Once this game was announced, I went day after day thinking this was a goofy, low quality Final Fantasy Dark Souls from the Nioh team. Man, I was wrong. This thing is great!

Not only do you have lovable edgelord protag Jack AKA Shadow the Hedgehog AKA Dr. House in a Final Fantasy game, and not ONLY does he play 7 seconds of nu-metal on his phone in frustration from not yet having killed Chaos before turning it off again, but this is a really good take on a more accessible/casual Dark Soulsy/Nioh thing.

It’s really easy (on default difficulty) if you’ve played one of these before, but it’s still really fun and well made. Good bosses, a dense campaign that takes maybe 15 hours to run through (20ish with some side stuff), and a strangely told story that sheds new light on the world of Final Fantasy 1. And, for as strange and budget as the storytelling feels, it…completely sold me on its vision for an expanded FF1???? I even bought the DLC to (hopefully if I get to it) see how it wraps up! Jack Garland is DMC Dante but way more lovable. Anytime a character has a monologue, he tells them to shut up before pulling out a weapon. It’s like he’s so earnestly stupid that it wins you over. A real anti-Final Fantasy protagonist.

I also appreciate that it seems to have a looty Diablo-style grind in its endgame, where you run side missions and the DLC for increasingly crazy mission difficulty levels. While I think it's a clever way to add longevity and works well for a game that isn't balanced to From Software levels of design polish, I am a bit annoyed the DLC (which features the end of the base game's story) is balanced for endgame difficulty so if you play the default "Action" difficulty you're going to get your ass beat in the DLC. There are lore friendly options, but it's still pretty annoying IMO.

Still, super cool video game. Strongly recommend checking it out and sticking with it (it gets SO MUCH BETTER after the first couple missions) if you're interested.

the foundation of metal gear 2 is preserved to create an absolute masterpiece of a video game - one that expands on MG2's already solid (hold your applause) stealth mechanics by adding additional QOL such as visible enemy FOVs and the much-needed cutback on long-distance backtracking and tedious card management
but most importantly, metal gear solid further explores MG2's focus on the consequences of those who seek to profit off war and the lives that suffer because of it, along with the persistence and importance of individuality and the human connection even in dire circumstances - evidenced by snake's desire to fight for meryl's sake (setting aside the threat of a nuclear war, of course) and his individuality and desire to live for himself at the end of the game contrasting against liquid's goal of following in big boss' footsteps to satisfy his genes telling him to cause problems on purpose
i love the ending split - meryl's ending is, of course, the better outcome as she lives as a direct consequence of snake withstanding ocelot's torture for her sake, but otacon's directly shows the new lease on life he's gained in spite of sniper wolf's death, and is able to encourage snake to move on and not beat himself up over meryl's death knowing her love does not die with her - each ending i think is no better than the other because both of them do a lot for their respective characters

metal gear solid's just fuckin' awesome man, it's true

Played on the Ship of Harkinian PC Port at 30 FPS.

"Now, go home, Link. Regain your lost time! Home... where you are supposed to be... the way you are supposed to be...

What is there to say that hasn't already been said? Ocarina of Time is the eternal critical darling of the masses, an astounding transition of 2D to 3D that just does so many things right, basically consolidating the formula for many, many Zelda games to come. A story that comfortably tells a thematic narrative of time, adolescence and coming-of-age. A visual style so distinct that when Link, Zelda and Ganondorf are brought up, it is this game's depiction of them that immediately comes to mind. A soundtrack so iconic, even people who aren't familiar with video games know a track or two. The dungeon designs, the dark comedy, Z-targeting, the harem (?), all of it is so, so good, to the point where despite OOT clearly showing signs of age and retrospective reviews have rightfully argued against its masterpiece status, it still remains true to its namesake, serving as a long-standing, timeless mantlepiece of successfully executed early 3D game design.

I may not be new to the debate, but in the next 1000 words, I'll try to provide an authentic, fresh perspective of my experience:

i hate spiders i hate spiders i hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spiders i hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spiders dear lord i hate how the fucking skulltulas look why did they make me collect this many fuck spiders i hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders i hate spidersi hate spiders the person who designed skulltulas should be tried and sentenced to eternal imprisonment for hate crimes.

Final rating: i h8.5piders/10
Focus: i hate spiders
Theme: i hate spiders

HEY YOU.

Having been way too long since I finished Kiwami, I elected it'd be easier if I just had a do-over on the Yakuza franchise and started from the very beginning with the original PS2 game as some friends have suggested. How does it fare?

Yakuza's greatest strengths, in my opinion, lie in its presentation and the commendable job it does for laying out the groundwork for later series to build on. There's this grittier, more edgier feel to the game than later entries that I think went absolutely lost in Kiwami. The dark, moody colors of 2005 Kamurocho, the primitive yet still impressive graphics (which can't really be replicated, truthfully), the raw, punchy sound design and even the potty-mouthed yet still charming English dub give the game this unique flair not seen in any of the Yakuza games I've played sans maybe the sequel. Especially give the soundtrack a listen, as they only further accentuate Yakuza's style through the rock-heavy funky tunes as you beat people to a bloody pulp.

I quite like Yakuza's story, to touch on it briefly. Kiryu's a bit funny in this game as they were still getting a feel for his character and thus he's a bit more aggressive with others and even hilariously flirtatious in some substories - not to fucking mention the thousand fucking F-bombs he fucking drops throughout the fucking English dub. It's relatively simple compared to other Yakuza stories from what I can tell but still an entertaining and heartfelt one. And for the record, I disagree with Nishiki being all that much weaker in this game than he is in Kiwami - granted, the added scenes in that game do help us get a better feel for his situation after Kiryu gets sent to the joint and the spiral of despair his life became afterward, but I think the PS2 game still does a good job of showing how much he means to Kiryu as a friend, plus his insecurities and tiredness of being upstaged and compared to Kiryu that molded him into the power-hungry, desperate-to-prove-himself man he became through scenes such as his reunion in Serena and the final confrontation he has with Kiryu and Yumi.

However, where I think the game starts to fall apart is on the gameplay side of things. To be clear, I don't hold a lot of its shortcomings against it all that much for obvious reasons, but they're just as obviously still worth pointing out.
The combat is rough, for starters. While satisfying to land hits due to the absolutely meaty sound design of Kiryu fracturing a man's skull whole, that's IF you can even land your shots; the lock-on is incredibly unreliable as often you will find yourself completely missing when you shouldn't have, leaving yourself wide open. This, and the fact that when fighting more than like, five enemies at a time I found myself highly prone to getting hit-stunned and having the shit beaten out of me by three different enemies with no room to recover. You can unlock moves to alleviate this, but you shouldn't have to.
There's also.. not much to do in Kamurocho? Perhaps I'm used to Yakuza being so loaded with content and if so that's on me, but I found myself more often than not just bee-lining it to the next objective rather than taking the time to explore since all you can really do is.. get yourself drunk? Check out a substory or two? But then this game also has an odd mechanic where you can only do one substory at a time, so.. yeah.

But I think I can still appreciate Yakuza all the same for being an impressive and charming first step, even if the sum of its parts is rather flawed. It's still a decent game at the end of the day, and a more overlooked Yakuza game that in spite of everything I just lambasted it for, still deserves more attention.

KILL THIS ARROGANT MO THER FU CKER.

replayed this game using the restored patch and god damn, it's pretty jarring how someone like kiryu tends to be more soft-spoken than he usually is, I assume because takaya kuroda was younger during the release of this game (which is why he's able to reach higher pitches far more easily compared to his performances in kiwami 1; no shade to that game's voice acting bc it's still good, just something me and others have noticed) and they didn't really know how stoic they wanted kiryu to be yet. in general the voice direction for this game seems to be far more low-key than other yakuza games

on a different note man! I actually kinda jive with this game's combat more! it still unfortunately has that unavoidable jank with the unreliable lock-on, and what I'm about to tell you of course needs a bit of progress on your end which is kind of a shame
that being said, upgrading your dash enough and achieving the komaki fist reversal (which isn't actually that hard) brings kiryu a little closer to his y2 counterpart
combined with the more heavy movement in this game, I think this makes for a really interesting take on yakuza's combat (retroactively, of course) where you have to work around kiryu's sluggish movement and make good use of heat actions, the grab, and the fist reversal - you're being attacked basically on all sides and you don't have the speed necessary to go all in like you would in yakuza 2 onward. landing hits and managing to get away in time is more harder in this game, which I think makes every hit you do land and every enemy you defeat feel INCREDIBLY satisfying

needless to say I actually enjoyed my time with this y1 replay quite a bit! it still manages to have that awesome moody and gritty flair unique to the ps2 games and a rock solid introduction to the world of yakuza.
this replay was mainly to have y1 fresh in my mind for when I play k1, so this should prove very interesting..