I've tried to pick up and play this game multiple times because everyone that is into the Tales game genre has spoken so highly of this game. I can definitely see that there is something special about it too. I think it's fair to say that this game, and perhaps even this entire genre of games, is just not for me. There are certain JRPGs that I can vibe with, and this just isn't one of them. Therefore, don't take my rating as a fair assessment of the game itself.

The game feels like you're playing in an anime. Unfortunately, in my experience, between playing this game and watching anime, I think I'd rather just watch anime. I love the idea of engaging more deeply in an animated world. However, the gameplay elements just aren't exciting enough to make it worth the extra effort of providing the input. The game systems are also incredibly vague and confusing. I'm not entirely sure I understand them, or even want to bother understanding them at this point.

One thing I will give the game credit for is the story elements and atmosphere. Velvet is a badass, and it feels awesome playing as such a dope female protagonist for the first portion of the game. The opening soundtrack is also one of the most hype songs I have ever heard. The title screen has been the most intense parts of the game for me so far.

Cave Story is the perfect example of why you shouldn't judge a game by it's graphics. The game first released in 2004, and yes, the graphics can feel pretty dated sometimes. However, the visuals do not take away from the overall experience in any way.

At it's core, Cave Story is a short little game that tells an interesting story, with a surprisingly fun combat system, that presents players with a decent challenge. I found the way that Cave Story slowly ramps up the difficulty, especially near the end, very rewarding and fitting for the storytelling experience (depending on your ending). Just make sure not to make the same mistake I did and attempt to play the game on Hard difficulty during your first playthrough. It's not worth it... and you'll ruin the experience. I ended up restarting after a few hours in once I realized how screwed I was without the extra hearts.

I think I'll definitely be replaying Cave Story in the future when I feel like sampling the simple, yet satisfying experience this game has to offer again. The game is definitely worth looking into if you've never played it before.

I had originally played the Witcher 3 on PS4 when it was free with PS+. Had you asked me my opinion on the game back then, I would've told you I had no clue what all the hype was about. The movement was clunky, I had no backstory or knowledge of the events that took place in prior games, and it was not at all what I was expecting (i.e. comparing it to the likes of most Bethesda games at the time). I had abandoned the game after only a few hours of playing it.

Fast forward nearly 8 years later, and the game is still hailed as one of the greatest RPG's of all time. So I figured, why not give it another go? I purchased the game for $10.00 on Steam and began playing the freshly polished "next gen" version of the game, and I can honestly say that I am so glad I gave this game a second chance. Having recently completed the base game and both DLC's with over 200+ hours of game time, it is clear to me now why the game is so highly regarded.

The longer you play the Witcher 3, the more you realize how much time and effort was put into making this game, and it just keeps getting better the more invested you become. I was even lucky enough to experience what years of updates, patches, graphical changes, and content has added to this game during my first playthrough (sort of). The Witcher 3 has a level of detail unlike no other, and it is worth experiencing to the fullest. The base game is nothing short of fantastic, but the DLC's are truly special. I would almost say it is worth playing through the main story, even if you're not vibing with it completely, just to experience the Blood and Wine DLC first-hand.

Sure, The Witcher 3 still has it's faults, and I don't regard it as the best game I have ever played. However, if RPG's are your jam, then it will likely be one of the best RPG's you have ever played. You just have to be willing to give it a chance.

Shadow of the Colossus is such a unique and beautiful game. The vast open landscapes and scenic views that you encounter while traveling from one colossi to the next make you truly appreciate the work the developers put into this remastered classic. I've never played the original, but I can imagine it was definitely something special at the time.

I will admit that coming into this game with so much exposure to AAA titles felt pretty refreshing. There was nothing to explore, no progression to worry about, no gear to loot, and no hidden secrets to miss. The anxiety of playing a game in it's entirety was simply not there. It felt like a linear storytelling game, but with a massive and immersive world surrounding you at all times. The game itself was a nice change of pace.

One reason I can't give this game a higher rating though is simply because I don't have the same nostalgic fondness for it that is shared by so many others. I found the camera movement confusing, unnecessary, and annoying as hell. The colossi battles, though unique at first, became repetitive and frustrating. Through the lens of the PS2, this game is a masterpiece. However, by todays standards, it becomes much harder to appreciate the actual gameplay.

Thankfully, this game was a short experience, and overall pretty enjoyable. Definitely worth playing through to the end (and it truly is a wonderful ending...that almost makes me question my own rating), but perhaps a little overhyped depending on your history with the game. There is certainly no other game like it.

The world of Control combines dark and mysterious concepts with goofy shenanigan's to create a complete masterpiece. The allure of the unknown is ever present, and it makes the game really difficult to put down. Just the game's atmosphere is enough to set it apart, but the gameplay is also absolutely addicting. Launching objects and using your other psychic abilities to alter the world around you never gets old. The destruction mechanics are fascinating to watch, and it makes the combat really enjoyable.

My only two gripes with this game involved the character development and the TERRIBLE mouth movements the characters made when they spoke. LIKE SERIOUSLY THOUGH, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR FACES!? I never really felt like I could create an emotional connection to Jesse, or any of the other characters for that matter. It almost seemed like the character development was overshadowed by the world around them, which is understandable given how crazy everything is in this game.

These a very minor issues to be honest, and they don't take away from the experience (but those mouth movements are incredibly off-putting at first). Otherwise, Control is a truly wonderful game, and it deserves to be played.

Metal Arms is one of the most unique hidden gems in the gaming industry! Considering this game was released all the way back in 2003, it was well before it's time. Unfortunately, due to a lack of marketing and proper funding, the game never received the appraisal it rightfully deserved.

In terms of shooters, Metal Arms had EVERYTHING you could hope for in this genre. Limb damage, extremely unique weapons/equipment/vehicles, varying types of enemies, a catchy soundtrack, parkour (kind of), boss fights, a comedic story, and to top it all off, mind controlled mechs! Just imagine a less serious Titanfall 2, but without the same degree of high level of movement. Even the multiplayer, though it was limited to local split screen, was amazing. In order to unlock some of the multiplayer maps, you had to find the data chips scattered throughout the story missions, which gave real meaning to the collectible experience.

I'm a bit biased due to my nostalgia for this title, but I have truly never found a shooter game as good as this (warranting a few outdated graphics, controls, and FPS issues due to it's age). This game is a true masterpiece! If you have somehow stumbled across this review and any of the above sounds even remotely interesting, I encourage you to give this game a shot. Download a Dolphin Gamecube Emulator, find a copy of the Metal Arms ROM file, and enjoy the next best shooter in your gaming library. It won't even cost you anything!

Do you want to feel like a badass!? This is the game for you. I can't remember the last time I felt this cool playing a video game (relatively speaking... sitting at a desk and yelling at your monitor can only get you so far).

I almost quit playing this game entirely because I found the first few levels kind of slow and boring. Although, in all fairness to Doom, I attribute most of the slowness to my achievement whore ass and my incessant need to search "every nook and cranny" (real achievement name) for every collectible in existence. If you can avoid slowing down your gameplay to instead focus on popping baddies, at least for your first playthrough, I promise it'll be worth it.

Once I finally made it to Hell and had access to all of the weapons, my experience was immediately elevated. This game became a real power fantasy after a while. When you begin to realize that you are the threat, and demons have prophesized your return like the second coming of Christ, it gives you a real reason to say "Fuck Yeah!"

The story was nothing too interesting, and barely gave you a reason to pay attention to it. There were also a few tedious/repetitive moments, but the game wasn't long enough for these to be too impactful. Overall, this is a great game with lots of action... and lots... and lots... of blood.

I absolutely adore Magic: The Gathering. However, I can't bring myself to show the same amount of love for MTG: Arena. It obviously provides some of the same joy, but it's pretty clear that WotC has shifted focus and resources away from their digital platform over the past few years. The platform is still missing key features (ahem… Commander), and constantly turns into a buggy mess whenever there are any significant updates. Unfortunately, MTG: Arena has essentially turned into a giant money grab.

Aside from my general issues with the game, however, I still think it provides one of the best ways to get new players into Magic. I always recommend new players play through the MTG: Arena tutorial when they want to get into the game because it provides a decent and easy-to-digest explanation of the complicated game mechanics. Despite the lackluster experience as of late, the card animations are exciting and the way the game presents itself is very clean and enticing.

Cube World had amazing potential, but suffered from the sad reality of very distant developer who couldn't let go of his creation. Cube World Alpha was an amazing experience, and it brought me some of the most excitement I have ever had surrounding a game like this. Tragically, the excitement was crushed by unreleased updates. The worst part is that when an update was finally released, it completely ruined the game we had all come to know and love.

I would definitely recommend anyone who has not experienced this game to do so. However, make sure you play the Alpha version of the game, because the full release version on Steam is not the version of Cube World I would recommend to anyone. You can download Alpha copies of the game completely free these days and still have hours of fun with friends, or solo if that's your vibe.