There is not much to Super Mario RPG. All those that have declared this to be baby's first RPG were 100% correct. Mechanically SMRPG is safe but satisfying. Moving through the world is breezy and the battles are equally swift and fun. Action commands (and the remake's added layer of splash damage) keep the player engaged in otherwise unremarkable combat. SMRPG holds up as a very accessible and playable game in the modern era, though not an essential one. Still, it's an enjoyable jaunt through a new take on the Mushroom Kingdom. And it's this bold take that really shines even decades later.

The Mario brand is iconic and beloved but is so familiar and so synonymous with Nintendo as a brand that it can come off as stale and bland. The magic of the Mario RPGs is that they reintroduce us to a Mushroom Kingdom that is playful, charming and absurd and Super Mario RPG gets all the credit for being first and setting the tone for the Paper Mario series, the Mario & Luigi games and I'd argue the Illumination Mario movie as well.

Twilight Princess is definitely not the best 3D Zelda but it's still very very good. Unfortunately, it has a tedious opening followed by multiple wolf sections as you unlock regions of the map. The wolf segments are by far the worst parts of the game with the Lanayru Tears of Light collection being the lowest point in the game. Thankfully things pick back up soon afterward with some remarkably well-designed dungeons, Arbiter's Grounds, Snowpeak Ruins, and Temple of Time are all candidates for best Zelda dungeons.

The issue is that outside of the dungeons Twilight Princess has very little to offer. There are some fun set-piece moments but this version of Hyrule does not invite the same curiosity or exploration as Majora's Mask or Windwaker. However, every now and then Twilight Princess will surprise you with its uniquely bizarre atmosphere, aesthetics, and music.

A childhood classic of mine. Blazing Blade is Fire Emblem distilled to its essential components with no bloat and no grinding. Being a GBA Fire Emblem game, it looks and plays incredibly well. It's snappy enough to be a pick-up-and-play game but has enough RPG mechanics and progression to keep you invested. The story is a bit basic and the translation has some rough parts but I find the cast to be interesting and memorable, especially if you dig into their supports. The game rewards replays and is a joy to go back to when I need a cozy comfort game.