GS Mikami: Joreishi wa Nice Body is a solid action game based on the anime adaptation of Takashi Shiina's manga Ghost Sweeper Mikami. I have some reservations when it comes to licensed games, as most of them tend to be generic and serve merely as promotional vehicles. However, there are exceptions, and this game is undoubtedly one of them. This is attributed to the excellent work of Natsume, a company that, for those unfamiliar, was responsible for games like Harvest Moon, Pocky & Rocky, and Wild Guns.

When I played it for the first time, this game caught my attention right away, largely thanks to the anime, which I'm a particular fan of, and, of course, Mikami's charming body. Haha, I'm kidding... or am I? Either way, it's a great example of how to properly adapt material from another medium. The gameplay is excellent, the controls are fluid and responsive. Everything works as it should, both in jumping and in combat. In other words, no bugged hitboxes or unnecessary deaths due to lack of precision in jumps. And all of this is perfectly aligned with the well-designed level design, which features very diverse stages, each with its own challenges and mechanics. The game leaves no room for monotony and maintains its pace until the end.

The graphics, although not exceptional, fulfill their purpose satisfactorily. The characters are very well represented, and there is clear attention to detail in the animation of the sprites and scenarios, which faithfully reproduce the entire essence of the anime for 16 bits. The look of the bosses is also well crafted, especially Moga-chan, the cursed doll, who, in my humble opinion, was the best boss in the game. And we can't forget Kinuyo Yamashita's energetic and captivating soundtrack. Each musical track harmoniously integrates with the game's atmosphere and effectively captures the duality between terror and humor present in the narrative.

Unfortunately, both the anime and the game were not able to achieve great popularity here in the West. However, it is undeniable that the game has admirable qualities. Although it is not considered a masterpiece, much less a hidden gem of the Super Nintendo, it is undeniably competent in its execution and manages to provide a fun experience from beginning to end. That was his greatest achievement.

"Terraria is a land of adventure! A land of mystery! A land that's yours to shape, to defend and to enjoy. Your options in Terraria are limitless, are you an action gamer with an itchy trigger finger? A master builder? A collector? An explorer? There's something for everyone here."

I took this directly from the Terraria wiki, since we spent almost the entire game with it open; I thought it best to consult it first. This brief introduction defines well what Terraria is and what you can expect from the game. Terraria is easily one of my favorite indie games, I'm not sure where it would rank in my list, but it would definitely be among the top five I like the most. But what makes this game incredible?

Terraria emerged at a time when Minetrash was starting to gain popularity, meaning comparisons between the two are inevitable, but the similarities are limited to just the basic concepts: procedurally generated worlds, mining, and the crafting workbench. However, Terraria has undergone many more changes over the years and has received almost a decade of free updates. This demonstrates the care that the developers have for the game.

At first glance, Terraria may not seem very appealing; it is visually simple and can easily be mistaken for just another generic sandbox title. But as you explore the landscape, it becomes evident how creative the game is. It goes beyond mere building and ore collection, delving much deeper into the basic mechanics of a sandbox. Here, there is a genuine reason to construct things, not just for aesthetic purposes; it is crucial for the game's progression. Yes, there is indeed a progression in the game, along with an overwhelming amount of content such as bosses, events, NPCs, tons of weapons, accessories, and many other items that will aid you on your journey – over 5000 items at your disposal. The game's progression is measured by the bosses you defeat, and by doing so, you gain access to new items like stronger pickaxes, allowing you to gather new resources and become even more formidable to face the next boss.

Overall, Terraria offers an extremely satisfying experience and deserves all the praise it receives. Obviously, this is just a simplistic view in the face of the grandeur that the game represents. Each generated world is a unique experience, after all, being a sandbox, the way you explore the world, build structures, or defeat the bosses is entirely up to the player.

Do you know when you discover something amazing that, for some reason, completely escaped your notice? Well, this game eluded my radar for years, and it was only recently that I became aware of its existence through a friend's recommendation. I can confidently state that PokeMMO stands out as the best unofficial Pokémon version currently available. In addition to preserving the essence that made Pokémon games so beloved, the game also incorporates online features and some nuances in the campaign.

To start, I have a love-hate relationship with the Pokémon franchise, and I've only played the first four generations. Starting from the fifth generation, things began to get more complicated. I initiated the game with a well-established bias and ended up setting it aside. Thanks to PokeMMO, I gave the fifth generation a chance, and I confess that I was pleasantly surprised. As for the sixth generation and beyond, well, I prefer to think of it as a collective delusion. That said, let's get to the point.

Just like in the original Pokémon games, in PokeMMO, you have the freedom to customize your character's appearance. However, the game goes above and beyond, providing a wide range of options. The possibilities are virtually endless, as there are various ways to acquire cosmetic items for your character, allowing trainers to create truly unique and personalized avatars.

When we finish creating our character, right away, you have access to five regions, which correspond to the first five generations of Pokémon: Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh and Unova. Each of these regions has its own story mode, which follows the plot of the original games they represent. For example, when visiting Kanto you will play Fire Red's story mode; as you explore Hoenn, you will follow Esmeralda's storyline, and so on. It's basically five Pokémon games rolled into one. Initially, you can only choose one of these regions, but as the game progresses, you can travel between them freely, as long as you reach a specific point in the story that grants access to the ship's captain, responsible for taking you there. Having access to multiple regions was one of the things that caught my attention the most. The possibility of exploring five regions without having to change games is, without a doubt, an incredible experience.

Although PokeMMO has almost identical characteristics to the original games, there are some peculiarities, one of which, as the name suggests, is the MMO aspect. But what does this add to the game? Firstly, it provides real-time interaction with other players, whether during exploration or battles. The game also features a clean and intuitive interface, where everything is organized very well. However, my favorite feature was the GTL, or Global Trade Link, something that Game Freak could have easily implemented. This not only facilitates exchanges between players but also allows you to buy Pokémon and items that can be greatly useful during your journey. Another particularity that I really liked was its difficulty; the artificial intelligence (AI) of NPC trainers in PokeMMO has been improved compared to NPCs in the original games, especially gym leaders. Since your Pokémon have abilities and resources that can be greatly useful to cover their weaknesses. Finally, the battles present some challenge, something that hasn't been seen in the original games since the days of Whitney (oh, how I hate that Miltank). Additionally, the game restricts your ability to level up based on the number of badges you have. This bothered me a little at first, but I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing.

As for the graphics, there isn't much to say; they are practically identical to the originals. However, in some situations, NPCs have graphical styles that do not perfectly fit the specific region. For example, in Hoenn, the entire map uses the GBA style, but most NPCs have NDS sprites, which can be strange. However, you can adjust this in the menus. The introduction of the seasons system in PokeMMO is, in my opinion, a really cool addition. Although simple, it contributes significantly to the immersion and dynamics of the game. The battles use the visual style of Pokémon Black/White, which, by the way, has a somewhat unappealing aesthetic, but you get used to it over time.

Is it worth playing? Yes. The game brings interesting features that, perhaps (and I repeat, perhaps), we will never see in an official game in the franchise. It's not easy to bring together five regions at once, especially in a single game. After defeating the Elite Four, there is a variety of activities to explore, from seasonal events to PvP battles. Basically, you will always have something to do. Even if you don't play competitively, as I do, I would still recommend this game solely for the experience.