Love Canto V!
+ Best setting in the game (As of Canto VI)
+ Ishmael going crazy is a good time
+ Scariest story boss in the game so far was very fun
+ The Whales are rad
+ HOOOOLD OOOOON TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT
+ Valid nerfs for once apparently.

- Weird pacing in part 1 and 2 as is the usual.

Canto VI was really great!
+ Cool setting
+ Heathcliff is a good boy
+ Best boss design in the game thus far (can't speak for post-patch though)
+ Crazy good music this Canto, better than usual
+ ROUND AND ROUND WE GOOOOOOOO
+ Generally some of the coolest moments happened in this Canto as well, so yeah, super rad.

- Some weird pacing during part 1 and 2 as is usually the case
- y u nerf bosses?

Dragon's Dogma II is a delightful experience when you are just adventuring and taking down big beasties or tossing random NPCs you don't like into the Brine. But whenever you stop doing those things to interact with other aspects of the game it just kinda sucks...

But there really is nothing else that can compare to the feeling of holding onto a Griffin's head and caving in its skull with a massive slab of metal (in the air), falling 100 feet and barely getting caught by your pawn while the beast slams into the ground to your left. Then you and the crew leap into action tearing through HP bars while the "You are winning now" music kicks in.

+ Meaty and impactful combat
+ Every Class (Vocation) feels totally different
+ Great emergent gameplay
+ Wonderful low fantasy art direction/atmosphere
+ I can freely kill literally any NPC in any hilarious way I want
+ Janky

- Carry weight
- Story sucks
- Low enemy/boss variety
- Purposefully obtuse to a point that is respectable but still not really enjoyable, especially with some of the quest design
- Whatever the hell is going on with the semi-timelimited post-game
- Performance is just bad
- The first one had electric guitars in the OST, what happened to those here?
- Janky

+ Absolutely legendary soundtrack.
+ Whacky Mini-games.
+ Lovable characters.
+ Truly the combat system of all time.
+ Ridiculously overproduced cutscenes (this is a compliment).
+ A story that makes you feel like your parents dropped you on your head a few too many times (this is a compliment?).
+ Barret

- It does have some lame open world-isms but its the most optional of optional content purely for those that NEED more of the game. Quite forgivable.
- Traversal mechanics are kinda janky and really should be faster
- Final dungeon is a bit padded out
- What is going on with the lighting?

The best way to experience Persona 3 by a long shot. New QoL, wonderful new OST arrangements (and new tracks in general), huge glow up visually, loads of new scenes and hang-outs. Its a great time.

However Tartarus is still dreadfully boring even with the new additions. Plenty of folks don't mind it but I dread going every single time because man it is just... tedious.

But who gives a crap about that, its the best Persona story with the best Persona characters and the best Persona soundtrack. All that but now with the best Persona presentation.

Play it.

This is what all Gacha companies need to do with their treasure hoards of money... make actual high quality video games.

Fast-paced anime Monster Hunter that emphasizes killing sick bosses as fast as possible while fantastic music fills your ears and flashy visuals delight the eyeballs.

This game also features an absurd amount of grinding QoL. Its a game all about the grind and they do everything they can to ensure it is a comfortable and fun experience. Delightful.

(Oh yeah the story is pretty mediocre but that really isn't what you're here for.)

A hodgepodge of ideas from other games thrown together to create something that works oddly well. The game is full of problems and is undeniably janky as all hell but the simple truth is that its addicting and engaging. I doubt it has much staying power, but that's honestly fine because I'm getting plenty of good hours out of it here and now.

No it won't kill Pokemon or change anything Game Freak does in the future.

No the designs aren't plagiarism, they are the store-brand equivalents of your favorite snack.

No its not just a Pokemon rip-off, this game rips off a ton of games and smashes them together which actually ends up being strangely unique, if it was just Pokemon games it was trying to mimic then it would honestly be far less fun.

The game may be devoid of any truly original ideas, but the point is that its actually kinda fun... and in the survival/crafting genre that is an achievement.

Its a 6/10 at best, but sometimes 6/10s are good fun.

Really rock-solid Metroidvania with exceptional boss fights and flashy presentation.

Also Persian Vergil.

The atmosphere is a bit lacking and the story is pretty rough. Add in a handful of bugs and these problems do detract from the overall package, but the game easily makes up for these shortcomings and ends up being an easy recommend.