Went back for Pirate Sonic and Captain Shadow only, but figured I might as well leave a review while I'm at it. As far as endless runners go, this one is up there with a solid sense of speed and graphics that can still keep up for a game released 8 years ago. It's straightforward with its gameplay and neither visually nor sound wise does it ever get annoying. It's pretty good if you feel the need to kill some time or enjoy these types of mobile games. Even for those who aren't fans of Sonic this game provides a more polished and enjoyable experience than its predecessors in the market, like Temple Run.

So what does it do wrong, or which aspects of the game could easily ruin your experience with it? For one, farming resources is quite time consuming. Like any other mobile game in the industry, Sonic Dash leans strongly towards in-app-purchases to obtain a character/skin of your choice and really encourages you to invest, even though you can obtain characters without spending a single cent. This aspect also shows in how in-game currency is used, as you not only need it to acquire characters, but also to upgrade your skills or to continue your run after a game over. When it comes to the characters though, the only reason to get them is due to personal preferences and the rewarding feeling of having your favorite character be playable, since the gameplay doesn't vary even remotely between any of them.

The difficulty increases quite quickly in this game, and while this may not sound unusual at first, the real problem lies in the obstacle placement. Level layouts here can get ridiculously unfair at times, having spikes right in front of a wall or rows of enemies behind one, a column behind another obstacle you have to spin dash through, you get the picture. You're usually unable to see them or respond in time either. Regardless of skill or reflexes, these specific obstacles feel very purposefully placed in order to stop players right on their tracks and make them spend resources if they want to keep going for that record score. Overall though, at its core lies a fun game. There is a reason I played this countless times inside waiting rooms or at train stations when I had nothing better to do, if you want a mobile game that tests your reflexes and offers a challenge, this is it.

I don't have nostalgia goggles for this game and yet it means so much to me, very few video games have impacted me the way SA2 has. I'm unable to agree with people who claim it has aged poorly or is only enjoyable from a nostalgic viewpoint. It builds upon prior games in such a meaningful way, the cast of characters has never been stronger and the story is a wonderfully paced experience with great themes and messages. It could admittedly benefit from more details in cutscenes, but it never feels like you're told so little to the point of frustrating plot holes either. It's a shame how much has gone lost in translation, so I really do think the best way to experience this game is on pc with mods to adjust the subtitles to the Japanese dialogue (plus the original audio gets rid of the sound design issues present in the Western version, making it easier to appreciate the soundtrack as well as the strong voice acting). But by all means, do check out the dubbed version as well, which features one of the best voice casts the series has yet to see and some really iconic dialogue.

All the different gameplay styles are built really well around the scoring system, rewarding you for mastering the game's use of momentum and being familiar with its environments without overstaying their welcome. The rather linear level designs help in that aspect, allowing you to focus on polishing your skills but also having a lot of replay value thanks to various missions and pathways or objects that were previously locked away, which are now accessible with the right upgrades. Some graphics may be rough around the edges but overall they suit the game really well and are quite charming, it helps that SA2 is backed by amazing art direction and has some wonderful backgrounds in its stages.

The multiplayer also works really well and is great for having fun outside of replaying stages. While I don't care much for this part of the game, it's undeniable that the chao garden is an intricate, complex and charming addition to the game, including content for both those who wish to look into it casually and those who dedicate a lot of time into it and become invested. Either way it's a very rewarding activity to master and spend your time with, the countless online sources which are dedicated to the complexities of the chao garden being a testament to this.

Because of all this I really wish I could give SA2 the full score I would've given it when being completely biased, but I have to acknowledge some issues present in the game aside from those previously addressed, which were minor in comparison. The mechs' movements are a downgrade from SA1's Gamma gameplay and stages like Eternal Engine suffer from occasionally poor enemy placement. Being able to only collect one emerald at a time in the hunting stages feels like a forced way to extend playtime and Mad Space has several gimmicks that test a player's patience, as much as I applaud the developers for the ambition behind it. But even with all that, this game's legacy is undeniable and I think it still holds up really well. I sincerely believe it to be a worthwhile experience for anyone who hasn't had the chance to play it yet and I hope the recent trend of forcing people to believe they only thought it was good due to nostalgia dies down, as it deserves to be held in high regards.

I'm writing this 3 weeks before the game's 20th anniversary, so happy early anniversary SA2, may more people enjoy their time with this amazing game in the years to come.

I hate P5 (untrue).
Wow, P5 has tons of issues that stop it from being a brilliant game and seeing the game not take advantage of its potential is really upsetting to me. (very true).
I'll always be fond of Persona 5, but I wish it had treated itself and the player with more respect and stuck to the messages it was supposedly trying to convey until the end. My biggest issues with P5 absolutely lie in the writing, more specifically in how it treats its characters and even contradicts itself sometimes to the point of coming off cowardly. However, P5 also has serious problems with its difficulty curve and time management in the social simulator half of the game, and yet these are still my smallest complaints about the game, since P5 definitely shines in its presentation and gameplay mechanics the most. Perhaps no longer worth playing due to Royal being a thing, but I'll never forget the impact this game had, both good and bad.

There's a handful of good things in this game and improvements over the previous two titles, which are hindered by a fair share of lackluster and downright inconvenient elements. In terms of story adaptation the cutscenes are doing the bare minimum, it's clear the game expects you to know either the book or movie because otherwise you'll have no idea what's going on. It's nice to have voiced cutscenes instead of still images, but when there's a lack of consistency with the story it seems kind of pointless.

Playing as all three characters is a fun idea, yet other elements of the game can spoil the experience. Any form of challenge is gone since the characters will tell you over and over again what you're supposed to do as if you have a short term memory. Switching between spells can get annoying fast because you're only able to equip two at a time and it's not something you can just solve by switching to another character, since they all have an individual set of spells. The ending is also very weak from a gameplay perspective with the lack of a proper boss fight that rushes through the finale with one cutscene after another, leaving very little to do for the player. The mini games are a nice attempt of offering more content after you beat the main game, but are generally quite underwhelming and repetitive.

However, the controls are good, the presentation and score are great for the time and make for an immersive experience any fan of the series can appreciate. Take that and the variety of spells between the three characters and you can still get some enjoyment out of the game by exploring Hogwarts and looking for collectibles if you don't let the previously mentioned inconveniences sour your experience.

The one-liners get old real fast, Sonic's characterization and the game's overall self-deprecating humor are quite excessive and some stages are short lived, but other than that this is easily one of the strongest 3D entries in the Sonic franchise. It runs great, sounds great and is visually appealing, doing its title justice. Sonic may occasionally feel heavy in the 2D platforming sections, of which there are a lot, and I do feel like the game would have been better off without them, the wisps also varying in usefulness, but overall these factors should hardly affect anyone's experience with the game.

I 100% -ed this game at least three times since I got it back in 2008. I don't know what's wrong with me either but at least I can say from experience that you shouldn't waste your time with this one unless you're a hardcore fan who's playing it for the sake of completion. Don't be me and play a game which features some of the worst sound design in a DS game, weak graphics, laughable battle system/gameplay, bland designs and a lackluster at best story, just because you can. The most you're getting out of Sonic Chronicles is the characters not acting ooc and Sonic's dialogue options being occasionally funny, but that's about it. It's also not like the game glitches out on you or anything, you can play through it no problem and will just have to deal with a battle system that really had the potential to be something great with a bit more refinement. Sonic Chronicles is just a huge waste of potential overall and the reason we most likely won't see Sonic ever return to a turn based JRPG formula again.

What's not to love about Aria of Sorrow? Wonderful level designs, solid music and art style this series is known for, great controls and gameplay which is perfected thanks to the Tactical Souls system AoS features (more on that later). It also has one of the most beloved and sympathetic protagonists in the Castlevania franchise and a short but memorable story, taking the series into a direction never seen before.

This game has multiple endings and they all do an amazing job of handling the game's story no matter the player's outcome: the good ending will make you want to continue playing, hinting at there being more to the game but also giving you a solid conclusion should you wish to stop here, meanwhile the bad ending is miles better than a generic game over screen. Not to mention the true ending, which for all I care could just as well have been the perfect thematic conclusion to the Castlevania series as a whole.

I've seen complaints about the difficulty of this game, calling it too easy, and I honestly cannot relate. Not only do I think this game has the perfect difficulty curve, the difficulty itself very much depends on how you utilize the Tactical Souls system, whether or not you decide to take advantage of all the different souls (aka abilities) the game throws your way as you naturally progress through the castle. Yes, you can get by with only using the souls of bosses and you most likely won't have a hard time reaching the end, but that way you're not taking advantage of the sheer amount of variety this game offers you, encouraging you to try out various combinations until you find what works best for you. And if you do end up grinding for that 100% and collecting all those souls, obviously it'll make beating the game easier. But it's not like the game cares about your setup, for all I care you could be old fashioned and just use your fists or throw cats at your enemies, you'd have a much harder time defeating bosses, but no one's going to stop you if that's what you want to do. The freedom of choice is all yours, live your truth and experience this game however you may prefer.

I just cannot praise the soul system enough, combined with the polish this game has and the precise controls it's an amazing mechanic that offers a lot of customization. It's also given relevance thanks to the story, explaining how it's even possible but also for encouraging both exploration and combat variety. The former has been improved tremendously here, you can get by and explore just fine without the map, but should you need it it's definitely useful, and no longer being sent to random warp rooms makes traveling back and forth much easier. You're not only encouraged to explore so you can fight more enemies and collect more souls, but also travel back to visit the item shop or get extra dialogue scenes at the entrance.

I really want to talk more about Soma as well but I plan to keep this review spoiler free, so take my word for it when I say he is one of the most beloved characters in this series for a reason, possibly the most beloved after Alucard. He has rightfully earned himself that title, following him through this game and seeing how these events changed him as a person is nothing short of rewarding. Even if you could cut down this game's story into 15 minutes worth of dialogue, you can so easily connect with Soma. He's one of the biggest strengths this game has to offer, and that's high praise given how strong all other aspects of this game already are.

Aria of Sorrow has truly perfected the Metroidvania formula and after replaying it for its 18th anniversary I can confirm that it withstood the test of time. It has aged wonderfully, it's just as much worth playing now as it was back in the day. If you haven't played this game and you've read this far, please consider giving it a chance.

This game has such lousy, inconsistent controls that it's absolutely impossible to find any enjoyment in the few things it gets right. There's clear thought put behind the track designs and equipment you can purchase in the store, plus it's the first HD title in the Riders series, so you'd think that alone would be a strong selling point. However, all of it is for naught if you're dealing with one of the most unresponsive games out there, featuring mandatory full body motion controls. You don't even need to be an hour in for the feelings of sheer frustration to take over, once you start up this game you'll quickly realize that it's not the game's difficulty or other players online which are your biggest obstacle, but the controls alone. It doesn't help that the story mode ranges from mediocre to outright bad. So yes, while not everything is as terrible as the gameplay, anything positive you could say about this game is hardly noteworthy and completely overshadowed by its flaws. The worst offense of Sonic Free Riders though is how it managed to singlehandedly ruin the Sonic Riders series and give it one of the most shameful final entries to a series it has yet to redeem itself from.

Since it seems like no one else has pointed it out yet: please check the content warnings for this game if you're interested in playing it. Avoid this game at any cost if you get triggered by implications of rape, child abuse, sexual harassment, panic attacks, gore/body horror and pedophilia. The writing (and sometimes even gameplay) can be quite iffy to a harmful degree and downright disturbing, significantly more so than other DR games. Keep that in mind while playing. If you plan to get through the whole series I can't say that this game is unimportant enough to skip, as it does add a decent amount of lore. However, should the aforementioned content warnings apply to you, I recommend looking up a reliable summary to read instead, if you don't want to miss any noteworthy elements of the story.

Most pointless DLC they could've possibly come up with. Playing as Shadow is absolutely unrewarding, there is nothing about his controls or levels that differs from how Sonic plays in Forces, and even though there's hardly anything you could label a (well developed) story worth telling, they still manage to screw up Shadow's character somehow, again.

Infinite's motivations for becoming the main antagonist in Forces are revealed! They're bad. It's not even so bad it's good territory, it's just plain bad and makes him seem so much more underwhelming than he already was in Sonic Forces. I didn't even think that was possible but here we are.

The only redeeming quality this game has over Sonic Forces is that the level design sometimes is significantly less empty, meaning you can't just dash your way to the finish line and be done with it, at least in the 2D sections of the levels. You will have to actually do some platforming and avoid running into obstacles here, which offers a change of pace and ups the difficulty Forces offers. The levels are still too short for their own good though and reused from the base game. What these few more challenging parts of the stages also do is make you question why the same wasn't done in Sonic Forces to begin with, why all the decent stages were put into a DLC that didn't even need to exist.

Yes, this DLC is a waste of time, but it was also over before I noticed so you honestly lose very little from playing it, since you get it for free alongside the main game.

So many of the bad things said about Sonic '06 still hold up, this game peaks at its opening cutscene. There's honestly no point going into detail about its flaws, since they're quite well-established by now. Therefore, I want to dedicate this review to the parts I deemed enjoyable and well executed.

This is somehow still the most recent Sonic game to give Shadow a noteworthy role and treat his character with some damn respect. He gets such strong writing and interactions with Team Dark instead of being forced into the role of an edgelord with a superiority complex, and that's all I can ask for in a game featuring him. I will always get chills from the end of his campaign, it's my personal highlight from the entire game and I miss the days where writers understood what his character was about. Team Dark in general is wonderful in Episode Shadow, their story improves greatly upon their interactions in Sonic Heroes. I like Silver's introduction to the series as well and he manages to get some solid development in an otherwise completely hopeless story, it's just a shame he had to be introduced through this game in particular. His contributions as a character end up being overlooked by many solely due to the bad reputation of Sonic '06, poor direction in many of his cutscenes and especially his broken (literally) boss fights.

The soundtrack also gets many things right. How much you like it ultimately depends on your taste, but it does its job and works well for a Sonic game. Dreams of an Absolution in particular fucking goes. The quality of the graphics is a mixed bag really, some cutscenes look stunning, especially for a game from 2006, while many models in the game are really rough around the edges or simply ugly. The locations though can be quite visually appealing, Soleanna which is modeled after irl Venice and Crisis City in particular standing out to me, among other locations.

That's where the good things I have to say about Sonic '06 end though, it's unfortunately not enough to save this game from being one of the worst experiences one can have with the Sonic franchise. If you're interested in the game, perhaps due to the previously stated positives, I recommend doing so by simply watching a playthrough, unless you really want to experience the hard way why people loathe the controls, gameplay and overall story in Sonic '06.