The Silver Case welcomes you into a realistic and neutral world and slowly unravels it to reveal a surreal backdrop with multiple pillars holding its secrets and themes together. It takes its sweet time to build up to a grand revelation and then it diverges into multiple paths, philosophies and twists that elevate The Silver Case above any other game of its type, that is if there's anything that is even comparable to it.

Side 1 of this story, Transmitter is an avante garde mystery thriller that takes a deep dive into a complex and profound concept that follows themes of the malleability of information, the dangers of the internet and what it means to be the self. This game has simply put, the most realistically written characters in gaming history. From Tetsugoro Kusabi to Sumio Kodai to Kamui Uehara. Each character represents distinct ideas and have personalities that feel so real, it's almost like you're taking part in the mystery. That last part is true, as the silent protagonist of Transmitter is a surrogate for the player and as the story develops, so does the player's perspective on the themes of the game. It even goes meta, with the game toying with what your character truly represents. Whatever it means, the focus of Transmitter is developing the themes, world and how the characters in that world react to the events. The style is ever so present in every single one of these mysteries, with even the text boxes being resized turning into a story device for reveals and style-bending sequences. It's all topped off with a cerebral yet bittersweet ending that leaves some if not most questions up to the interpretation of the player. Some of the questions, though, are left up to Tokio Morishima.

Side 2 of this story is Placebo, which follows the aforementioned Tokio Morishima, a freelance reporter investigating the events and aftermaths of the events in Transmitter. The writing and art-style shift, as not only are these chapters written by people other than Suda51, but they also have a different idea. They not only aim to explain some of the questions and events in Transmitter, but it also tells a story with similar themes but with new, more profound ideas. What Transmitter lacks in development of a protagonist, Placebo makes up for with Tokio, who is the best written character in the game. Placebo has purposeful monotony to develop Tokio's themes of loneliness and cynicism. These chapters have some of the funniest, most profound and emotionally potent moments of the game. I can't shower Placebo with enough praise, as it elevates the overall experience by a large margin.

These two sides come together to form a melody of a surreal crime thriller that achieves everything it sets out to do. It excellently constructs a complex, yet realistic world with its slow-pace, excellent music and poignant character development and it lays the groundwork for Suda's main concept all throughout his career. The SIlver Case is about letting go of your past, to face a better future. We sulk in the mistakes and events that drag us down and prevent us from moving forward. To fully become yourself, you must accept your identity, face the music and KILL THE PAST to work towards a better future. This is the message that The Silver Case wants to push forward and it not only does it excellently, but in a wonderful, entertaining and poignant way which makes it one of the most profound and memorable games I've ever played.

Bloodborne successfully captivated me with its atmosphere. The dark and red skies of Yarnham reign over the hunt. The story, like Dark Souls, is vague and a lot is left up to interpretation. Althought Bloodborne is more narratively sound, it still gives the player complete freedom to digest the world as they see fit. It is also comparable to Dark Souls in that it is one of the greatest videogames ever made.

Bloodborne's greatest achievement is in its gameplay and atmosphere. The combat is visceral, fast and puts even the most hardened Souls veterans to the test. You're going to need lighting fast reflexes and an edge of aggression to triump over the Lovecraftian nightmares you will face against. Lovecraftian is the right term, as Bloodborne employs a gothic, surrealist aesthetic which goes beyond immersion and creates a sound, beautiful and terrifying world for the player to explore. The level design forms a beautiful melody with the help of the world and atmosphere to create a unique, and somewhat interconnected city sprawling with vicious monstrosities.

The bosses and every enemy poses a threat, with their weaknesses apparent later on, but always having the opportunity to triumph over you. The grand sprays of blood and manic combat only adds to the wonder of Bloodborne's challenge and gameplay.

Bloodborne's greatest achievement is the sweet but spicy flavor created by it having the best atmosphere in gaming history and a visceral focus on combat, with challenge at every corner. Bloodborne will disturb you, it will scare you and challenge you, all you have to do is push that edge and slash your way through one of the best games ever made.

Suda51 is one of the wildest minds in the videogame scene. I decided to revisit his crowning achievement: killer7. After all these years, this surreal experience is still unlike anything that I've ever played.

The on-rails, first person shooter may be confusing control-wise at first, and you might not even grasp the mechanics quite well. However, its uniqueness is not at the expense of fun, as it is extremely fun and not difficult to get used to. Every level is packed with ideas, thoughtful puzzles and a wonderful variety of enemies.

The story is still as profound as it was 16 years ago. The political tale of a group of assassins involved in a Japan-US cold war is as riveting as it is complex. The writing is thought provoking and the presentation is executed wonderfully, with surreal being the most appropriate adjective to attribute to the story. The music is still top notch, the sound design and visual style are unique, with horror elements I hadn't taken notice of in previous playthroughs. This game has simply aged like a fine wine.

killer7 is a surreal, yet wonderful experience that is still one of the most unique games ever made. The gameplay, storytelling, themes and every aspect are at a level of quality and uniqueness unmatched by most videogames. This is a must-play for anyone and one of my all time favorite games.

Off to the distance, in a cliff in Blighttown with a drop leading to certain death, a corpse rests. You approach it and pick up an item from it: "Soul of a Brave Hero"

This is how Dark Souls communicates that you are to persevere through its challenge and conquer its world by your might alone. The game is filled with moments and allusions to giving up. It by no means shames those who have given up, it honors them and uses their bravery to push you forward and help you reach your goal. This game is about persevering through pain and overcoming a challenge. It is also valid to say this game alludes to depression and suicide, with going hollow representing one giving up and losing the fight.

This game helped me cope with depression, at a time in which I had no one but myself to push through sadness, grief and guilt, I escaped to Lordran in a vague quest to ring the Bell of Awakening. Discovering the deeply connected world of Lordran and overcoming impossible odds gave me a sense of purpose in life. It helped me realize that my victories were mine alone and that by pure hope, bravery and patience I could triumph. Riding that elevator in Undead Parish to discover it leading into Firelink Shrine is one of the moments I will never forget.

With all the sentimental, thematic things aside, this game is a technical masterpiece. It has mechanics so deeply connected and complementary to one another it feels seamless everytime you play. The amount of choices a player has over their journey is what every role-playing game should aspire to. The world is beautiful, with hands down some of the greatest level design of all time. The lack of music throughout most of the game, with only the sound of your armor crashing against the floor before you encounter a boss and it erupts into an epic battle theme. The combat is fluid, dependant entirely on skill and can be enjoyed by everyone.

It's hard to say what Dark Souls' greatest achievement is, when almost everything in the game is refined to perfection. It would be more fitting for me to say Dark Souls as a whole is an achievement in itself. This is a game everyone can pick up, enjoy and master. This is a game which anyone can find purpose in and venture into a world that, just like real life, is scary and full of challenges, but you must unlock that potential within yourself to prevail. Even though sometimes it may be hard as nails, what matters is you try again... and again until you finally triumph, and when you do there's a chance you'll agree when I say Dark Souls is the greatest videogame of all time.

Don't go hollow... Praise the Sun!

This review only takes into account Act One of ULTRAKILL. This will probably be archived or deleted after the full game is released.

ULTRAKILL is a gratifying adrenaline rush that never feels slow. The combat is unrelenting and rewards aggressive play in a similar way to Bloodborne, with healing based on how close and violent you are to your enemy. There is no apparent story, but I felt like the game benefited from that with a bigger focus on frenetic action rather than lore or plot. The music is also very good!

Overall, I can't say much other than I really enjoyed it and I'm interested in how it can improve or come up with new ideas in a future release. I'm definitely keeping an eye on this one.