More linear world progression gives way to what is probably still the most consistent difficulty curve out of all these games, and coupled with an impressive roster of bosses that is only really bested by Sekiro for me, I still stand by my opinion that 3 is probably the best introduction for new players to the series. I think if I'd gotten into these games earlier around the time Dark Souls 1 was first released I'd be much harsher to 3. Its frequent callbacks to what's come before border on becoming a detriment to any sort of unique identity, the faster more responsive combat taken from Bloodborne lacks the punch that game had, and on top of all of that this game is just so GREY. I get how the game being so colorless ties into the overall tone and narrative of the game, as well as its DS1 references I guess, but it's just something that I find makes this game more bland than interesting to me. Like don't get me wrong it's strong art direction, but I will prefer the grimy labyrinthine streets of Yharnam or the high fantasy beauty of the Lands Between any day. Plus, after the billionth "hey remember Dark Souls 1!" moment, it all starts to feel like the Souls equivalent of that RedLetterMedia Rogue One skit. If you know, you know I guess. Luckily for 3 however, it was my first Souls game and was what got me into the series in the first place, and all those "first Souls game memories" are enough for me to never be fully dismissive of it even if it no longer ranks among my very favorites of these games.

Flawed, but I kinda love it regardless, and in a perfect world it probably could have been my favorite of the series. So many parts of this SHOULD make it so; it has the most vile atmosphere out of any of the Silent Hill games I've played, the way it plays with the concept of a safe room is brilliant, and everything regarding Walter Sullivan is so good until you actually play it and it's just alright I guess. At the very least it's basically just a better version of The Evil Within, and I do greatly appreciate how different this one was in comparison to other Silent Hill sequels (especially 3), it's clear Team Silent had plenty of new ideas that just sadly weren't fully executed.

Sort of like a blend of the two previous games, acting as more of a direct sequel to 1 and incorporating some of the psychological aspects of horror that 2 had. I don't care too much for how 3 tends to delve into the LORE of the cult and such from the first title, but the horror centered around womanhood and pregnancy is fantastic, horrific imagery reminiscent of period blood and childbirth works very well with the returning rusty nightmare aesthetic of the otherworld. Much like the previous title Silent Hill 3 has aged wonderfully with plenty of moments that made my skin crawl, especially thanks to the amazing sound design with distant noises of doors slamming behind you or footsteps on the floor above you heightening the anxiety of how alone you are. 3 is also without a doubt the prettiest PS2-era game I've played, Team Silent made full use of the hardware at the time and it shows. Gameplay is probably the one area I have any issue with, for some reason, the Silent Hill game that's centered around the vulnerability of being a teenage girl is also the most action-packed one yet. Harry and James certainly didn't have an SMG! QoL changes and new additions to combat like kicking downed enemies are nice, but veer more into a degree of action-horror that I don't think works for the thematic elements of the game. It's not enough to drag down the whole experience though, much like its predecessors SH3 is a great game that is well worth the praise it's garnered over the years, and on that topic, I've always heard rather mixed things about 4 so I'm certainly interested to play that one when I get around to it.

Playing this for the first time, and while kicking myself for not playing it sooner, all I can think of is just how much of SH2's identity is lent to the constraints of its time and the PS2 console it was released on. Its fixed camera angles, beautifully rendered FMV cutscenes, as well as its janky combat and voice delivery. Silent Hill 2 is completely shaped by all of it. So it's nice to see the upcoming remake throw all of that out in exchange for generic over-the-shoulder gameplay in a desperate attempt to cash in on the success of recent Resident Evil titles. Bravo Konami!

Sometimes it takes replaying this with the Remastest mod in co-op with your girlfriend who's never played it before to remind yourself how good DS1 is despite its flaws. Annoying Souls nerds are right to jerk off the interconnectivity of the first half because it does indeed rule! Its successors are all far more polished and tend to have fewer dips in quality (for the most part) but there's just something special about 1s atmosphere that I can't get enough of, it's one of those games I wish I could experience for the first time again.

Max's addiction to painkillers has given him superpowers. He can bend time to the point that bullets might as well be frozen, rooms full of mercs and goons watching in slow-motion terror as he does a Matrix reload in front of them, his own bullets completely unaffected. And he does this over and over and over, room after room after room, to the point you might think that Max Payne 2 is just a tech demo for its new stupidly over-tuned bullet time and nothing more. Thankfully its story is less shallow than its combat, as the noir romance between hard-boiled detective and femme fatale is more interesting than the plot of the previous game. Rockstar's money certainly shows in the more professionally done comic panels this time around, which while lacking the amateurish charm of the original, definitely benefit from the use of actual actors as it greatly helps deliver the serious and brooding nature of its narrative. As great as Sam Lake's face is, the switch to McCaffery's makes total sense and he totally sells the misery and trauma of Max's character (which of course is only further benefited from his amazing voice). While I find Max Payne 2's gameplay far more repetitive and less engaging than the first, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't still fun, it's just that I'll be more likely to replay 1 or even 3 over this one.

Nice companion piece to Alan Wake 2, it's fun to see many of what becomes Remedy's hallmarks in this; lots of references to Norse myths, Twin Peaks, 665 "The Neighbour of the Beast" and so on. The way it tells its story through comic strips consisting of photos of staff and family members feels like the predecessor to what would come in 20 years as Remedy continues to blend in live-action footage of actors to deliver a narrative. The mashup of film noir and John Woo is a genius idea for a setting and basically makes this one of the coolest games ever made, and aside from some clunky movement/controls it still holds up very well. Remakes are certainly a blight on the games industry at the moment, but with 2 decades of experience and technological development since, I honestly welcome the upcoming remake of Max Payne. Just as long as Remedy has full control over it. Alex Casey and the Noir York City segments in Alan Wake 2 have proven that they still have so much love for the character and setting, and I completely trust them to deliver something that would stand strong in comparison with the original.