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Katana Zero
2019
While Katana ZERO succeeds in creating a fun and engaging gameplay loop, there is a lingering sensation that the game could do more with its foundations. There isn't anything particularly wrong with any of the mechanics or level design, but it feels like something's missing. This thought looms over the game's narrative as well, where plot threads end up feeling unresolved by the end while still managing to deliver a satisfying conclusion to the protagonist's tale. There is definite room for a sequel or an expansion of sorts to explore the rest of the cast and plot of the game, but for now Katana ZERO has done its job at delivering an entertaining experience.
The gameplay sucks, the new characters are not very good, but I can't deny that this game has touched my heart in ways that other games never could. From start to finish, Snake has been substantiated further and further, building on the idea of The Boss's legacy, a theme that has been prevalent in the entire series.
While the new characters introduced into this game are lackluster and don't get enough characterization or presentation to make them interesting, every recurring character has their story expanded upon in such a meaningful way that I barely care about the things the game doesn't do well.
It's hard to put into words how I truly feel about this game, but I can comfortable say it's a strong, but complicated love.
While the new characters introduced into this game are lackluster and don't get enough characterization or presentation to make them interesting, every recurring character has their story expanded upon in such a meaningful way that I barely care about the things the game doesn't do well.
It's hard to put into words how I truly feel about this game, but I can comfortable say it's a strong, but complicated love.
This review contains spoilers
A beautiful journey from start to finish. Not a moment where I felt let down, disengaged or negative about this story whatsoever. The game tells you pretty explicitly it's about the past and future of the yakuza, both literally and on a metaphorical level. While Like a Dragon had some cool theming of passing on the torch, this game truly feels like the end of Kiryu's era and the rise of Ichiban's.
Ichiban's side of this story is exhilarating, fun and introduces some new characters with wonderful emotional depth. A yakuza with a soul, seeing the good in people where others don't, helping those in need that can't seem to help themselves, Ichiban serves as a beautiful new protagonist to the Yakuza series. His parallels and bond with Kiryu are believable and feel stronger with every scene they're in together.
On the other hand, this is very clearly Kiryu's last game, or at least the last game he will have a major role in. His journey is over and after all he's been through, he makes a final hoorah with Ichiban and his friends, finally relying on others in a life where he tried to take on everything on his own. Throughout Kiryu's story in Infinite Wealth, he regains the will to live and be himself. Always being ready to die and fall for others, he finally chooses to live for himself and regains his name as Kiryu Kazuma, the Dragon of Dojima.
The way these stories intertwine and compliment each other constantly is something beautiful, reminiscent of Yakuza 0, where Kiryu and Majima's stories slowly came together in a masterfully written way, yet Infinite Wealth feels a lot more intimate and emotional. Personally, I can't count the amount of times I've teared up, cried or just gotten emotional from this story.
This game is truly special and will forever have a place in my heart as one of my favorite stories in fiction.
"...So long, old friend."
Ichiban's side of this story is exhilarating, fun and introduces some new characters with wonderful emotional depth. A yakuza with a soul, seeing the good in people where others don't, helping those in need that can't seem to help themselves, Ichiban serves as a beautiful new protagonist to the Yakuza series. His parallels and bond with Kiryu are believable and feel stronger with every scene they're in together.
On the other hand, this is very clearly Kiryu's last game, or at least the last game he will have a major role in. His journey is over and after all he's been through, he makes a final hoorah with Ichiban and his friends, finally relying on others in a life where he tried to take on everything on his own. Throughout Kiryu's story in Infinite Wealth, he regains the will to live and be himself. Always being ready to die and fall for others, he finally chooses to live for himself and regains his name as Kiryu Kazuma, the Dragon of Dojima.
The way these stories intertwine and compliment each other constantly is something beautiful, reminiscent of Yakuza 0, where Kiryu and Majima's stories slowly came together in a masterfully written way, yet Infinite Wealth feels a lot more intimate and emotional. Personally, I can't count the amount of times I've teared up, cried or just gotten emotional from this story.
This game is truly special and will forever have a place in my heart as one of my favorite stories in fiction.
"...So long, old friend."
Journey
2012
The start of Journey is a bit confusing, slow and almost daunting, but I quickly realized that throughout some clever game design, the path to walk is deceptively clear. Encountering another player to interact with and share my journey with was the biggest highlight.
Signalis
2022
With the atmosphere and presentation of Signalis, I was sure I would fall in love with this game. In the first few hours, the gameplay was interesting and fun, motivating me to solve the puzzles laid before me through its mechanics that very much reminded me of the classic survival horror genre.
Unfortunately, the horror aspect of Signalis isn't very appealing and while everything is stunning to look at and play through, there's never a feeling of tension and that's a huge miss.
Nearing the end, those mechanics that I found so engaging towards the start, started to dwindle and became monotonous with countless times feeling burdened with whatever comes next.
I stopped caring and I dropped it.
Unfortunately, the horror aspect of Signalis isn't very appealing and while everything is stunning to look at and play through, there's never a feeling of tension and that's a huge miss.
Nearing the end, those mechanics that I found so engaging towards the start, started to dwindle and became monotonous with countless times feeling burdened with whatever comes next.
I stopped caring and I dropped it.
This review contains spoilers
There's a lot that I could talk about when it comes to my experience with Red Dead Redemption 2. But every time I try to write this review, I just want to talk about the character that has impacted me the most, Arthur Morgan.
From the start, Arthur is a man who denies himself good, acutely aware of the crimes he has committed in the past. We never see what goes on before the start, but we don't need to. The guilt and burden Arthur carries with him is felt in the voice performance, the group dynamic and surrounding dialogue. Through tragedy, be it through the gang's own doing or not, brings the Van der Linde gang closer together and they start to feel like a family.
This family is bound together by a single man's ideology. An ideology to seek something greater, a life of freedom. Dutch raised Arthur and those around him to believe in that, but as the story progresses, as the family loses its members, that dream starts falling apart. Seen through Arthur's eyes, Dutch is spiraling down a deep and dark road, while he tries to do better by the people that have done him good. Between Arthur and Dutch, a rift slowly opens itself. Every clash between the men develops a deeper resentment for one another.
Towards the end, Arthur and some of those he holds dear, stand up against Dutch. They had lost too much, Dutch had changed too much and they had caused too much. The Van der Linde gang is broken up and so are its people. Arthur's story ends where Red Dead Redemption 2's story doesn't. In the end, he found peace and love in his heart where someone like Micah or Dutch couldn't. He gave it his all.
Through Arthur's kindness, John is saved. John is left to pick up the pieces, to live a life Arthur was destined to only dream of. He is Arthur's legacy. As he deeply affected the lives of those he touched, he is now deeply affecting mine and I'm grateful to have seen his story. You're a good man, Arthur Morgan.
"Take a gamble that love exists, and do a loving act."
From the start, Arthur is a man who denies himself good, acutely aware of the crimes he has committed in the past. We never see what goes on before the start, but we don't need to. The guilt and burden Arthur carries with him is felt in the voice performance, the group dynamic and surrounding dialogue. Through tragedy, be it through the gang's own doing or not, brings the Van der Linde gang closer together and they start to feel like a family.
This family is bound together by a single man's ideology. An ideology to seek something greater, a life of freedom. Dutch raised Arthur and those around him to believe in that, but as the story progresses, as the family loses its members, that dream starts falling apart. Seen through Arthur's eyes, Dutch is spiraling down a deep and dark road, while he tries to do better by the people that have done him good. Between Arthur and Dutch, a rift slowly opens itself. Every clash between the men develops a deeper resentment for one another.
Towards the end, Arthur and some of those he holds dear, stand up against Dutch. They had lost too much, Dutch had changed too much and they had caused too much. The Van der Linde gang is broken up and so are its people. Arthur's story ends where Red Dead Redemption 2's story doesn't. In the end, he found peace and love in his heart where someone like Micah or Dutch couldn't. He gave it his all.
Through Arthur's kindness, John is saved. John is left to pick up the pieces, to live a life Arthur was destined to only dream of. He is Arthur's legacy. As he deeply affected the lives of those he touched, he is now deeply affecting mine and I'm grateful to have seen his story. You're a good man, Arthur Morgan.
"Take a gamble that love exists, and do a loving act."
Persona 4 Golden
2012
For a while now, Persona 4 Golden has been in the back of my mind as one of the most special pieces of fiction for me. So this review is a poor attempt to verbalize what this game means to me.
In the middle of 2022, I was at one of the lowest points of my life. Through my own admission, I had lost the people around me. My days felt empty, my future looked bleak and I struggled to get out of bed, let alone take care of myself. In an attempt to make my life a bit better, I purchased a new PC, to delve into new games that I previously wouldn't be able to play. To at least get out of bed.
Luckily, my best friend stuck with me through these tough times. He introduced me to Persona 4 Golden, a series I had previously been aware of and been mildly interested in through Persona 5, but never got the push to quite get into it. Ironically, I could've easily played Persona 4 Golden on my older PC, but nonetheless it felt like the mark of a new beginning.
I would love to say that starting the game and playing it was a magical experience, but it was a struggle at first. But it was a reason to talk to my best friend, it was a way for me to keep going so I managed to keep going. Through the daily struggle to keep up, I got to know the characters slowly, but surely. I started to pick a favorite, get invested in their character arcs, try to figure out the mystery of the town and most importantly, feel a bit better every time I saw that friend group that had started to mean so much to me.
Of course, the characters of a video game cannot replace any real friends or any real interaction, but the bonds that were being forged in front of my eyes were enough to fill that temporary emptiness in my heart. The perseverance of these kids, to have the courage to keep moving forward when it all seems so bleak, gave me hope in my darker hours. To be able to share that with the only person close to me at the time was a special time and allowed me to keep the hope that life would get better.
And it did. Because of Persona 4 Golden and my best friend Goh, I was able to persevere myself and keep faith in the future. To me, they saved me.
I usually like to close off a review with a quote that meant something to me in the story that I experienced, but here I would just like to thank Persona 4 Golden and Goh to be there for me and I'm grateful to anyone who took the time out of their day to read what this game means to me.
In the middle of 2022, I was at one of the lowest points of my life. Through my own admission, I had lost the people around me. My days felt empty, my future looked bleak and I struggled to get out of bed, let alone take care of myself. In an attempt to make my life a bit better, I purchased a new PC, to delve into new games that I previously wouldn't be able to play. To at least get out of bed.
Luckily, my best friend stuck with me through these tough times. He introduced me to Persona 4 Golden, a series I had previously been aware of and been mildly interested in through Persona 5, but never got the push to quite get into it. Ironically, I could've easily played Persona 4 Golden on my older PC, but nonetheless it felt like the mark of a new beginning.
I would love to say that starting the game and playing it was a magical experience, but it was a struggle at first. But it was a reason to talk to my best friend, it was a way for me to keep going so I managed to keep going. Through the daily struggle to keep up, I got to know the characters slowly, but surely. I started to pick a favorite, get invested in their character arcs, try to figure out the mystery of the town and most importantly, feel a bit better every time I saw that friend group that had started to mean so much to me.
Of course, the characters of a video game cannot replace any real friends or any real interaction, but the bonds that were being forged in front of my eyes were enough to fill that temporary emptiness in my heart. The perseverance of these kids, to have the courage to keep moving forward when it all seems so bleak, gave me hope in my darker hours. To be able to share that with the only person close to me at the time was a special time and allowed me to keep the hope that life would get better.
And it did. Because of Persona 4 Golden and my best friend Goh, I was able to persevere myself and keep faith in the future. To me, they saved me.
I usually like to close off a review with a quote that meant something to me in the story that I experienced, but here I would just like to thank Persona 4 Golden and Goh to be there for me and I'm grateful to anyone who took the time out of their day to read what this game means to me.
Cave Story
2004
Cave Story immediately pulls your attention with its charming retro style and simplistic, but tight gameplay. Controlling Quote feels great and through the early level design, it teaches you the very basics of Cave Story's platforming and combat. For me, it all felt very nostalgic to play a game like this again.
Although the core gameplay of the game is quite simple in execution, it revels in that simplicity through its more complex level design. While using level design to further enhance the gameplay and the way you have to utilize your movement and controls is nothing unique to Cave Story, it is one of the better examples to do it out there. This feels especially true for some of the boss fights that ask more elaborate movement than your regular levels.
And while there's not too much to say about its actual story, it's fun and creative enough to keep you engaged with its plot and characters. Through its silly dialogue and message of kindness, it's clear how this is one of Undertale's many inspirations.
Although the core gameplay of the game is quite simple in execution, it revels in that simplicity through its more complex level design. While using level design to further enhance the gameplay and the way you have to utilize your movement and controls is nothing unique to Cave Story, it is one of the better examples to do it out there. This feels especially true for some of the boss fights that ask more elaborate movement than your regular levels.
And while there's not too much to say about its actual story, it's fun and creative enough to keep you engaged with its plot and characters. Through its silly dialogue and message of kindness, it's clear how this is one of Undertale's many inspirations.