splattercide
2023
2002
The pinnacle of pre-rendered background, fixed camera angle, tank control survival horror.
The strategy of deciding what to take with you and where to go, and the feeling of mastering the movement controls enough to duck and weave around enemies never gets old.
And of course, it still looks impossibly gorgeous today, over 20 years later.
The strategy of deciding what to take with you and where to go, and the feeling of mastering the movement controls enough to duck and weave around enemies never gets old.
And of course, it still looks impossibly gorgeous today, over 20 years later.
1997
2013
2003
1998
The replayability of the branching levels, the insanely rocking soundtrack, the colorful and detailed spritework, challenging but fair difficulty, optional hidden maidens to save, crispy and responsive controls, BRUTAL bosses, 80s anime aesthetic, an entirely separate hidden playable character, how charismatic and cool Richter is, the vital as hell sub-weapons, the GNARLY fight against Shaft (who summons a gauntlet of every boss from the original Castlevania), and the multi-stage fights against both Death AND Dracula make this the definitive Castlevania experience for me.
1999
I'll forever have a soft spot for the first video game I ever played after my baby hands learned to grip an N64 controller.
It's ancient now, but it's still got a charming "90s polygon" aesthetic to it, and an ethereal, almost dream-like atmosphere.
But outside of the few unlockables, and to see the series origins, there's not much of a reason to come back to it.
This is the game that introduced me to Metroid, F-Zero, Earthbound and Star Fox though, and I'll always be grateful for that.
It's ancient now, but it's still got a charming "90s polygon" aesthetic to it, and an ethereal, almost dream-like atmosphere.
But outside of the few unlockables, and to see the series origins, there's not much of a reason to come back to it.
This is the game that introduced me to Metroid, F-Zero, Earthbound and Star Fox though, and I'll always be grateful for that.
1998
1994
I don't care that it's a fan game, it's peak.
This is peak.
It's literally one the best Metroid games ever made, and stands shoulder to shoulder with Nintendo's own offerings.
I include AM2R in my marathon every time I get an itch to replay the series. This is everything I would have wanted and MORE from a Zero Mission sequel.
This is peak.
It's literally one the best Metroid games ever made, and stands shoulder to shoulder with Nintendo's own offerings.
I include AM2R in my marathon every time I get an itch to replay the series. This is everything I would have wanted and MORE from a Zero Mission sequel.
2001
It's got tight controls, fun gunplay, a badass bullet time mechanic, self aware writing, an engaging plot about revenge, drugs and murder with a solid twist, and that 90s PC game ethos of 'quicksave every few minutes because you'll die without warning A LOT'.
If I hadn't fallen in love with Remedy and Sam Lake's passion for storytelling after playing Alan Wake, I would have with this.
If I hadn't fallen in love with Remedy and Sam Lake's passion for storytelling after playing Alan Wake, I would have with this.
1993