I bought Alpha Protocol on Steam in 2011 for $2. I attempted to play it in 2016, but it didn't click with me. I only finished the Saudi Arabia section. Now, finally decided to give it another chance (coincidentally, I started the same day the game was relisted on GOG after being unavailable for nearly 5 years).

I am glad I did because this game is pretty good. The dialog mechanic is fantastic and slightly stress inducing. The characters are all compelling. The story is okay. The best part though is how everything matters in this game.

Nearly every decision (active and passive) gets referenced later on and affects relationships. I almost played it again just to make different decisions with a different play style. The conversation and characters are that great. Unfortunately, that would require playing the game again.

The combat (which is the bulk of the gameplay) at the best of times is repetitive. At the worst of times is a broken, buggy mess. Nearly every door requires the same annoying puzzle which makes replaying missions a bigger chore. My suggestion is to play on the easiest difficulty because the combat is not great.

Alpha Protocol reacts to nearly every player decision. The dialog and characters are top notch. The story is intriguing. These are reasons that make it a must play. However, it is held back by buggy, boring combat. I found it worthy of the $2 I spent on it thirteen years ago.

Persona 3 Reload is a great version of the PS2 classic. Definitely the best way to play on current hardware. Persona and turn based RPGs should definitely check it out.

Now some minor things I prefer about FES, which makes it my preferred version. I miss the exhaustion mechanic. It was a nice measure to keep from grinding too long in Tartarus. Though other mechanics exist in Reload, I still like exhaustion because it played more into normal life. I felt some cut scenes were more impactful in FES. Mainly the opening. On the other hand, the ending was masterfully done in Reload. That's about it. Very minor things.

Reload is great and worthy of its praise.

I went into Saints Row expecting it be the worst of the series - an unpolished, unfocused mess with poor writing and annoying characters. Through the first act, that is what Saints Row is. This game does not put its best foot forward. The game has a slow start, the writing is at its worst, which leads to the unlikable characters. However, once the Saints start becoming Saints, things get better and better. By the end, I was loving my time with Saints Row's last hurrah.

Not to say it was a great game by the end. The business venture side missions (which honestly felt like the bulk of the game) became tired and repetitive fairly quickly. Each business has its own unique side mission, which are mostly fun. The problem is I do the side mission, had fun, and the game says do it ten more times. Its those last ten times that are no fun.

Most criticism I heard about the writing and characters were one hundred percent accurate based on the first cut scene with the companions. It was a bad scene. Fortunately, the characters got better. They don't compare to the original Saints; the new Saints have plenty to like about them. The story focused more on the companions and less on the rival gangs. I would have liked more story to flesh out the other gangs; maybe focus less on the business ventures.

Additionally, the game's story was oddly paced. It felt like it took forever for the Saints to form. Then before I knew it, all the rivals gangs were defeated (in a span of three consecutive missions) and I was on the last mission. It could be because during act two, I was mostly focused on the business venture side missions, but thinking about the story, it definitely felt the first act was the longest, which each successive act being shorter. Which is a shame since the first act is definitely the weakest.

Stand alone, Saints Row is a decent game with writing and pacing issues. As an entry in the Saints Row franchise, it definitely falls beneath the heights of 2 and 3. Volition and Saints Row deserved another go around to get things right (I say the same thing about Agents of Mayhem). Unfortunately, the volatility of the video game industry means neither Volition or Saints Row will get to return to glory. While it wasn't the studio's or franchise's best, Saints Row was worth a playthrough, and I had plenty of good times with it.