Goddamnit, turns out Fortnite is actually good. It's hard to argue that it's a bit overplayed, for sure, and the general mechanics aren't new, but it's addicting in ways that most battle royales just aren't and it's infectiously optimistic, bright attitude and bonkers cross promotional material make it hard to truly hate. It's just fun; that's sometimes all you really need!

Curious to see just how far this game goes in the future, and I can't see myself ever truly getting into the wider scene outside of no build mode, it's still a great time with friends and deserves it's popularity. Guess I'm a fan now.

A perfect Guardians of the Galaxy game; feels like a "best of both worlds" scenario as it combines the dark wit, rock soundtracks, and emotional sincerity of the Gunn films while embracing more comic accurate roots in regards to characterization, art design, and general story. This is a treasure trove of references and deep cuts but also never forgets to tell it's own story, and said story explores death, grief, and alienation in a way that's refreshing and poignant.

It helps it's rock solid from a gameplay perspective too. Fluid as hell, and the other Guardians don't feel like added weight but instead have their own unique contributions (NONE of them are useless). Runs out of steam a little bit towards the end once you've unlocked everything (which is exceptionally easy) and combat becomes mostly perfunctory - the only real failing of the game - but otherwise this is a nigh-perfect superhero game. Adored this!

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.

Really don't know how to rate this. On the one hand, this is a wickedly smart twist on Metroidvanias on paper; instead of upgrades, you have investigation. Instead of doors, you have puzzles. It's a really cool twist and all of the puzzles are well thought out and genuinely make you feel like you've accomplished something. The art style is gorgeous at points, relishing the Lovecraftian vibes with purples and blacks that make the game pop.

Shame actually playing this thing is a puzzle in itself. I can forgive vagueness if in it's service of a greater story (i.e. Elden Ring) but there is really nothing here to latch onto. Who is Benedict Fox? We never actually find out, instead we are left watching the backstory of two people we don't know and lack a strong connection to. And then when you actually play it, you are constantly fighting with stiff controls, wonky physics, and combat that feels almost perfunctory rather then unique and engaging. I wish this was a lot better then it was cause I love the vibes but this is a misfire, sadly.

Still one of the all time greats. Stellar writing across the board - both a sweeping epic and a fantastic revenge tale all in one go. In an era where video game writing was all over the place, this was a clear standout and it still holds up.

Gameplay holds up too, unsurprisingly. Difficult but extremely rewarding once you know what you are doing, and the plethora of options here makes things impossible to resist. The quality of life improvements are a godsend to boot, and the new companions are very well done. Classic from top to bottom.

Starts as a crime focused murder mystery and ends in a full blown condemnation of the Japanese justice system. Covers similar territory as it's sister series (particularly Yakuza 4) but it's new perspective allows for a different "judgment" if you will on the material that makes it a unique experience. A compelling arc for Yagami is what tips this over the edge as one of the best stories of the series as well, as his vulnerability and morally questionable actions make him shockingly human when compared to the stoic Kiryu or the hyperactive Ichiban.

It also plays like a dream. The Dragon Engine has never been better, and while there is some clunkiness for sure once you get into a groove it's a blast. Unsure if the styles are as effective as Yakuza 0 but I like how they are more based around group fights/individual fights more then anything else. Combine that with great minigames and one of the best supporting casts of the series and you have a winner. Loved this!

The definitive Yakuza experience - an expansive, massive game not just in things to accomplish but also in it's story. A sprawling crime epic at it's finest, sometimes overwhemlingly so, but the pieces falling into place make for a satisfying experience and the plot threads manage to intersect far better then Yakuza 4. It's killer finale is also something to behold, easily among the strongest in the series and thematically tying everything into it's main themes about dreams and those who follow them.

And outside of the fact that it plays wonderfully as well, there is something to be said on just how emotionally strong the game ends up becoming. You spend a game's amount of time with each character and seeing their stories unfold is enthralling - it takes a special kind of game to make me cry on multiple occasions but this one did it. One of the best in the series, if not the best - a triumph.

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 writing decisions regarding pacing are a little off, but this is a shockingly good return to form across the board. This was divisive on release like a lot of legacy franchise stuff but I feel this will age like wine - the gorgeous background art just pops, the dialogue and character writing is continuously great, and it ends with a massive bang that literally sends you to the pits of hell and back again.

It also helps that it feels important and necessary for the saga as a whole; a missing chapter that was lost in time suddenly found years later. The transition from the first game to the second was always a bit jarring but this makes the leap more palatable and understandable. The balls hard difficulty is appreciated as well. Great stuff, pretty much as good as something like this will get.

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.

The kind of all-timer that comes once in a decade; as primitive as it is, it's proof that graphics don't mean everything and that in the end it always comes back down to level design, mechanics, and just general vibes. And the original Super Mario Bros, regardless of it's age, is still a masterpiece in level design and mechanics. The way Mario feels is timeless - heavier then other games in the series but still somehow distinctly Mario, and the levels progress in difficulty in a way that feels right.

And once you reach the end, with some of the hardest levels in the game and it throwing pretty much everything it can at you, it feels genuinely satisfying. Your princess is in another castle, but when the journey is this good and well aged, it's hard to not wanna see it through.

Definitely has shown it's age in some areas, more so then other Yakuza games. The decision to essentially just port this with an updated graphics engine and some new cast members makes Ishin a decidedly, and weirdly, retro experience, but it's a return to the classic Yakuza formula that should work for long time fans even if it's grindier then I think people would like.

It's liberties with Japanese history are plentiful for sure, but it's version of Ryoma Sakamoto feels true to life while also fascinating in it's exploration of identity and legacy; it feels like a game grappling with it's own portrayals of these figures on a meta level which makes the story thematically compelling. Another RGG banger, if ultimately nothing more then a fun side story.

Have to give credit where credit is due, it's a classic for a reason; tight controls, precise jumping, and has a really strong "gotta try again" quarter hogging feeling that makes you remember why this was such a huge deal back in the day. It's mostly seen as the introduction of Mario, Pauline, Donkey Kong, etc for various reasons but as a standalone game, it's got a lot going for it and it's short length for the main "narrative" keeps it from outstaying it's welcome.

It's also aged. Not badly, mind you, just aged a lot, and you need to get past that in order to enjoy this. And while I can do that with a lot of old school arcade games - still love me some Pac-Man - this one has a level of jankiness and repetitiveness that makes it difficult to really get invested for a high score playthrough. Still though, it's worth a play regardless. Classic!

Not without it's faults but widely overhated and another example of why Yakuza is continuously a top tier gaming experience. Okinawa setting does wonders here, allowing for a new, more laid back story and environment that makes this game feel like it's own thing compared to the prior games - for the first time, Kamurocho feels cramped, crowded, and unappealing, as Kiryu's perspectives begin to shift. And while the story occasionally veers too far into being convoluted, it's refreshingly small scale and personal, making the stakes feel just as large as before.

Gameplay is more dated then jank, still solid stuff but clearly a product of being an earlier game in the series, but it forces you to actually get good at the game despite the constant blocking from enemies. If any big problems here it's all in the villain group here who are wasted, along with a potential game changer of a reveal that doesn't go anywhere interesting. Outside of that, this is another winner for Yakuza.

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.