I have an incredible amount of bias towards Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate since it was my first Monster Hunter game. In fact, I had been so interested in the game from the start that when I saw it on sale, I picked it up months before I even had a Wii U. An action game entirely dedicated to lengthy boss battles just stood out from what I was expecting when looking into the early titles on the system. In a strange way, the Wii U's limited library worked in favor of this game with how easy it was to spend hundreds of hours replaying all the different hunts. Despite the long quests and numerous times that missions had to be replayed to get the right loot, it rarely ever feels like a grind. It's just a fun challenge that always feels so unbelievably satisfying when you finally take down that monster.

Although I appreciate how the later installments prioritize fast movement and drop the underwater fights, I'm also glad MH3U plays how it does for a uniquely "weighty" combat experience. I'll definitely be back for more once fan servers resurrect the online play.

Like WarioWare but with a really imaginative plot that gives a suprising amount of motivation to get through all the stages. A lot of these minigames feel closer to Mario Party (derogatory) in terms of length and mechanics, but the wackiness of it all is what sticks with me the most.

Personal Ranking (Fav First):
1. Woof
2. Stop The Train
3. Keep Baby Alive
4. Get Poing
5. Defeat Hellspawn
6. Survive Onslaught (Dodgeball)
7. Do 5 Backflips (Skiing)
8. Prepare To Suck (Cat Roomba)
9. Eat 10 Balls (Hungry Hippo)
10. Rock The Crowd
11. Splat 12 Brits (Seagull)
12. Fuel The Car
13. Drop Off 3 People (Flying Taxi)
14. Fit Thru Holes
15. Hit 7 Doorsteps (Paperboy)
16. Pass 9 Checkpoints (Dirt Track Racing)
17. Get Closest (Curling)
18. Eat Fairies
19. Knock Him Out (Boxing)
20. Pass 25 Cars
21. Get More Balls (Tennis)
22. Avoid Fireballs
23. Hit 10 Nails
24. Squash The Fly
25. Set Time
26. Go Thru Checkpoints (Desert Driving)
27. Eat Food To Grow (Snake)
28. Make Pizza
29. Don't Eat Too Much (Sausage)
30. Reach The Flag (2D Platformer)
31. Bounce (Stone Skipping)
32. Shoot 3 Apples (Archery)
33. Par 6 (Golf)
34. Dock The Ship
35. Catch 3 River Men (Fishing)
36. Only Shoot Bad Guys (GoldenEye 007)
37. Eat 20 Apples (3D Sonic)
38. Break The Bulb
39. Match 3
40. Get 5 Good Photos
41. Swim To Finish Line
42. Judge The Diver
43. Escape The Maze
44. Collect 3 Marbles
45. Catch 3 Salmon (Bear)
46. Find The Imposters (Kpop)
47. Present Evidence
48. Gotta Beat Em All
49. Look At Camera (Newcast)
50. Pay Attention
51. Watch Closely (Cup Game)
52. Higher Or Lower? (Cards)
53. Run Away
54. Master Sausage
55. Smash The Car (Kicking)
56. A x100 (Typewriter)

The moment that the fixed camera angles really clicked for me was when I got to the Chemical Plant platform, with Claire and Sherry gazing at the full moon in the sky. There were times beforehand where I recognized the added tension of danger being just around an unseen corner, but it was around that scene halfway through the "Claire A" campaign that I appreciated just how cinematic the visual style was as well. It's the unique perspectives that make the locations that much more memorable and the exploration even creepier.

Rondo of Blood, my favorite Castlevania, is a unique mixture of the different approaches the series has gone through. It follows the "classicvania" controls but also gives you a backflip and extra mid-air movement. It's also the first installment where the graphics and music have a 90s anime flair, but still with that distinctive gothic horror inspiration. When it comes to difficulty, the game follows the intensity of the original but also offers Maria as a more relaxed playstyle option. If you're playing as the starting character Richter though, every enemy demands planning and timing to move forward. Whether checking out Rondo of Blood for the challenge or the vibes, it's a beautiful experience any way you play it.

If you're a TurboGrafx-16 fan, a Castlevania fan, or just an action-platformer fan in general, this is the #1 game to play for the spooky season.

When factoring in how edgy the dialogue can get and the numerous spots that can softlock the game, I understand why Toby Fox has distanced himself from this "creepypasta-esque" Earthbound hack. It also doesn't last long enough to make much use of the original game's rolling HP dial mechanic. On the other hand, I love all the creepy enemy designs throughout the different worlds, and most of the humor hits a satisfying middle ground between Earthbound and Undertale. It's certainly faithful in terms of capturing the RPG experience of a world worth exploring in every detail. Hearing the first appearance of Megalovania is a wonderful historic event as well. If you enjoy Toby Fox's work, it's definitely worth checking out one of his very first projects (with save states used frequently).

Wonderfully faithful installment to the Pikmin series that takes the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate approach by functioning as a combination of all the previous games. Pikmin 4 is almost more of a franchise celebration than a real continuation, but the features it brings back and expands upon are greatly appreciated. All of the previous Pikmin types return and give nice variety in puzzles, although White and Blue are probably at their least useful in this game. The interactive Piklopedia and dual captain control with Oatchi are some other great updates, as well as a side mode that plays through the entire 1st Pikmin game. This extra Olimar’s Shipwreck Tale mission is surprisingly hard, and the halved time limit from the original was one of the best tests of micromanagement I’ve experienced from the series so far. Most importantly, Pikmin 4 maintains that emotional connection of caring for the Pikmin. The main storyline is probably the easiest of the series, but in a weird way, it just makes it hit harder when one of your little alien allies ends up in danger. Definitely worth the 10-year wait!

Most of what people know about Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire is its extreme rarity and high price. Ironically, the gameplay is actually one of the most accessible of its genre and is enhanced with some awesome sights and sounds.

Right from the very beginning, Sapphire pushes the limits of PC Engine CD-ROM² with amazingly crisp sprites and stimulating power metal music. Although the time-travel setting doesn’t affect the basic plot too much, it creates great settings and enemies from the combination of spaceships with elements from medieval Europe, classical Japan, and ancient Egypt. No matter how many obstacles and projectiles the game throws at you across the levels, it’s surprisingly manageable. This is mostly a result of how you respawn almost immediately and even get a free power-up after getting hit. In addition, the bomb sub weapon is exceptionally powerful against bosses, has its supply replenished upon death, and offers a few seconds of invincibility when used. Despite all these factors helping you out, it’s still very satisfying to make it through all the levels, even on ‘Easy’ difficulty.

As someone who enjoys flashy shoot ‘em ups but usually isn’t looking for the most extreme challenge, Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire is one of those games that I can play any day. If you manage to get ahold of a copy, it’s absolutely worth experiencing for yourself.

Ocarina of Time has probably been called “the greatest of all time” more than any other game in history. Even though there’s other games I prefer from a story, gameplay, visual, or auditory perspective, this one is definitely still one of the best with how engrossed I get into the land of Hyrule.

Nearly every 3D Zelda has offered increasingly larger worlds to explore, but I really appreciate how quaint this one can feel in comparison. It’s large enough for the setting of an adventure with diverse biomes, but compact enough that you can appreciate each unique character living within the world. This cast of NPCs especially charming, with distinctive personalities and designs. The price-rigging bean salesman and obsessive running man are my favorites and such funny additions to the world. The selection of locations are another highlight, with this entry having my favorite assortment of dungeons in the series. Jabu Jabu, the Bottom of the Well, and the Forest Temple are especially distinctive dungeons that have truly one-of-a-kind theming and puzzles. Even moments that can get repetitive in areas like the Water Temple are helped out by a great soundtrack and rooms with incredible atmosphere.

It’s been about 10 years since I last did a playthrough of Ocarina of Time, but this was a treat to return to. Maybe 25 years is too soon to say for sure, but this game is one of the best examples that some masterpieces can be truly timeless.

Part of the Glitchwave Top 100 Project (#31/100)