Substantial improvement over Trigger Happy Havoc in nearly every way. The cast is so endearing and lovable, and much more consistently written. Even people who I disliked or didn't care for at the beginning ending up completely changing my perspective of them. When the murders eventually start happening, it genuinely hurts to see a character you've gotten to know so well either die or be found out as the culprit - there's some real emotional gut-punches to be found that just aren't there in the prequel. The gimmicks within investigation periods are also brilliant; the separate game to find out the culprit, the funhouse, the main idea of Case 5, it all feels really experimental and it definitely paid off, every case (excluding 3) is superbly written and so damn engaging. The trials are much more involving as well; attacking with the correct piece of evidence and figuring out the culprit is actually more challenging since you don't have someone like Kyoko giving away all the hints, the addition of agreeing with someone in Nonstop Debate is also a clever addition. The Run-2/3-esque Logic Dive is fun as hell to navigate. The truth blades... kind of fucking suck and feel redundant, I would much rather just play another Nonstop Debate, and well Hangman's Gambit will just always be complete shit - but somehow they made it worse here. Really the only other aspect that THH does better in, is the setting and atmopshere. For what it's worth, Goodbye Despair is a near perfect sequel.

Classic. An absolute joy to play through for its entire runtime, Super Mario Galaxy only falters on a few worlds with clunky mechanics and frustrating controls, but the rest is a masterclass in pure exhilarating level design and gameplay.

The blissful soundtrack permeates through each level, bringing a unique atmosphere to each stage and above all an unparalleled thrill at its greatest moments. Not only does it boast an insurmountable amount of perfectly crafted worlds, fun and unique powerups and intricate mission design, it even excels in its other areas - notably the devastating side story of Rosalina that should be experienced by anyone.

Overall, Super Mario Galaxy is an undeniable must play game, if you haven’t completed this yet, what could you possibly even be thinking about?
10/10

The greatest game ever, a genre-defining, flawless piece of media. A review wouldn't justify just how perfect this game is (and I also can't be bothered) and I'd probably ramble a lot but just know everything positive that has been said about this game is most likely true. This game shouldn't even exist, every single component of it is meticulously crafted and implemented to such a masterful degree that it's almost unbelievable they were able to program this with 15 people and over the span of 2 and a half years. If you really want to get the most out of this, replay it 10, 20 hell even 100 times, as your finishing time ticks down you'll truly understand how special this game is, and you'll be able to appreciate all of the mechanics you may have found a flaw on your first playthrough. The best game ever made, Super Metroid.
11/10

A must-play game. In-depth healing system that is far ahead of its time, a vast array of melee and movement options - a flaw at first due to its time period, understanding an enemy's line of sight is difficult to pin down at first, your silencer breaks after a while, your radar is far less accurate making stealth tricky, but over time you get used to it, something I find the entire series does extremely well - a massive setting that’s constantly changing environments with differing atmospheres, masterfully made boss fights that will test your thinking and make you reflect on your actions, glorious soundtrack that permeates throughout important scenes and of course an exceptional story with some of the most intriguing characters in video games. Much like MGS2, Snake Eater’s story heavily relies on recontextualisation although even from the beginning you are hooked by the betrayal of Naked Snake’s “boss” and her defection to the Soviet Union. By the end of the final fight you will be crushed by the weight of your actions throughout the game, unbeknownst to the actual ending sequence which could be very well argued to be the best in the medium, a complete subversion that will leave you simultaneously heart-broken and shocked. A masterpiece that lives up to its massive hype, play it for yourself if you get the chance.
10/10

One of the best trilogies in the medium. I went into Ace Attorney expecting pretty much nothing, and came out the other end stunned by the journey I completed that I put 60-70 hours into. The first game is a wonderful introduction that sets its tone immediately and draws you in with its amazing cast of characters. Justice for All trips and falls flat on its face for a majority of the runtime and with its prosecutor, but eventually redeems itself at certain moments with my favourite perpetrator and the ending case which is my second favourite in the trilogy. Everything from the past games culminates in Trials & Tribulations though, a surreal experience that climaxes in its final case, bringing a superb ending that makes you realize everything was thought out. Ace Attorney is (surprisingly!) some of the most fun I’ve ever had with a game and I think this is owed to its endearing and fantastically written cast of characters, an epic soundtrack that pushes you to break down contradictions in the moment, and some of the most thought-provoking cases and statements you’ll ever see that heavily criticise the justice system, and incisively examine the obscure nature of the “truth”. For me, a once in a lifetime experience that will most likely stay unrivalled for a long time.
9/10

Downplayed for no real reason, yes the static camera is a bit finicky but it also allows for some really interesting levels. The powerups here are all really fun to use, especially the cat and tanooki which can be utilised for faster and more unique movement options. I find this game shines towards the end though, particularly the final level which might be my favourite out of all the Mario games - the atmosphere and tension it creates with the looming thunderstorm is epic, and Bowser using the cat powerup was a surprise, but a welcome one. The extra levels are all really good but damn are they difficult, obviously the hardest being Champions Road which I'm still yet to beat. I also love how this game puts a larger focus on multiplayer, the greatest moments come from playing with friends or family and it also adds an extra layer of difficulty, something I find the other games lack and it's a shame. Overall, this game is just a fun time from the start to the end, nothing too special but its also not necessarily got many negative points, which for me is the definition of a “good” game.
8/10

Epitome of mediocrity and summarises a lot of what I don’t like about the modern RE’s and modern games in general. The action is fun at times but the horror is sacrificed for this, however it’s really funny as to how this game has a lot less horror yet it arguably has the scariest area in the entire franchise, which is pretty much ripped off of P.T.

I think the strongest part of this game is the individual areas and their atmosphere, all of them are quite memorable with some stand-out moments and the graphics are stunning. While the story and side characters are sort of intriguing with some performances that are outstanding, Ethan Winters wasn’t that interesting to me, and again it feels like the horror has been lowered in favour of a more narrative driven game that may work for some people but it didn’t for me.

After all, at its core RE is known for being a franchise that revolves around horror with some action parts that are balanced well, and this game takes that and completely flips it, which leaves a sour taste.

An outstanding story bogged down by aged monotonous gameplay and detestable level design that consists of; shooting waves of enemies with auto-aim while being completely fucked over by a shitty cover system, riding around on a horse for more than half the game that usually leads to absolutely nowhere important, herding missions and meticulously driving a cart over bumpy terrain being careful not to make the slightest mistake otherwise you have to repeat everything all over again. There were maybe 3 missions that I genuinely thought were interesting and actually fun to play and these came few and far between, most of them dumping the idea of just mindlessly shooting anyone you see (Fort Mercer’s exhilarating minecart segment and some random stealth mission near a train).

Excluding the missions RDR1 also suffers from its setting, where GTA thrives with its freedom and liberty, RDR1 is unfortunately the exact opposite, there’s no real risks to take as you’ll usually end up dead in the span of a few minutes, spawning in an absolutely god forsaken place where you have to walk all the way back to a town.

That’s not to say RDR1 isn’t worth playing, it truly has an incredible story that's supported by a strong cast of characters, a wonderful message about changing times, a gorgeous world to explore (except for the snow areas) and a near-perfect conclusion, but in my eyes, the gameplay sets it back a lot.
7/10

I find this to be one of the weaker metroid games, not that that statement means its necessarily bad. A lot of the promising ideas on show here are only further refined and implemented in Dread, which is where I feel MercurySteam shine. Anyway for the gameplay a lot of the (mini) bosses are either repetitive - fighting 30 of the same metroids - or a pain in the ass; diggernaut (seriously who playtested this boss and greenlighted it). Even its basic combat is kind of lacklustre, really all you are doing is parrying enemies for the majority of the game and its not too enjoyable. One of the stronger new additions however is the Aeion abilities, each one is used quite frequently and it makes some parts of the game more unique. I find this game starts to make its strides in the end-game but by that point its too late and it doesn’t really make a mark and its also way too difficult at times. I’d need to play the original to see how good of a remake this is but for now it stands as just “fine”.

The greatest game of all time? Yeah, the argument could easily be made. Ocarina of Time is a triumphant, ground-breaking masterpiece who's reverberations can still be felt today. It entwines masterful gameplay and strong environmental storytelling to create a transcendent experience. Dripping with subtext and lore, rich atmosphere throughout it's many incredible dungeons and perhaps the greatest soundtrack in a video game, there really is no rival. The gameplay has aged slightly - Link's roll is practically obsolete, and aiming is abhorrent, but the combat still controls well enough even now. I think what really sets this game apart though is the actual premise, the time travelling mechanic is not only a genius idea but it is also executed to the highest degree, resulting in what may be a timeless story that only seems to improve as you get older - the differences that Link witnesses eventually come to reflect our own lives; as we transition into adulthood, the world becomes a completely different place. Ocarina of Time is ultimately a game that is art - a showcase of what the medium looks like at it's true best, and a constant reminder to the modern day industry of the product of pure distilled passion and soul.

Solid introduction for people that want to try some difficult games, the skill curve is way too steep especially with the last 2 levels but I find the first few to be well crafted. The pixel art on display here is absolutely gorgeous, and some bossfights function so well for their time. The weapons are really unbalanced though, spread and the homing rockets are way more effective than the others, some of them even feel like a downgrade at times. For the level design I find the top-down levels to be really interesting but their execution leaves a lot to be desired and they are almost nauseating at times, and the run n’ gun levels have some epic music to accompany them but they sometimes feel really unfair (which is a staple of the genre I guess). Either way, if you want to get into series like Contra and Ghouls n’ Ghosts (I dont know why you would want to in the first place) then check this one out.
7/10

A near-perfect, adrenaline-filled return to my favourite franchise of all time. Metroid Dread deserves the title of a Metroid game and MercurySteam went above and beyond to create one of the most exhilarating experiences I've had with the medium.

Where Samus Returns struggled with living up to the hype and of remaking a classic game, Metroid Dread has no need for that. By making a completely original game, MercurySteam's chains that were dragging them down are completely released, and damn does it pay off. This game is an unbelievable, blood-pumping experience from start to finish. The parry is still here, but it's improved by it being able to be utilised while moving, allowing for some fast movement, instead of having to pause the entire game to do on, ruining the flow of the game. This is exactly what Metroid Dread excels at, flow and movement, the entire game is built around moving you at a solid speed, whether that be through powerups or aeion abilities, sliding underneath obstacles or just blazing through enemies with a shine-spark.

For the actual gameplay, most powerups return, your typical beam, space jump, suits etc but what stands out are the Aeion abilities, and god damn are they some of the coolest things in the franchise. Firstly, the Phantom Cloak, while it doesn't necessarily help against EMMI's at times, it is still awesome to see Samus turn completely invisible, my only problem with it is that charging it back up is a pain as you have to be moving for some reason, which completely negates the power it has. Next, the Storm Missiles, what an amazing idea, being able to lock onto multiple targets, not only does it have some really cool ways to obtain hidden secrets, but it helps a lot in boss fights. And finally, the Flash Shift, by far my favourite and dare I say one of the best "powerups" in the entire franchise, using this is so damn fun. Zipping around the entire map effortlessly and evading attacks is so exciting, the game just has such a good idea of what makes movement fun.

As I mentioned in my Super Metroid Review the core element to a Metroid game is exploration. Dread breaks quite a few of the rules but it does so subtly, instead of giving you complete freedom like in Super Metroid, Dread restricts you but not in the way Fusion does. The game isn't innately linear, yet it will block off areas you're not supposed to access "naturally", and so your way forward is always clear (except for a few moments). I find this method to be a great idea, it loses the factor of being frustrated at not knowing where to go while not giving you completely clear instructions. And god damn, is exploration here an absolute blast, the environments crafted are so fucking gorgeous, every individual sector has its own atmosphere. Lava lurks beneath your feet in Cataris, when you first arrive at Dairon, the power is out, robots and monsters are being revived or built in the background, a storm rages outside Burenia, ancient architecture makes up most of Ferenia, and my personal favourite area, Ghavoran. As soon as you are transported there, a jungle ecosystem is shown, animals move in the background, you confront spiders and other insects. There's such a wide variety of areas that it feels very similar to Fusion, just amplified tenfold.

"Dread" is the atmosphere that encompasses the entire game. The EMMI are practically an unstoppable force even when you learn how to defeat them. As soon as you enter one of their "areas" the tension immediately rises. Mechanical noises loop in the background, the room is enshrouded in mist, the EMMI tracks you through sound so your movement must be more precise. If you're caught then you must dash towards safety, if you fail then you're practically dead, parrying the EMMI is meant to be a lucky chance. The game makes you confront the EMMI indirectly before you're powerful enough, a great way of raising the pressure.

However, this also creates a steep difficulty curve, the last 2 EMMI's are pretty unfair and being able to freeze the player from across the map is frustrating, especially when a lot of the time your Aeoin abilities don't even work properly. I died around 100+ times on my playthrough, and even excluding the EMMI's, this game is way more difficult than its predecessors, enemies hit you like a truck and boss fights are a lot more challenging and require a lot of skill and understanding of the mechanics for the player, which culminates perfectly in the final fight (which I won't spoil). Another part which has increased difficulty is in obtaining the extras, damn do some of these require a strong comprehension in everything, and a shit ton of them are really difficult to obtain, something I appreciate a lot. The only other gripe I have with the game is the lengthy loading screens, they tend to break the immersion.

Apart from that, holy fucking shit is this one of the best returns to form I could have ever asked for. Metroid Dread is ultimately a must-play that completely wipes the floor with many new games and lives up to the standard of a Metroid title, a resounding masterpiece that I will go back to experience again sooner or later.
9/10

The quintessential JRPG. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Chrono Trigger is one of the greatest games ever, it is mentioned literally anytime you look up a list of some sort of the best games ever. I was expecting an amazing game but I wasn’t expecting it to be as detailed and thoughtful as it is, especially for its time. First of all, it has pretty much everything you could want from a game: an endearing cast of characters, genius premise and execution - that could only work as a game, gorgeous and grandiose soundtrack, (sort of) fun and engaging gameplay, and a whole lot of heart put into the writing. Each time period oozes with style and atmosphere, bringing you backwards (or forwards) to a fictional time through the characters’ dialect or the general world’s state.

I struggle to name even a single flaw about Chrono Trigger, but I guess the least likeable part about it is the gameplay - even if it’s far better than a majority of JRPG’s. The general idea is interesting, enemies move around in battles and you must time your attacks to get them in a straight line or near one another, but this is completely nullified with the AOE magic attacks that attack everything. You can also really easily fuck up something crucial (at least on the SNES as the UI is extremely cluttered at times), picking a party member to throw a potion on before the enemy attacks is stressful and sometimes you might just pick the wrong person and hell breaks loose. Thankfully, unlike most JRPG’s, Chrono Trigger’s skill curve is excellently balanced. If you figure out how a boss counterattacks you should be able to defeat them even if it is close. I didn’t need to grind even a single time which is honestly quite remarkable, the game wants you to experience the story it has to tell and that’s it - something more games should have done.

There’s something so profound about the general story. At its core, Chrono Trigger’s writing is simple, the characters each have their wonderfully executed arcs and the story delves into some deep topics but that is generally about it. Yet, there is some beauty to this simplicity, where moments of deep impact may arise because of your thoughtful actions in another time. Even if you may not have gotten to know a particular character that well, the game still tugs at your heartstrings when you do something good, and wants to reward you for this. But it does so not through a gameplay element but through a short, sincere moment that you can keep tucked away in your memories.

But I think the most interesting part here is how much attention to detail and how much care has been put into creating this game. Characters react differently to certain situations, sometimes you’ll get to experience a scene that others may not because you put a certain member in your party. The multitude of endings that change depending on your actions, being able to fight the final boss practically whenever you want is genius, the clever “puzzles” used to further the story by utilising the insanely refined time travelling mechanic, it’s all just so god damn perfect.

Chrono Trigger is a game that was revolutionary when it released in 1995, it’s a revolutionary game now in the year 2024, and it will still be a revolutionary game when people play it down the line in the future. To put it simply, it’s timeless.