Far Cry 3 is perhaps one of the most improved sequels of last generation. While Far Cry 2 wasn’t a bad game, there were several key issues that held the game back from being a true classic. Far Cry 3 manages to fix most of these issues, and while it introduces some new issues of its own, they are hardly anything deal breaking. Playing as Jason Brody, you and your friends make your way to a tropical paradise, only to find out that it’s a haven for a ring of pirates and mercenaries who engage in, among other things, human trafficking. Captured by a madman named Vaas, Jason must find his friends and escape the island. After barely making it out of Vaas’s camp alive, Jason meets the Rykat, a tribe of island natives who can help him destroy Vaas and his men.
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Note: This game is also available on Xbox 360, but for $29.99 MSRP

Many RPGS like to make the claim that your actions will have consequences, yet few of those games live up to that promise. The Witcher, developed by CD Projekt (who runs game distribution shop GOG.com), is one of the few games that actually deliver. It’s black and grey morality, deep storyline, fluid combat system, and yes, even sexual imagery helped make it a hit among gamers worldwide. The game even gained attention from President Barack Obama when he was handed a copy by the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during a 2014 visit to the country, declaring the game an example of the work ethic of the Polish people. The Witcher 2 improves on every facet of its predecessor, and just like before, CD Projekt hits every note when it comes to The Witcher’s brand of fantasy gaming.
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You can’t help but think that this game was bought to console and PC as a way of making up for the debacle that was Resident Evil 6. WHen this game hit the Nintendo 3DS, not only was it one of the handheld’s biggest titles, but it also bought back the good old days of Resident Evil 4 and 5. While it’s not exactly the second coming of the franchise, it will help ease some of the wounds that were left by more recent titles in the series.
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Violent Storm, a spiritual successor to Konami’s Crime Fighters and Vendetta, was one of the many beat-em-ups that littered the arcades during the mid-90s. Along with Metamorphic Force, it was one of the last beat-em-ups that was produced by Konami. Playing as one of three heroes, you set out to rescue a girl named Sheena from a group of enemies known as the Geld Gang in a post apocalyptic (of course you wouldn’t know it from the parks, trains, and stores that are fully functional and pristine looking) world. Nothing about it stood out among other titles of its day, but there was nothing terrible about it either. It was pretty much a beat em up that had everything that made the genre great: large character sprites, colorful enemies, 2-player action, and cool moves. It’s a shame it never received a console release either. If you come across the cabinet, you’d do well to pop in a quarter or two.

Hotline Miami 2 is the sequel to 2012’s surprise hit. The game follows the stories of several different factions in the wake of Jacket’s 1-man rampage in the original. The game’s storyline is Tarantino-esque, and you’ll often jump around between the past and present as you learn about the alternate history of Miami, and more about the mask-killings. The new playable characters include a group of fans of Jacket who commit random murders, a rogue cop, and a movie actor filming a movie about the killings. Gameplay is pretty much the same as the original, although that isn’t a bad thing. You’ll have to make your way through each stage, killing everything and everyone in sight. Like the original, you’ll find a variety of weapons by which to utilize to inflict pain. The game features more synth-heavy 80s inspired music, and the soundtrack is on sale via Steam. Hotline Miami 2 contains more of what gamers liked about the original: challenging gameplay and gory action with an old-school look.

Metroid II is seen as the dark horse of the franchise. In fact, it was slightly panned by critics when it was originally released. However, while it wasn’t as received as favorably as its predecessor at the time, it would go on to become one of the biggest games on the original Game Boy, and the events of the game would have major repercussions for every other Metroid game that followed outside the Prime trilogy. Taking control of series hero Samus Aran, players travel to SR388, the Metroid homeworld to permanently wipe out the species (of course we all know how that ended). There is even a counter to display the number of Metroids remaining on the planet to drive home the fact that Samus is basically attempting galactic genocide. In a bit of a departure from the series norm, Samus starts the game with both the missiles and the morph ball. In true Metroid fashion, players will find other suit upgrades. Despite the Game Boy’s limited color palette, the game’s graphics are surprisingly detailed. You’ll also encounter bizarre new enemies, and you’ll see the evolution cycle of the titular creatures. Fans of the series will no doubt want to play this game. If you’re a member of Club Nintendo, you can get this game on the 3DS virtual console for only 150 coins until June 30th.

While it doesn’t have half as many entries as Mario, Pokemon, or Legend of Zelda, Metroid is one of Nintendo’s most prolific franchises, at least in North America. Along with introducing one of gaming’s strongest female characters, it helped pioneer a new style of gameplay that developers frequently revisit in everything from open world titles to indie retro throwbacks. Even today, Super Metroid is regarded as one of the greatest video games of all time and it’s Virtual Console appearance is a top seller. However, the franchise’s success isn’t as widespread in Japan, Nintendo’s home base. This probably explains why we haven’t received a new title in the series since 2010’s lukewarmly received “The Other M”. It also possibly explains why Nintendo decided to make the series then-next gen debut (it was on GameCube, and it was the first game in the series since Super Metroid 8 years prior) as a FPS. While many players were unsure of the new direction, Metroid Prime, developed by Retro Studios, managed to hit it out of the park. Two sequels followed, both managing to be good in their own right. Despite the first person gameplay, Metroid Prime retains everything that fans loved about the Metroid series. It’s still exploration heavy, and there were loads of gadgets to collect. Metroid Prime Trilogy was previously a Wii-only disc title. It received a limited print run, and copies of the disc would be sold for as much as $50 used. Thankfully, Nintendo announced plans to include Wii games on Wii U’s virtual Console, Metroid Prime Trilogy being one of them. It’s only $20 now, so if you have yet to expereince these games, now is the time. Since this is the Wii version, you’ll need a Wiimote and nunchuck for it.

Many indie games that have been released within the past few years channel the spirit of 8 and 16-bit classics via retro-styled gameplay, simplistic graphics, or both. Shovel Knight does more than simply pay homage. Developer Yacht games developed it’s 2014 debut as if were a Nintendo title, limited graphics palette, chiptune soundtrack, limited button scheme, and all. The game was inspired by classic titles such as Mega Man, Castlevania, and Zelda II among others. Playing as Shovel Knight, you explore a fantasy landscape as you make your way to a mysterious evil tower to rescue your one-time partner, Shield Knight. Shovel Knight’s shovel is used to attack enemies, break down barriers, and dig up treasures. You’ll run into several bosses, and between levels you can visit a town to purchase new abilities, upgrade your character, and interact with townsfolk. Had this game been released on the original NES, it would have been fondly remembered as one of the system’s top games alongside games like Contra, Punch Out, and Super Mario Brothers. As it is, this game is one of 2014’s best titles. Fans of classic gaming will definitely want to check it out, as it will make them reminiscent of the games of their youth. Newer gamers will want to check it out as well to see why exactly it is we still love those classic NES titles.