KarrotaKun
I don't know how you manage to upstage a masterpiece like MGS1, but here we are.
I concede that Punch-Out Wii is all around the superior game, but man does this one still hold up. It's one of those games that give you the hand sweats. One of the best titles on the NES.
2002
REmake is a masterpiece in every sense. Capcom took everything they learned up to that point and crammed it all here. New enemy types, improved camera, improved controls, beautifully rendered backgrounds, and an eerie soundtrack. REmake earns the incredibly rare honor of being a perfect game in my eyes. It's earned it's place on top as the king of Survival Horror.
2005
Humble beginnings and a dream. The fact that this game got made at all is a miracle, but they did it. The biggest issue with this game is the lock on decides when it wants to function and the combat can be a bit jank at times. Otherwise I highly recommend.
2006
Just 10 months later and RGG came out swinging with Yakuza 2. It's bigger than it's predecessor in every way. 2 1/2 areas to explore, improved combat with fixed lock on, and the best villain the series has ever had. Ryuji Goda is the fucking GOAT.
2009
I've learned to get good and love this game, faults and all. Contrary to the common take, I love everything involving the orphanage. It just warms the soul seeing Kiryu do what he was always meant to. I only wish that the game was entirely about Okinawa and dealing with it's Yakuza instead of having the Tojo get involved. Also for the love of god play the remastered version. The OG NA release has not only one of the worst box art covers I've ever seen, but it's also missing 20 sub stories and a couple mini-games.
2010
I'm not kidding when I say that the rubber bullets reveal soured my entire experience with this game. Saejima had so much potential as a character dealing with the guilt of taking people's lives and they completely pussied out on it. Sadly it doesn't get much better for him in the next game. Kiryu is also wildly out of character here. Tanimura is alright, shame about his VA and face though. Akiyama is awesome though. If there's any saving grace to this game, it's him. Combat is alright, I like the variety but it's still missing something.
2012
Yakuza 5 has the audacity to have a narrative this bogged down with pacing issues and lame reveals only to simultaneously have the rawest gameplay of the series. FML I wish I could rate narrative and gameplay separately on here because, boy, the story for this game drags hard at points. But the gameplay is peak. Like, it's incredible. It's the best the series has ever felt to play and I recommend it on that alone. Plus it's got one of the best Kiryu designs.
This game is beautiful. The Dragon Engine is one of the most visually impressive engines in the industry, but the combat ain't there yet. I can work around it and get into a groove, but it's very floaty. Plus, leveling up is a chore.
2016
It's a serviceable remake but please play the OG. This is sadly a 0 re-skin with barely any improvements to the gameplay. It looks nice and gives Nishki some much needed development, but that's about it.
2017
Look how they massacred my boy.
It's never too late to make something of yourself.
The combat is even better than 7's but sadly I feel that the narrative took a massive step down. I like Kiryu's half for the most part, but Ichi's feels incomplete and inconsistent. Several plot points and characters feel inconclusive. Also charging me 20 bucks for NG+ is asinine and I almost considered docking a star on that alone. Cut that shit out, Sega.
2015
This may be the emotionally destroyed I've ever been while playing one of these games.
2011
One of the best in the series. Combat and political management is easy to grasp, but not braindead. Great entry point for newcomers.