I love ocean life, so I had to give Maneater a try. The gameplay is horribly repetitive, but the game isn't long enough for it to get boring. The best part about Maneater is by far the nature documentary-esque narrator making snide anti-capitalism comments and pointing out commercialism and climate change in the human race in a funny way.
I was torn on whether or not this game is anti-shark propaganda, but decided on the idea that it's almost parody of itself, making the shark seem like some extraterrestrial mega-killer battling the grip of human greed and ignorance for the planet. Lots of laughs and a quick game!

My first Vanillaware game! The artstyle and design are what initially drew me in to Odin Sphere, but the gameplay and story made it more than worth it. It now stands as one of the best games I've ever played, and stands high on the list of games that made me cry the most.
The environments are gorgeous, encompassing everywhere from an aurora-cast city in the clouds to a glowing fairy paradise deep in a forest. The enemy design and animations aid in making every location feel alive, and the respective characters you meet in every locale adds to the fantastic ambiance of Odin Sphere that never gets boring.
2D side-scroller action games are something many consider played out and stagnant, but Vanillaware has a way of standing out with Odin Sphere's combat. It's easy to get the hang of, highly customizable, fluid, fast, and fun. Getting to experiment with each character's abilities and upgrading those that fit your playstyle allows for extremely satisfying combat. Additionally, the animations for many actions are masterfully done and simply add to how gorgeous every aspect of this game is.
The dungeon style of Odin Sphere is extremely unique, and it keeps the game fresh and fun while also being extremely simple to navigate. Exploration aspects like finding all items in a room and the clues given to you about chests with hidden psyphers was a perfect compliment to the well-made combat.
Cooking is the third mechanic that stood out to me. Collecting ingredients throughout levels, growing fruits and vegetables right there on the battlefield, and using your own power (phosons) to help them grow and give you EXP was lots of fun, and using what you grew at Maury's travelling restaurant while discovering new recipes in every chapter added to an already rewarding experience.
The original PS2 Odin Sphere was criticized for its difficulty, and I understand why. Playing the game on Hard (which was Normal difficulty in the 2007 original) was a challenge, and the easier difficulties added in Leifthrasir makes the game as a whole much more accessible and enjoyable.
Content-wise, you can play through the main story in somewhere between 25-40 hours, which felt sufficient for the story being told. I found it really cool how there are multiple final bosses, and you can fight any one of them with any of the main characters. Postgame content is almost nonexistent, except for a boss rush "Churning Rift of the World" mode.
The story in Odin Sphere is one of the best in any RPG (or any game ever) that I've seen. A main premise of five interconnected stories initially seemed like there wouldn't be any room for good development, but by the end I was extremely attached to all the characters and even a few of the antagonists. Furthermore, I never felt the pacing was reset or lost with the start of a new storybook and the beginning of a new character's story. Mercedes' ending is genuinely one of the most emotional moments I've experienced from a video game, although every protagonist was extremely well written and voice acted. The design of the main protagonists and many of the side characters is also top-tier, creating a cast of unforgettable characters that stand out immensely.
The music in Odin Sphere, while good, is simply standard. It doesn't stand out like all the other aspects of the game - with one exception. The main theme/credits music is a beautiful piece that fits the vibe of the game and adds to its beauty.
Odin Sphere is a game I will not soon forget, and a game I will soon return to and replay. Vanillaware's magnum opus, a masterpiece of writing, gameplay, and art combined into one. Absolutely worth a playthrough, or two, or more!

I was a pretty big fan of the first Monster Hunter Stories game on 3DS, and needless to say MHS2 was a fantastic continuation! All the charm from the first game is back in full force - the cute monstie designs, the fun environments, and the fantastic soundtrack did not disappoint in the slightest. Seeing characters return from the first game was incredible as well, and solidified my love for this game.
My only major gripes are easily remedied. The English voice acting was subpar at best, especially Navirou - a character you have to hear constantly throughout the game - but it didn't bother me enough to ruin my immersion or interest in the game. I'd simply recommend playing the game with Japanese voices unless you absolutely must hear the English voices.
The characters and their writing was very hit-or-miss, with the blatant miss being Reverto. A cool father-like figure from the first game was reduced to some annoying surfer dudebro, and it didn't sit well with me. Newer characters like Ena and Kyle were decently written, nothing major to complain about there.
The story as a whole feels very cookie-cutter and generic at times, but it never felt too boring or repetitive, and it was a very comfortable length.
A flexible battle system that can be enjoyed in both simple and complex ways helps the gameplay shine, as the combat felt too boring and easy in the first Monster Hunter Stories game. Being able to customize a team of your favorite monsties and forge awesome armor was a ton of fun!
Monster Hunter Stories 2 can be enjoyed in many ways. Whether or not you've played the first game, if you like simple or complex battle systems, if you're a mainline Monster Hunter fan or a turn-based RPG fan, the game has enjoyable aspects for a wide variety of tastes. I would personally recommend playing the first Monster Hunter Stories game on 3DS if you have access to it, as it makes the characters feel more exciting and the reveals that much more meaningful. Great combat, great exploration, acceptable story and characters, and fantastic monstie designs makes Monster Hunter Stories too a solidly good game that adds to the killer lineup of the Nintendo Switch's RPG library!