It’s a game truly unlike anything I’ve ever played before. In this, it’s perhaps a bit janky- or at the very least very, very difficult to get used to- but you can feel the love put into the game pouring out of each crevice that makes it hard to put down even when your hands are starting to REALLY hurt. The characters are charming and the meta humor avoids insincerity as to actually be funny. The vision is palpable and beautiful, if not a bit weird, and I couldn’t recommend this game enough if you’re willing to play something more unique in all aspects.

God, if this game isn’t janky as hell. I’d be remiss not to start out with that- and to give the game a higher rating, unfortunately- because the camera angles, depth perception, and the play itself can be so… off, let’s say, that it sometimes feels as though you’re fighting the game itself. That all said! I really, really do think that everyone should give this game a shot, because it really was one of my favorite games I completed this year. There’s so much passion behind it that you can really feel every step of the way. The art direction is fantastic, as are the characters. The story is charming and you’ll walk away from it still thinking about it weeks later, if you’re anything like me. Of course, the music is wonderful, too; at the very least listen to the soundtrack if you won’t play the game. It’s messy, to be sure, but it’s fun above all else, and I really can’t recommend it enough in spite of everything.

Having played both the original Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal, this is an objective upgrade. The QoL changes go a long way and the extra content both in terms of gameplay and story really elevate the original product. Alas, Persona 5 was something that I had a very complicated relationship with, narratively and thematically, and that doesn’t really change here. However, I will concede and say that this game is good. Would I recommend it? I don’t know, but Persona 5 is good, and Persona 5 Royal is even better.

It sucks that I’m giving this game such a high rating. The story is campy and the art direction is all over the place (although I will say that the animations themselves look fantastic). The characters are nothing great (even when enjoyable) and I wish that I could say that it at least doesn’t take itself too seriously but it really does, in which the more “emotional” moments are really only carried by the protagonists’ shockingly good voice acting (a la Brandon McInnis and Laura Stahl). All of that is… whatever. Alas, the gameplay is really, REALLY good. These are some of the best maps that Fire Emblem has sported in a long while, and it’s a real breath of fresh air after the tedium of Three Houses. I hate to say it, but the gimmick of the game really does add a dimension to it and is fun in execution, as annoyingly self-referential as the rings are. The music, as is par for the course for the franchise, is fantastic. I really would recommend this game to other Fire Emblem players, which is a bit embarrassing, but fuck it, those paralogues are so, so good. Note that I have yet to play past the first wave of DLC, however.

A good story with some great characters. The music is wonderful, although, in hindsight, the dungeons it accompanies are a bit lacking compared to others in the game. Patches 3.1-3.3 are the best parts, narratively. The emotional highs work very well and the Dravanians have to be one of my favorite fantasy races of all time with how in-depth they are. I know this all sounds cold and disconnected, but it’s hard to talk about what I loved about Heavensward without delving into spoiler territory. Similarly, it’s hard to review an MMO in chunks, I’m discovering. Anyway, you can play Heavensward for free, so you should, given you choose to stick with FFXIV for long enough. I promise it’s worth it.

A vast improvement from the original Octopath in terms of narrative with some fun new gimmicks and a shit ton of content. I haven’t beaten the true final boss yet, but I’ll get back to you on that. In true Octopath fashion, the gameplay is great if you’re a fan of RPGs and the presentation- say what you will about the HD-2D- is wonderful. It’s hard to talk about the story with how it’s formatted, but if you want my 100% correct and objective opinion: Agnea > Castti > Partitio > Tenemos = Throné > Ochette > Hikari > Osvald.

The start is super slow, but it really picks up. The plot can best be described as a coming of age story featuring Pokémon and some really, really weird shit going on in the final act. Anyway, the game looks good, and I enjoyed its take on the PMD job and recruitment system, for as different as it is. The characters are enjoyable and the partner is one of the best in the franchise, in my opinion. I even liked the ending twist, even if it wasn’t foreshadowed very well. All in all, if you haven’t played a PMD game before, this isn’t a bad place to start.