AnubisRM

“Through battle, they will know the fullness of life.” Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a lot of things together in one. At times, it is a retrospective on the franchise up to then, checking back in on iconic characters with twinkly-eyed pride and a dollop of pity. At times, it is more a movie than a game, which in this case is not always a good thing (thanks to those bewilderingly lengthy cutscenes, which still want you to interact with them suddenly sometimes for some reason). At times, it is a rather ungracefully didactic anti-war statement. At times, it is a family melodrama fit for daytime television. At other times, it is almost a gooner game, courtesy of those abundant questionable camera angles and zooms (you know which ones). These parts don’t always come together to form something all that enjoyable to play/watch, but Guns of the Patriots still manages to be a highlight of the PS3 era, boldly capturing the zeitgeist of the pick-your-Middle East-conflict and war-profiteering Aughts age that it emerged out of. The in-game iPod is a nice touch, too.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD has oodles of charm, easily found from the hilarious facial expressions and exclamations of Toon Link and co. to its wondrous cel-shaded aesthetics. It is in fact the most charming Zelda game there is, and one of the most charming video games ever made. There is still nothing else quite like it in the now 40-year history of the cherished series, even as its optics served as a stepping stone to the high-water marks of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom many years later. The HD edition for Wii U comes with quality-of-life refinements and visual polish that make it the definitive and most impressive way to enjoy this endearing adventure which nurtures the very best aspects of Nintendo’s mythos.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater pushes the series forward with its survival elements and expanded arenas for creeping, crawling, and even Ramboing. This third game turns the Cold War hot, serving as a largely louder and more blockbuster follow-up to the moody and contemplative Metal Gear Solid 2. While Sons of Liberty is the stronger entry due to its phenomenal direction and seminal advancement of video games as a platform for sociopolitical insight (while also having fewer annoyances—looking at you, Para-Medic and that late-game escort section with EVA), Snake Eater possesses among the most iconic moments of the entire franchise, including my favorites in the showdown with The End, the subsequent ladder climb sequence, and the closing moments. Returning to Snake Eater over 20 years after its release, it feels like the most playable of the original three MGS games, thanks to its refreshing man vs. wild mechanics, rich weapon variety, mano a mano action, and riveting one-by-one gauntlet of maniacs.

To put it plainly, the storyline of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty reaches the point where it becomes gobbledygook, yet is at the same time gripping, especially during the unforgettable final march of its denouement. It holds a strange, lasting beauty even in its soapy and B-movie moments. We cannot say that another game exists that is more telling about the world that would spawn in the 21st century, foreseeing its proliferation of abject lies forcibly warped into truths, its proliferation of byzantine oligarchical tyranny, its proliferation of inconsequential digital content, its proliferation of artificial products supplanting human beings in global eminence, and far more visions of its present dystopia. Sons of Liberty is in essence the dissertation for the reputation of brilliance that Kojima has built as an artist on the video gaming stage. With rare importance and weight, it is a reminder that games can stand for so much more than just playthings and resonate deeply when handled with this level of earnestness.

2024's Astro Bot has a truly special knack for invoking glee across its meandering levels, showcasing a love for play that is downright infectious. Its imagination is plentiful and its fun factor feels nearly boundless. It is far from hyperbole to state that Astro Bot is one of the brightest (in pretty much every sense of the word) platformers achieved thus far. If that doesn’t already speak enough to what it has going for it, one can add to the game’s praises that it is simply one of the most eye-catching 3D platformers of the modern era. If you’re not in love with PlayStation nearly as much as this game is, do not fret: Astro Bot has more than enough intrinsic charms to fill players who hail from far outside of the Sony ecosystem with joy. While aiming in many ways to be a celebration of PlayStation’s all-time greatest hits, Astro Bot takes its place right there alongside them. The small details baked into the texture of these levels are nothing short of splendid. This game is a little big delight of the sort that people young and old desperately need more of in today’s world.

This is one of those truly odyssey-like video games, thanks to Valve’s great variety and creativity in their design. Half-Life 2 is deservedly an icon in the annals of video games and a testament to the depth that the shooter genre can achieve. It almost dares to be forgotten, but the years and subsequent far-branching legacy of the game have proven that it simply cannot be.

One of the more horrifying games of this type that I’ve played. The horror in Resident Evil Requiem is indelible, creeping in both quietly and loudly to decimate the nerves, recalling some of the finest bump-in-the-night media in recent times like Cregger’s Barbarian and Weapons and Silent Hill’s revival. It is amazing that this series manages to remain so piercing and irresistible 9 mainline titles in, but the best elements of its old-era (e.g. cautiously scavenging through ornate corridors) and new-era (e.g. cautiously extracting infected blood to use for crafting) approaches come together so well here. Is there fan service in the game? Yeah. Is it bothersome? Not nearly enough to notably detract from what’s there. Requiem is a premier Resident Evil experience and, as long as your heart can take it, should not be missed.

Choice, choice, choice. Fallout: New Vegas offers it in spades, perhaps more than most other games. The game consequently has a great deal of replayability, encouraging multiple returns to realign with factions, explore new shortcuts, become an anarchic badass, and see how the compelling story branches unfold. It utilizes almost everything that was remarkable about Fallout 3 and serves up so much more. Obsidian’s renegade masterpiece is bonkers, funny, deeply engaging, and one of the most illustrative examples of the heights that the RPG can reach in the medium.

Gears of War 2 is an improvement over the highly influential first entry in pretty much every way imaginable. Shifting gears to the new theater of Jacinto, the level design is more dynamic and oftentimes visceral (literally), the do-or-die-trying story is told with a noticeably defter hand, the combat is even more gripping, and the jarhead Delta crew manages to elicit more empathy. New additions such as the revive mechanic (which commendably applies to both the COG and Locust squads) and interesting new enemy varieties give freshness to an already solid foundation. None of these updates feel arbitrary either; it instead feels like Epic Games put heavy thought and care into exactly what was needed to up the ante to make a worthy sequel, truly living up to their name in the process. One cannot help but make comparisons to another gripping and wholly improved sequel that came out a few years later: Dead Space 2. And yes, it still never gets old to run up and chainsaw an extraterrestrial dude in half. And to the Riftworm, very sorry for all that internal bleeding.

The gunplay is some of the best out there in gaming. The juvenile jokes are desperate and, by and large, oscillating between cringey and insufferable. The side quests, notably, hoard most of the game’s actually funny moments. The imagination behind some of the weapon varieties was no small step forward in the franchise, leading to several new favorites to shoot. The looting system provides a perennially satisfying gameplay loop. Sanctuary III is a grand hub world, with conveniences like the customizable Crew Quarters, the Quick Change machine, and the storage deck upgrades at Marcus Munitions. The new flexibility with Action Skills is robust and the abilities are pretty good to use when they are needed, but they so often aren’t. The main story and characters, meanwhile, have as much staying power as a jug of milk left opened on the counter in the summertime. Despite some of the headaches and hiccups, Borderlands 3 is a blast (one that’s, as before, even better with friends) and the series’ signature “graphic novel” art style absolutely pops on the PS5.

There is a lot, and I mean a lot, to like about Super Mario Galaxy 2. While it can’t boast quite the same “wow” factor and feels like a bit narrower of an experience than its revolutionary predecessor (which is still the greatest 3D platformer ever made), it retains a fantastic Koji Kondo score, wondrous art style, vibrant and lush environments, and the perennial satisfaction of hopping, leaping, and floating across space to ultimately reunite with Mario’s special one. Galaxy 2’s new additions such as Yoshi and nice power-ups like the Dash Pepper, Spin Drill, and Rock Mushroom add some very welcome flavor to the levels. The newly released Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 remasters recapture this in all its glory with more shine and sparkle on top.

It has been pretty much the talk of 2025 and for good reason. The intricate combat system is one of the best ever implemented. The art direction is the best you’re going to find in a video game this year and most others. Its meditations on unity, remembrance of those who sacrifice for our sake, and tenacity in the face of seemingly inevitable doom are perceptive and universal. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a bona fide masterpiece from a nascent team of creators who had never really done this before but, in the end, knew exactly what they were doing. Message received: the future is dazzlingly bright, but also the present is oh so lovely.

There is little imaginable in video games that is more cathartic than clobbering your way over, under, and through the world of Donkey Kong Bananza. It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘breaking the game.’ To call it a blast doesn’t even capture how satisfying this feeling really is. Last year, Astro Bot won a lot of attention and hearts for the inspired, full-of-life mascot platforming it flexed, and deservingly so. Now Nintendo, who basically wrote the manual on making fun, enduringly playable video games went back to their original star on the way to reminding us who’s boss, if anyone dared to forget. Mario’s 3D adventures, including the latest Odyssey (with which Bananza’s development team earned their wings), remain the most divine of the form, but it would be wrong to deny that Bananza steals a lot of that thunder in being unmistakably one of the greatest 3D platformers ever made. This is also one of the greatest collectathon games, at least in Nintendo’s body of work. You go one way towards the next objective and you end up spending easily a good half hour or more smashing your way after hidden bananas, fossils, rare bugs, treasure chests, records for the music player, and a literal gold mine off somewhere else. It’s manic, it’s a rush of dopamine, it’s criminally fun, and you’ll want to do it over and over again.

It doesn’t even seem possible that a game like this could even be made, a game invigorated on such a scale, with this much detail given to the smallest things, narrative depth, immersion, and more. If any creatives would ever be able to pull off technical and imaginative wizardry to this degree though, it would be the team at Rockstar. Even though they had already proven their mettle on at least half a dozen landmark titles beforehand, even the keenest devotee could hardly have been prepared for what Rockstar—who are genuine magicians at this point—had coming next. The common take that Red Dead Redemption II goes beyond being just a video game rings true once you’ve spent any extended amount of time within it. It is an artistic showcase, it is a historical chronicle, it is an ode to realism in storytelling, and it is a prime example of the ability of truly visionary art to transport us outside of the present and into a vivid picture of what once was or will be. One can tell that, as a team of perfectionist artists, Rockstar wanted to stand the test of time with this work. In the seven years since Red Dead Redemption II’s release, it most certainly has and leaves little doubt that it will continue to do so. To follow up an all-timer like Red Dead Redemption so well with so far-reaching a reimagination—expanding on the Wild West setting not only geographically but also in thematic range (moral dualism, social solidarity, consequentialism, the terror of imminent death, faith in love, atonement, and the plight of financial desperation all feature heavily)—cannot be overstated. The execution of that grand ambition puts this as one of the most incredible second entries we’ve seen—in any medium. Red Dead Redemption II gives enough of the familiar from the original without ever failing to be its own unprecedented achievement. Who can help but hold their breath for how Rockstar is going to follow this up?

Persona 5 Royal mashes up the JRPG, life sim, visual novel, creature-collector, and more genres in a feast that always feels opulent without feeling overstuffed. Even something as peripheral as the actually informative classroom lessons elucidates the extent of craft put into the game. What results is an all-you-can-eat game-ass game that gives you ample freedom to craft your fighting style and conquer each of many days how and with whom you see fit. I have never given more time just to the act of progressing through a game’s story than I did with this, and there are very few narratives in games that I’ve ever gotten more out of in return than this one. The way that Persona 5 Royal engages with the darkness and the scarring from life’s abuses inside each person as well as the insidious corruption across institutional strata mirrors and illuminates its real-world parallels. Who in the world can’t relate to the desire to reach into someone who causes us harm and rearrange things to make them a better person? Let me not neglect to point out that the game is also continually funny. From its spoofs of familiar faces and names in video gaming culture and popular media, to its characters’ legendary utterances (usually before, in, and after battles), to the adorably campy character models, voice work, and facial expressions, Persona 5 Royal has many a moment ready to put you on your ass with laughter. This tonal dance is superb and appreciated throughout the long experience that the game offers. The ride of a lifetime is not without its bumps. The Okumura boss fight is the most poorly implemented difficulty spike I have ever encountered in a video game. Atlus not only retained the draconian conditions and blindsidingness of this ordeal, but doubled down on it in the Royal revision. Additionally, the game suffers from pacing issues in its last quarter, having an overreliance on palaces and other sprawling mazes during this portion. The few imperfect aspects of Persona 5 Royal quite magically end up amplifying the plethora of wonders that make the game such a rare treasure. These imperfections are akin to birthmarks on a stunningly beautiful face, one with proportions that come together seemingly too well to even be possible. Sometimes we really do change after all—or, more accurately, other people change us. Do your damnedest not to love these characters that you split your time with along the way, be them your Phantom Thieves partners in justice or precious auxiliaries such as Shinya, Hifumi, and Mishima. Persona 5 Royal itself felt almost like a family member across the gargantuan journey of playing it, an experience that elicited nearly as much investment and fondness as some of the best memories from my real life. It will stay forever.

The veggie papa completes his Mario hero arc by making an ecstatic jump from side-scrolling into 3D. As with the third entry in the Dadish series, some of the jokes land and others miss the mark (dad humor can only go so far), but Dadish 3D manages a renewed charm to go along with its generally fluid transition into three-dimensional space. Not much is new here for those already familiar with the DNA of Dadish’s past expeditions to round up his kids, but Dadish 3D’s carefree vibe and levels that are simple but fairly punishing to inattention make for a good time all the same.

Super Mario World is the best, brightest, and most exuberant game of Mario’s 2-D era. It emphasizes fairer level design and more freedom in player choice than its predecessors in the classic Mario period. Of the many gifts that it delivers, and Yoshi must be noted highly among them, Super Mario World gifts an impeccable feel, sonic exultation, and a timeless spirit that would be unmatched and unsurpassed in platformers until Mario truly took to the stars many years later in Super Mario Galaxy.

There is a great truth in saying that we die many little deaths along the way before the last big death. There may be no example in video games of a vision more epic in its feel and majestic in its environmental scale than Shadow of the Colossus (2018/PS4). A good many of these serial executions of forsaken colossi will be among the most awe-inspiring and unforgettable boss battles that a player can ever find. The emptiness of the world in Shadow of the Colossus is strangely comforting even amid the suffocation of its aloneness. For nearly the entire run, there’s the young warrior, Wander, who you play (a David-figure pitted against several more handfuls of Goliaths), the horse Agro, the colossi that you eerily must intrude upon and send to meet their maker, and some critters here and there, and that's all the life there is at the end of this world. One of the most mysterious modern masterworks, Shadow of the Colossus towers among the heights of video game artistry. P.S. Special applause to the work done on this restoration; it very well might be the best video game remake yet.

I tried to think of Neva’s shortcomings, where it slumped, where it failed to amaze. My attempt was fruitless. Neva is a glorious contemplation of the cycle of life and death in all, exhibiting both as equally important. The game has a rare vision and an absolute bevy of stunning compositions for the eyes and ears. Let us be eternally thankful to have been around in the era of Nomada Studio.

In Dadish 3, some of the lustre has been lost from Dadish’s first two forays, with reduced wit to its writing, less polished platforming design, and a more stunted feel to its flow that breeds some fatigue. It is a charming game nevertheless which keeps up the familiar sense of fun and high spirit that is still hard not to love. All is well in the end.

The delectable radish father returns for another epic quest to find his unruly children. Dadish 2 retains the engaging platforming from the original in a game that feels a bit amped up in trickiness and a little shorter. The result is another infectious time over and across its levels that just might make you feel happy to be back.

Lil Gator Game feels like a breath of fresh air. The game pays a light homage to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and it is also beautiful in its own right. It has instant playability and instant charm with an honestly touching tale which evokes the best parts about childhood. Lil Gator Game has a lot of heart and it now holds a special place in mine.

Dadish is a fun platformer that is graciously indebted to classic Mario games. The later levels are engaging as well as challenging without ever becoming irksome. Dadish’s runtime is quite short, but its indie ethos is impressive and it has a lot of charm.

Dream Daddy is a heartfelt, often very funny game with a pretty astonishing amount of depth. I'm absolutely delighted that it exists. Not only are the characters endearing and three-dimensional and the writing idiosyncratic and excellent, but the additional of mostly well-placed minigames gives it some more legitimacy. The lives and complexities of these characters are well-explored and there is overtly a lot of love placed into the game by its crafters. Dream Daddy consistently put a smile on my smile as I played through and it was a unique pleasure.