This Week in Reviews: June 3, 2016

If you can get beyond some of the predictable storytelling and the painfully difficult boss fights, you'll discover a fun little action/adventure game. While flawed, there's a lot to like about the way Edge Entertainment creates several different worlds. Anima: Gate of Memories may not be a game you remember a year from now, but it's fun while it lasts.

Gamers who don't connect with the story may find the experience too repetitive and overlong, but those who love 2D brawlers and these colorful characters will find a lot to love in Odin Sphere Leifthrasir. No matter if it's on the PlayStation 4, PS Vita or PS3, this is an exceptional re-release with stunning graphics, an involving story and a great cast of heroes.

Despite good intentions, Zenodyne R fails to capture the shoot-em-up magic of the 1990s. The gameplay and level designs are fine (if not a bit basic), but the whole thing is sunk by an onerous unlock system that forces players to grind the same few levels for hours on end. It's a shame, because without this mechanic, Zenodyne R would have been an easy shooter to recommend.