Reviews

Devil May Cry but with a more bizarre, more likeable main character. One of the first pure action games I really had a love for. Every setpiece battle is just bigger, resulting in some truly amazing endgame content that simply blew my mind.

A near-perfect permutation of the formula started in A Link to the Past. The new shrinking mechanic seems like a gimmick at first, but quickly becomes an integral part of the game and story. Every bit of art and music in this game is perfectly crafted and adds to the feeling of this game being the total package.

While it hasn't aged as well as some of the other 3D Zelda titles, it's still an amazing game with a great atmosphere. The hour-long tutorial quests hide a deep, engaging story with a character I'll definitely never forget.

A simple exercise in sequel perfection. A mirror image of the first game, Bayonetta 2 maintains the breackneck pace and bizarre antics of its predecessor without missing a beat, despite the jump in platforms.

A thoroughly competent kart racer that's a bit more difficult than MarioKart. Lacks the distinct charm and polish of the latter, but is an interesting take on the formula nonetheless.

An imperfect but original strategy / tactics game for the PS2. You could control units on the field, switch between squads, and even plan mission routes ahead of time. Deserved a real sequel to refine the formula and make it really shine.

An immersive sim that just happens to be a great FPS. The environmental storytelling alone in this game makes it worth your time, but the interesting gameplay elements and encounter design really elevate it to another level. The sole problem with this game are the NPC character models, which are just unintentionally frightening. A game I wish I could forget so I could replay it with a fresh mind.

The first Counter Strike that I put an appreciable amount of time into. A difficult, compelling multiplayer shooter that gets better when you play it with people you actually know (or get to know).

This was the best multiplayer FPS out there when it was released.

But it's been a long time and honestly I have no idea what happened in the interim.

Revolutionary. Just incredible. Likely the best puzzle game I've played, and a game that I'll quickly recommend to anyone. Before this game I only thought of first person games as shooters, after I realized the potential for solving puzzles in 3D space. Every element of this game, even the sparse level design and story, works together to make this a cohesively built masterpiece.

Everything about MGS1 in higher fidelity. Subverted in interesting ways, MGS2 takes a couple playthroughs to "get" completely, which can be a problem for some. Ultimately, the well thought out (if insanely quirky) story and world make this game truly unique and unmatched in many ways, even today.

Multiplayer arena FPS combat, perfected. After this title, devs had to add new features to push the genre forward, since incremental improvements weren't gonna cut it anymore. I still have fond memories of CTF on Facing Worlds.

This game set the expectation that story could be told during gameplay moments. Before this, FPSes were content to show the vast majority of their story in between-mission cutscenes, briefings, and other game elements. While it is a bit of an amusement park ride (with only one right way to go, and special levers and buttons to press), it was revolutionary for its time.

A revolutionary FPS that changed things in the genre forever. The intensity of the singleplayer campaign was unmatched at its time, and really gave the game a sense of urgency that you couldn't find anywhere else. The multiplayer wasn't super deep, but it was easy to pick up and play for hours.

Somehow, tag team gameplay changed this up enough to make it really, really compelling.

Fast paced robot combat that's still unmatched to this day. With an art style that's second to none, and a gameplay system that's been refined to a razor's edge, this is one for the ages. Unfortunately the story, and the length of the game, leave a lot to be desired.

An interesting take on giant robot combat. Ultimately, it was wholly eclipsed by its sequel, Zone of the Enders: The Second Runner.

A revolutionary FPS from a studio known for its RTS games. While the single player portion is ham-fisted and not terribly compelling, the multiplayer portion of the game was groundbreaking. Many people don't realize it, but the unique vehicle/infantry combat mix which makes Battlefield so compelling was here first.

The game that forced me to actually get good at FPS games. Mostly unremarkable, but fundamentally sound in all aspects.

The only game I've beaten in a single overnight session. Absolutely revolutionary and mind blowing for its time. A game that's truly so ambitious that the console it was on could barely handle it.