InvictusRex
Awesome game! I love Westerns and really liked the first Red Dead Redemption. This was an excellent follow-up, and sometimes I enjoyed just exploring the world without worrying about the story. It maybe got a little overwhelming with such a large map and so many things to do, but the story was compelling enough to keep me interested.
My favorite Zelda game. It takes everything that Ocarina of Time did and improves on it, adding an incredibly moving story underneath it all. At a glance, only 4 dungeons and a 3-day cycle might seem lacking, but they pack a whole lot into the game and connect all the elements so well. And with the story solely focused on Link (no Zelda and no Ganon), it becomes a much more personal journey for him and the various figures he meets along the way. Plus, I just can't resist the classic Legend of Zelda field theme!
2000
This fucking game...
2018
This review contains spoilers
My favorite game of 2018. I had never played all of the original God of War games, but was familiar enough with them and the lore. This is a refreshing take on the character of Kratos, and a beautiful exploration of rage, grief, and the wisdom of age. It's also a blast to play! The valkyrie fights are some of my favorite bosses in recent games, and the fact that I bested them all (and the game) over the course of a weekend is a personal accomplishment I'm proud of!
Really enjoyed this game--a definite improvement over the first game, which was also quite good! I did have a few issues with inconsistent movement/combat mechanics, but they weren't bad enough to sour the experience. Gameplay was great. Story was compelling. I look forward to more!
2018
Easily one of the best platformers in recent memory. It's challenging enough to feel like you have to work for it, but not discouraging in the slightest. In fact, with a story all about surmounting both physical and mental challenges, I was inspired by Madeline's journey! It's also worth mentioning Lena Raine's wonderful OST, which really makes the whole adventure.
2015
I immediately fell in love with this game. Between the clever references to older RPGs and the hysterical writing, this game hit such a sweet spot for me when I first played it. The pacifist route is an experience I hadn't really ever had in a game before, and it culminated in a really beautiful ending for a game that seems so silly on its face! Special mention to Toby Fox's musical chops--he really nailed it with the OST.
2022
This is one of the best games I've ever played. It's a masterful culmination of what FromSoftware has done so well with their previous Souls games (and Bloodborne/Sekiro). The open world is endlessly interesting, with all kinds of secrets and discoveries. The enemies and bosses are largely unique and appropriately challenging. Some of the repetition of bosses did get dull, but I still felt compelled to explore everything I could even after fighting my third or fourth tree spirit. The legacy dungeons are really where the game shines for me. Leyendell is a high point, but I thought they were all really well done, and I even wanted a little more out of some (looking at you, Raya Lucaria Academy). Fantastic game!
2019
This is the exemplar of how to make a good remake. The original RE2 was my first survival horror experience, which meant that this had to do some work to live up to that. It exceeds expectations!
2023
I came into this game ready to love it. Final Fantasy is, without question, my favorite video game franchise. I found this game... fine. The setting was great, and I really like the world they built here... I just wish it felt like I could explore more of it. You basically have four regions to explore, and despite being packed with side quests, they felt a little empty to me. That's another thing; the side quests were occasionally really interesting, and then they were occasionally a huge drag and momentum killer. I liked the combat sometimes. The best fights were against humanoid enemies, but things got questionable with really large creatures that posed challenges for the camera movement. Also, I know a lot of folks loved the spectacle of the really big fights, but I found them kind of empty and just decorated with a bunch of flashy effects. Overall, I didn't hate the experience, but it's a very middle-of-the-road game for me. Definitely not Square's best work.
2019
This was my first ever Persona experience, and I loved it! The combat system was a lot of fun, I really dig creating new personas, and I'm a true sucker for a good dating sim/romance system. I logged over 100 hours with Royal edition, and it barely felt that long. Plus, the soundtrack slaaaaps.
Fun Mario game, and the first new one I've played in years. I like some of the new powerups, and the multi-player system is interesting! I do feel like they kind of threw everything at this game and that there are A LOT of ideas in each level and world, so it doesn't have the same cohesiveness some of the older games do, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
2010
I can't speak highly enough of this game. Up until 2020, it has been my favorite post-2000 release. It combines the best elements of the first two Fallout games with those of Bethesda's advancements in Fallout 3. The writing is phenomenal, and shines brightest in the DLCs. The diversity in how to play the game is brilliant, especially given that you can finish the whole thing without killing anyone. And, as all good Fallout games do, it combines the dreadful seriousness of nuclear apocalypse with clever, dark humor that gives the series its unique quality. Is it buggy? Sure. But I'll reload this game a thousand times if I have to.
2019
This may be the best game that's come out in the 2000s. It is such a well-crafted experience and short of being a little frustrated with a late-game puzzle, there's nothing bad I want to say about it. For most other games I might knock its lack of replay value, but Outer Wilds is such a singular experience that I honestly only want to have my one first playthrough of it in my heart and soul. The DLC only improves upon the experience. Play this game blind and have the time of your life!
2016
The ultimate cozy game! This is such an easygoing gaming experience that you can get lost in for a few hours at a time. Even when you think you've achieved all you can, the game has greater challenges ahead if you're eager for the grind.