If you're looking for the pay-off and pain Episode I promised, this game delivers in spades by piecing most of its prequels' unresolved narrative threads together, should you look past the rush. Shion thankfully returns to form as a character, reclaiming the spotlight. The database alleviates the availability issue of the spin-off games. As for the combat, it streamlines its precursors while retaining a sense of deliberateness. This saga got me into Nietzsche and Jung for what it's worth.

I speedran this game

The most mechanically dynamic combat in all of Xenosaga (rather ironic given that A.G.W.S. combat feels like an afterthought), designed to be quite exploitable on both ends. Excellent introduction to its complex universe, if a bit bloated with cutscenes, and intriguing set-up for what's to come in future episodes, especially Episode III.

They managed to simultaneously overcomplicate and oversimplify almost everything related to gameplay, and yet nothing comes close to as reprehensible as the warp to Shion's characterisation. Nevertheless, it might be a worthwile endeavour just for the chance to witness first-hand how the U.R.T.V.s' characters unfold. Can't say the same for unlocking the unexpectedly compelling post-game, although I did so all the same (I completed it save for the 3 secret bosses I didn't know about at the time).

The story is just as poignant as its sequel's, if not better suited to this kind of premise, with a simple yet engaging gameplay loop (including basic resource management) and a fantastic OST to complement it. This was the first game I personally owned and it has appreciably informed my taste in video games. My save data was damaged out of the blue when I was on the second-to-last main story dungeon and I haven't touched it since.

Most adequately faithful adaptation of 2D Mario level design to 3D, built with multiplayer in mind to boot (which is how I played it in full). Moreover, it boasts a superb OST, my favourite among those of Mario games without a shadow of a doubt.

The base game's character writing left so much to be desired they had to make an epilogue to give much-needed closure to its only decently-poised (no offense to bestest buddy Reyn, that's my boy), now fully fledged character, by means of a plot and cast that, unlike the main narrative, don't do the appropriately different themes a disservice along the way. The nod to Xenosaga is pretty neat, but future instalments in the series wouldn't be predestined had the base game truly been definitive.

If Rex doesn't make it in I'm breaking my Switch in half

Purposeless amalgamation of Melee and Smash 4 mechanics. Balance is pretty good for such a massive cast, although that doesn't mean much when gameplans are so bare-bones and samey across the board, not that balance has a significant effect on my enjoyment (or lackthereof, because it's clunky as shit) anyway. Gameplay aside, it's a mind-blowing crossover, but even if everyone is here, some characters (especially veterans) exist as shameful representations of their original selves and games.

A Xenoblade to surpass Xenogears. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 resonates with me to the core.

Captures notwithstanding (most of which are bereft of adaptable applicability), Mario is limited to the same (albeit lively) jumping manoeuvre for the whole game

The subtitle is as good as devoid of meaning: 'tis but the same shallow, contrived mess the original was, the substance of which rests on the shoulders of the true Xeno series titans, for this game's can't stand on their own feet. Its breathtaking beginning and stunning setting get you hooked into an ultimately vapid odyssey which could've been the classic of the genre fanatics oversell had it been rewritten so as not to appear as vacuous as it does. Shulk's blade did not cut deep enough at all.

This game introduced me to arena fighters. I find Phase Shifting unsatisfying even if I believe the idea had potential and I do derive some level of gratification from the rest of the gameplay. Sceptile main.

A gorgeous and fluid game which, at least in its first half, fixes many of its prequel's most detrimental flaws. I say in its first half because I went for sequence breaks whenever possible and ended up unknowingly softlocking my playthrough about halfway through the game. I'd say it's a joy to play, but the inexcusable performance issues prevent me from wholeheartedly doing so. Despite the constant stuttering, I was very immersed in the game and trying to go for 100%, so it was a real letdown.

The effect of DI alone makes this game's decision making more rewarding than that of any other official Smash game (granted, not that impressive a feat). Balance works out this time around, almost half the cast is viable to some degree and playstyles tend to differ greatly between characters. L-cancelling sucks though, dash-dancing cavils aside, it and planking are my biggest gripes with this game competitively speaking, so I'm glad they removed the former and deterred the latter in Project +.