Really enjoyed playing as Parker in this. Some disgusting little setups and combos you can use, despite the ostensible simple controls. Had a great deal of fun with this.

Took a bit longer to warm to this coming from Like A Dragon due to its unwieldy camera and awkward combat but once it clicked I was in love all over again.

For how often the game flits between high drama and wacky absurdity it's amazing it still manages to keep the story so engaging. I love Yakuza substories because you go in expecting the twist to be this, or maybe that but then it's actually both and also one more. So stupid/incredible.

Except the Catfights. Those were terrible.

Finally, my gateway into the Yakuza series.

I often end up shelving a game if it has cutscenes longer than a couple of minutes so I've no idea how I made it past the opening but by the time I did I was 100% in love with Kasuga he is my best friend in the world.

I am going to play this again on PS5 once I've caught up on all the other games so I can catch all the callbacks and marvel at how much Kamurocho has changed over the years.

Virtua Fighter 2 is impossible.

Hey I finished this! When? I can't remember. A pretty soothing experience with only the gentlest of puzzles, if even that. I had a nice time.

The most boring of all the drop-pieces-into-a-well games.

I think I'd give this a higher score if I knew what I was doing. Dan Hibiki is in it though, so that's good.

I adored Burnout 2 and 3 but could not get into this one. Wasn't keen on the changes to Crash mode and especially not keen on the open world, end-to-end races. It did not help that it was impossible for me to read the screen on my 15" CRT.

2008

A very enjoyable puzzle platformer that I found a wee bit ugly. Using the time rewind mechanic for a story twist at the end was a strong touch.

I still have the memory card with the Animal Crossing stickers on around here somewhere, housing an entire acre of dead digital animals.

Always felt pretty guilty for not really appreciating this as much as others. The cell shaded look was extremely cool and the music felt fresh but I just wasn't getting any satisfaction from how it actually played.

It's real tough. I played it after Super Probotector so it always felt like a step back to me. Very good though.

It doesn't quite have the feel of a Mario game but then the whole Land is made to feel like a bit of an Elsewhere and I kinda appreciate that. Giant fists come out of some of the pipes and I hate that.

Likely my favourite videogame in terms of how its dialogue is both written and delivered. Gorgeous looking too with it's art nouveau, deco and aztec inspired locations in the land of the dead world they've created. The americana collage of Land of the Living still cracks me up. These are all the high school art words I know. Oh, cubism.

The first THPS game I properly got into. Landing those reverts with that big GameCube shoulder button was a lovely sensation. Also whenever Ace of Spades comes on the radio in real life and approaches the two minute mark I start panicking about getting a combo started.