New this week: Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, EA Sports UFC 3, and more

The week’s best games are an interesting bunch. Three of them are fighting games, and two are arcade-style shooters that hark back to the classic era of gaming. Here they are in no particular order:

Dissidia Final Fantasy NT

In “Dissidia Final Fantasy NT,” 28 beloved characters – culled from all numbered “Final Fantasy” titles to date – gather for a series of over-the-top, gravity-defying showdowns the franchise has become synonymous with.

While it presents itself as a fighting game, “Dissidia Final Fantasy NT” plays more like an action-RPG than a “Street Fighter” or a “Tekken.” Two teams of three duke it out on a large battlefield, where they’ll jump, dash, fly, and perform an assortment of attacks that’ll fill your screen with so many particle effects you’ll swear you’re watching a New Year’s fireworks extravaganza. Of course, you can also call forth gargantuan summons, each of which will serve as an overpowered additional party member for a short duration.

The fighters are categorized into four classes, each defined by a core strength such as agility or attack range. Characters grow with experience, and you’ll unlock new abilities with play. You’ll be granted plenty of opportunities to learn the ins and outs of each fighter as you power through the brief yet entertaining story mode and the robust multiplayer. While “Dissidia Final Fantasy NT” suffers from a lack of modes, the spectacular action should please most “Final Fantasy” or fighting game fan.

Platform: PlayStation 4

EA Sports UFC 3

If you’ve ever wanted to punch Conor McGregor in the face, this is your game.

“EA Sports UFC 3” is a fighting game injected with a heavy dose of mixed martial arts realism. No cartoony hadokens or spinning bird kicks here, just believable physics; brutal, weighty attacks; complex maneuvers; and a whole lot of swollen, bloody faces.

The G.O.A.T career mode puts an emphasis on player choice, as what you opt to do between fights – such as train in any of a variety of available martial arts, study your opponent, promote your next bout, etc. – will have a massive impact on your road to glory. The game also comes with more than 230 real-life fighters, including the legendary Bruce Lee. How awesome is that?

Souring the experience a bit are the microtransactions. These let you purchase rare upgrades that enhance core techniques, allowing you to have certain advantages over rivals. Thankfully, these boosters are only in effect in the Ultimate Team mode – a mode that allows you to collect and customize fighters then take on challengers offline or online.

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Sky Force Reloaded

Arguably the best shoot ‘em up on mobile devices, “Sky Force Reloaded” is now available on the Nintendo Switch.

“Sky Force Reloaded” plays like a classic vertically scrolling arcade shooter, but benefits from fantastic modern graphics and design. You pilot a futuristic jet outfitted with weapons that can be upgraded into even more terrifying instruments of destruction.

You’ll need all those blasters, lasers, missiles, and nukes; the enemy is legion, with wave after wave of aircraft, tanks, warships, and more coming at you from every direction. Not to mention those ginormous bosses pack quite a punch! A challenging and addictive title that’ll steal those hours away until you’re bleary-eyed from lack of sleep.

Platform: Nintendo Switch

Tekken (Mobile)

“Tekken” for mobile devices may oversimplify the fighting mechanics, but it translates an appreciable degree of the series’ intoxicating energy into a satisfying handheld experience.

You move by swiping left or right, and attack by tapping or holding down the right side of the screen. In addition to fast and strong attacks, a card system allows you to string together flashy, bone-crunching moves for devastating damage. Over a dozen returning and four brand new characters are yours to unlock, collect, and upgrade. You can even customize their appearance and movesets. That’s more character management than you’d expect from a fighting game, but it’s what gives “Tekken” mobile its unique flavor.

Platform: iOS, Android

Twisty Board 2

Those aliens are at it again, conquering the world and enslaving the entire human race. What’s a freedom fighter to do? The answer is simple: zoom around on your hoverboard and blast all enemies within range so they explode in fountains of colorful polygons.

“Twisty Board 2” is a fast-paced arcade shooter boasting gorgeous retro 3D visuals. It deposits you in an open arena crowded with monsters, turrets, and all sorts of other things designed to squash you. As if that wasn’t challenging enough, there are caged hostages you have to free. Thankfully, the battlegrounds are littered with face-melting weapons and other powers-ups you can use to make saving the world a tad more manageable.

Platform: iOS, Android

— LA, GMA News