The main character in Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack, a spiky green blob with one perpetually grumpy eye, is one of my favorite new characters in a video game. And he never utters a word. I don’t even know if he’s a he. He seems like one. Maybe the spiky patina around him could be beard stubble. I couldn’t see a female blob looking that disheveled. In any case, Blob is a, um, blob of action. Of many actions! He can absorb anything, he can grow, he can ground pound like Super Mario and even telepathically control platforms to launch himself or other things in the air and to solve simple physics puzzles. He’s multi-talented, a big grump and he’s striking out against a world that wronged him. He’s a hero. The hero the PlayStation Vita deserves. Or, uh, the villain I guess, since he eats … everything. Really.

It’s easy to knock Ubisoft’s initial PS Vita launch batch as one that’s heavily on ports, but that doesn’t mean that the games are not worth a purchase. Case in point, The Michael Jackson Experience HD, a mobile version of the 2010 rhythm game. The slick music title features a handful of tracks from Gary Indiana’s Favorite Son’s solo catalog and includes such as Thriller, Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough, and Remember the Time, as well as lesser known gems such as Blood on the Dance Floor. Although I’ve ranted about the music game genre’s lack of creativity, The Michael Jackson Experience HD easily devoured several hours of my existence courtesy of a one-two combo of an outstanding soundtrack from one of the world’s greatest artists and numerous hidden unlockables that kept me coming back for just one more session.

Plants vs. Zombies has graced every platform imaginable since its TK PC debut; shockingly, it’s still as good and refreshing now as it was then. If you’re not familiar with Plants vs. Zombies and you own a PS Vita, it’s time to become acquainted. Like the title states, the game revolves around players defending their home from brain-craving zombies, using nothing other than plants they place on the field. The PS Vita version keeps the engaging gameplay found in previous versions, but adds sharper visuals and a different control scheme. The 2D game basically remains the same: it’s a tower defense game that’s easy to learn, but takes a bit of time and thinking to master.

Realm of the Mad God sounds like a 3AM Syfy channel offering, but in reality it’s a free-to-play PC game with unique gameplay mechanics. Described by co-developers Wild Shadow Studios and Spry Fox as the “first ever cooperative MMO bullet hell shooter,” one would initially think that it’s a massively multiplayer online version of Jamestown. Instead, it’s 8-bit styled run-and-gun dungeon-crawler with rogue-like trappings that supports a whopping 85 adventurers per area. The shooting action is fast and frantic if not a hair empty as you seek to mow down waves of enemies and simply survive.

I consider myself somewhat of a film buff. As such, it pains me more than a little to admit that my first Jon Woo experience wasn’t The Killer or Hard Boiled, but Face Off, the Cage/Travolta vehicle. I’ve since gone back and delved into Woo’s signature brand of stylish violence–long shots, slow motion sequences, fluttering birds–but Face Off remains firmly planted in mind as my introduction to poetic gunplay. Shank 2 is my new Face Off.

HD, dual soundtracks, Miles “Tails” Prower… Available on Steam, PSN, XBLA and many other platforms, the downloadable version of Sonic CD is the definitive version of the game. It’s the new shining example of how to resurrect an old game for new audiences. Pick up, errrr, download this game right now. It’s a must-have for hedgehog fans.

It’s been a long time–a seemingly eternity, really–since my mind had reason to focus on America’s earliest days. Sure, I love the works of Thomas Paine, but those philosphical and political pieces, don’t dig into the minutae of colonial and pre-colonial times. Likewise, Final Form Games’ Jamestown also doesn’t detail John Smith’s and Sir Walter Raleigh’s adventures in a settlement that would evolve into Virginia –it details John Smith’s and Sir Walter Raleigh’s Martian adventures to hunt down a crazed Spanish conquistador in a delightful 2D shmup.

It is understandable that this is a RTS for casual players, but I believe it’s catered toward the wrong market. Casual players aren’t going to pick up an RTS; heck casual gamers might not even know the meaning of the term “RTS.” If the difficulty would have been bumped up to a consistent level this would be a sure-fire winner. Instead we’re left with a game that has immense potential, but sadly falls short. I commend its impressive art style, amazing controls, and a unique take on what many consider an overwhelming genre. But for those looking for a deep game with a learning curve Eufloria isn’t for you, it’s for the person that is looking for a distraction from all the loud explosions, stressful situations and chaos found in other games.

The King of Fighters ’96 is stuck in the past with its old look and laggy online capabilities. SNK has always taken care of its fans and of its franchises but thankfully this is a re-release instead of the latest installment. If you aren’t a diehard KOF fan then this may be one to stay away from.

At the end, I was satisfied with this snappy, sharp game. It’s a brief one, with jokey end credits and a song full of film quotes and references that suggests the developers had a good time making the game. I had a good time playing it. I would’ve had a great one had they went that extra mile and addressed all those points I touched on to make it even better. Fans of Aliens and action games should check it out.