DaddyRosfield
2019
"You know what I look like; come find me"
Respawn are a First Person Shooter powerhouse, there's no denying that. Out of the phoenix ashes that was the great game known as Titanfall 2 came Apex Legends, seemingly out of nowhere. It's mix of the battle royale and hero shooter genres, popularised by the likes of Epic's Fortnite and Blizzard's Overwatch, was a breath of fresh air in 2019 and throughout its many years of being in service, Apex has evolved and changed into a juggernaut of the battle royale genre. The core gameplay (some balance issues aside) is addicting and incredibly fun. The gunplay is tight and the Legend abilities are all unique and bring something different to your teams composition every game you play. While it has its issues (server issues are rampant, cheaters seem to pop up too often, monetisation is too aggressive even for a Free to Play game) at its core Apex is still a romp to play through even in 2023.
Respawn are a First Person Shooter powerhouse, there's no denying that. Out of the phoenix ashes that was the great game known as Titanfall 2 came Apex Legends, seemingly out of nowhere. It's mix of the battle royale and hero shooter genres, popularised by the likes of Epic's Fortnite and Blizzard's Overwatch, was a breath of fresh air in 2019 and throughout its many years of being in service, Apex has evolved and changed into a juggernaut of the battle royale genre. The core gameplay (some balance issues aside) is addicting and incredibly fun. The gunplay is tight and the Legend abilities are all unique and bring something different to your teams composition every game you play. While it has its issues (server issues are rampant, cheaters seem to pop up too often, monetisation is too aggressive even for a Free to Play game) at its core Apex is still a romp to play through even in 2023.
"And the Master Sword sleeps....FOREVER!"
The Legend of Zelda was a game that in its day changed how the Adventure game was thought of. There's no doubt in my mind that without the original Legend of Zelda, the Adventure game genre would have stagnated immensely. However, it had its flaws, some of which were just completely ignored by its 1987 sequel. The 1991 Super NES sequel to that game, A Link to the Past, is a triumphant return to what made the original Legend of Zelda such a beloved game in the first place while expanding on all of its elements and negating any and all flaws it had. A Gorgeous look even for an early Super NES game, one of the best soundtracks on the system, an incredible game feel and a pair of worlds that feel so unique yet familiar to one another. A Link to the Past was a game that cast a long shadow over the Zelda franchise and it's easy to see why. Its formula was emulated in nearly game after this one for over twenty five years. One of the most important SNES games, though it's not perfect to me. Some of the dungeons overstay their welcome and the swordplay is sometimes really finnicky. Other than that, it's an immensely polished Adventure game that is the best on its platform.
The Legend of Zelda was a game that in its day changed how the Adventure game was thought of. There's no doubt in my mind that without the original Legend of Zelda, the Adventure game genre would have stagnated immensely. However, it had its flaws, some of which were just completely ignored by its 1987 sequel. The 1991 Super NES sequel to that game, A Link to the Past, is a triumphant return to what made the original Legend of Zelda such a beloved game in the first place while expanding on all of its elements and negating any and all flaws it had. A Gorgeous look even for an early Super NES game, one of the best soundtracks on the system, an incredible game feel and a pair of worlds that feel so unique yet familiar to one another. A Link to the Past was a game that cast a long shadow over the Zelda franchise and it's easy to see why. Its formula was emulated in nearly game after this one for over twenty five years. One of the most important SNES games, though it's not perfect to me. Some of the dungeons overstay their welcome and the swordplay is sometimes really finnicky. Other than that, it's an immensely polished Adventure game that is the best on its platform.
2007
Forza Motorsport 2 is the true beginning of one of gamings juggernaut racing franchises. A full 60FPS, true HD racing game like this that wasn't just a proof of concept was such a breath of fresh air in 2007 especially after PGR3 was simply only running at 30FPS. The career mode is well paced and ensures that you get rewards at regular intervals, the ways you can customise your cars liveries was a revelation to me coming from the limited ways it could be done in previous racing games and above all else the actual racing gameplay was tight and allowed you to play YOUR way. A game filled with as much expression as it has the will to give you ways to express yourself. One of the best racers ever made.
"Link begins his most adventuresome quest yet..."
A marked improvement over the original Legend of Zelda in many ways, but has its own myriad of issues. Zelda II is a game that establishes a lot of series staples such as towns to visit, a magic mechanic and the Triforce of Courage to name a few. The presentation is also far mroe interesting than that of the original game, with a more appealing colour palette and a soundtrack with more than three songs (it has a whopping EIGHT songs not including the title and end credits themes!). The core gameplay is also fun when it works, with a combat system that to me seemed to evoke a classic case of player skill being the deciding factor on success. However, the level design - especially in the later half of the game - completely falls apart and makes the game too unfair with the way that the continue system works. Trust me, Zelda II is a game with a tonne of potential which is why there have been many games since trying to emulate its style, but the 1987 game from Nintendo simply has too much unfair BS in its second half for me to truly recommend to anyone other than diehard NES enthusiasts who want to play a game that truly defines "NES Hard".
A marked improvement over the original Legend of Zelda in many ways, but has its own myriad of issues. Zelda II is a game that establishes a lot of series staples such as towns to visit, a magic mechanic and the Triforce of Courage to name a few. The presentation is also far mroe interesting than that of the original game, with a more appealing colour palette and a soundtrack with more than three songs (it has a whopping EIGHT songs not including the title and end credits themes!). The core gameplay is also fun when it works, with a combat system that to me seemed to evoke a classic case of player skill being the deciding factor on success. However, the level design - especially in the later half of the game - completely falls apart and makes the game too unfair with the way that the continue system works. Trust me, Zelda II is a game with a tonne of potential which is why there have been many games since trying to emulate its style, but the 1987 game from Nintendo simply has too much unfair BS in its second half for me to truly recommend to anyone other than diehard NES enthusiasts who want to play a game that truly defines "NES Hard".
2019
"I am thou, thou art I..."
The original Persona 5 is already a five star masterpiece that has a few small bumps that needed ironing out. Persona 5 Royal, the 2020 (2019 in Japan) enhanced re-release of Persona 5 added enough content and ironed out those issues from the original game that it's safe to call this the perfect version of one of the best JRPG's ever made, certainly of this generation. The new music all fits in so brilliantly along with some new and exciting mini games to play that can keep you coming back for hours upon hours. The added story content is some of the best in the entire series and genuinely feels like what the writers really wanted the story to be once all was said and done.
The original Persona 5 is already a five star masterpiece that has a few small bumps that needed ironing out. Persona 5 Royal, the 2020 (2019 in Japan) enhanced re-release of Persona 5 added enough content and ironed out those issues from the original game that it's safe to call this the perfect version of one of the best JRPG's ever made, certainly of this generation. The new music all fits in so brilliantly along with some new and exciting mini games to play that can keep you coming back for hours upon hours. The added story content is some of the best in the entire series and genuinely feels like what the writers really wanted the story to be once all was said and done.
"Feel, think"
I was unsure how to approach my review of Final Fantasy XIV since all of the expansion packs are so vast and could be their own games with how much content they have (in fact on this very site they're their own games!) but for now I'll just go with everything from the beginning of A Realm Reborn up to the start of Heavensward.
Never in my life before Final Fantasy XIV had I played an MMORPG. I had once seen my cousin playing World of Warcraft many years prior and thought it would be cool to try playing that kind of game one day. Alas, that day finally came in 2013 when I first played the beta for Final Fantasy XIV's second version, after the original was killed in 2012 due to a myriad of issues.
The base game of Final Fantasy XIV is immensely rich in content on both a PvP and PvE scale. Thousands of quests, hundres of items, dozens of zones to visit. A great soundtrack by Masayoshi Soken (though he hadn't reached his absulte fullest yet here), stunning vistas even though it was limited by seventh generation technology....a Classic MMORPG then! But that comes with its own caveats. For one, the story in A Realm Reborn is - quite frankly - uninteresting for a good twenty to thirty HOURS. It genuinely feels as shallow as an early NES RPG at times with how lacking in motivation the characters are at times. It's incredibly detrimental to the entire experience to say to people "yeah, you should play Final Fantasy XIV but it takes like thirty hours to get good!"
Trust me when I say this; the beginning of the game is a slog, but once you get through it, you're in for one of the most beautiful gaming experiences I've ever had.
I was unsure how to approach my review of Final Fantasy XIV since all of the expansion packs are so vast and could be their own games with how much content they have (in fact on this very site they're their own games!) but for now I'll just go with everything from the beginning of A Realm Reborn up to the start of Heavensward.
Never in my life before Final Fantasy XIV had I played an MMORPG. I had once seen my cousin playing World of Warcraft many years prior and thought it would be cool to try playing that kind of game one day. Alas, that day finally came in 2013 when I first played the beta for Final Fantasy XIV's second version, after the original was killed in 2012 due to a myriad of issues.
The base game of Final Fantasy XIV is immensely rich in content on both a PvP and PvE scale. Thousands of quests, hundres of items, dozens of zones to visit. A great soundtrack by Masayoshi Soken (though he hadn't reached his absulte fullest yet here), stunning vistas even though it was limited by seventh generation technology....a Classic MMORPG then! But that comes with its own caveats. For one, the story in A Realm Reborn is - quite frankly - uninteresting for a good twenty to thirty HOURS. It genuinely feels as shallow as an early NES RPG at times with how lacking in motivation the characters are at times. It's incredibly detrimental to the entire experience to say to people "yeah, you should play Final Fantasy XIV but it takes like thirty hours to get good!"
Trust me when I say this; the beginning of the game is a slog, but once you get through it, you're in for one of the most beautiful gaming experiences I've ever had.
1986
"It's Dangerous to Go Alone. Take this!"
The Legend of Zelda's influence on the American games market in particular was something I wish I could have beheld, simply because I think that if I played it back in its prime, I would have loved it as much as any other kid from the eighties did. Alas, a game that's as cryptic and at times bizzare as this does not really hold up relatively speaking. The Legend of Zelda faces an uphill battle for the average modern video game player, and this isn't me trying to dunk on the casuals. Far from it. Quite simply the game is too archaic that even if you think you can accept its age and what that could entail, you truly cannot grasp the absurdity that The Legend of Zelda will make you go through to progress through its arduous quest. If you are willing to brave the "Hyrule Fantasy" and can stomach its manys traps and failings, then by all means, enjoy. It is a cornerstone piece of the video game industry, just not one that I think can be truly accessible to everyone these days.
The Legend of Zelda's influence on the American games market in particular was something I wish I could have beheld, simply because I think that if I played it back in its prime, I would have loved it as much as any other kid from the eighties did. Alas, a game that's as cryptic and at times bizzare as this does not really hold up relatively speaking. The Legend of Zelda faces an uphill battle for the average modern video game player, and this isn't me trying to dunk on the casuals. Far from it. Quite simply the game is too archaic that even if you think you can accept its age and what that could entail, you truly cannot grasp the absurdity that The Legend of Zelda will make you go through to progress through its arduous quest. If you are willing to brave the "Hyrule Fantasy" and can stomach its manys traps and failings, then by all means, enjoy. It is a cornerstone piece of the video game industry, just not one that I think can be truly accessible to everyone these days.
2016
"Walk tall, my friends"
Ambition. That's the word that I think best describes, for better or worse, Final Fantasy XV. After an arduous development cycle that lasted anywhere from a decade to only four years depending on who you ask, Final Fantasy XV's base game is an open world that's as ambitious as it is empty and void of any real depth. The story is incredibly disjointed at the beginning of the game, not to mention half of the stuff from early trailers simply wasn't in the game at all. However, what we did get was an entertaining game for the most part, and one with one of the most lovable casts of characters in the series. Special mention must go to Yoko Shimomura's phenomenal OST that pairs beautifully with the stunningly realised world of Eos. A cautionary tale of ambition, but one that perhaps can still be found to be enjoyable in the right circumstances.
Ambition. That's the word that I think best describes, for better or worse, Final Fantasy XV. After an arduous development cycle that lasted anywhere from a decade to only four years depending on who you ask, Final Fantasy XV's base game is an open world that's as ambitious as it is empty and void of any real depth. The story is incredibly disjointed at the beginning of the game, not to mention half of the stuff from early trailers simply wasn't in the game at all. However, what we did get was an entertaining game for the most part, and one with one of the most lovable casts of characters in the series. Special mention must go to Yoko Shimomura's phenomenal OST that pairs beautifully with the stunningly realised world of Eos. A cautionary tale of ambition, but one that perhaps can still be found to be enjoyable in the right circumstances.
2020
"See you in the big leagues"
(Note: I initially played this game in 2020 on an Xbox Series X, however the native Series X version had not released, hence why I labeled this under the Xbox One category)
Cyberpunk 2077 is a game with a lot of heart and soul that manages to gnaw at your very core. It's a game with a world so filled with life and details that it's insane to even compare another open world AAA city to this. Cyberpunk is bold and daring and perhaps misses the mark more times than it should on a few technical levels, however that's more than acceptable given the sheer scope of what the game achieves with its sublime presentation, haunting yet violent score and a heart of gold that shouldn't be passed up on...unless you're playing on an eighth generation console.
If you only have access to a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, avoid Cyberpunk 2077 like the plague. The game simply doesn't function on those consoles.
(Note: I initially played this game in 2020 on an Xbox Series X, however the native Series X version had not released, hence why I labeled this under the Xbox One category)
Cyberpunk 2077 is a game with a lot of heart and soul that manages to gnaw at your very core. It's a game with a world so filled with life and details that it's insane to even compare another open world AAA city to this. Cyberpunk is bold and daring and perhaps misses the mark more times than it should on a few technical levels, however that's more than acceptable given the sheer scope of what the game achieves with its sublime presentation, haunting yet violent score and a heart of gold that shouldn't be passed up on...unless you're playing on an eighth generation console.
If you only have access to a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, avoid Cyberpunk 2077 like the plague. The game simply doesn't function on those consoles.
2001
"Let's rock, baby"
Devil May Cry was brought into this world as a maligned half-step in re-creating something from the ashes of an abandoned Resident Evil 4 beta concept. It shows. The camera, stilted voice acting and wonky at times mechanics hinder what is a game that all in all is one of the most important of its era. Devil May Cry is a game that's worth playing, though moreso as a time capsule for seeing how the action genre evolved into something more than what previous attempts like The Bouncer from Squaresoft or Konami's Castlevania games on Nintendo 64 could offer. A game with a lot of heart and style, but rough around the edges.
Devil May Cry was brought into this world as a maligned half-step in re-creating something from the ashes of an abandoned Resident Evil 4 beta concept. It shows. The camera, stilted voice acting and wonky at times mechanics hinder what is a game that all in all is one of the most important of its era. Devil May Cry is a game that's worth playing, though moreso as a time capsule for seeing how the action genre evolved into something more than what previous attempts like The Bouncer from Squaresoft or Konami's Castlevania games on Nintendo 64 could offer. A game with a lot of heart and style, but rough around the edges.
1990
"Commander Solid Snake, Operation 747 commencing!"
Snake's Revenge is not a great game, but it is one that has an insane gameflow to it. Once you clear the very stilted and difficult intro section, you find yourself playing this weird hybrid of Contra and Metal Gear that has potential in spades but not enough solid design to keep it up in the long run. A great soundtrack and graphical look can't save this game from being plainly just uninteresting. Only the most diehard Metal Gear fans should go near this one.
Snake's Revenge is not a great game, but it is one that has an insane gameflow to it. Once you clear the very stilted and difficult intro section, you find yourself playing this weird hybrid of Contra and Metal Gear that has potential in spades but not enough solid design to keep it up in the long run. A great soundtrack and graphical look can't save this game from being plainly just uninteresting. Only the most diehard Metal Gear fans should go near this one.
2023
"If I could just forget the pain of that night- even for a second..."
The original Resident Evil 4 was a landmark moment in the history of video games. For years the series had languished in poor controls, bad voice acting and stagnant game design that even the move to full 3D in 2000's Code Veronica couldn't fix. RE4 changed all of that, and then some. The 2023 remake is a beautiful re-imagining that is nearly perfect in every regard. While it has its moments of pure idiocy (lack of i-frames means you'll be getting hitstunned from every other angle) the charm and character of Resident Evil 4 is mostly in tact here. Sure, there's some stuff toned down like the sexuality and the campiness, but it remains mostly true to itself and that's all it needed to be with a great soundtrack, stunning visuals and tight controls that make this one of the best games of the year.
The original Resident Evil 4 was a landmark moment in the history of video games. For years the series had languished in poor controls, bad voice acting and stagnant game design that even the move to full 3D in 2000's Code Veronica couldn't fix. RE4 changed all of that, and then some. The 2023 remake is a beautiful re-imagining that is nearly perfect in every regard. While it has its moments of pure idiocy (lack of i-frames means you'll be getting hitstunned from every other angle) the charm and character of Resident Evil 4 is mostly in tact here. Sure, there's some stuff toned down like the sexuality and the campiness, but it remains mostly true to itself and that's all it needed to be with a great soundtrack, stunning visuals and tight controls that make this one of the best games of the year.
1998
"I'm a cop; it's my job"
Parasite Eve is a game that is woefully underwhelming despite some really cool ideas. The story is a sequel to a Japanese novel/movie from the same time period however I don't think even fans of the source material would find the story of this PlayStation Survival Horror RPG to be very appealing. Characters with confusing motivations, lacking personalities and dry dialogue really drag out the plot and make any cutscene feel like a chore to get through.
Thankfully, Parasite Eve's gameplay system is really cool, albeit lacking a lot of depth. Being a hybrid of Resident Evil and Final Fantasy, Parasite Eve's time based gunplay system adds a layer of tension I've rarely seen in an RPG to date though the magic system, called "PE" in this game, leaves a lot to be desired since there's not much to it other than spamming Heal magic and the Haste spell (Which is a crutch to be honest). A game with a solid foundation tied onto one of the most boring narratives I've ever seen in a game.
Parasite Eve is a game that is woefully underwhelming despite some really cool ideas. The story is a sequel to a Japanese novel/movie from the same time period however I don't think even fans of the source material would find the story of this PlayStation Survival Horror RPG to be very appealing. Characters with confusing motivations, lacking personalities and dry dialogue really drag out the plot and make any cutscene feel like a chore to get through.
Thankfully, Parasite Eve's gameplay system is really cool, albeit lacking a lot of depth. Being a hybrid of Resident Evil and Final Fantasy, Parasite Eve's time based gunplay system adds a layer of tension I've rarely seen in an RPG to date though the magic system, called "PE" in this game, leaves a lot to be desired since there's not much to it other than spamming Heal magic and the Haste spell (Which is a crutch to be honest). A game with a solid foundation tied onto one of the most boring narratives I've ever seen in a game.
2001
"In my restless dreams, I see that town..."
In terms of storytelling, few games even 21 years after its inital release match the emotional heights of Silent Hill 2's deeply dark delve into the mind and world of James Sunderland and the other unfortunate souls who happened to be in Silent Hill on that day. A masterfully written script alongside one of the most hauntingly beautiful musical scores in any mainstream video game. If the controls and combat were a bit better then the game would literally be perfect but alas perfection is not something so easily achieved in this world. Be sure to play the Enhanced Edition on PC if you don't have access to authentic 6th Gen hardware, the HD version is complete hogwash.
In terms of storytelling, few games even 21 years after its inital release match the emotional heights of Silent Hill 2's deeply dark delve into the mind and world of James Sunderland and the other unfortunate souls who happened to be in Silent Hill on that day. A masterfully written script alongside one of the most hauntingly beautiful musical scores in any mainstream video game. If the controls and combat were a bit better then the game would literally be perfect but alas perfection is not something so easily achieved in this world. Be sure to play the Enhanced Edition on PC if you don't have access to authentic 6th Gen hardware, the HD version is complete hogwash.
2018
"There is no Escape."
In the face of adversity and in a brutal attempt to climb out of hell itself (that being the year 2020), Hades stunned the world with a meticulously crafted rougelite/RPG/visual novel hybrid that contained - more than anything else - a bleeding heart of pure passion. Supergiant's commitment to hand drawn, finely detailed art and musical scores led to one of the most pleasant games to look at in recent memory along with a soundtrack that's as hard hitting as it is emotionally diverse. Hades is a game that is easy to pick up and play, but brutal to conquer. One of the best games ever made and certainly Supergiant Games' best. Cannot wait for that sequel to drop.
In the face of adversity and in a brutal attempt to climb out of hell itself (that being the year 2020), Hades stunned the world with a meticulously crafted rougelite/RPG/visual novel hybrid that contained - more than anything else - a bleeding heart of pure passion. Supergiant's commitment to hand drawn, finely detailed art and musical scores led to one of the most pleasant games to look at in recent memory along with a soundtrack that's as hard hitting as it is emotionally diverse. Hades is a game that is easy to pick up and play, but brutal to conquer. One of the best games ever made and certainly Supergiant Games' best. Cannot wait for that sequel to drop.