Rayman Origins

With its well thought-out level designs, lengthy adventure and mouth-watering graphics, there's honestly very little to complain about. The lack of multiplayer is a bit of a downer, but the addition of Ghost Mode does a good job of giving players something competitive to sink their teeth into. As amazing as Rayman Origins was on the home consoles, it's every bit as impressive on Vita.

The notion that imaginative visuals and matinee-priced entry fees need be mutually exclusive is one Rayman Origins continues to dispel as hour after hour of gaming joy continue to ramp up in both sheer scope and in grand gratification. Rayman Origins takes on a genre mastery of ground work laid down decades ago and elevates it to astronomical new standards. It's a spectacular living painting that's as much fun to play as it is to look at, and it's a total triumph.

Rayman Origins reminds me why 2D-platform games used to be so popular, and why they are still among my favorite games of all time. It’s quite refreshing to see a modern take on the genre, and to see how well it translates on Sony’s new handheld device.