This is a big leap from Yakuza 3 and for the series as a whole, expanding the cast to four playable characters. It mostly works incredibly well, the characters play and feel distinct and the plot takes away the focus from at this point repetitive clan infighting or foreign threats and instead shines light on different, fresh new players in Kamurocho. It ties back to older entries in the series ambitiously but unfortunately drops the ball hard with incredibly stupid twists and fake outs resulting in a mess of betrayals and feuds that I couldn't care to keep up with in the end. Still, this game has some of my favorite music and combat in the series so far and feels so much better to play than Yakuza 3.

I have realized that I really don't like course-based Mario games at all. 3D World is fine, sure, but wow did it leave me absolutely unfazed and cold. Perhaps it is due to the quantity of ideas devalueing the quality of the experience as a whole and robbing it of a cohesive identity. Part of it definitely is the fixed camera, which absolutely infuriated me to no end in many levels.

Bowser's Fury, on the other hand, absolutely slaps, might I say. From the first minute I had more fun than the whole of 3D World. The inventory system is a really neat concept that could shine in a dedicated game not tied to the confines of 3D World systems. I hope this is a test run for a truly open world Mario game, but this is a stellar product all on its own.

The pacing is all over the place and the gameplay is incredibly clunky and frustrating coming from Kiwami 2. Still, I found myself coming around to it by the end, almost entirely thanks to some great new characters and interesting new city in Okinawa. I wish the slice-of-life orphanage stuff would have been handled better because there was great emotional payoff, even if it was at times a slog to get through. I can absolutely see why this is almost universally the least liked Yakuza.

The only MMORPG I ever got stupidly addicted to as a teenager. Still remember scraping together all my money to buy a Kenta card and hire a tamer and it succeeding on the first try. Fond memories, even if it probably was a terrible game by most metrics.

The roughness of its performance is made up tenfold by the gentleness, wonder and beauty of the experience. Eastshade is a wonderful place to visit and fall in love with, full of incredibly charming characters. I felt a purely intrinsic drive to explore that I only ever felt in Zelda Breath of the Wild before. A truly profound and beautiful video game.

// taken from my Steam review

This is one of the most unique games I have ever played, from the world to the gameplay. If you want to immerse yourself completely in this fascinating world, you will absolutely be rewarded for it.

// taken from my Steam review

A gorgeous game with beautiful music and a mystery plot that will keep you going for the 3-4 hour runtime. Easily recommendable if you are a fan of walking simulators and the likes of Firewatch and What Remains of Edith Finch in particular.

// taken from my Steam review

I always avoided CRPGS and usually hate reading walls of text in games. Still, this is one of the best games I have ever played. When the writing is that engaging, the CRPG mechanics so wonderfully woven into the dialogue and the setting is so completely fleshed out and refreshingly unique, all these preconceived notions and biases don't matter - this is just an exceptionally fantastic video game.

// taken from my Steam review

Just the absolute cutest. Poignant and genuinely funny writing make for a wonderful bite-sized bundle of wholesome summer vibes. What a delight.

// taken from my Steam review

Talk about style, MAN. Pure aesthetic bliss, from the visuals to the music. The best game about photography.

// taken from my Steam review

2020

This game is super special. A few hours in I wasn't sure if the game would have the depth to sustain a length of 20-30 hours, but it sure does. Each location is super memorable and the characters really drive this game, supported by phenomenal music and art. Each and every fan of games like Earthbound, Undertale owes it to themselves to play this game.

// taken from my Steam review