"Put some pep in that step Freeman, you're late enough as it is." - Random Security Guard #19982020

Oh. My. God. Crowbar Collective's anwser to the what-if question of how the original Half-Life would look with a source update is an absolute love letter to the original game! It is a finely crafted modern take on the classic that put Valve on the map all those years ago. This remaster is an absolute testament to the skill and passion that the team used to make it. I do absolutely recommend that you grab and play the og Half-Life if you really want to appreciate the changes made, trust me, both the og and this are absolutely worth every dollar! Get that crowbar ready fellas, it is time to return to Black Mesa!

"GET A LOAD OF THIS! GET A LOAD OF THIS! GET A LOAD OF THIS!" - Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik, 1998.

Rough transition into 3D my ass. For the blue blur's first step into the Dreamcast era, it was done spectacularly well. And while it isn't perfect nor has it aged well in some aspects, it damn well had some fucking heart! There is so much lore expansion from the genesis games that it is incredible! The adventure formula as some call it has a lot of potential to be explored further if they choose to do so. And the game has a lot of banger tracks to listen to. While it is far from the magnum opus that most people claim it as, nor is it some rushed mess, but it absolutely moved the series forward in so many ways. I still sometimes tear up from the ending of Gamma's storyline.

"NO GODS OR KINGS. ONLY MAN."

Somewhere, beneath the sea, there lies an Atlantic apocalypse just waiting to be explored. This game embodies a sense of "relaxed badassery" as I like to dub it. The customization that the plasmids offer you allows for so many ways to for you to adjust your journey into Rapture. It also has a sense of importance regarding the ability for one to make your own choice. The story is fantastic too, with some clever political tie-ins too. I like the commentary that the superpowers can provide and the aesthetics never get old just looking at them. It is another treasured FPS experience to behold, even several replays later.

"The MEAT ON THE BONE!" - Hajimemes Hinata, Ultimate ???, 2012.

One ticket for a trip to Jabberwock Island please! Following up the Killing School Life, DR2 offers more fun, more mystery, more characters to love/hate, and an equally cool storyline. I digged the tropical locations as much as did Hope's Peak, and the characters alone are worth a good playthrough. It's kinda hard to follow the "No Attachment" rule the community throws around so much when there's bound to be someone to connect with. The twists you'll get through this are fantastic through and through, it is tied with V3 (and other games) amongst my favorite visual novels of all time!

"My source is that I made it the fuck up." - Senator Armstrong, probably.

For my entry point into the Metal Gear series as a whole, I wasn't expecting a totally over the top game with the feeling of a Saturday morning cartoon. In all seriousness though, this game is fucking fantastic. The gameplay is great, combine that with a fun story and a kickass soundtrack and it is no wonder this game is still talked about years later. That fight with Senator Armstrong, to include the buildup, is a gaming moment of all time for me. Now let's dance!

"So the first night isn't usually that bad in any of the games." - Famous last words.

Entry number four in the Fazbear saga goes out to the fellas back home (yes I am aware of the lore guys). The sound design alone works absolute numbers for the game keeping you on your toes while keeping yourself alive from the Nightmare Animatronics. And it is here where we see the infamous bite...of 83 that is. This is very solid entry in the series for what it is and it would be a go-to game for the halloween season.

Cue the Piano

The return to Sinnoh manages to marvelously smooth out the edges that Diamond and Pearl had while expanding the content of the region. I've really come to appreciate all things that the 4th generation has come to offer. A more solid pokemon roster, enhanced characters, and the Distortion World. I've come to love the difficulty curve this game has and all the sufficient lore this offers. Then again, for me, Pokemon has always had pretty good worldbuilding. All hail the almighty lord Arceus and the devil Giratina himself!

"I AM MORE THAN A ROBOT!! DIE WILY!!" - Mega Man post Wily Capsule 7.

While Mega Man X set a new formula that absolutely rocked, Classic was here to show that he's still got what it takes to stand proud with his successor. Mega Man 7 is a bit underrated from what it seems, but the setup here is absolutely charming. The weapon and boss lineup here is amongst my favorite in the classic series, and I like the added touch of extra collectibles like the Rush Adapter to enhance the experience. The introduction of Bass to the cast was also pretty nice too! And as uncharacteristic as it was for Mega Man to say that line, I'd probably wanna blast Wily a new one if I fought the Wily Capsule 7 myself.

"Looks like I'm plumber out of luck!" - Mario, from the [REDACTED].

Third times the charm they say. 3 really IS the magic number. And Mario 3 is absolutely magical. It's on record as one of Mr. Video's best for a reason, setting a standard for his 2-Delicious platforming journeys going forward. It helped revolutionize the Mario formula. Advance 4, in my opinion is the most supreme form of this game, taking what's already great, and expanding upon it even further with the E-Reader content. This 127 level behemoth will always be one of my go-to Mario platformers.

"It is time once again for Simon Belmont to call forth the powers of good to aid him in his battle. Armed with his mystical whip, his courage and the centuries-old knowledge of Belmont family training, he sets forth on his mission..."

Come fellow Vaniacs! We are getting into some goodness right here baby! That "Super" in the title is earned for a damn reason here. Back when Konami was worth a damn, their recycling of the first game's concept and plot proved to be fantastic. The gameplay and environment are absolutely fantastic. That omnidirectional whip will do so much wonders for you! You feel like a badass the moment you step through that drawbridge gate as Simon's theme plays in the background! And I can thank the 3DS eShop (and later Anniversary collection) for introducing me to this game, and by extension, the Castlevania series as a whole!

"The Last Metroid Is In Captivity. The Galaxy Is At Peace..." - Results determined that was a lie.

Met-, sorry spoilers, I mean Sammy's third escapade with Nintendo is where her space adventures really hit their stride! As my first exposure to the series via the 3DS's e-Shop, I can see how it was a genre defining experience. It did Baby Yoda and Mando way before it was even a thing and this game proudly stands with Castlevania as the pioneers of the Metroidvania genre to this day! The set pieces and gameplay are still fun to play in.