking. As remarkable an achievement as that is, nothing will replace the fun and energy of having a partner sitting right next to you as you triumph over a challenging game. The folks over at Obsidian haven’t forgotten about couch co-op; it’s the focal point for Dungeon Siege III, a game that is at its best when shared.

Video games are art. Many people, including myself, stand by this philosophy and when asked for an example, many of us will point to recently made indie titles like Flower, Braid, and Bastion. All of these titles are part of a renaissance of old school design that are making a comeback on the downloadable front. These highly stylized yet minimalistic games are supposed to represent video games in their purest form. At first glance, ScaryGirl looks like another great title in this tradition, but instead you get something more akin to Tim Burton presents Earthworm Jim watching Invader Zim.

Faux retro games are all the rage these days. Capturing the look, sounds, and feeling of the gaming days of yore has proved to be a successful formula for most of the companies that have tried it. Renegade Kid has given the subgenre a shot with their latest title, Mutant Mudds, to great success. Instead of modeling itself after the most popular NES games, it creates its own identity that merges ideas from all past generations and systems – even the Virtual Boy. This mash up of ideas comes together in a spectacular way, making it one of the best titles available today on the 3DS.

I love Sonic the Hedgehog. That is probably the understatement of the year, as I’ve made my love of the blue hedgehog well known and I know all of the Sonic games front to back. Well, most of them anyway. I didn’t own a Sega CD back in the day so one of the exceptions is Sonic CD. Since its initial release in 1993, diehard fans have sworn by the game’s quality, going so far as to call it the greatest Sonic game ever. Two ports have been released on the PC and as part of the Sonic Gems Collection on the GameCube, but this latest port is the most attractive release of the title. Does it still hold up 18 years later?

Janitors with an affinity for aerial acrobatics – say no more, I’m in. Dustforce is a peculiar concoction, simultaneously delivering serenity and insanity. It’s like a Siren luring in unsuspecting bystanders with its unprecedented beauty only to reveal an unnerving ferocity.  Harboring difficulty on par with Super Meat Boy and N, Dustforce differentiates itself with its soothing melodic ambiance. While this game tests your limits and perhaps even your sanity – it is oddly enjoyable.

Zack Zero is the most aptly titled game I have played in recent memory.  You play as the titular hero, Zack, who is a real zero.  That may sound harsh, but ‘zero’ is quite fitting and describes much more than the game’s forgettable hero.  The word is also applicable to the amount of new ideas this game has, the effectiveness of the controls and is precisely the amount of fun I had while playing.

After the abduction of the Statue of Liberty and Big Ben, as well as the subsequent arrests of two V.I.L.E. criminals, you'd think the V.I.L.E. crew would lay low for a while. Instead, they've gotten more ambitious than ever, stealing the St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow as well as the pyramids straight out of Egypt. With the most linear quest yet, The Case of the Crumbling Cathedral is the shortest of the three episodes currently available on the Wii Shop Channel. While it's home to the best puzzles yet, it's over so quickly that it's hard to pay it any respect at all.

The Big Ben Burglary is the second case in the ongoing episodic production of Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math. As such, it features the same Professor Layton inspired gameplay from the The Lady Liberty Larceny, with the exception that the puzzles are more rooted in mathematics than general puzzle solving. This makes for a quest that's a bit duller than the first, in addition to being even briefer.

Funny enough, I never realized that Carmen Sandiego began as a computer game series, only later hitting TV screens with Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?. As such, Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Lady Liberty Larceny is more a return to form than a modern adaptation of a childhood classic. Thankfully, the developers have applied some modern game design to the over 20 year old franchise, taking cues from the Professor Layton series. While on the short side, this adventure in math will provide some reasonably challenging math-based puzzles for the proper age group as well as a cursory glance at some world geography.

Finally joining the WiiWare ranks, Paper Wars: Cannon Fodder has earned something of a reputation thanks to its unique marketing spin. Sarcastically referred to by its developers as “the worst game ever,” Paper Wars doesn't quite fit the bill. Don't mistake that to mean that Paper Wars is actually good – it's not. Like many of WiiWare's recent offerings, Paper Wars: Cannon Fodder would be better served as a free Flash game in your browser, made specifically for wasting time at work.

You might have seen other pinball offerings from Zen; they are probably the most prominent creator of pinball video games out there right now on the iOS, Android, PSN, and XBOX Live Arcade platforms.  The four tables in Zen Pinball 3D all appear elsewhere, which shouldn’t really be an issue for most pinball fans, since mastering tables takes practice and repetition.  Zen’s latest package in the Nintendo 3DS eShop, Zen Pinball 3D, will satisfy those residual pinball yearnings.

Choplifter HD is nothing if not true to its name; the game is essentially a dolled up version of 1982’s Choplifter, offering few innovations besides the modest graphical paint job. It’s a return to the 80’s – in the same sense of a Corey Feldman movie marathon – it’s shallow, devoid of humor, and awkward. Hardcore fans of the series might be pleased to see such a devout remake, but newcomers will be less than satisfied with the outdated mechanics.

MotoHeroz is a game that anyone can easily get excited for. Developed by RedLynx (the team behind Trials HD), MotoHeroz swaps the darker tones for a brightly colored and lighthearted style that's brimming with personality. Releasing on the nearly defunct WiiWare service, it has very little competition, which makes it all the more notable. Though notable, MotoHeroz only manages to hit a single note, which grows tiresome very quickly if you're not enamored by its brand of physics.

Until Lucasarts does something with their cult classic Zombies Ate My Neighbors, this is the true spiritual successor to the classic SNES/Genesis multiplayer zombie killing simulator. From the overhead perspective to the cartoony visuals and wacky weapons, this game brought warm, fuzzy memories to someone that spent hours with Zombies Ate My Neighbors. With weapon crafting, RPG stat building, and four player co-op, this is the game I would have wanted had the series continued past Ghoul Patrol.

I would call myself a gaming enthusiast – someone who can appreciate just about any type of game for its unique merits. As such, I rarely see any game as a complete and total waste; Zombii Attack is one of those rare exceptions. Surely, it'd be better off buried somewhere out in the desert next to the Atari version of E.T..