Played in 2022, Ranked
Games that I either finished, or started and ended up dropping in 2022.
35 Games
10/10. Definitely has its problems (weak antagonists bar a few, pacing issues at the back third), but the sheer quality of the main cast felt unparalleled in the -blade series. The core themes of the game also deeply resonated with me at the time I first played (and still do). Combat was great, even if chain attacks tended to drag on. Soundtrack was fantastic; although more subdued than the previous entries, the area themes fit the mood of the world.
10/10. Love the challenges that each song brings (even Love Rap), favourite rhythm game by a wide margin. (also more games need as many monkeys as this game has)
9.5/10. Was always a doubter about OOT's legacy, but boy was I wrong. Graphics were a perfect reflection of the original without looking dated, and the story is still beautiful to this day.
NB: I haven't played the original, but am planning to at some point soon when I feel like replaying the game.
NB: I haven't played the original, but am planning to at some point soon when I feel like replaying the game.
10/10. Don't know how to put into words how much this game resonated and connected with me. Could do with more music + better pacing in the first half of disc 2, but those issues really didn't affect me enough to lower my score. Instant favourite.
8/10. Not even mad that they trojan-horsed Kanto.
10/10. it's tetris plus heaps of fun online modes. the single player campaign's dynamic music and visuals were pretty cool too
10/10. My first Uchikoshi game, and I'm keen for more. Love the mechanics with the different branching paths based on the somniums. Couldn't even be mad at the end sequence.
10/10. Combat is over-the-top, flashy and fun, with each boss fight keeping it fresh. Love the writing too; the game has some fantastic, poignant moments (such as the end of the #2 fight), and Travis is probably one of my favourite video game protagonists.
9.5/10. SHOCKER: Radiohead fan loves Radiohead experience. Made the best out of not being able to have an in-person experience by going all-in with the advantages of digital spaces. The How to Disappear Completely section was one of the most beautiful things I've seen.
9/10. Fantastic, stylish combat, challenging yet fun levels (bar a couple), and a masterclass in camp.
8.5/10. One of the best mobile games out there. Simple but challenging and satisfying gameplay, and a great artstyle.
9/10. Best of the trilogy. Builds on the prior entries well, and I didn't feel like I needed to guess at any point. Infinite level generator adds a ton more to the game too.
9/10. Would be a huge contender for all-time favourite game if the story was better. Combat and exploration was some of the best I've ever experienced, and probably the most enjoyable questing and grinding systems I've seen in a JRPG.
9/10. Really feels like they took the best parts of each previous game and put them into this. Definitely has its' issues (overworld performance, some input delay, cut content) but it didn't impact me too much. Just really loved the way this whole game was presented. Also made me appreciate TSA even more.
8.5/10. Played since the original BTD back in primary school and this is the best it's been. Have played this far more than I would like to admit, fun strategy and the microtransactions aren't too intrusive and don't create a pay-to-win environment (from what I've seen).
9/10. Charming artstyle, and the unorthodox control scheme using the dual sticks feels fantastic once it clicks.
8/10. I am terrible at this game but I love it. Difficult but very fun, has a great way of making you want to finish the courses (sometimes out of spite). Not the biggest fan of the lives systems but appreciate the challenge it adds.
8/10. Really interesting combination, I'm terrible at Puyo Puyo but it's easy enough to learn while playing.
8/10. Great start to the trilogy, keen to know more about what the fuck is happening. Introduces the characters well, and sets the scene perfectly. Combat system was neat, although it felt slow and limited at times.
7.5/10. Builds upon the first game well, but there were several times where I felt forced to guess certain blocks to complete a level.
7.5/10. Definitely some jank at times, but it let me live my dream of making a zoo with every monkey type in it so...
7/10. Hard to describe this one, but it was a really interesting insight into the life of another person in another culture.
8/10. Great challenging puzzle game where I didn't feel like I needed to guess to complete the puzzle.
6.5/10. Would have rated higher if the puzzles didn't get so convoluted that I resorted to guessing a lot of the later ones.
9/10. A change of pace for the series that I really enjoyed. Loved the variety of approaches in each of the levels. The simplified, top-down combat system was also really fun - felt different from the main games without feeling too easy.
7/10. Not the biggest fan of visual-only story telling, but it still managed to tell a pretty decent story, and was a fun experience nonetheless. A good game to play to chill out.
9/10. Makes me think too hard but I love it. Daily challenges and leaderboards keep it interesting too.
6.5/10. Physics definitely feel off compared to what I remember of the older entries, but the remakes of the older levels are pretty neat.
6/10. Overall a big step down from the first, but there were some mechanics I preferred over the first game (combat felt a bit better, missed the overworld but not the money grind).
7/10. Although the overworld did feel a bit limited, controlling the train was still a lot of fun. Combat controls felt stiff at times and the flute puzzles existed. However, it does have one of my favourite Zelda soundtracks.
6/10. Cute game, perfect length. Gameplay is nice but the puzzles are fairly simple, and the dialogue could get a bit annoying.
5/10. Agree with the common sentiment that it's almost like those videos you see at theme parks before the actual ride; kinda tries too hard at times
6/10. Short and kinda repetitive by the end, but mostly managed to feel fresh each level (plus great character design)
6.5/10. The walls were a neat mechanic, but felt a lot easier than the Hexcells series. Largely a quantity > quality issue.
4/10. Bought it as a joke since it was on sale, played it on and off. Fine racer, but doesn't have the charm that other kart racers do. Also only goes up to 150cc which can feel slow.
