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Top 50 Favorites: #29
Hardly a new statement to argue that this is the most "vibey" GTA game, but if I have any semi-controversial remark to make it's that imo this smokes not only Grand Theft Auto III but also Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for nearly everything they're worth. The gunplay is incomparably better than the former, and the map here is much more contained - removing the long stretches of nothing that padded out a lot of missions from the latter. I will even defend those little RC missions, Rockstar weirdness matters! Obviously this still shows its age: not everything is as precise as the 7th gen games and upwards would make it. But above all else, this is just a downright fucking TONIC - vibrant characters blowin' off heads in neon-lit bloom at nightfall, so magnetic, man... like how summer vacation used to feel like as a kid. Vaporwave dreamscape. Totally sucks you right in and keeps you there. All that plus voice acting from a murder's row of Hollywood "who's who" from the era this is inspired by, Rockstar's timeless cynical-yet-juvenile sense of humor, and a soundtrack that will knock your socks off (Hyperactive!, Self Control, and Keep On Loving You have been stuck in my head for almost four years now) - chef's kiss. The first of these games that really felt like they found their identity moving forward. Lovely (even if this version does remove such CRUCIAL songs from the soundtrack).
Hardly a new statement to argue that this is the most "vibey" GTA game, but if I have any semi-controversial remark to make it's that imo this smokes not only Grand Theft Auto III but also Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for nearly everything they're worth. The gunplay is incomparably better than the former, and the map here is much more contained - removing the long stretches of nothing that padded out a lot of missions from the latter. I will even defend those little RC missions, Rockstar weirdness matters! Obviously this still shows its age: not everything is as precise as the 7th gen games and upwards would make it. But above all else, this is just a downright fucking TONIC - vibrant characters blowin' off heads in neon-lit bloom at nightfall, so magnetic, man... like how summer vacation used to feel like as a kid. Vaporwave dreamscape. Totally sucks you right in and keeps you there. All that plus voice acting from a murder's row of Hollywood "who's who" from the era this is inspired by, Rockstar's timeless cynical-yet-juvenile sense of humor, and a soundtrack that will knock your socks off (Hyperactive!, Self Control, and Keep On Loving You have been stuck in my head for almost four years now) - chef's kiss. The first of these games that really felt like they found their identity moving forward. Lovely (even if this version does remove such CRUCIAL songs from the soundtrack).
Games I Like That Everybody Else Dislikes
Endearingly janky in that early-PS2 way that's just impossible to hate, with an authentic sense of adventure and pretty much perfect progression for this type of game. I'll be honest, I hated this show as a kid - I thought it was butt-ugly and reminiscent of the most noxious stereotypes/fads of the late 90s/early 00s. But the way this game uses the show's extreme sports template to essentially create a looney, sprawling Point Break-esque robot eco-terrorism conspiracy is ridiculously fun. There's tons of variety in the gameplay and you can go from chill, cozy exploration sections to over-the-top races to puzzles to shooting minigames to beaming robots with exploding hockey pucks to puzzles to skateboard/rollerblade competitions to jet ski boss fights to diet espionage and... man, it's really good. Plus you can pick your character pretty much at will. A classic.
Endearingly janky in that early-PS2 way that's just impossible to hate, with an authentic sense of adventure and pretty much perfect progression for this type of game. I'll be honest, I hated this show as a kid - I thought it was butt-ugly and reminiscent of the most noxious stereotypes/fads of the late 90s/early 00s. But the way this game uses the show's extreme sports template to essentially create a looney, sprawling Point Break-esque robot eco-terrorism conspiracy is ridiculously fun. There's tons of variety in the gameplay and you can go from chill, cozy exploration sections to over-the-top races to puzzles to shooting minigames to beaming robots with exploding hockey pucks to puzzles to skateboard/rollerblade competitions to jet ski boss fights to diet espionage and... man, it's really good. Plus you can pick your character pretty much at will. A classic.
Top 50 Favorites: #29
Hardly a new statement to argue that this is the most "vibey" GTA game, but if I have any semi-controversial remark to make it's that imo this smokes not only Grand Theft Auto III but also Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for nearly everything they're worth. The gunplay is incomparably better than the former, and the map here is much more contained - removing the long stretches of nothing that padded out a lot of missions from the latter. I will even defend those little RC missions, Rockstar weirdness matters! (And they aren't that hard imo). Obviously this still shows its age: not everything is as precise as the 7th gen games and upwards would make it. But above all else, this is just a downright fucking TONIC - vibrant characters blowin' off heads in neon-lit bloom at nightfall, so magnetic, man... like how summer vacation used to feel like as a kid. Vaporwave dreamscape. Totally sucks you right in and keeps you there. All that plus voice acting from a murder's row of Hollywood "who's who" from the era this is inspired by, Rockstar's timeless cynical-yet-juvenile sense of humor, and a soundtrack that will knock your socks off (Hyperactive!, Self Control, and Keep On Loving You have been stuck in my head for almost four years now) - chef's kiss. The first of these games that really felt like they found their identity moving forward. Lovely.
Hardly a new statement to argue that this is the most "vibey" GTA game, but if I have any semi-controversial remark to make it's that imo this smokes not only Grand Theft Auto III but also Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for nearly everything they're worth. The gunplay is incomparably better than the former, and the map here is much more contained - removing the long stretches of nothing that padded out a lot of missions from the latter. I will even defend those little RC missions, Rockstar weirdness matters! (And they aren't that hard imo). Obviously this still shows its age: not everything is as precise as the 7th gen games and upwards would make it. But above all else, this is just a downright fucking TONIC - vibrant characters blowin' off heads in neon-lit bloom at nightfall, so magnetic, man... like how summer vacation used to feel like as a kid. Vaporwave dreamscape. Totally sucks you right in and keeps you there. All that plus voice acting from a murder's row of Hollywood "who's who" from the era this is inspired by, Rockstar's timeless cynical-yet-juvenile sense of humor, and a soundtrack that will knock your socks off (Hyperactive!, Self Control, and Keep On Loving You have been stuck in my head for almost four years now) - chef's kiss. The first of these games that really felt like they found their identity moving forward. Lovely.
Games I Dislike That Everybody Else Likes
The weakest of the four Sly games, in my opinion. Bar-none. Every new addition feels superficially cool but airless to execute - I'm sorry but I found all of the pirate stuff (ship battles, treasure maps, the missions in the level itself) to be grueling. The removal of the clue bottle collectibles - one of my favorite elements from the others - also hasn't gone unnoticed here, nor has the regressed mission structure. Plus the levels, apart from Venice and the airstrip place, just aren't as good. Feels like a rushed, less charming reskin of 2 at best and a serious bore at worst. Plus there's those truly abysmal boss fights. Tiring to even write about, what is there left to say?
The weakest of the four Sly games, in my opinion. Bar-none. Every new addition feels superficially cool but airless to execute - I'm sorry but I found all of the pirate stuff (ship battles, treasure maps, the missions in the level itself) to be grueling. The removal of the clue bottle collectibles - one of my favorite elements from the others - also hasn't gone unnoticed here, nor has the regressed mission structure. Plus the levels, apart from Venice and the airstrip place, just aren't as good. Feels like a rushed, less charming reskin of 2 at best and a serious bore at worst. Plus there's those truly abysmal boss fights. Tiring to even write about, what is there left to say?
Another 20 minutes of gameplay in a rushed level pack (calling it that is really generous) that fails to capitalize on all the wacky fun that could have been had with this IP. Granted, this one does offer a nice color scheme - and I have to give it points for variety in its gameplay for what it is. But again, blink and you'll miss it. Not awful by any stretch of the imagination, but also nothing really much else. The third best of these.
My relative 'favorite' of the LEGO DC Super-Villains DLCs but is still only like 10/15 minutes of actual gameplay that feels like it was made in three seconds. The cel shaded art style looks nice, and Captain Clown is neat - but honestly that's all that can be said about this.
2012
Top 50 Favorites: #19 (2015 Zombi version)
Games I Like That Everybody Else Dislikes
Phenomenal zombie crusher with some of the most unique gimmicks I've ever seen in a horror game. Clearly a product not afraid to take risks, and it's all the more nuanced because of it - its atypical quirks which, at the time, were read as blemishes now seem like highly original and bold moves. This includes but is certainly not limited to its terrific use of setting, moving keenly from the grimy slums of post-apocalyptic England all the way up through Buckingham Palace and beyond (each level as excellently designed as the last). It's got great scares, devilishly fun combat, tons of definable setpieces, and - a must for any good horror game - backtracking that actually seems tense, strategic, and enjoyable. Can't sing the praises of this criminally under-respected curio enough. It's wonderful - plain and simple.
Games I Like That Everybody Else Dislikes
Phenomenal zombie crusher with some of the most unique gimmicks I've ever seen in a horror game. Clearly a product not afraid to take risks, and it's all the more nuanced because of it - its atypical quirks which, at the time, were read as blemishes now seem like highly original and bold moves. This includes but is certainly not limited to its terrific use of setting, moving keenly from the grimy slums of post-apocalyptic England all the way up through Buckingham Palace and beyond (each level as excellently designed as the last). It's got great scares, devilishly fun combat, tons of definable setpieces, and - a must for any good horror game - backtracking that actually seems tense, strategic, and enjoyable. Can't sing the praises of this criminally under-respected curio enough. It's wonderful - plain and simple.
2018
Top 50 Favorites: #12
The vibes are immaculate, best racing video game of all time. One of the few retro-inspired games that actually feels like it's trying to carve out its own unique legacy, as opposed to simply nostalgia-baiting and recycling genre tropes. Perfectly encapsulates that feeling of sticking your head out the window on a summer drive, feeling the breeze caress your face as you take in all the beautiful sights in front of you - nothing else existing outside of that moment. The gameplay loop is essentially just doing one thing, but you never want to stop doing that thing - not with such stupendous colors popping right off the screen (in many scenic interpretations of real-life locations). And boy is that soundtrack killer, or what? Controls are tight but not so tight that it's a cakewalk, this still relies on your skill and drive to succeed. Great with buddies, too. Saying this is truly something special would be an understatement - one of the most underrated games of the 20th century.
The vibes are immaculate, best racing video game of all time. One of the few retro-inspired games that actually feels like it's trying to carve out its own unique legacy, as opposed to simply nostalgia-baiting and recycling genre tropes. Perfectly encapsulates that feeling of sticking your head out the window on a summer drive, feeling the breeze caress your face as you take in all the beautiful sights in front of you - nothing else existing outside of that moment. The gameplay loop is essentially just doing one thing, but you never want to stop doing that thing - not with such stupendous colors popping right off the screen (in many scenic interpretations of real-life locations). And boy is that soundtrack killer, or what? Controls are tight but not so tight that it's a cakewalk, this still relies on your skill and drive to succeed. Great with buddies, too. Saying this is truly something special would be an understatement - one of the most underrated games of the 20th century.
2016
Sturdy but also Another One of These™. I'm almost totally burned out on these online live service games complete with seasons, microtransactions, grinding, trash skill-based matchmaking, and alienating "you had to be there for it" moments. Speaking strictly from a personal standpoint I just don't understand how someone can play this for more than three or maybe a generous four matches without getting bored. That being said, you just can't help but admire how this just keeps going strong (seemingly strongER) now going on SEVEN years since its release (eons, in games as a service terms) - and there's a reason for that. Look, I slightly prefer Evil Dead: The Game to this, but at least this one has a little thing called a playerbase... and devs who actually give a shit about putting in the content. The amount of horror licenses all in one place here is simply astonishing, pretty much every horror game online forum prior to this's dream come true - and I dig that it still has its very definitive art style even with all that. It's not bad, but after two matches I'm just going through the motions. Sorry, not really my type of thing.
Irresistible. Far and away the best of the three Saints Row: The Third mission DLC packs - a deliciously madcap addition to the base's hysteria, Professor Genki's Super Ethical Reality Climax was always a standout feature of its crazy iconography and this expansion concocts some very worthy inclusions to that legacy. You can control a giant yarnball that rolls over and squishes vehicles, skydive from rooftop to rooftop while tearing people to shreds with a chainsaw, roast pedestrians in a car with flamethrowers mounted onto the sides, and shoot through enemies in an Apocalypse Now-themed spin on the original Genki games. Plus you get Zach and Bobby's side-splitting commentary through the whole thing, probably at their funniest ever here. What's not to love?
Throwing everything at the wall. Truly bonkers piece of candy-coated pop mayhem. Like seriously we really need to be talking more about how batshit this game is. Packed to the brim with virtually every relic of the seventh-gen imaginable cranked up to 11 - including but not limited to a glitchy co-op mode, constant bullet hell, explosions, zombies, and bombastic protect/escort missions. I used to dislike games like this at the time, but looking back they're just so sinfully fun (I'm also a huge Resident Evil 6 apologist, for what that's worth). Has one of the most God-tier soundtracks in gaming history (It's My Life, Yonkers, Return of the Mack, 31 Seconds to Die, Power, Satisfaction, Machinehead, etc. etc.), attractive graphics, a wicked sense of humor (some sporadic cringe aside), missions that are a blast to play, an eclectic collection of freakish characters, and a fucking ripper array of weapons. AND with all the equally over-the-top DLCs? Come on dude, this is just awesome. In my opinion makes one very, VERY fatal flaw keeping it from elite greatness and that's killing off [REDACTED] in the second fucking mission. I have my reservations about this as a follow-up to Saints Row 2, but it also has a car with a giant mounted cannon that sucks in and shoots out pedestrians - so I'm more than happy with it. Wild.
2015
Top 50 Favorites: #16
Games I Like That Everybody Else Dislikes
Phenomenal zombie crusher with some of the most unique gimmicks I've ever seen in a horror game. Clearly a product not afraid to take risks, and it's all the more nuanced because of it - its atypical quirks which, at the time, were read as blemishes now seem like highly original and bold moves. This includes but is certainly not limited to its terrific use of setting, moving keenly from the grimy slums of post-apocalyptic England all the way up through Buckingham Palace and beyond (each level as excellently designed as the last). It's got great scares, devilishly fun combat, tons of definable setpieces, and - a must for any good horror game - backtracking that actually seems tense, strategic, and enjoyable. Can't sing the praises of this criminally under-respected curio enough. It's wonderful - plain and simple.
Games I Like That Everybody Else Dislikes
Phenomenal zombie crusher with some of the most unique gimmicks I've ever seen in a horror game. Clearly a product not afraid to take risks, and it's all the more nuanced because of it - its atypical quirks which, at the time, were read as blemishes now seem like highly original and bold moves. This includes but is certainly not limited to its terrific use of setting, moving keenly from the grimy slums of post-apocalyptic England all the way up through Buckingham Palace and beyond (each level as excellently designed as the last). It's got great scares, devilishly fun combat, tons of definable setpieces, and - a must for any good horror game - backtracking that actually seems tense, strategic, and enjoyable. Can't sing the praises of this criminally under-respected curio enough. It's wonderful - plain and simple.
1995
A fantastic game in its own right, and a technical marvel on the PS1 in just its first year of life: with awesome music, well-designed levels, superb graphics, good amount of challenge, and a formidable attention to detail. Totally wrote this off the first time I played it, but it needs to be stressed how impressive it is for gameplay this one-note to still be so fully gripping - I tackled map after map in this and never wanted to put it down. The PlayStation port is no question the victor, combing all the base maps from the original 3DO version in addition to a surfeit of levels from its later expansion Maps o' Death - adding into a sum of content that is just massive for its era. Plus you just gotta love the island setting here, and its macabre sense of humor. Could you imagine this thing with a level editor? Oh man, that'd be something to see.
Always found the superpowers here to be more fun than the ones in Saints Row IV - their rougher feel makes them seem more memorable, and definitely less repetitive since they're contained to this section and not used as padding to constantly fluff up the majority of the game (though it would have been nice to unlock them for limited-time uses outside of the DLC). Still crazy how this essentially stemmed from Volition/Deep Silver realizing their severe narrative mistake from the base game and trying sloppily (futilely?) to rectify it. But whatever, the Gat brute is pretty awesome (though on that note, where tf is Jimmy as a homie?) and this sufficiently expounds upon the base's weird, funny volatility.
Without a doubt the weakest of the three Saints Row: The Third mission DLCs, but still an excellent extension of the base game's penchant for gleeful, explosive nihilism excess - as well as a shockingly bang-on satire of franchise filmmaking right as Marvel started taking over the world. A couple of the jokes go on a little too long (and why tf don't we get to unlock those cool little laser pistols?) but otherwise it rules - always easy to pick up and enjoy this.