Retreading familiar territory with an uninspired main character, this return to Rapture is only saved by its DLC.

The story feels like a bunch of multiplayer gameplay loops strung together. Protect the Little Sister from waves of slicers, rinse, repeat. The whole game comes across rushed with boring level designs and one note side characters. But a surprisingly stellar DLC stops this from falling into the trench of mediocrity.

Fast paced dogfights and a unique story offer a fun experience even without the VR!

Though it wouldn't hurt. This is a game that is absolutely enjoyable on its own. A cast of characters with personality. Game modes that bring something different to the table. And not a lightsaber in sight!

A side-story with a little narrative push and a Big Boss character development.

The context it gives may not seem major on the surface, but it feels vital and very much appreciated. With new game mechanics introduced and a ton of new faces, this entry brings a strategic element to the series that, if not yet fully realized, offers a decent proof of concept.

A good argument can be made for this being the best Resident Evil game ever made. It takes everything you like about the original and improves it while offering just enough new material when needed. In an age of remakes, this stands out 20 years ahead of its time.

Is it worth it for the episode? No.

A decent script and fun easter eggs are bogged down by bad controls that actively work against your enjoyment of the game. Repetitive, unimaginative, and bored with itself, this feels like someone tossed it to the cheapest developers available just to write it off for taxes.

Quality of life improvements and tight controls pave the way for one of the most creative Mario games to date but it's the attention paid to previous entries that prove the most rewarding. You won't be able to shake the feeling you're playing not just the best the Nintendo Switch has to offer, but possibly the greatest Mario game ever made! Like a celebration of all that came before while pushing the franchise ever forward.

A shoot'em up that would be remembered as one of the greats if it wasn't so watered down for the home release.

Unfortunately, that flicker of what makes the game special ends up stampeding off a cliff. Fun stages and powerups are hit with the limitations of consoles as a unique entry in the genre is reduced to a bare minimum Contra clone.

One of the best kept secrets of the Super Nintendo!

Unicycles. 2D racing. Ugly menus. It’s not something that screams hidden gem right away. But the more you play, the more the influences it had on future games like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater or SSX Tricky start to seep in. It may not be polished. It may not be pretty. But its solid gameplay and skill ceiling will surprise you.

Not all fighting games are made equal.

It’s not really a fighting game, is it? Sure. If you have someone to play against, you might unlock the actual game hidden underneath. The AI in single player towers are simply input mirrors. They read and counter your moves so fast, you’re forced to use cheap exploits to progress inch by inch until you reach a climax that feels as hollow as it does pointless. Do that to me in the arcade. Not in my home.

Were games back then harder than they are now? Yes!

It sports a simple control scheme but proves less is more. Strategizing enemy positions, controlling traffic with your special attack, and bosses that make a lasting impression. Difficulty used to be a part of our games and not just an optional afterthought.

The gameplay is as fun as the first with an emphasis on stealth this time around. It was smart of them to switch the usual origin story we already know to Miles while making sure to give him enough of a distinction to stand apart. It would be fair to say the only thing holding this back from being on the same level as its predecessor is the length. Had this given you more side missions and story, you could hold a better direct comparison.

The true Dark Souls of Star Wars games!

There's so many wonderful ideas put into this that it's a shame you probably never got a chance to see it. If the developers threw a little less at you, the frames might have improved and you'd remember this as one of the best the Super Nintendo has to offer.

It looks better. It plays better. But it’s not better. How does that work? Kojima wasn’t heavily involved in the development. This lead to cutscenes dialed up to insane levels of camp, generic techno replacing iconic music, and tonal changes that bring it closer to The Matrix sequels. On paper, this should be the remake we all wanted. An entry point the fans could direct newcomers to for years to come. As it stands, you’d be better off taking the plunge into the harder sell of the original.

This isn't a platformer for the faint of heart. It's hard! I think that's important to mention upfront because there's a lot here that's done right. The music, animation, level design, it all feels reminiscent of the SNES games with some nice little additions. Not enough to reinvent the franchise but do we really want that? Sometimes it's nice to just jump on things!

Don't let the name fool you! This is one of the most challenging platformers of its day that would be remembered more fondly now for the creative level design and the ambitious attempt to add 3D metroidvania-like exploring if it weren't for the preconception of the character.