Yakuza 6: The Song of Life brings a satisfying end to Kazuma Kiryu's story, but it's not quite the send off I expected. Between its convoluted systems and cut content, it didn't feel like the saga ended with a roar, but with a whimper.
Dynasty Warriors 9 felt more like an experiment than a single, cohesive experience. At times it felt like Dynasty Warriors, sometimes an open world RPG, occasionally neither and sometimes both. But if Omega Force learns from this endeavor and buckles down for the next entry, the result could be spectacular.
Monster Hunter: World is a revelation, taking a series that was once reserved for all but the most hardcore of fans and tweaking it enough to make it appeal to a new generation of gamers while still keeping its core perfectly intact.
Though dungeon crawlers usually aren't for everyone, Demon Gaze II manages to cater to all audiences by offering a low access point for newcomers and a fairly high skill cap for veterans.
Though Nights of Azure 2 feels more like a sidegrade than a definitive step-up at times, some of its new and revised features still allow it to feel like a genuinely new experience that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy.
Though Cyberdimension Neptunia: 4 Goddesses Online stands as the strongest spin-off in the series, its shallow combat and uninspired boss fights will likely prevent it from appealing to all but the most hardcore of Neptunia and action RPG enthusiasts.
It might not be a perfect package, but its old age certainly hasn't harmed Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen in the slightest.
Blue Reflection is lacking in a few areas, but it still has enough going for it to offer an overall enjoyable experience that fans of the magical girl sub genre will enjoy.
Despite its altered gameplay and occasional flaws, Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash still offers more than enough fun and fanservice to keep longtime fans happy.
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite may have some flaws with its visuals and roster, but its gameplay is so strong that its not too hard to overlook them.
Mary Skelter: Nightmares is strong enough as a whole to offer the most unique experience Compile Heart has ever created.
Yakuza Kiwami represents the pinnacle of the series, with Sega bringing everything it has learned over the years and refining it into a single neat package. The result is a unique and unforgettable experience that far outstrips what was presented in the original entry.
Sonic Mania doesn't necessarily mark Sonic's return to his glory days, but there is still much to love about this game and it can easily serve as a foundation for the future of the series if the Sonic Team chooses to continue in this direction.
Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age is the shining example of how remasters should be -- improving the game in multiple aspects while keeping the core gameplay intact.