"Oblivion fades. This tales end has been unwritten"

Dragon's Dogma II is what Evil Dead II is to The Evil Dead. A fully realized reinterpretation of the original while offering up a new refreshing expierence within. A sequel 12 years later that still defiantly holds onto its principles and core design philosophy in never giving the player a streamlined expierence and one that you have to earn by your own trials and tribulations of expedition through countless wandering, brawls and battles with towering giants, monsters and dragons. Not without its caveats (I would have loved more traditional dungeons then the spree of caves in the world) but I can't help but respect Itsuno and the team at Capcom still holding onto the dream they had with Dragons Dogma in 2012 to deliver the definitive version of some of the best Action RPG gameplay the genre has seen to match its colossal sized monster fights while expanding the vast mythos of DD's world. Its as old school adventuring as it gets here.

A sequel that takes a totally new different approach in its design to the first games formula and it mostly pays off incredibly well. I think some of the levels feel padded out which leads to some annoying tedium, the boss fights aren't as dynamic and don't take as much risk as the first games. But the game makes up for it in much smoother gameplay in its platforming, combat, etc. Fantastic presentation and atmosphere in each level bring the world of Sly Cooper to even more life then the first games. Only issue is that the levels don't feel at all well designed for Bentley or Murray to run around in. Another noticeable step up from the first is the games narrative, the core gang each have even wittier and funnier written comradery, it also makes them all feel fleshed out as characters who learn and grow. Murray especially becomes an actual character this time and isn't just the fat one in the group looking for hot dogs like in the first game. Bentley having his moments to take the lead beyond the planning phase and face his fears. Overall a surprisingly great sequel full of surprises and fun even with its rough edges. Another 6th generation PS2 gem.

A game with 10/10 aesthetics and presentation. Absolutely adored the art style, music, and craft. Unfortunately can't say the same for the entire gameplay expierence as its (ahem) paper thin and too long with not enough ideas for the kind of game it is. If its length was cut in half this would have been a significantly more impactful gem of some of Media Molecules strongest flourishes in creativity that are vividly brought to life on its center stage. A shame Mm spent all this time after the fact on Dreams and never took a swing like this again.

(I hear the Vita version is better but not sure by how much)

Deserves much love and reverence as the genres contemporaries at the time of release and even after all these years. While it borrows from your Crash Bandicoot's, Spyros, Ratchet and the likes, Sly Cooper knowingly does so and still shapes out an exciting globe trotting crime caper oozing with style and personality. A great mix of stealthy platforming and rewarding collecting that incentivizes the player to complete the Theivius Raccoonus with new tricks and abilities. A soundtrack and atmosphere that hits nostalgic notes in my brain for a era of games that I still long for. All rounded out with a wonderful cast of characters and rogues gallery of cheeky villains. Sly flirting with the hot cop whos gunning after his ass, he's just like me for real. Easily one of the 6th generations best platformers.

Side note: I love the diegetic bass notes that play when Sly sleuths around. SOUL!!!!

I played it for 50 hours, found it weirdly captivating but also incredibly tedious. Even as Fallout 4's biggest defender it's really hard to defend some of the things in Bethesdas formula which haven't improved in 9 years. I still have to go back and finish the main storyline and some side quests but I think I've seen most of the game has had to offer in this time. Really hard to defend some design and game choices when Bethesda is now patching in things that should have been in the game in the first place like a moon rover for easier ground travelling on planets. I really want to love it more because I've always wanted a NASA coded sci Fi universe like this one and I got it in spades especially with some good side content like the terromorphs quests which reminded me why I fell in love with BGS to begin with. I admire the ambition at display and always champion new IP but I understand for those who really had their hopes high for this one and feel pretty disheartened by the results especially if you've been waiting since fallout 4 for a real BGS game again since these games are taking more years to produce and not be stuck with the likes of F76. Fuckin insane I'll probably be 30 when Elder Scrolls VI finally comes out.

Unfortunately I can't read Japanese or else I would have finished this as you progress through the game that becomes the biggest hurdle over anything else. Has the stylish noir flourishes and atmosphere of The Silver Case & Killer7 that I fell in love with Suda51 and Grasshopper Manufactures games and what I'd call an early prototype of the viscerally kinetic No More Heroes hack n slash gameplay albeit not as good but still has its worth. Time is my biggest hurdle these days or else I'd really try and push through it with the language barrier. Maybe I'll come back to this someday if a kind soul makes a fan translation. A tie in licensed IP game that isn't amazing but is better then it has any right being.