Simultaneously Dated and Timeless 12 Episode Anime Simulator.

The PS2 era was when Gust went sicko mode, so of course their entry on the platform was going to bring everything they learned and accumulated in 8 years.

The gameplay instantly grabs you with a simple but enticing loop of alchemizing items to unlock stat upgrades and skills for your party of fun characters. Throw academic course themed missions and you have a joyful romp through a charming game which, much like MST3K, tells you to repeat to yourself it's just a show.

Battles are the final evolution of the turn based battles with beautiful spritework and effects, to make for a high speed spectacle in a style I am sad to see go.

The music and overall presentation is great, the story making use of its school setting to great effect for charming events.

Story and characters are simple and archetypal but the instances of cliched shonen anime happenstance are far enough apart that it hardly grates on you.

All and all, an enjoyable experience, however while the complexity of your crafting chains or combat combinations steadily increases, the perpetual gameplay cycle does not deviate across it's ~30 hours of play.

Goes very tonally and structurally different than previous entries, putting Samus on a space station zoo where she is hunted instead of an alien planet for her to explore.

It works in the game's favor in setting a mood while also working to its detriment in pacing and overall flow. The sectors work well as varied locales but don't interconnect until very late. There's nothing wrong with playing levels out of a central hub per se, but when the game tells you you've had enough fun in desert world it's time to check on aquarium park, it does grate on you.

The powerups are also basic, not trying to invent the wheel and instead playing it safe with the classics. If Samus' suit is now this bestial abomination of alien dna, I would've liked to see that represented in gameplay with weirder powers and abilities.

The narrative is either hit or miss, but I personally enjoyed hearing Samus monologue about her circumstances and past, and it all wrapped up very neatly to create a satisfying closed story.

The SA-X jumpscares are where the game shines, keeping first timers on their toes as to whether an unkillable enemy is set to appear like Resident Evil 2's Tyrant. However unlike more open survival horror games, your route of escape is always fairly clear, and you don't stand to lose much progress if you are defeated.

It's a game people should play if they enjoyed other Metroid titles and want something different, but it is by no means the one to recommend to series newcomers.

In 1992 Square released Final Fantasy Mystic Quest a self described "Entry Level" RPG for players unfamiliar with more classical genre entries. Though incredibly rudimentary, it was the foundation for many as it taught the fundamentals of attacking, healing, equipment, in the format of a turn based game.

In 1995, Chrono Trigger released and I think you get what I'm going to say next about it. Relatively simplistic JRPG with gripping narrative, stunning sprite work, and timeless (haha) Toriyama designs.

But it wasn't enough, Square hadn't gone far enough in corrupting the youth into playing games where numbers appear over enemies' heads when you take turns hitting them. What could they do to further shift the balance...

Mario. All things are Mario. The cultural titan known as Mario will indoctrinate the children, into caring about "Elemental Weaknesses", "Rare drops", "Character Builds". This was the master plan and my god did it work.

Mystic Quest, Chrono Trigger, and SMRPG make up the trifecta of "Gateway Drug" jrpgs on the SNES, but of the 3, I believe SMRPG has the broadest appeal.

A perfectly paced game which bounces Mario and Co. from one colorful location to the next. RPG stables like a sewer dungeon, mineshaft, and town of monsters fit perfectly in the Mushroom Kingdom.

Much of Bowser's characterization you know and love from official sources can find their origin here, as he is made from a generic evil lizard to a lovestruck brute with a heart of gold.

The Shimomura soundtrack for the ages needs no introduction. Peak comfy tunes from start to finish.

It's simplicity will win you over with its charm as a game with deep secrets and carefully crafted turn based fun.

We ALL had a horrible shovelware game we were duped into asking for as a kid, don't fucking lie to me.

The slow creeping sense of dread as you realize that there is a difference between good games and bad games. The disappointment as you're stuck with the latter until you work up enough goodwill to ask for an actual good game, so you have to grit your teeth and settle for a minigame collection where you win virtual prizes that do nothing but play an animation.

These guys were eating so good that they managed to finance 2 sequels, in hopes of conning even more dumb kids out of a good video game.

Supremely good rpg-ing with a perfect mix of strategizing with upgrades of gear and skills, but goddamn the 00s internet characters and attempts at humor will either endear you to nostalgic charm or antagonize you to dated sensibilities.

It's a kitchen sink of mechanics, tropes, references, and inspirations. I can't help but respect the creators for fully actualizing what is essentially a middle schooler's doodled up notebook with a million ideas for "MY PERFECT GAME" because my god, all those scribbles leap off the page and into a game you can play.

I respect this game for knowing when to end on a proper final boss after the collection of all the dragon balls it outlines at the start, but the core concept of collecting treasures is simply not rewarding enough to keep you engaged.

To it's credit, it's called Dragon Quest Treasures not Monsters, so the lackluster enemy and by extension tamable monster variety can't be too responsible for its average quality. There are plenty of treasures to collect, beyond statues of series protagonists & weapons, there are gags that hardcore fans will chuckle at their inclusion. However reiterating my main point, you'll be watching the "digging up treasure animation" 200 times too many in a single playthrough, when what's inside the chest is just a numerical representation of your progress to the next story objective being easier to reach.

The story starts off charming enough, but in my opinion doesn't lean into its world and characters both original and returning to warrant any amount of emotional investment, if you're into that sort of thing. Maybe my sights are set a little too high for a series that spins the European Accent Roulette Wheel at every opportunity, but this game presented concepts that if properly explored, would've been welcomed to incite the player to keep progressing.

Combat once you understand it's shallow depth boils down to playing support for the toughest team of monsters you can muster, using your wellspring of wealth to purchase buffing bullets to assist your allies (see, I can write for these games). Then when the moment is right, burn special meter to bomb the entire arena, leaving you wondering exactly who thought the combat was a good idea.

This game is a fanservice title in everything but name and branding, but where the service lies is just not engaging enough even for hardcore fans to want to wade through to appreciate. I can't recommend this game to anyone but those inflicted with the most severely affected with Dragon Quest 11 brainrot. I enjoyed playing it, but was gradually worn down by the end that I was glad it was over.