Final Fantasy VII has always been on my “to-play” list. I tried it a few years ago on the PSP, with the original or Crisis Core, and although I loved the worlds and characters, I always left them unfinished.
The Remake was a great opportunity to finally dive into the saga, and I’m happy to say it succeeded. It has a very well-built world with a unique personality: the color tones, the feeling of oppression, the environments… everything perfectly conveys the atmosphere.
The cast of characters works wonderfully thanks to their contrasting personalities, and damn, the story is a gem. It’s a game where you’re a freaking eco-terrorist, carrying out attacks against a corporation that’s destroying the planet.
On the downside, you can tell they stretched the game to justify releasing and selling each part as a full game, but I don’t think it makes it boring or worse.
All in all, it’s an amazing game that does something very smart —I won’t say what to avoid spoilers— to engage both new players and longtime fans of the saga, offering something fresh even though it has Remake in the title.
Now I’m facing the big dilemma: whether to continue with Rebirth or play the original game. In my opinion, the original is necessary to fully understand what’s happening.
I was really in the mood for a World War I campaign. It happened to line up perfectly with me reading Fall of Giants, and I’ve been really immersing myself—in a good way—in World War I.
It’s mind-blowing that this game is 10 years old and still looks this good.
I have to say, it’s a great game. Fun gameplay, lively worlds that are very faithful to the essence of Star Wars, and cool characters.
I was honestly very surprised, because I didn’t expect it at all. Ubisoft has created a solid Star Wars game, and I wouldn’t mind playing a sequel at all. That said, I would have liked a bit more depth in the ship handling and exploration aspects.
It has surpassed the Arkham series as the best superhero games. What an absolute masterpiece in terms of gameplay and **** looks and feels sublime to play — it literally makes you feel like Spider-Man. The voice acting is wonderful and the soundtrack is fantastic.”
Incredible atmosphere and brilliant use of narrative, foreshadowing events that later make perfect sense within the story. Despite its age, the gameplay still holds up, and the light-based combat concept is very cool. Really looking forward to playing the second on
I really wanted to play a soulslike again, and this one caught my eye because of its aesthetic. I loved the combat and mechanics — it feels more dynamic than Bloodborne, and the atmosphere is amazing. The eerie vibe and the fear the puppets inspire are really cool
A pretty cozy indie game where you play as a fisherman exploring an archipelago of islands, trying to upgrade your boat by fishing during the day—because at night things get dark and terrifying in true Lovecraftian fashion. It’s a very charming and relaxing game, one of those easy titles that help you unwind while slowly piecing together the story. Its endings carry a really good metaphor.
An absolute masterpiece ****. I don’t even know where to begin describing what I loved the most, because it does so many things right that it’s honestly hard to choose.Anyway, I’ll start with what caught my attention from the very first trailer I saw back at that Sony conference last year —the thing that instantly made me fall in love with it: its artistic direction and unique identity. What a stunning use of color, what a visual palette, what effects, what environments… I had never seen a game like this before. They’ve managed to let the very essence of the story seep into the game’s art and design. It borrows a few touches from FromSoftware in terms of breathtaking environments that instantly captivate you —and I absolutely love that.Secondly, its characters and story. What a beautifully crafted cast —you grow attached to every single one of them, to their personalities, their perspectives, and the way they perceive that “canvas.” I won’t deny that my favorite from the start was Maelle; she’s one of the most emotionally impactful characters I’ve ever seen in a video game. There were moments when I was honestly on the verge of tears, wanting to hug her.Special mention to Esquie —I adored their personality, and the voice acting is top-tier.Verso fascinated me early on, but I feel that towards the end he loses some of that spark and feels almost like a broken puppet.Sciel is one of the best-written characters; some of his lines were so good I had to write them down. That scene with Lune under the stars… 🥲Moroco is pure genius —his humor, his hypocrisy, and the duo he forms with Verso are **** for Lune, I have to admit I didn’t like her much at first, but by the end, after learning her story, she really grew on **** Gustave, my boy… you’re the best. That scream scene to open the cave door .Regarding the story itself —that twist halfway through left me completely mind-blown. What a beautiful way to tell a story and let you, as the player, piece everything together bit by bit. The pacing is perfect and deliberate. I won’t say more, because the less you know going in, the better.Third, the soundtrack. I honestly don’t know if I bought a game or one of the best soundtracks in history that just happened to come with a game as a bonus. It’s unbelievable that this was composed by a guy they randomly found on SoundCloud.Lastly, the combat system. It’s clear the game draws inspiration from others —especially Persona or Sea of Stars, to name a few. But I truly think it strikes the perfect balance: it takes the best of turn-based combat —the strategy— and mixes it with the excitement of real-time action. I love how the game’s difficulty and mechanics push you to experiment with different pictos and abilities, combining them to adapt to every enemy. It really encourages you to use all the characters and makes every new element you unlock or find feel meaningful. The boss designs are some of the best I’ve ever seen. And those parries… boff, I had such a blast .So yeah, to wrap it up —for me, this is an obvious GOTY contender this year. I’m genuinely happy that games like this (indies, double-A titles, etc.) exist, because they set precedents that I hope will guide this industry toward a better future —one far away from the direction the big triple-A studios are taking it.Trust me: this is one of those games you absolutely have to play before you die.
I had it pending because I’d heard wonders about its ending and meaning and… damn. What an ending(s) and what a philosophical reflection. Gameplay-wise it runs smooth as silk, but the art style, the sense of emptiness, and having to replay it multiple times to see the full story didn’t quite convince me. Still, I’m grateful that such unique and different games exist. Definitely recommended.”
I think it would be impossible for me to describe everything this game has made me feel and all the phases I went through with it, but there’s one thing I can say for sure: it’s a completely different and innovative experience within the industry. It changed the way I see this world and the way I’ll look at video games from now on, and that alone is huge. **** At first, I wasn’t really convinced about playing it, but I must admit that the very first chapter—with Don’t Be So Serious playing in the background and that eerie landscape unfolding on the horizon—already made me feel I was facing something unique and special, for better and for worse. The first thing I was told—and something I completely agree with—is that this is not a game for everyone. Just ask Fran, who had to put up with all the times I wanted to quit during the first seven hours because I thought it wasn’t for me either. Thank you so much, my friend, for encouraging me to keep going until the chapter where you meet Cliff and Fragile’s story. From that moment on, the game had me hooked. The gameplay is peculiar; it might look like some sort of walking simulator, but in reality, it hides brilliant mechanics and design. In the end, you get addicted to completing deliveries and improving at them more and more. The story is slow and confusing at first, and even at the end, but even without fully understanding what’s happening, you feel the urge to keep discovering more and more, to immerse yourself in that world and its lore. In fact, I don’t think not understanding everything is a problem, because not even the characters themselves really know what the Death Stranding is. That’s where the magic lies. Ultimately, this is a game about people and about connecting them in a devastated world. **** The cast is impressive. I loved every single one of them, and the quality of the performances, along with the face mapping, is pure witchcraft. Many will say a movie adaptation would be amazing, but it would actually break Kojima’s vision and the very essence of the game. This was my first game from the great Hideo, and I don’t rule out playing the Metal Gear series, because his gameplay, his humor, and the way he crafts a story caught my attention right away. Truly, a genius ahead of his time. I have to mention one of the most important aspects for me: the soundtrack. Especially the music by Low Roar. I’m not exaggerating when I say that ever since I started the game, I’ve been obsessed. The game’s playlist has become the soundtrack of my daily life, and I just can’t stop listening to it. It’s so perfectly used within the game, and always at the right moment. **** In conclusion, I’m jumping straight into the sequel. And to anyone who wants to embark on this adventure, I’d say: have patience and perseverance, because it’s truly worth reaching the end.
One of the best roguelikes on the market. The way the story is integrated into the gameplay and dungeons is brilliant. The mechanics, powers, and weapons make each run feel unique. The soundtrack is a masterpiece, and the art is simply stunning. The Switch version runs flawlessly.
The first time I played Kingdom Hearts 2 was 12 years ago, when my friend Dan lent me his physical copy for the PS2 after I had enjoyed the first game like a child. I remember that few times in my life have I felt such excitement to start a sequel as I did on that occasion. And it did not disappoint. The game’s opening/tutorial is not only the best in the saga, but one of the best in video game history. What a brilliant way to introduce the mechanics and immerse you in one of the most iconic ****, 10 years later, I’ve had the chance to enjoy the original game again, this time with a slightly different perspective, but with the same thrill I felt back in 2013. It’s hard to pinpoint the best thing about this game because it simply does so many things **** combat is dynamic, challenging, and keeps you hooked thanks to new mechanics like forms, summons, spells, and action commands, which make the gameplay much more fluid and exciting. The variety of Disney worlds is remarkable, and their design faithfully captures the essence of each one. Additionally, the Spanish dubbing — sadly lost in the remakes — is outstanding and a reminder of the incredible quality of voice work we have in **** short, Kingdom Hearts 2 is a game ahead of its time, yet timeless, because it feels just as fresh and enjoyable as the day it was released. My only recommendation, if you want to play it, is to get a copy of the original PS2 version with its original dubbing and dive into one of the best games of its generation.I consider the Kingdom Hearts saga one of my favorites, and I’ve always feared that going back to it after so many years, now as an adult, might make it lose its charm or that the complexity of its story would put me off. However, Kingdom Hearts 2 has slapped me in the face to remind me that this will never happen. Thank you, Kingdom Hearts 2, for your wonderful story, flawless gameplay, incredible variety of worlds, and revolutionary mechanics for its time.
