A rollercoaster of a game that frequently keeps you guessing and active. Improves on the first entry in nearly every regard, with a likable cast, neat gameplay, and mysteries that are fun to solve as you go.

ZUN's esteemed cast of characters and a deck-based skill system create a rich and unique fighter, with surprising technical depth. Experimentation is highly encouraged by design.

A major triumph and standout in its genre. A refreshing take on turn-based gameplay, crisp visuals, and charming dialogue highlight a truly timeless experience.

Past and future variations of each Act and an outrageously good soundtrack give plenty of incentive for hardcore players to play through this one again and again. A standout among its peers.

A bit more ambitious than its predecessors, Final Fantasy IV introduced gameplay elements that would become franchise staples. Some shaky storytelling aside (often through contrived excuses to swap out party members), the game holds up remarkably well.

A heartfelt journey of self-discovery rife with theming and charming details. Final Fantasy's most colorful cast of characters keep the story brimming with vibrance, and the ATE system gives plenty of opportunities to flesh them out. Take the time to soak in the sights and enjoy the little detours.

An enjoyable exploration of the DualSense controller, with plenty of nods to Sony's history littered throughout. In particular, the haptic feedback is a treat for the hands, and opens up a swath of opportunities as we head into the next console generation.

Charming character dialogue and occasionally satisfying cinematics do little to distract from this game's more egregious shortcomings, which are amplified by the sky-high expectations it set for itself over the course of its ten-year dev cycle. Ultimately a fair game, but as the credits roll on this "Final Fantasy for fans and first-timers," it leaves one wondering just what could have been.

Sporting a tidy narrative with a strong thematic core, Innocent Sin's punchy and personal character writing makes it a standout among its contemporaries. Unfortunately, the real meat and potatoes are hidden behind a sluggish battle system that requires minimal player engagement until the final boss hits. Push through the exasperating encounter rate and you'll find a story with a fair amount of bite, that isn't afraid to throw you into the deep end.

While the patterns may not be as exhilarating as Youyoumu's, the soundtrack here is ZUN in absolute top form. The audio alone is well worth the price of admission.

Keeping the experience more compact gives the game a tighter level of focus with far less busy work. The quality of life improvements and new powers help the stealth along and make the combat feel more robust, but the writing falls into the same hokey pitfalls as its predecessor.

Took my breath away.

The "rogue-lite" structure feels like a solid fit for Supergiant, a clean shift off the heels of Bastion and Transistor. It's a neat little game with a menagerie of kooky characters, and the gameplay loop is enjoyable enough that it'll usually squeeze one more run out of you, just when you think you're about to put it down.

An engrossing thrill-ride that's hard to put down, with twists and turns that wouldn't be possible to pull off in another medium. Uchikoshi in his prime, reaching heights that he hasn't touched since.

Thanks to its slick traversal when you're slinging around Manhattan, Spider-Man feels best to play in short bursts to do in-game "busy work," whether it's finding a tower, nabbing a backpack, spotting black cats, or stopping a crime-in-progress. While the gameplay loop begins to show its seams in the back half of the main story, where encounters are at their most tedious, it's fine to play mindlessly.