First time playing a Tekken, did not disappoint. I mainly played through the story mode but I've got a little bit of local matches under my belt as well. The combat is so fun and satisfying (like look at those hit VFX and SFX, those are crunchy as hell), the character roster is fun and varied, insane lore, crazy amounts of customization that actively impress me with how creative people get, and there's a lot of fun modes to try out besides the main gameplay loop. Definitely a good first impression.

A really solid follow-up to the original. I'm only going off of the campaign in terms of rating because that's where my interests are. I've heard really good things about Special Ops and the multiplayer, but I wasn't interested in the former and the latter has been glitched and infested with malware. I think the story really ramps up the tension and weight of the fights at hand. While the first game had those elements, this game knocks it out of the park. The characters are fun to follow (mainly for Task Force 141) but the environments really convey the storytelling, especially the fights around Washington D.C., those visuals especially stick out to my mind. I unfortunately was spoiled on the ending but it still left an impact, as it shows the twisted ideals of painting yourself the hero in any war. All-in-all a really great follow-up that expands on the first one.

This is a game that I hold near and dear to my heart. I got it when I was around 10 or 11 for Christmas morning, and I played...most of it. I never actually beat the game until high school, and never completed it until now. This game reminds me the most of what I love about video games: gameplay that feels like a dream to master and control, a setting that you can get lost in, a score that immerses you into the world and sways your emotion, and an escape from a trying world that does its best to hammer us down. This game is my favorite of all time because it's a piece of media that has influenced me in my childhood and in my currently blossoming adulthood. I won't lie and say tears were shed when I beat the game not only because it holds such heavy nostalgia, but it also is a complete vision and package that everyone and I mean EVERYONE should play at least once in their lifetime. What else can I say? It's fantastic. Give it a shot when you get the chance.

An intriguing puzzle game that holds a profound message. I knew going in that it radiated Stanley Parable energy (which I love), but I wasn't expecting the gameplay to be deeper than Stanley Parable's walking around. I would argue that the writing alone causes Stanley Parable to be excellent, but Superliminal takes it a step further by adding deeper gameplay to the mix. The story is a bit more in the background but it's still ties the concept together excellently. I love the idea of messing around with perspective from a mechanical standpoint and how it plays into the real themes of understanding other perspectives in your own life. Excellent game that hit me with the feels at the end.

I remember being weirdly hyped for this when it was fully announced and it felt rewarding to get a licensed game with some level of care and passion put into it. The gameplay is solid, the lineup of cars makes the inner 7-year-old in me froth at the mouth, and the amount of customization in there makes my head spin. However, loot boxes, not great online and heavy reliance on DLC is pretty much what killed long-term interest. And now that the sequel is out and is pretty much agreed to be the superior game, there really isn't a need to return to this one.