InvictusRex
1994
There's not much new I can say about the game that helped spawn an entire subgenre of adventure games. It's a classic. It's got a brilliant structure. It's a lot of fun to play. The progression is perfectly paced. The music is different from just about anything else that came out around it. Super Metroid is one of those games that really cements the SNES as my favorite console, because no matter what genre of game, it seemed to get the very best of all of them.
1993
This is one of the earliest games I remember playing as a kid, and BOY did it leave an impression. It's obviously not the first FPS game, but it is probably the most successful of the earliest in the genre and remains one of the very best. It is a smooth, simple game that has some of the best level design in gaming. All of the weapons are cool, the enemy design is incredible, and the FPS genre owes so much to everything this game pioneered. Special kudos to the music and sound design--that door opening/closing noise lives in my head rent free.
2016
A brilliant remake of a brilliant game! After the Wolfenstein remake, I was excited to see what Bethesda would do with Doom, and I was not disappointed. This game is a high-octane bloodfest with nearly nonstop action. I do think they eschewed some of the clever level design of the original games in favor of a slight (emphasis on slight) tinge of realism, but I had an absolute blast with this game. It really made me feel like a little kid again.
I didn't really grow up with the Elder Scrolls. Never played the first three games, and I was only able to play a little bit of Oblivion during its heyday. I liked Oblivion quite a bit, and I really loved my experience with Skyrim. I know it's a bit of a joke these days because of its constant re-releases, and it does maybe fall short compared to more recent Western RPGs... but I really like this game! I love the setting, I love the different playstyles, I love the music, and I just really enjoy starting new characters in this world. Sure, the combat is shallow, and it's got the infamous Bethesda bugginess, but sometimes I just want to stroll through a chilly landscape, kill some bandits, and loot Dwemer ruins for some dope stuff.
2011
I can't resist. I have to blast this game. This game is the SOLE reason that I don't preorder anything anymore. I grew up with Duke Nukem 3D, and I was so excited for a new take on Duke and a new FPS game. Good God this game was a huge piece of shit (similar to the literal piece of shit you can grab out of a toilet IN THE GAME)! Nothing about this gaming experience was fun, but you know what? I finished it. I slogged through this steaming cesspool and finished the goddamn thing. I was not going to let the game win. I'd give it a zero if I could.
I think "return to form" sums up this game nicely. After some more action-packed entries, RE7 gets back to basics with maybe the scariest game in the series. I think in the first playthrough especially, you never really feel safe on the Baker property. The first-person view especially makes everything feel a little more impactful, as if all the horrors are really happening to you! The game definitely has a more compelling first half, but the overall experience is still really solid.
This game made the summer of 2020 bearable for me. I was so excited to revisit FF7 like this, and I thought Square did an excellent job fully realizing Midgar and kicking off the start of an incredible journey. Experiencing the familiar game with new combat, voice acting, and even some interesting story developments met and exceeded my expectations. I am eager to play the upcoming installments!
2020
I see what the hype was all about! This is a super fun game with great visual design. Each run through the underworld feels unique, and the different weapons and powerups add so many dimensions to otherwise straightforward gameplay. Special recognition to the excellent voice acting as well, which infuses so much personality into the diverse cast of characters.
This is a gaming experience like no other. Sure, it has some familiar elements and it looks like your typical isometric RPG... but it's got so many surprises up its sleeve. Revachol is an utterly unique world with fascinating politics and history, all of which you can uncover through the course of things. The different personality aspects of your character allow you to take conversations in so many unexpected directions. And of course, the mystery at the heart of things leads to all kinds of interesting discoveries. It's an exploration of ideology and morality expertly told through phenomenal performances and a distinctive, engaging setting.
1996
Mario's first foray into the realm of 3D platforming, and a solid effort! Revisiting levels for different stars was a cool concept, and there's a nice diversity of themes and environments across the different stages. Nintendo 64 games are a little bit hamstrung by the console's absolutely dreadful controller design, but the game works in spite of that limitation.
A worthy follow-up on the success of RE7! This game isn't quite as frightening (okay, Beneviento House is scary as hell), and leans a little more into action and adventure, but it still maintains the classic Resident Evil atmosphere throughout. I like how it's broken up into 4 distinct sections--I just wish the Castle was a bit longer, as it is definitely the highlight of the experience. This is a fitting end to the story of the Winters family, particularly with the DLC (which is also good!).
2020
After knocking it out of the park with Doom (2016), Bethesda came back swinging with the sequel. Much like the original Doom II, Eternal is kind of the same game with just more stuff... and it works! They didn't try to mess with the formula that works. It gets bogged down with unnecessary lore and story a little bit, but that didn't sour the experience of blasting through hordes of demons once again. RIP AND TEAR!
I came late to this one! I was already well-versed in the Metroidvania genre by the time I got around to SotN. This game is great! It looks fantastic, plays smoothly, and really deserves the legacy it's built. I will say that Castlevania feels most like Castlevania when you're slinging a whip at your foes, but Alucard has enough cool moves to make up for the lack of a Belmont flogging.
2021
I was looking forward to this one after enjoying the Persona series and seeing a lot of hype about this game. I guess I didn't realize how differently they played. The combat is still interesting, and combining monsters is a cool system, but I really prefer the more story-driven approach that the Persona games offer. I may give it another try, but shelved it in favor of other games that appealed to me.
I'm of a few minds on this one, and I know it's the controversial one in the trilogy. On one hand, the world is incredible. I really like a lot of the environments you travel through. On the other hand, Holy hell are there a lot of enemies to deal with! The Shrine of Amana is one of the most frustrating experiences I can remember in these games! And I'm in the camp that wishes for a little more diversity among the bosses. There are so many of them, and yet a large number seem to rely on similar designs (armored guy with a weapon). Still, I do have fond memories of moments in this game, and even poorly executed FromSoftware is better than your average video game.