Jeffrey L. Wilson's Reviews
Retro to a fault, the throwback Double Dragon 4 brings the best and worst of the NES era to contemporary PC gamers.
Contra Anniversary Collection is a solid retro video game bundle for PC that features some of the best run-and-gun titles of the 8- and 16-bit eras, but it lacks many features you'd expect in a contemporary compilation.
Saber Interactive's NBA Jam-a-like delivers monster dunks and a novel leveling system that enables this high-flying sports game to leap over at least some of its flaws.
Guardians of the Galaxy is packed with Star-Lord and crew's humor and classic rock tunes, but this stiff point-and-click adventure game won't quite leave you hooked on a feeling.
Fresh out of a fun-filled beta period, Disc Jam brings exciting disc-tossing arcade sports action to the PC. Its core game is entertaining, but it lacks the polish found in other multiplayer sports titles.
Super Bomberman isn't the prettiest game in the long-running series, but its core multiplayer mayhem is as terrific as ever. [OpenCritic note: Jeffrey Wilson separately reviewed the PC (2.5 stars) and Switch (3.5 stars) versions. Their scores have been averaged.]
Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut, the Xbox One's first self-published indie title, expands upon the original PC game's very solid mech-shooter base, but a repetitive mission structure and some slowdowns dull the action a bit.
Destiny is a flashy and beautiful but somewhat generic online space shooter.
Visually, The Legend of Korra looks very much like the TV show on which it is based, but the paper-thin story and repetitive fights make for a lackluster game.
RetroMania Wrestling continues the action-filled fun established by classic, arcade wrestling titles, but features additional mechanics to please contemporary audiences. It isn't the deepest wrestling game, but that's part of its breezy, accessible charm.
Kunio and his crew of troublemakers unleash adolescent violence in this new multi-player brawler. Featuring numerous combatants, weapons, and special moves, River City Melee Mach!! may scratch the battle royale itch for people who don't fancy Fortnite or PUBG.
River City Girls' fisticuffs, stellar presentation, and RPG-elements make it an exciting and fun entry in the long running River City/Kunio-kun series, but a few missteps prevent it from achieving PC gaming greatness.
Team Ninja adds the new offensive- and defensive-minded Break Gauge to its trademark Triangle System. The result is a Dead or Alive title that retains its fan service and boasts additional strategies, but a few issues keep this fighting game from ranking among the genre's best titles.
Fans of Capcom's classic, side-scrolling brawling games will enjoy these seven action-packed beat 'em ups. Unfortunately, the bundle lacks some high-profile releases, as well as the in-depth design docs found in most retro compilations.
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner Mars gives the PS2 cult classic mech game updated touches like 4K resolution and VR support. If you played the original game, this release is unlikely to change your opinion.
A retro racing throwback, Horizon Chase Turbo replicates the speed and fun of classic 1990s-style racers.
A retro revival given a modern coat of paint, Mutant Football League sticks to its 16-bit roots and showcases the funnier, gorier, side of American football.
Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite pits comic book characters vs. video game characters in a battle for magic space rocks. The highly satisfying action is paired with an uneventful roster and mediocre presentation, but that shouldn't stop you from exploring this fun fighting game.
Sonic Mania distills Sonic down to its basic elements, resulting in a wonderfully lean Hedgehog throwback. Unfortunately, DRM issues prevent Sonic Mania from blazing a truly excellent trail.
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 rumbles onto PC years after its original, last-generation console release. Despite irritating infinite combos and a barren online lobby, it was worth the wait, thanks to fun fighting, included console DLC, and a wallet-friendly price.