likevin96

Completion: 100% single playthrough Pros: - Parrying and analog aiming are great additions that help make combat feel more involved - giving you more options to handle different scenarios - The big boss battles (primarily near the end of the game) are a lot of fun, although strategies for actually defeating the bosses can be somewhat obfuscated and not made very clear by any aspect of the game - Classic isolated Metroid atmosphere bolstered by a soundtrack that while not stellar on its own, certainly does the job in the context of the game - The game is simply a great joy to go through due to the strength of the classic Metroid formula. MercurySteam has done well with this classic franchise and has kept many of its core elements intact for this entry. The meshing of exploration, combat, and steady progression still manage to work well in this one. Cons: - Structure is too repetitive and linear for a game that should be all about exploration - this applies especially for the mini-bosses littered throughout the levels - Power-ups are far too easy to find due to the scan ability. Makes exploration feel less rewarding because you are essentially just following the map. Although this certainly gets rid of some of the frustration often associated with feeling as if you need to bomb/missile every single tile in the game in order to progress, such as is sometimes felt in other Metroid titles, MercurySteam's new method also has issues with it - All the Aeion abilities are flawed and I feel as if the game would have been better without them. They are, for the most part, unengaging mechanics that only end up being used in the specific, limited moments where the game wants you to. Although the mechanic is certainly interesting, I wish it could have been implemented better. - Don't enjoy the 2.5D graphics - especially when applied to the Metroid universe. Everything seems a bit too cartoony due to the 3D models. Final Word: Metroid: Samus Returns is a must-play for any Metroidvania fan. While MercurySteam's innovations are both positive and negative, the newest entry in the franchise is certainly a return to form after the last few disappointing titles and is a blast to play front-to-back, despite the oversimplification of the exploration. True Score: 8.3

Completion: Finished game and Croft Manor on Seasoned Raider (hard) difficulty Pros: - All-around gorgeous visuals. Although some of the character models can look plastic at times, nearly everything other visual quality is excellent. Some of the best realistic visuals I have seen - the spectacle really works. - Many gameplay improvements over the first game - better upgrades, puzzles, platforming, and combat. Generally, playing the game is fun. - Some of the best platforming in this semi-open world third-person narrative-driven action-adventure genre. This is an awful name, but I'm including titles such as the Uncharted games, God of War (2018), The Last of Us, etc. In most of these games, climbing is simply something that has to be done and is largely difficult to fail. While the platforming in Rise of the Tomb Raider is still rather simple and difficulty to fail at, the number of different inputs and reflex-based QTEs make it more involved and overall a more engaging process. - Animal fights are interesting and bring an interesting direction for the series to expand in - Levels are generally well designed with gorgeous, believable visuals/layouts and multiple paths/hiding spots for the enemy encounters - Tombs are the best part of the game and actually offer fun, though not too challenging puzzles. - Lara feels a lot smoother to control and both combat/exploration are generally fun. Everything is smooth and flows well - I found it a great decision to not have regenerating health during battles on the higher difficulty modes - although this ends up being trivialized by how overpowered healing becomes with the right upgrades Cons: - The two more open areas actually detract from the narrative-driven nature of the game. Going around for all the collectibles is generally not fun - especially when there is so much ground to cover. - Too many meaningless checklists the game strings you along to doing - Although the game offers you more options in combat, it is never actually difficult enough to push you into using any of these new tools - such as the intriguing on-the-fly crafting that more or less never actually needs to be utilized - Too much hand holding when it comes to platforming and puzzles. Detective vision makes every puzzle boil down to interacting with all the highlighted objects - There are too many different types of collectibles and resources - crafting in this type of game should not be so tedious with having to constantly pick up so many different items off of the terrain. Although the addition of a few new resources would make sense, I find the use of a dozen (maybe more?) resources to be unnecessary and bogs the pace of the game down - The audio logs/letters slow down the pace of the game too much. Why not have them play while you go through the actual game such as in Bioshock? Seems pointless to sit there and read the entries when most of them are already voiced anyways - Story is a disaster. Countless plot holes and inconsistent characterization. The definite low point of this game for me. I found it difficult to care about anything that was happening. I cannot stress how forgettable and sometimes even bewilderingly bad the story was. Final Word: Although Rise of the Tomb Raider improves upon its predecessor in a number of different ways, especially in the actual moment-to-moment gameplay, the crafting, exploration, and story have all undergone changes that are ultimately for the worse. In this sense, while Rise of the Tomb Raider certainly has taken many steps forward from the original, it is ultimately for the worse, albeit slightly. Final Score: 7.9

Completion: Finished game on normal difficulty. Pros: - Characters and plot are charming - very much in-line with the rest of the series in this regard - Game actually looks pretty good, especially the models. Even though the textures are low-quality and the animations can be stiff, the game ends up relatively visually pleasing considering this was essentially created as a Vita game. Although many criticize the clashing visual styles, it is consistent with the other games in the series and I likely have just gotten used to it by this point. - The game definitely takes risks in its gameplay and is a wild departure from the other games in the series while maintaining the signature Danganronpa charm. Although not everything pays off, there is nothing on the market like Ultra Despair Girls - Ties up several loose ends and introduces characters peripheral to the main cast. Essentially achieves what a small spin-off game should be - The puzzle rooms are the highlight of the actual "gameplay" and can be fun Cons: - Much smaller cast, though this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it is certainly a marked change from the other games in the series - Soundtrack can be too repetitive, with one song playing throughout the majority of the game - The combat is uninspired, the enemies are not fun to fight against, and there is generally low variation in how you actually deal with enemies. All in all, the meat of the gameplay is quite lacking and this is by far the weakest area of UDG - The grading system is strange for this type of game. Due to the high density of puzzles, it seems strange to punish someone for dying or retrying. This kind of system works much better in high-octane action games such as DMC and simply seems out of place and frustrating here. - Boss battles are boring and generally too easy - Collectibles are annoying and feel mostly pointless. Most of the story beats you get aren't interesting or funny enough to really seek out. - Progression is not interesting in this game and although you "level up" it never really feels like that's doing anything. Most of the skills you obtain are either invisible or boring such as obtaining more HP. The word system for the different bullets also misses its mark and can more or less be ignored. Using random words for your bullets does not feel radically different from carefully curating your decisions. Final Word: While Ultra Despair Girls should be commended for keeping the classic Danganronpa charm and taking myriad risks, especially for the series, too many aspects of the gameplay fall flat for Ultra Despair Girls to be anything more than a medicore, though interesting, spin-off of the story-based franchise. Final Score: 7.3

Pros: - Visual style remains interesting - Best use of VR I have seen yet. Combat is frenetic, fun, and thrilling. There is nothing in the world that can make you feel more like an action star than this game. This is what' really important and why I'm giving the game such a high score. Cons: - No level select until after you finish the game. - Very short length (finished in under two hours) - Many lost features compared to the original Final Word: - Incredible experience and one of the best offerings for VR available right now. Although the game is a bit bare bones - it doesn't change the fact that SUPERHOT VR is a treat from beginning to end. True Score: 8.8

Completion: Finished game and all side-quests on hard mode. Pros: - Some of the best graphics on the PS4 right now, only falling short of Uncharted 4. The varied vistas are breathtaking, the character/enemy designs are inspired, and the detail in every corner of the game is very much impressive. This visual fidelity extends both to spectacle and subtlety - with the graphics enhancing every aspect of the game from the intensity of battle to the characters' emotional ranges. - One of the best written and voice acted games in existence. Combined with the unique camera work and stellar direction, God of War comfortably rests in the highest possible echelons of cinematic storytelling in video games along with The Last of Us and Uncharted 4. - Engrossing take on Norse mythology as well as the God of War mythos. The story is more than strong enough to keep you engaged and I would guess that it will likely be the primary impetus for most people that play this game. Although there are issues with a few of the character arcs, God of War manages to overall maintain a consistently stellar level of quality throughout its plot, characters, and writing. - The Leviathan Axe is a highly versatile weapon due to its melee and ranged capabilities and the game very much pushes you to utilize its full capabilities at the higher difficulty sessions. In particular, the Mjolnir-like weapon recall system remains fun throughout the entire ~35 hour journey. - The visual and audio effects very much sell the impact and weightiness of the attacks in this game - making the combat feel much more visceral and satisfying. Cons: - XP and gold start to feel useless in the last ~25% of the game - which makes progression feel static in the post game. Enchantments do not have much tangible effect on overall gameplay besides from pure numbers and it's thus disappointing that this is the only part of your kit worth adjusting in the later sections of this title. - Repetitiveness is definitely an issue here when it comes to the gameplay. Although the game does have a wealth of interesting ideas, the low number of enemy types (or at least the ways in which you combat them) and dearth of unique boss encounters can start to make the combat arenas tiring. Furthermore, the long distances between objectives and the relatively slow travel speed of Kratos can make the game feel frustratingly draggy at times. - The climbing in this game is perhaps the worse I have seen in a AAA title. There is absolutely no freedom or player agency in these sections, even compared to games such as Uncharted or Tomb Raider. The sluggishness of Kratos's movements and the linearity at which you move through these areas makes it a complete bore. - The camera is great from a storytelling perspective, but it unnecessarily forces the gameplay to suffer. Although the designers ended up mostly succeeding in making the close camera work, I can't help but feel as if a more traditional fixed/controllable camera would have helped the fluidity of combat. Kratos should not feel so vulnerable - he should feel like a god. Final Word: Production and direction are at the zenith in this game in a fashion that is rarely seen. God of War is undoubtedly on top of the world right now and that is due to the massive budget and care that was clearly imbued into every aspect of the game's presentation. However, repetitiveness in several aspects of the gameplay as well as mechanical sacrifices made for the storytelling and atmosphere mar an otherwise flawless experience. True Score: 8.9

Completion: Finished game with ~190% completion Pros: - Near zenith of 2D graphics. Beautiful sprites and environments that impress the whole way through - Fun, fluid combat and movement with an incredible number of different options and play styles at your disposal - Although the voice acting isn't of the highest quality, it fits the game well and actually adds charm to the otherwise barebones narrative - The first half of the game is likely my best experience with a 2D side scroller ever. The castle is an absolute joy to explore due to the secrets hidden in every nook and cranny - Incredibly innovative for its time and the birth of an entire genre (Igavania). There is a reason why this type of game had so much staying power - Just to hammer the point in again - movement in this game feels SO good. The fluidity and number of options you have are incredible. Cons: - Much of the game is far too easy - especially the bosses - The level design in the second half is significantly less fun than in the first half. For similar reasons, the exploration itself is also less interesting in the second half. - Too many game breaking combinations of weapons (Shield Rod + Alucard Shield is disgusting) - The music, while solid, is a bit too repetitive - Some of the level design can be boring and repetitive due to the simple layout of many rooms in the castle Final Word: One of the best 2D side scrollers of all time due to the incredible art and mechanics. Although the second half of the game is of slightly lower quality and the difficulty is generally unsatisfying, that doesn't change the fact that Symphony of the Night is a masterpiece. True Score: 8.6

Completion: Finished the game (co-op) Pros: - The actual physical experience of playing this game is innovative - with only one controller being used to control both characters. This creates either the opportunity to play co-op (as I did) or essentially control two separate characters at the same time. This was interesting and something I had never seen before. - Great, impactful ending - Truly feels like you are going on an epic journey due to the scale of your adventure in contrast to the mundane nature of your characters Cons: - Everything was too easy. The puzzles and challenges can hardly be called that due to their almost insulting simplicity. The game is closer to a walking simulator than anything else, but the narrative and environments aren't strong enough to carry it on that front. It's possible that this style of game would have worked if it was a bit shorter, but that wasn't the case. - Insufficient characterization and world building considering the type of game Brothers aimed to be. Although there are pay-offs, most of the ride is spent with very static and uninteresting characters - Environments are hit or miss. Although there do exist a few areas that "wow", most of the locales you visit in this game are trite affairs. Final Word: Brothers is a game worth playing, if only for the uniqueness of its control scheme and concept. More robust challenges and world building would have elevated the great ideas already extant in this title, but sadly this was not the case and Brothers ends up falling slightly short of what it could have been. True Score: 7.4

Completion: Finished game and a huge number of side quests after approximately 105 hours. Pros: - Undoubtedly unique . JRPGs, especially turn based ones, are typically thought of as a fairly stagnant genre, but Xenoblade turns the norm on its head through its extremely unique battle and progression systems. Although there are issues, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 deserves to be lauded due to its willingness to push boundaries and try something new. - Soundtrack is catch and memorable. There are a number of tracks throughout the game that will undoubtedly stay with me. Some standouts include the Argentum and Mor Ardain themes. - Battle system is very different from anything else that is out there right now and requires positioning, strategy, tactics, and proper timing to utilize effectively. This is especially true during the earlier parts of the game where you're still getting used to all the different components of the initially overwhelming system. There are a lot of moving parts and mastering them is satisfying. - World is sprawling and fleshed out. Alrest feels like it could be a real place due to the plethora of lore and intrigue surrounding it. The large, sprawling areas also contribute to this through the sense of place that results from exploring and wandering around the myriad fantastical lands. - I overall enjoyed the story. The characters are one of the strongest points and Rex was much more likable that I had initially expected. This may be due to me playing with the Japanese voices and not having to deal with some of the strange accents the localization team had decided to implement. The pacing can be too slow at times and comedy is not used well (to put it lightly), but overall the drama of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 did in fact compel me to continue my journey. Cons: - So many aspects of the game waste an enormous amount of time. The Merc Missions were a great idea to better utilize your full roster. However, constantly going into the menu and having to scroll through pages of menus to get a proper team for these missions is annoying and can take you far out of the immersion of the rest of the world. Another example of this is in the Blades, which serve as a hybrid being weapons and party members in Xenoblade 2. Making these Blades stronger often requires you to do very specific tasks that make you go far out of your way to do boring tasks such as killing a random mob X times. Although there are ways to get around some of these requirements, they are definitely necessary for progression when it comes to certain Blades and in the earlier sections of the game where you don't have as many Blades to play around with. Furthermore, the drop rates for the Rare Blades are FAR TOO LOW. I understand how the Generic Blades play into the Merc Mission system, but that doesn't make it any more fun to (very slowly) activate dozens of virtually useless Blades. However, the most egregious example of this lies in the battles themselves. While strategic and fun, every single battle lasts far longer than they have any right to, especially if you aren't massively overleveled. Defeating an enemy 20 levels under you should happen in the blink of an eye, especially for a game like Xenoblade with no random encounters or any sort of discrete transition into battles, but this is definitely not the case here. It quickly became obvious to me that skipping every single mob I could was the only way to beat the game at any reasonable pace. The enemies have massively inflated health through the entire game and that is simply not fun to deal with in a game that is already so long. - You don't have to change your strategy much for fighting different enemies. Although there are elemental weaknesses and species-specific items/abilities, they are often too niche to really be effective and used in any sort of active way for 90% of your battles. Although their appearances and stats change, every single enemy in the game just felt too similar to one another in terms of what my approach should be. - Map system is awful and oftentimes the only way to progress is to walk through the area that your objective is in countless times before noticing a hidden pathway or area that will let you progress. The map has no detail in the Z-axis and the objective compass can be as deceiving as it is helpful. - Frequent FPS/resolution drops. This is egregiously poor in handheld mode. Final Word: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is the definition of a flawed masterpiece. The developers reached for the sky and created something truly unique. From playing the game, I am certain that Xenoblade is a game with genuine heart and passion. However, this does not excuse the painfully plodding nature of nearly every aspect of the game, ranging from story to combat. I still enjoyed it - but will forever be disappointed at how incredible the game could've been with just a few more tweaks. True Score: 8.1

Completion: Finished the game. Pros: - Incredible minimalist visual style that manages to impress despite not being the most technically impressive piece of work. This helps to contribute to the eerie atmosphere of the game that only grows stronger as the story continues. - Playdead does a great job of creating tension with its challenges, especially in the moment-to-moment gameplay - "Intuitive" puzzles that work based on logic rather than arbitrary rules ****. While this isn't necessarily a good or bad thing, this style works very well for Inside and undoubtedly sets it apart from others in the genre. - Ending sequence is shocking and unique in the best kind of way - Although the game probably could've been just a little bit shorter, the length is more or less commensurate to the amount of unique content Cons: - Trial and error puzzle design that often feels cheap. I am primarily referring to the sections of the game that will kill you without warning and are near-impossible to predict based on context-clues and the parts of the game you have already experienced. - Puzzles are too simple - especially when compared to Limbo. Strange to see that Playdead has decided to take a step back in this department. - The story really is not good. It is exciting to actually play through, which is of course a good point. However, after finishing the game and looking back on what happened, there really is not that much substance. The themes are trite and the actual plot is far from being legitimately "interesting". Ambiguity works well for most of the game, but once the curtain is finally lifted, there is shockingly little. Final Word: Playing through Inside is a wholly unique experience due to its unparalleled sense of atmosphere and the escalating tension that comes from the twisted, mysterious nature of its world. However, once the mysteries unravel (to the extent that they can be), it becomes clear in retrospect that the story and puzzles lack substance. Final Score: 8.2

Completion: Finished game. Pros: - Great 2D sprite work, especially in the animations - Whimsical plot and characters help to keep the game tonally tight - Dungeons are fun and feature engaging level design Cons: - Boss fights are too easy and repetitive. The game as a whole is pretty easy, but boss fights are a fragrant offender. - Too much aimless backtracking, even for the genre - this is especially true due to the lack of any kind of quick travel system and the linear layout of the map - The transformations are a good idea, but they take far too long to activate, especially the final one - Overworld is generally boring and linear - Audio leaves much to be desired with forgettable tracks and a complete lack of voice acting Final Word: Shantae: Risky's Revenge is nothing revolutionary for the Metroidvania genre, but as a short and simple and romp through a light-hearted world it succeeds greatly. Final Score: 7.7

Completion: Completed all content besides from Morning Star boss. Pros: - Great, interesting story. This is especially true of the scenario, which really shines and draws you in. There is even meaningful character development for several members of the cast. Overall, the plot and world building is fantastic and serves as one of the most attractive pieces of this title. - As with other SMT games, the combat/fusion loop is insanely fun. The grid-based TRPG-style is also a first for the series and they manage to pull it off very well. Can't emphasize enough how much fun I had with this battle system and it was definitely the highlight of the game for me. - Mission variety is decent - although a few of them, most notably the escort mission, can definitely be annoying. - Voice acting and 8th day content represents a significant increase from the original. The VA is slightly below average, but still better than nothing and even quite impressive since just about everything is voiced. Furthermore, the 8th day content helps to flesh out stories and even offers alternate endings from what was seen in the original game. Cons: - Soundtrack is too limited. I would only consider a few of the tracks "good" and even then they repeat countless times. - All your characters feel far too similar due to them having the exact same skills (for the most part). I would've really enjoyed if you could differentiate your party members more. - Feature-barren. No 3D and (nearly) no touch controls makes this release feel lazy. - 7th day content are often are a bit too similar, especially when it comes to the bosses. - Limited visual elements. Too few maps and a rather small number of character portraits. While there are a significant number of sprites, you rarely get to see them and I wish that they could have utilized them a little better somehow. - This is a great example **** that TRULY does not respect your time. The meat of the game's big reveals are, from what I understand, spread throughout the 6 main routes. Now, there's nothing wrong with a system like this. 6 significantly different routes would usually be something to praise and in a general sense, I am appreciative of the breadth of content. However, playing through the entire game every time to get the other routes is NOT FUN. You only get to keep certain pieces of your progress (demons, money, etc.) to NG+ and while it can be enjoyable to go through the game once again being incredibly overpowered (which you undoubtedly will be), it is definitely not fun to have to go through the whole game 4 times with more or less nothing changing until you get to the 7th day (which can take anywhere from 3-6 hours per repeated playthrough). I know many people enjoy replays, but having to play the same ~5 hours **** 4 times just to experience ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL parts of the story is simply bad game design. This is exacerbated even further by the Atsuro, Yuzu, and Gin Routes, which are relative disappointments compared to the Law/Chaos paths. Atsuro and Gin don't have 8th days (and are a bit too similar to each other) and Yuzu's story is for all intents and purposes a bad end. Furthermore, the Yuzu and Atsuro routes are the two that someone would probably pick since those characters are the two core party members that stay with you throughout the entirety of the game. One could make the argument that you could just make a save file before the routes split so that you can just reload the file after you finish a route. However, this is clearly not the way that Atlus meant for this game to be played - as you are rewarded immensely for continuing a save file after you finish a route instead of reloading an old save. Even if you do reload, you have to at minimum replay the game once in order to get rid of the XP cap present in your first playthrough Final Word: Incredible game with a great story that is marred by how little Devil Survivor Overclocked respects your time. Still, I highly recommend this game and my first play through was undoubtedly some of the most fun I've had with a JRPG in years. True Score: 8.4

Completion: Finished game on Furi. Pros: - Great combat system that, while relatively simple in terms of different possible actions, manages to test your skill with its mechanics to the max. - Exemplifies the "hard but fair" mindset with its challenging, yet ultimately conquerable bosses - even on your first run through - Incredible heart-pounding soundtrack that fits the frantic pace of combat to a T. - Stylish visuals that will still look great years later. - Adrenaline-pumping fights that absorbed me 100% of the time. - Bosses are all varied in both visual and mechanical design Cons: - Story is mediocre at best. Obviously this is not the point, but it actually got in the way at points. - The walking parts were extremely boring. When you have to add an auto-walk feature to an action game, there's definitely a problem. - It occasionally takes far too long between phases of a boss. It always takes too long to restart a fight while losing. I simply don't understand why games still choose to punish the player by making them wait. Not fun and a waste of time. - Poor tutorial. Not a huge deal, but going into an unprompted menu to find that you can charge shots is a bit of a poor idea, especially since one's play can benefit so much from the additional moveset. - Much too short. While this wasn't a big deal for me since I got it for free in a Humble Bundle, the initial price of $30 is way too steep for a game that doesn't even reach 5 hours on the first play through. - Many more cutscenes/walking sections should be skippable, especially for repeated playthroughs. Final Word: Although Furi has a slew of minor issues that can make getting to the fun parts too much of a chore, the incredible combat, soundtrack, and visual flair of the game shine through brightly. With a bit more streamlining and a tighter script, Furi could've been even better. True Score: 8.3

*This is strictly a SINGLE PLAYER review. I only lightly dabbled in the multiplayer.* Completion: Finished campaign on normal difficulty. Pros: - Movement feels silky smooth. Wall running is an incredible feature and overall the platforming is a ton of fun. - Some extremely creative level design, with the academy/research lab level being an incredible stand out. One of the best FPS levels I have played in a long, long time. - Titan battles are unlike anything else. Cons: - The story is very cliche and relatively unexciting. The characters leave a lot to be desired, although there are certainly a few entertaining moments. - Boss battles are lame - Too short - The actual shooting is not particularly fun - Two weapon limit is annoying for a single player campaign - Very low number of different enemy types - Pilot weapons feel very low impact, particularly the shotguns and the grenade launchers. There's just no "oomph" to them. Final Word: A fun, short romp through a generic sci-fi world that is strongly bolstered by a few amazing levels, highly fluid movement systems, and the unique Titan system. True Score: 8.3

Completion: Finished game once on normal difficulty (emulator) Pros: - This is probably the strangest, and by extension, the most unique game I have ever played. killer7 is truly unlike anything else, and that by itself makes the game at least worth checking out. - Layered, complex story that tackles a wide variety of different themes rarely featured in video games and even other mainstream media. Although killer7 is certainly convoluted, this doesn't taken away from the insane and vibrant world that creator Suda51 has crafted. - Great atmosphere with some genuinely scary and tense moments. - Sound design is great, specifically when it comes to the sound effects. The different enemy sounds are clearly communicated through audio cues and Kun Lan's laugh is both iconic yet genuinely creepy every time it's heard. The music itself is also no slouch and there are a few standout pieces. - Ageless aesthetic style and an interesting array of locales creates a visual experience that can still be appreciated today. Cons: - Not the greatest localization. There is a lot to be desired here, especially for such a story-heavy game. - There is a ton of jank in this game. The text is too slow, the controls are sloppy and incredibly unintuitive (this is likely a conscious design choice, but doesn't change how I feel about it), and switching between characters/items takes much too long. I understand that there are a lot of design innovations that have happened in the 13 years since killer7 came out, but again that doesn't make the waiting any less agonizing. - A lot of the game is simply just not fun to play. I want to learn about the characters and story, but most of the time, the game is getting in the way. Some people say killer7 is a game that can't be replicated in any other media, but I vehemently disagree, as I believe it would work perfectly well as a movie. The gameplay does help convey atmosphere, but there are other ways do to that. - Once again would like to communicate the inaccuracy of the controls and how disruptive this can be to the overall experience. This is especially noticeable on some of the more difficult boss fights, which can really be annoying. - Seems strange they wouldn't include some kind of UI element to indicate how much ammo you have. Not a huge complaint and this could've again been a conscious decision, just wanted to bring it up. - Puzzle elements are made too easy by the overabundance of hints and map cues. - A few of the characters, most notably Dan and Coyote, play too similarly. Last Word: killer7 is a genuinely unique experience that is extremely striking from an aesthetic and narrative perspective. However, it falls short with its gameplay - an issue that cannot be overlooked. True Score: 7.8

Completion: Finished game on normal difficulty at ~75% completion. Did not do challenge or DLC missions. Pros: - Excellent voice acting - with many rolls reprised from the animated series. - Story is solid for what it is - Collectables are decent, although there are definitely a few unfair or simply annoying riddles. The lore and story tidbits serve as great incentive to explore. - Incredible theme and atmosphere. The Scarecrow fight(s) are a highlight. One of the best interpretations of Batman I have ever experienced. I don't know if I've played a licensed game that made you feel so much like the character itself. This is by far the most impressive part of the game and propelled it to much greater heights for me. Given, if you are not a big Batman fan, this will not be nearly as important of a point. - Very well thought out encounters, particularly in the stealth parts - Combat is simple but does its job - could've been a greater focus in the game though Cons: - Very low enemy variety can make some of the encounters pretty boring later in the game. There are only really 6 different mobs in the game (with one of these being just a straight up reskin) and the game could've really improved on this front. - Boss fights are great thematically - but actually playing them out can be underwhelming. A huge number of them are essentially just remixes - Some of the environments can get a bit too samey - although this is of course a product of the setting, it doesn't make it any more interesting to look at - Poor facial animations - Technically was a bit strange due to the janky PhysX implementation - Context controls are a bit iffy - especially when coming back to these game from a decade after release. Batman too often does not do what you would expect him to do. - The upgrades are fine as best. While some of them do make a large impact, few are actually exciting or fun to play with Final Word: Batman: Arkham Asylum manages to intricately recreate the world of the Dark Knight through its atmosphere and world building - however it falls a bit short when it comes to combat and its age definitely shows on the technical side. True Score: 8.3

Completion: 100% story mode. Dabbled with multiverse. Pros: - Best story mode in a fighting game bar none. Great experience with solid narrative and exception cinematics. - Gear is fun and extremely varied in appearance and function. - Some of the best facial animation in the business - Fun battle system that is easy to pick up - although it does feel a bit limited after awhile - Flashy super moves, backgrounds, and animations are great for the flow of combat Cons: - Some characters look ugly and not what you would expect based on other depictions of them - Really not a lot to hook you after the relatively short story mode is over. While gear is fun to play around with, unless you plan on playing the game competitively (which I don't), there is not much else to do. Multiverse gets boring since there is no particular goal or end in sight. - Relatively simple compared to many other games in the genre - DLC characters in fighting games can really hurt the community - I don't want to pay more for extra characters than the actual game itself - Loading times are overly long - Projectile spam is a relatively big problem in this game Final Word: - Great experience that may be a bit skimpy for the price if you are a casual player - especially considering the high price of the DLC characters. True Score: 8.3

Completion: Finished game on normal difficulty. Did not engage in multiplayer. Pros: - Still the best graphics on the PS4 with vistas that are absolutely stunning. Facial work is also excellent, though not quite as extraordinary as the landscapes. - Chemistry between the leads works well and has a good arc. - Voice acting work is great - Dialogue still the best in the business - Driving portions are very well done and represent a move forward for the franchise - Some solid puzzles, especially the one with the shadows - The final setpiece works very well and is the best version of it in the series - Some of the most organic-feeling and helpful companion characters in all of gaming. They not only help with combat, but offer great complimentary dialogue and even help with problem solving Cons: - The combat seems worse than I remember in Uncharted 4, with more limited weapon selection, less creative arenas, and level design that often doesn't support stealth as well. Of course, the actual shooting is rather boring. - Still tons of strange invisible walls and auto-deaths that don't fit the logic of the game. Especially egregious due to how realistic the game tries to be - The actual plot itself is fairly boring and the main characters lack the charisma of the main trio from the rest of the series (Nate, Sully, & Elena) - Not enough puzzles. Most of the game is simply climbing around - the proportion seems much larger than in Uncharted 4 - Worst final boss of the series from a gameplay perspective - No original setpieces - Treasures are still uninteresting collectables that are only still mitigated by the inclusion of the Queen's Ruby Final Word: If you're looking for more Uncharted 4 - here it is. The incredible visuals and audio are still hampered by relatively boring gameplay, although Naughty Dog has implemented a few interesting innovations that do improve the flow of the exploration and firefights. True Score: 8.3

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Completion: Finished game once. Tried New Game + but did not finish a second playthrough. Pros: - Best dialogue system I have ever experienced in one of these "interactive fiction" games. Every title in Oxenfree's genre should look to it as an example. The dialogue itself was also very natural and believable - something that is very rare from a video game - Great sound direction - both in the OST and voice acting - Some genuinely spooky and emotional moments that left an impact - New Game + mode that adds new content (although not enough if you have other games to play IMO) Cons: - Loading times are too long. There are also other occasional stutters but those are not as big of a deal. - Pacing of the story is a little off - needed a bit more character development for everyone besides from Alex - Was not the biggest fan of the art style - Walking speed is too slow with no options for running and such - Ending was not as satisfying as I would hope Final Word: An incredible framework for the interactive fiction/walking simulator genre that establishes systems with the potential to be incredibly successful. Although the story ultimately fell a bit flat, it was still a fun experience due to the dialogue and fantastic sound direction. True Score: 8.0

Completion: Finished game Pros: - Solid, classic DQ music. A bit lacking in variety, but to be expected. - Pretty astonishing how many essential JRPG features were introduced in this game. Father of the genre and it truly shows - A few fun and unexpected story moments (considering the rest of the game) - Sprite art is pretty solid Cons: - Battles are way too straightforward - Close to no character customization - Absolutely barebones plot - Figuring out what to do next can be pretty obscure - Awful save system (quick save was appreciated, but only a band-aid for a larger problem) - Too grindy. Last Word: The father of JRPGs is still very much playable today, despite its small scope and a few archaic systems. Dragon Quest I manages to hold up as a fun ~10 hour run if for no other reason than to see where it all began. True Score: 6.8

Completion: Went through game once - Landmark Edition Pros: - Beautiful soundtrack. Voice acting for the narrator is also very solid. - Story is interesting to think about in relation to video games as a storytelling medium - Cave section is visually surprising Cons: - Graphics look outdated these days. I'm sure it was beautiful at the time, but visiting it in 2017 it looks like a bit of a relic. - Walking is not fun. It is too slow, especially when going uphill. Furthermore - while I understand the omission of features such as running/jumping from an artistic perspective, it simply DOES NOT PLAY WELL - The story is too obtuse - especially on a first playthrough. There is nothing driving me to go through this island besides from the desire to finish this game - Too short. Way too short. - Performance was not the greatest - especially for a relatively old game Last Word: A walking simulator with a pretentious and ultimately flat story. Soundtrack helps some of the moments and creates atmosphere, but it is not enough to make Dear Esther an enjoyable experience. True Score: 4.8

Completion: Finished story mode on hard. Dabbled in history mode. Pros: - Fire Emblem and the Musou series compliment each other very well. Rather, the light RPG and strategy elements ripped from FE really bolster the core Musou gameplay by fleshing out progression and a higher sense of urgency during battle. The addition of the weapon triangle in particular makes it so that there is a very real reason to switch characters. - The best the FE characters have ever looked. Very much looking forward to the main series Fire Emblem installment. - Feel just as cathartic as ever to mow down waves and waves of enemies - An absolute ton of content - the history mode is very, very meaty - Offers a choice between performance and visuals as well as Japanese and English voice acting. These options are great and should always be present. Cons: - Lazy visuals - many textures are just awful - Could be flashier, as most Musou games are. There is so much they could have been done with the expressive Fire Emblem personalities, but it ultimately falls flat. - Loot system is uninteresting due to the lack of unique weapons. - Awful, predictable story that is an absolute bore. - Soundtrack is average at best - Objectives never really stray too far from just killing - Too many clone movesets. Furthermore, so many movesets that are just not represented. It's ridiculous to me that there is not a single unmounted spear unit in the game. Final Word: Great combination of elements from both the Fire Emblem and Musou series that ultimately falls just a little bit flat due to the auxiliary elements - story, sound, and visuals. True Score: 7.6

Completion: Finished all stages. Watched true ending on Youtube. Pros: - Interesting narrative, although not exactly what I would call a "good" story. Definitely food for thought. - Exhilarating gameplay that encourages aggression, skill, and reflex. - Incredible soundtrack that matches perfectly with the gameplay and visuals - Interesting visual style that deconstructs the horrendous violence - Master of mood and atmosphere - Mask system offers gameplay variety and replayability Cons: - Cheap deaths - Story is disappointing despite being "interesting" with a very weak ending - Some aspects of the UI are unclear, specifically in picking up weapons - Secrets are too obscure, especially the passwords - Controls are not the easiest to handle and aim with on the Vita's twin sticks Final Word: An incredible game with some of the best gameplay and atmosphere I've experienced in years. With a more cohesive narrative, or just a more pared down story full stop, this would definitely have been a 9+ for me. True Score: 8.9

Completion: Finished game on normal difficulty only. I know this is not the proper way to play this title, but my time was limited. Pros: - Great, responsive feeling weapons. Meaningful enemy and level design. - Guns feel great. - Feels stylish, even playing over 15 years after release. Cons: - Lacking tutorials. - Some bosses are truly **** - Lack of weapon variety. - Poor camera. Final Score: 7.9

Completion: Finished game with all summons and ultimate weapons. Did not attempt post-game content. Pros: - First FF battle system (chronologically) I have truly found to be fun. The fast-paced nature of the ATB combined with the strategic depth and variety of the job system allows for both strategic and tactical thinking. The abilities of the jobs facilitates an incredible amount of variety and makes experimentation a blast. - A few memorable side characters, namely Gilgamesh and Ghido. - Best soundtrack out of all the FF games up to that point. - Expressive and lively characters that are a welcome change from the overly-serious and melodramatic games that were FF 1-4. Cons: - Story once again misses the mark and is decidedly of lower quality than its predecessor. Although the core cast technically does have personality, without portraits and name plates, I would likely be unable to differentiate them. Everyone is extremely generic in terms of personality and I felt no attachment to any of the characters. The dialogue has a bit more charm to it, but overall also feels rather subpar. - Dreadfully slow animations. ATB bar chugs along and does not appear smooth at all. Although these are likely limitations of the hardware, the impact is felt intensely playing the game in 2017. - Pacing falls behind at times, especially in the third act. While nonlinearity can be a good thing, the extreme openness serves primarily to stymie a sense of progression. This is exacerbated by the lack of new jobs in this act. - Some classes are completely overpowered and very much break the endgame. Final Word: Although the story and cast once again fail to impress, the brilliance of the job system and another incredible score by Nobuo Uematsu manage to firmly secure Final Fantasy V as the second best of the 2D Final Fantasy mainline titles. True Score: 8.2

Completion: Finished 2-player mode. Finished ~50% of 4-player mode. Spent ~1 hour with competitive multiplayer. Pros: - Fun, cute artstyle that fits the game - Unique puzzle solving where every world contains many new ideas - Sound effects are adorable and add greatly to the tone of the game Cons: - A bit low on content, even for a $20 game. - Last world is disappointing and perhaps the least interesting out of the three. - Music variety is far too limited - Some of the mechanical aspects can be frustrating - Many of the 4 player stages can be boring due to several players literally not having anything to do While Snipperclips is short, what is there is excellent. Creative and open-ended puzzle solving is spread throughout the game with very few repeated ideas in the main campaign. In all, Snipperclipps is a wonderful, albeit short, game that charms and captures the imagination. True Score: 8.2

Completion: Finished game on normal difficulty with 80% completion. Pros: - Exploration is fun and rewarding, primarily due to the beautiful, interactive environnments. - Visually beautiful. - Death cutscenes are creative and brutal. - Upgrade system is solid and provides noticeable improvements. - Tombs provide fun and interesting puzzles. - Game is paced well and there are rarely extended lulls. Overall, the whole game is engaging. Cons: - Combat, while smooth, gets very repetitive. - Story is bearable, but characterization, dialogue, and VA makes it seem much worse than it is. - Weapon parts and how to find them are very poorly explained. - Controls are sloppy, especially compared to Uncharted. - Weapon selection is too limited. - Too many pointless and poorly implemented QTE. - Awful in-game economy. - Not balanced around M+KB, makes the game too easy. Final Word - While enormously flawed, especially in its combat and story, the overall experience is greatly elevated by the interactive, open environments and stunning visual direction. Final Score - 8.1

Pros: - Sweeping epic of a story that spans the entire life of the protagonist. The plot is gripping, the characters are engaging, and the emotional highs are conveyed exceptionally well despite the simple visuals. - The sprite-work is nothing phenomenal, but it matches well with the 3D models and the mood of the game. Although none of these are exceptional on their own, they synergize well to create a strong overall visual experience. - Recruiting monsters is a interesting new addition that would go on to become a staple for the series. Although I did enjoy collecting a number of monsters to use in my party, the system is not interactive enough to salvage the vanilla combat of DQV. This is because monsters are captured simply through defeating them and without any additional input from the player, thus more just feeling like a bonus rather than something you go and actively seek out. - Introduction of more in-depth puzzles are great for increasing variety in dungeons, which I very much welcome. The puzzles themselves were interesting and relatively challenging, despite the age of the game. Cons - Combat is fairly linear and uncreative until the last ~5 hours or so of the game, where there are many more impactful choices in battle. While I don't necessarily have anything against the classic DQ battle system, it is definitely getting old with little to no innovation from DQIV. The boomerangs and the whips are welcome additions, but they do not add enough strategic depth to the early and mid games. - While the OST is rather good, the songs are repeated far too often and get grating after awhile. Final Word: Dragon Quest V truly feels like a journey, with a memorable cast and story that will stick with you for years to come. True Score: 8.2

Completion: Finished game on normal difficulty. 1st place on all weapon trials. Pros: - The sound design is immaculate, with one of the best narrators in any video game. The soundtrack is also great throughout, with highlights being the two (technically three) vocal tracks. - The battle system is fast-paced, frantic, and most importantly, fun. There is a huge number of weapons, skills, upgrades, and items for a game of this size. All in all, Bastion has all the elements **** ARPG. - The story is well-told and masterfully paced. This is all, of course, greatly facilitated by the magnificent narration. - The custom difficulty is a great feature that accommodates every type of player. - Stages are short and, for the most part, feel quite varied in terms of structure. This is bolstered by an enemy variety that is uncommonly vast for an indie game. - Supergiant Games debut with their signature, hand-drawn artstyle. It manages to impress even in its earliest incarnation and is one of the reasons why Bastion is so lauded and fondly remembered today. Cons: - Although it was nice to have so many weapons to play around with, the game doesn't give you enough time to really use or get used to many of them. This may feel like an odd complaint, especially since I appreciate having so many tools at my disposal, but I just feel that they could've been paced a bit better. - The art tends to be great, but does feature a few 3D parts that can seem out of place. Furthermore, due to the extravagance of the visuals, there are times where foreground and background are not clearly delineated, resulting in frustrating gameplay moments. - Bosses are mostly unimpressive. - Level ups feel far too few and take too long to feel like a significant part of the game. Furthermore, they are also not particularly significant in terms of increasing your character's power level. I wish they could've implemented this better, as it would've greatly improved the progression in this game. Final Word: - Bastion is the type of unabashed fun rare outside of Nintendo games and it is clear to see why. With its beautiful visuals, fluid combat, and impeccable sound design, Bastion proves itself to be firmly within in the elite of Indie titles. True Score: 8.7

Completion: Did not play post-game content, Interlude, or The After Years. Pros: - Story and characters are a substantial improvement over the previous games in the series. While this isn't exactly a very high bar, FFIV is strong enough in this department to push the player into wanting to find out what happens next. - Summons make for a great, flashy system that is implemented better than in any of the previous installments. - Auto-battle makes an appearance. In my opinion, this is a must have in every single old school JRPG (and many modern day ones as well), so I am glad to see it here. - Visually wonderful. The game manages to retain an old-school charm while offering beautiful and completely redone sprite art. - Another wonderful Uematsu score that hits at all the right moments and perhaps his best OST up to that point in his career. - ATB is introduced to the series in FFIV and there is no question of why it reappeared 7 more times in the main series. The addition of the ATB gauge creates a frenetic pace that can liven up the typically slow pace of JRPG battles while maintaining the same tactical rigor. This is an incredible innovation that defined Final Fantasy for over a decade and should not be overlooked. Cons: - Although the ATB is a welcome addition, the battle system as a whole is still rather one-note and there is close to no customization when it comes to character progression. This is disappointing since every the two previous games in the series had at least some way you could make your party your own, and even the original game at least made it so that party composition was meaningful. - Too many of the party members are useless in battle or at the very least completely outclassed by others in the cast. - The first half of the game was too easy and felt rather trivial. - Far too many "puzzles" involving trick walls and paths. These are not creative or fun to deal with. - Random encounter rate feels incredibly wonky, with them feeling both too frequent and too rare at different points in the game. Final Word: FFIV is the classic JRPG in its most pure form, with a story that vastly outstrips its predecessors and a battle system that, although still unrefined, would come to change the JRPG forever due to the revolutionary ATB gauge. True Score: 7.8

Completion: Finished games on normal difficulty Ys I --- Pros: - Wonderful and unique soundtrack that perfectly suits how fast-paced the game is. - The reworked visuals look good while still retaining an old-school vibe. - While combat is normally bland, boss battles are challenging and different. I only wish there were more of them. Cons: - Combat doesn't feel as interactive as it could be due to the lack of an attack button. Although the battle system isn't exactly bad, it just doesn't hold up very well compared to many other action RPGs. - Dungeon design is boring and uninspired. - Level cap is too low and removes any incentive to fight enemies after you hit this ceiling. - Equipment is linear and boring with the changes in your character's power being nearly imperceptible. This makes the progression feel somewhat stifled. - Story is bland and hardly anything of note happens. While they are surprises, characterization and world building were not strong enough to actually make these plot twists have any impact. Final Word: While clearly outdated in gameplay and story, Ys I still manages to be a relatively fun experience due to its short length, pumping soundtrack, and charming aesthetic. True Score: 7.2

Completion: Finished once Pros: - Beautiful aesthetic with a soundtrack and visual style that perfectly complement each other. - Great, unique utilization of co-op. - Game is short enough to not overstay its limited systems. - Relaxing and immersive gameplay experience. Cons: - Snow level is boring. This is rather a big point since it's a decently large portion of the game. - Story has no real moral or punch to it. Final Statement: Beautiful, artistic experience that would benefit immensely either from either a stronger story or more engaging gameplay systems. True Score: 8.0

Completion: Finished game once. Pros: - Charming visual style that strikingly utilizes lighting to create an unwavering melancholy atmosphere. Although the aesthetic is certainly simplistic, the game is short enough to not overstay its welcome. - Interesting puzzles that test logic rather than mastery of game mechanics, particularly in the first half of the game. This is a welcome departure from most puzzle games today and the pacing is incredibly tight in the first 2 hours or so. I cannot emphasize how much fun I had with the game during these parts and my score is much higher due to this. - Interesting piece of visual storytelling that while not exactly mindblowing, invites a wealth of theories and guesswork that adds to the mystique and aura of the game. Cons: - Later puzzles are less interesting than the earlier ones, though significantly more difficult. This leads to the game feeling like its actually slowing down, which is detrimental for an adventure/puzzle game. Despite this, they never got too frustrating or repetitive. The second half just simply pales in comparison to its far superior first half. - Many things in this game simply move too slowly. Although I understand that the slow movement facilitates the mood and tone of Limbo, retrying puzzles can feel like a pain when you have to wait for an elevator to slowly rise or watching your character inch a block across the floor once again. If the puzzles were easier this would've been less of an issue, or maybe I'm just dumb, but some of the sections took me several tries and having to amble back through the level repeatedly got old fast. Final Statement: - Despite the noticeably worse pacing and less original puzzles in its second half, Limbo is a stylish, aesthetic experience that will absolutely captivate you for a few hours. True Score: 8.4

Completion: Finished game on normal difficulty. Low chaos end. 100% runes and bone charms. Pros: - Creative level design that makes stealth and progression feel meaningful. I cannot stress enough how fun the levels were in this game, with their numerous routes and choices. They are by far the best part of this game and the glue holding the experience together. - The superpowers, although not particularly creative, are incredibly fun and varied within the context of this gameplay. Blink, in particular, deserves the highest praise in pushing the boundaries of how a stealth game should handle. - Solid plot with a few memorable characters. Succeeded in providing enough motive to carry out the assassinations, but not much more than that. - Crisp controls that greatly facilitate immersion through gameplay - Technically flawless with no hiccups in performance and lightning fast load speeds Cons: - The middle levels in the game feel a bit slow and too similar to each other. - Since the game harshly punishes aggressive play, many of the tools at your disposal simply cannot be used throughout the game - Low enemy variety. Vast majority of opponents are guards. - Frequently glitchy, making a few quests impossible to complete for no reason. - The ending, at least the one I got, felt very anticlimactic and sudden - Visual style is passable for the most part, but I can't get over how poor the faces look - Would have been nice for characters to respond more differently to your actions. For example, for the most part, nearly nothing different is said when you take out a target non-lethally as opposed to outright killing them. Final Word: An incredible stealth game bolstered by its innovative level design and crisp mechanics. True Score: 8.7

Completion: Finished main game, did not engage in postgame content. Pros: - Infectious charm that permeates every aspect of the game. - Weaves together multiple narratives to create a story that is enjoyable now and unbelievably impressive for what was originally a NES game - Game is located with secrets and fun side quests - Very inventive gameplay sections that surprised me even as a modern player. In particular, Torneko's chapter was incredible Cons: - Mobile controls are still sloppy despite the developers' best efforts - Clunky menus that take far too long to do what you want - No autobattle/2x battle. This feature should be just about necessary for any JRPG with heavy grinding, especially a remake decades after the fact - Battle system gets repetitive. However, this is a complaint you can raise for just about every early JRPG Likely the best NES JRPG Final Score: 7.7

Completion: 100% Dungeons, 100% Memories, 79% Shrines, True Ending Pros: - The open world is truly free. Climbing in this game is one of the most enjoyable mechanics I have ever experienced. Exploration is rewarding and genuinely surprising. The upgrades dovetail perfectly with these factors, creating a gameplay loop that doesn't let up and continues to be exhilarating. The freedom to truly go anywhere never gets old. This is, without a doubt, the greatest open world game I have ever played. - The dungeons are a blast despite being on the short side. - Only game I have played that does weapon durability right. The entire battle system is centered around this mechanic and thus it feels organic to switch in and out of your arsenal. - Shrines are fun and inventive. There are a few that truly push you to the limits of your abilities. - Measured and impactful economy that makes every resource count. - Beautiful art style that impresses despite technical limitations. Cons: - The late game becomes a bit ****. Acquiring more materials can be tedious, combat becomes unnecessary, and rewards no longer invite excitement. - English voice acting is not great. Most egregiously, Zelda's VA simply does not match her character - The story lacked impact and by its very nature felt disjointed. I was unable to develop a significant emotional connection to any of the characters. - It rains WAY WAY too much. Incredibly annoying mechanic that will occasionally halt progress and gameplay entirely. - Bosses are uncreative and the same tricks will generally work on every single enemy in the game - Significant and noticeable frame rate dips. Although this was patched, occasional issues persist. I played this game for over 70 hours and I was not bored for a moment of it. That's the highest praise I can offer for any title. Final Score: 9.4

Completion: Finished game on normal difficulty. No experience with the multiplayer modes. Pros: - Absolutely breathtaking visuals. It's astonishing how impressive Naughty Dog manages to make their games look. Every animation, character model, and texture in this game are beautiful to behold and the overall art direction rivals some of the best titles on PC. - The dialogue in the Uncharted games have always been best in class and this one is no exception. The characters feel real based on their interactions with each other as well as the brilliant performances by its star-studded cast. - Best plot in an Uncharted game by far. Although I didn't enjoy the story in this game quite as much as in The Last of Us, it was still a treat and thrilling throughout. - The grapple hook is a great addition to both the climbing and combat portions. - Many of the firefights in the game feel involved and dynamic. The enemy AI is constantly trying to flank and exploit your weaknesses and success is often only attainable through smart thinking and quick reactions. - More than anything, the ~15 hour experience truly imparts the feeling of adventure. What else could you ask for from an Uncharted title? Cons: - Despite the refinements made to combat, the game still does not push you enough to play the game the way it was meant to be played. Sitting behind cover and shooting after regenerating health is often tactically superior to running around causing mayhem. Unfortunately, this is also a significantly less fun way to experience Nathan Drake's latest adventure. - Nathan Drake is more or less the most athletic human being of all time. Because of this, it is incredibly frustrating when there's a chest high wall he can't climb or when he dies from a 10 ft. fall. For the most part, the game does a great job of crafting a linear experience with the veneer of choice and exploration. However, this makes the points when the illusion is dispelled even more noticeable. - Framerate drops are rare, but still noticeable. Final Score: 9.0

Completion: All side quests besides from mystery boss Pros: - More complex battle system with greater strategic depth than the first two games. - Expansive game world with multiple ways to interact with it - Charming art style that looks great on the PSP screen - Excellent implementation of auto-battle Cons: - Massive step-back in terms of story from Final Fantasy II - Forgettable characters - Dungeons are hugely dumbed down - Horrid balancing, with certain classes being vastly superior over others - Save system is strange, with only being able to do so in the overworld. Would have been nice for there to be an option to do so in safe zones such as towns. - The battles themselves still require little to no thinking True Score: 7.7

****Review contains MINOR SPOILERS about the structure of the game**** Completion: Mainlined Endings A & B (Watched C & D online), Normal Difficulty Pros: - Memorable cast of characters that grow on you as the story unfolds. - Expansive lore and subversive plot that turns traditional anime/video game tropes on their head. I would love to say more about this topic, but the story is the true core of this game and I believe it should be the impetus in someone picking this title up. - Mesmerizing and tonally perfect soundtrack that sticks in your head. - Voice acting for the main cast is superb. A few of the side characters, however, have poor dubs. - Bosses are challenging (at least on the first playthrough) and unique. The combination of bullet hell with ARPG worked extremely well in these situations. - The gameplay itself is often just as subversive as the story with the various mechanics and scenarios that it throws at you. While some of these weren't exactly the most fun to play through, they were undoubtedly interesting from a design experience and mixed well with the story to create a more thematically unified experience. Cons: - Side quests range from boring to absolutely frustrating. Fetch quests are abundant and the payoff is rarely substantial. - Too much backtracking. This is especially true for the other endings, which essentially require you to play through the second half of the game over and over again. - While many other aspects of the gameplay are interesting, the bulk of it, combat, is one dimensional and generally sloppy. The battle system typically boils down to mashing attack over and over again. - Although you obtain a myriad of spells throughout the game, 2 or 3 of them clearly outshine everything else in the game. Furthermore, these superior skills are obtained the earliest, which make experimentation a worthless task. - Menus are clumsy and could have flowed much better. - The game looks dated for a X360/PS3 title and even worse, experiences massive frame rate drops in many combat encounters. - Worst fishing I've ever experienced video games, especially since it is required in a main quest mission. - Upgrade system is extremely grind-heavy and specific loot is largely obscure. While the game has numerous flaws that can't be ignored, the story, specifically in its characters, leaves a definitely impression. The gameplay itself is also surprisingly and intriguing, though not always what I would describe as fun. Overall, Nier was a singular experience that pushes the bounds of video games as a medium for storytelling and interaction that just can't quite overcome the shackles of its sloppy mechanics and production . True Score: 8.3

Completion: - Three stars on all levels, including DLC, in 3 player couch co-op. Pros: - Pure, joyous, arcade-style gameplay. Overcooked does co-op right from a design standpoint, creating the perfect blend of mayhem and structure. When this game is at its high points, few titles in recent memory can compare to the unadulterated fun that Overcooked provides. - Substantial amount of content for its price. Cons: - Repetitive level design. The game would have benefited greatly from more varied mechanics, such as the blow torch in the Christmas DLC. Although the levels don't get boring due to the strength of the core gameplay mechanics, many of them begin to almost blend together. - Sloppy controls. The player characters feel as if they're sliding all over the place, making inputs feel imprecise and even frustrating at times. This is especially a problem in the ice levels, where movement is awful to the point of many deaths simply completely undeserved. - Music and visuals are used over and over again. This is obviously due to the low budget and while I'm sure the developers did the best with what they had, it is nevertheless distracting to have the same droning tracks and sound effects playing on repeat. The same can be said about the visual design, which is ultimately generic and uninspiring. A slight exception to this is the character design, which can occasionally be surprising, vibrant, and funny. True Score: 8.0

Completion: - Finished all content besides from the optional dungeon. Pros: - Gorgeous sprite art - Another great Uematsu soundtrack, though less memorable than much of his other work with the series - QoL improvements are substantial and improve the flow of the game greatly. The ability to save anywhere and the streamlining of movement/combat options is much appreciated. - Much improved level design over the first game, especially with the final dungeon. It is significantly less frustrating, although I do not know if that is simply a result of adjustments in the remake. - Extremely ambitious plot for a game that was originally for the NES. While today it seems like nothing to call home about, when compared to its console contemporaries, FFII is quite substantial in its narrative. - Dialogue system is interesting and far exceeds other JRPGs of the time, despite its relative simplicity. Cons: - Obtuse leveling system that makes progression feel underwhelming. The "subtlety" of it also causes your various party members to feel rather similar to each other. No one is locked off from any equipment or abilities at any point in the game, which takes away much of the personality behind having a "mage", "fighter", or anything of the like. This is definitely my biggest gripe with the game and the whole experience is less rewarding because of it. - Forgettable characters. FFI allowed you to create your own characters, which created a deeper connection with them simply as a result of player agency. However, FFII gives you a set of party members with preset identities and personalities that ultimately feel bland and uninteresting. - Economy is awful and you get way too much money, even compared to other games in the series - Spell system is perhaps the worst in the series, mainly for the reasons discussed in the first point. Having to cast your spells repeatedly in order to make them stronger sounds good in theory, but in practice it manifests as even more repetitive grinding. - Your fourth party member often feels like a throwaway meat shield True Score: 7.3

Completion: - Sora: Standard Mode - Riku: Beginner Mode (just wanted to finish the game by that point) Pros: - Card battle system is interesting and without a doubt unique - Many classic KH/Disney tunes return - Voice acting is solid for the most part, especially for a 2008 game - A lot of content - Bosses are fun, difficult, and creative - The two protagonists play very differently from one another Cons: - Battle system can be abused to the point where you're more or less mashing triangle for every non--boss battle (at least up to standard mode). Essentially, random battles feel like an immense chore. - Deck-making can be a chore, which should never be said about a card game - Incredibly boring and boxy environments - Lack of voice work from the Disney character s - Many assets and even storylines are copy/pasted from the original game - Very little story for such a long game. Even what is there seems mostly nonsensical without knowledge of 358/2 Days and KH2. Hard to imagine how someone could care about the non-returning characters without experiencing those games. - The duel mechanic is clunky and unfun True Score: 6.9

Completion: - Three stars on all main levels - Played the whole game through local co-op Pros: - Many different ways to play (local and online co-op as well as single player) - Solid difficulty curve, challenging though constantly manageable - Although there are few mechanics, they make good use out of the ones they do introduce - Solid physics-based puzzle game, especially considering the oversaturation of the genre Cons: - Repetitive music - Only four, relatively static, environments in the whole game - Physics can be glitchy - The game doesn't introduce enough new mechanics for the genre - Lame secrets that range from obvious to far too random and obscure True Score: 7.6

Fun game now that all the chapters are out. Huge number of options with how you carry out the assassinations. However, there are major technical issues both in performance and with glitches.

Pros: - Everything in the game makes you feel powerful, from the glory kills, to the varied weapons, to the swift and agile movement - Number of enemy types that all feel different to fight against - Incredible soundtrack - Solid, unified visual style - Core gameplay loop holds up throughout the experience Cons: - Exploration is often annoying - Suit upgrades feel underwhelming - Codex entires, and most of the plot in general, takes away from what makes the game good - Platforming sections True Score: 8.4

Pros: - Short game, good for brief bursts of gameplay - Loaded with secrets - Core gameplay loop is actually rather fun - Move character models are charming and expressive Cons: - Not even half the Gen 1 Pokemon - Final stage is kind of lame - Judging of pictures is inconsistent at best True Score: 7.5

Pros: - Wonderful, vibrant aesthetic - Character design is unique and refreshing - Controlling gravity and zooming around the city is a ton of fun - Side quests offer new gameplay experiences and flesh out the story - The city is a joy to explore - Comic book style cutscenes are well-done and certainly stylish Cons: - Story is somewhat of a mess without a satisfying resolution - None of the mysteries are really solved - Boss battles are disappointing - No restart button for missions, this is especially annoying in the challenge missions - Tutorial is way too long - Parts of the game that take away your gravity powers are boring - Combat, the gravity kick in particular, can sometimes feel inaccurate against the larger enemies - Combat is one-dimensional True Score: 8.2

Pros: - Plugs a critical hole in the original's narrative - Playing as Ellie is fun and noticeably different from Joel - Introduces a new scenario (infected and humans in the same encounter) that probably should have been in the original - Water gun section was fun Cons: - Not much is new here - Not a big fan of Riley's character - Arcade sequence was kind of cheesy True Score: 8.4

Pros: - Memorable characters, especially Joel and Ellie - Tense battles, especially during the first half of the game - Immaculate world building - Despite technically being a PS3 game, the facial animations still look great - Voice work and OST is brilliant - Excellent prologue that introduces all the major themes, even if you don't know it at the time - The highs of the plot are some of the best narrative moments I've experienced in video games as a media - The ending. Cons: - Shooting can be finicky at times - Plot is more like a TV show than a movie, with the various encounters of Joel and Ellie sometimes seeming a bit too self contained for my liking - Middle of the game is a bit too long - Character development feels a bit (just a bit) rushed - Weapon upgrades don't feel quite as obvious as I would've liked - There are a few plot points that could be explained more clearly - For a game like this, I would've liked to see more storytelling through the gameplay Although I listed many negatives, I absolutely adored the game. The criticisms come from thinking about the game enough to notice such small things. Very excited for TLOU 2.

Pros: - Relatively good-looking game - Strong selection of outfits - Volleyball minigame is fun at first Cons: - Limited character selection - Animations look rigid and unappealing - DLC out the ass - Gets boring quickly - Repetitive soundtrack - Tons of cut content from the previous games - Opaque game design - there is a lot that is not properly explained True Score: 4.2