This is a game that is so close to greatness but falls short. The platforming is just as amazing as 2, which is some of the best controls in a platformer, and the general platforming levels are amazingly done. The problem lies in nearly 1/3 of the game being bogged down by stupid vehicle levels that ruin the flow of the game. Even on my first playthrough as a kid I remember constantly avoiding the vehicles levels in each hub until last because they just drag down the pace so much when you want to get back to the interesting and fun platforming levels. In the first warp room alone you have only 2 pure platforming levels, with a lame jet ski level, an underwater level and an auto runner. Every warp room is like this and they get even worse with the motorcycle and plane levels. After you beat the game you unlock spriting shoes and once you beat a level for the first time you can replay it and beat it as fast as possible for a chance to get a relic, which gives the game so much more replayability if it weren't for the constantly gimmicky vehicle levels. Racing for times on your average platforming level was a blast but doing anything else is just a drag. I still played it an insane amount as a kid and even got 105% in it as an adult in anticipation for the remakes but it was an awful gaming experience and I'd never do it again. What a shame.

Never before have I been so conflicted and so in love with a game before. Final Fantasy VII is my absolute favourite game of all time so to finally have my wishes granted and be gifted a full fledged modern style remake, I just couldn't believe it. I waited 5 patient years since its announcement and the moment I booted it up and saw that title card with the amazingly redone soundtrack, I absolutely shed a few tears. This is a game that has meant so much to so many people, and you could tell that SE really understood that and wanted to deliver to fans the experience they wanted so badly for nearly 20 years now. Well, until about the last 10% of the game where they really change up how the story goes and leads into what could be a completely new experience going forward. The game is so amazing up to that point though so I can't deny that I think this game is incredible, but every time I think back to that last bit of the game I have to second guess my true feelings here. There are moments in my first playthrough that I had tears in my eyes because of the joy I was experiencing, constantly thinking "this is what I've been waiting for and they've delivered on everything I wanted and more," which makes that final part of the game all more of a punch to the gut. I'm worried about the future of the FF7 remake's series, but I can't deny that this first entry blew me away in a way I didn't think I would get to experience.

No other kart racer matters now that this game has completed its Grand Prix seasons. Nearly a year of free DLC (which included new maps, characters, karts and various skins/paint jobs/tires) included with the base game on top of the already wonderful Adventure mode PLUS all the tracks from Nitro Kart all redone in a beautiful HD environment with some of the best kart racing physics/item usage in a game like this makes this the best kart racer I've ever played and puts the rest of the genre to shame. Comparing it to Mario Kart which has the obvious catch up mechanics with items, items here can be obtained all over the place so if you're good, you can really shine without getting hit by some bullshit red/blue shell while you're owning.

A game so good it shouldn't exist. While it may not be my personal favourite platformer I'd say it's the best platformer ever. While I played it I constantly thought "how does a game like this exist," and it's probably the only platformer to make me cry from how pure a certain moment of the game was. You can tell that Nintendo put their heart and soul into this game and it constantly shows. A once in a lifetime experience for the medium and anyone who can appreciate video games should be able to see what makes it so special.