One of those games that dares you to believe anything other then "this is one of the best games I've ever played". It's reputation has become so high over the years and it's completely, 100%, unabashedly earned - so grand in scope, so drenched in character. It's a narrative as personal as it is world ending; the best thing it does is make it's main antagonist mainly an intimate threat disguised as a world-ending one, which gives layers to your hunt for the reclamation of your soul.

I have my personal quibbles about Throne of Bhaal (it's story is mostly just kind of eh) but the journey getting there, the sheer amount of options available to you, the incredible music, phenomenal companion writing, and satisfying conclusion basically overcome any small issues here. One of the all time greats for a reason.

Empathy incarnate. In spite of it's massive scope (or maybe a necessity due to it), Infinite Wealth is as personal and laid back as they come in terms of narratives for the series. A story about finding beauty in the small things in life and moving on from past regrets; we all deserve a second chance, it's just up to the individual to take that extra step. Kiryu's side of the story in particular resonates as a powerful coda for him, and his final moments are impactful and perfectly restrained.

Nice to see on a gameplay level this thing improved from 7 as well. That game already was in the upper tiers of JRPGs but I can't imagine going back to it after this - the simple introduction of movement during your turn changes how the entire game plays and makes combat even more fun. The endless sidequests are some of the best in the series as well, and while it lacks 7's tight, punchy narrative beats, it replaces it with excellent character driven drama. A must play and worth the wait.

I will cut Super Mario 64 a ton of slack since it was literally the first of it's kind in a lot of ways. Normally, a game with a camera this messy and controls this sometimes janky would be an instant hard pass from me, particularly one meant for precise platforming like this one. But it's likely Nintendo knew that, seeing as no other game tried something like this anymore, and because of that Super Mario 64 is basically perfect everywhere else. Maybe some of the best level design in any platformer ever; sandboxes to just explore and traverse at your own leisure.

There is also a timeless quality to the game that's impossible to not mention here. The culture surrounding 64 has outgrown the game itself, but that also means it's a game you go back to and it still feels like you are touching it for the first time again. Everything about it is magical and it's difficult to not smile when talking about it or playing it. Don't care if it's aged, this to me is perfect stuff.

Maybe the definitive version of all of these games? That's up for debate certainly, but there is more then just the standard graphical improvements here; these are full blown overhauls, maybe some of the earliest Nintendo did, and the QOL changes that they do make all of the difference. Super Mario Bros. 1 in particular feels like a completely new experience while retaining that game's unique individual quirks, which is not an easy feat.

There isn't a whole lot I can say about this that hasn't already been said in my other write ups for these games - all stills classics across the board - but honestly if you are going to play 2D Mario this might be your best introduction. A clear, unfiltered view of how timeless these particular installments are while giving you a better experience then the originals. One of my personal favourite compilation titles, well worth getting.

The best FromSoft game not made by FromSoft; an ode to a classic story while also deconstructing it in unexpected ways. Argues that lying is in human nature and even empathetic when necessary, giving people hope in their last moments of inevitability. Playing Soulslikes for the story tends to be not really my thing but Lies of P got me with it's characters and emotions, which is a rare thing for this style of game and that alone deserves praise.

But man, it plays so well! It's gorgeous to look at, the controls are tight, and the gothic overtones feeds into fantastic art direction across the board. It's also hard as hell - this is one of the hardest Soulslikes on the market right now - but rewarding in how it still keeps itself fair for the most part. Some minor jank here and there - dodging feels stiffer then it should at points and the guarding is REALLY precise - but when you get into a groove this is as good as these get. Loved this.

Justifies it's entire existence in it's final hour and a half long stretch; a man with no home or place mourns silently, for nobody can hear him. For a game that could have been an easy "fill in a blanks on the wiki" kind of game it's downright criminal that they managed to pack such an emotional whallop here and gave it a strong thematic core - what happens when you remove the sole identity of a person? Does that person die? Or do they cry out in anger and rebel against that very idea?

It's definitely a side game though elsewhere. The new fighting style rules and the game certainly plays as one of the better Dragon Engine games - they clearly learned a lot from Judgment, which is good - but the decision to cram all of the more extensive side content into one section of the game was a choice to say the least. Substories, while still strong, feel gutted of their spontaneous nature now which is a little bit disappointing, and it does mean that unintentionally makes the middle section of the game feel a bit bloated. The Coliseum is excellent though across the board, best arena in the series by far. RGG does it once again guys, never in doubt.

Some minor writing quibbles aside, Sea of Stars is monstrously great. Immediately jumps out as a artistic masterpiece - pixel art has never looked more detailed or immaculately rendered. Yasunori Mitsuda being on the music here as well means this is one of the few times a "retro style" game has actually managed to replicate that era, which isn't surprising considering Sabotage's prior work. Simple RPG combat allows the game to really flourish as you are exploring wonderfully intricate puzzles - the world is the focus here and I think that's the key to it's success.

I think most discussion will center around whether or not it's lowkey, pretty basic approach to storytelling works. While I can some people rolling their eyes, Sea of Stars ultimately goes for simplicity over complication; emotions over big twists or turns. It ends up being resoundingly effective, going from a happy, light adventure to a melancholic, bittersweet ode to friendship, life, and those we have lost. Sea of Stars is not just something in the game universe - it's the place we all end up going once our time is up, and our friends can always find us if they look up and traverse the sea.

Played Legendary Edition

Masterpiece. Bias or not, Mass Effect 2's whole conceit of "Dirty Dozen but in space" allows for it to have some of the best character work Bioware has ever managed to do. Very rarely are the complexity of the characters the appeal in a game like this but each squadmate is so richly layered and engaging from a likability perspective that the final mission ends up packing as large of a punch as it does. It's all building to that one, singular two hour experience and it's masterful.

Helps the game is actually killer to play outside of that. The simplified RPG mechanics actually work this time around - the snappier combat and more versatile power system means that you are zipping around quicker and making more effective decisions. Combine that with a strong presentation and varied mission design and you have a complete winner. Will always be a favourite.

Incredible combat surrounded by a mostly standard anime-esqe world that gets by thanks to likable characters and an engaging, tense first half. It's a testament to how snappy, fluid, and responsive these controls are that I never felt bored fighting the enemies in the game, and the sheer amount of freedom you are given to dispatch these things makes each encounter memorable and distinct. Some really quality bosses in this as well, particularly the final.

Shame the story is a bit of a letdown once you get down to it. The second half is bogged down by heavy exposition due to the dual narratives needing to crossover and explain both ends of the story, and what the final threat ends up being doesn't feel properly built up to. Still, I can't say the emotional beats didn't entirely work as I still felt moved and I like the bittersweet, soulful tone of the final segment. Good game, if flawed.

I don't know if Monster Hunter is entirely my thing but I can't deny that Rise is both a fantastic entry point for the series while also being a great game in it's own right. The series has made a name for itself on two major components to it's success - depth of combat, and the actual monster designs themselves, and Rise succeeds heavily at both which counts as a win in my book. Strong controls and mobility across the board make this a breeze to play, especially as hunts take longer and longer to complete.

It's definitely got a learning curve - the series' notoriety for difficult to explain concepts is definitely here - but for those willing to take the plunge and actually try it out this might be your best bet to start. And while I definitely prefer something with more story on it's bones - this is literally just kill monster, rinse and repeat - the actual loop of gameplay is so fun it's hard to ignore.

Gundam Evolution, for what it was, was a good time. The idea of a hero shooter in the world of Gundam, using the iconography and mechs from the franchise, is an enticing idea on paper and thankfully it mostly delivers that base concept. It's rough around the edges for sure, but for Gundam fans it delivers the right amount of actual strategic gameplay, fun mechs, and easter eggs that will keep them entertained.

Unfournately, this was likely the game's downfall in retrospect. There is very little here for a non-fan to grasp onto, and while gameplay is fine, it's nothing you haven't seen before and because of that I can't see any reason for a non-Gundam aficionado to get into this other then a new multiplayer game to play with friends. It's decent, but I wish it could have been more then just decent.

If anything can dethrone Mario 3, it's this one. Basically perfect, no notes here - just top tier, intuitive platforming with colorful, gorgeous 16-bit sprite work, a great soundtrack, and stellar level design that rewards exploration and doing things "just because". If there is a nook, there is likely something there to explore. And if there is a cranny, there is absolutely some coins to jump and get or a power up that could save your ass. It's a perfect blend of everything you love about Mario games in one swoop.

And of course, the introduction of Yoshi, who changed the game in various ways but mainly in how he gives Mario new tools to play with in his arsenal. And the same goes for the cape, which is easily one of the best powerups the series has had for it's versatility. While my heart belongs to Mario 3 and it's sheer ambition for the system it was on and the variety in it's levels and powers, Mario World probably has my brain. It's one of Mario's most exciting, replayable, and charming outings, and a must play for anybody wanting to get into the plumbers adventures.

Easy contender for best game ever made; a standout reason as to why gaming as a whole is so impactful, special, and important in the grand scheme of things. The level of creativity! The colours! That music! It's all engrossing and immediately sucks you in, and then you see a map to the world with different paths and realize that not one playthrough of this is going to be the same. You are going to explore and find other stuff, and while it's nowhere near the level of other Mario games due to hardware limitations this is still where it started.

Incredibly well designed from every angle too. This was NES? Even back then Miyamoto and the folks at Nintendo must have been wizards. And the sheer amount of powerups here allows for a bunch of experimentation and makes you wanna keep coming back for more. It's just delightful and while there are probably "better" Mario games, this is my absolute favourite and will always hold a special place in my heart.

Gets way too much flack for being "different" (which yes I understand the history that literally everybody knows now) and instead people ignore just how rock solid of a platformer Super Mario Bros 2 actually is. Sure, it's not as tight as the first game nor as varied and charming as later installments, but in it's place are four distinct characters, each with their own unique playstyles, and level design that actually rewards replay and exploration.

It just feels really good to go through to boot. I love the throwing mechanic, and how it allows you to use enemies as their own platforms. I love the different kinds of enemies in this and how each one is completely unique from each other. I love the improved sprite work from the first game. It's just a great, fantastic time, if a little clunky sometimes. Still worth a check out if you haven't played it, and worth a second look if you dismissed it at first.

Respect the level of cruelty, insanity, and sheer masochism on display here, but this is mostly just an insanely hard "veterans pack" for the original game that really doesn't add a whole lot. I can see the appeal back then, but this only works if it was like an arcade game, like an extra eight set of levels you play right afterwards to give yourself that extra level of challenge.

But it's not that, it's a brand new game and Nintendo's quick realization of the difficulty being too high was one of the smartest things they've done. Some of the levels here are just obtusely designed to the point of frustration - which is the point but still - and to actually get to the truly hard levels, beating the game eight times is just... yeah, no thank you. Not today. Thankful for it's release as a novelty, but other then that it's a clear black sheep in a series known for high quality.