A fantastic remake that adds so much to the original game. Analog movement, for one thing, adds so much life to this game that it feels essentially new. The pre-rendered 2D backgrounds are breathtaking and don't look out of place whatsoever. A lot of item management was cleaned up and annoying sections feel more manageable. Even the new additional content like the Trevor family is such a welcome addition that adds to unease and stress that this game will give you. However, at its core it is still Resident Evil 1. Meaning the same basic experience has still aged a bit. For one, the key system is still as terrible as ever. I wish there was an indication on the map to where which key unlocked which door. Additionally, the backtracking in the mansion section of the game feels a bit tedious and I wish it was smaller like the other sections in the game are. Otherwise this is a fantastic 1-to-1 remake that makes me excited to play later games in the series.

Super Mario Land 2: Yoshi's Island is one of the best platformers Nintendo has ever made. The game controls great in a way that even the likes of its predecessor, Super Mario World, does not. Every part of Yoshi’s moveset just feels natural. The flutter jump is great to adjust your jumps, the egg shooting is super responsive, and the ground pound is so iconic that even Mario stole it for later entries in his series. The level design compliments these controls well, as the exploratory nature of many of its levels put these skills to perfect use. To be fair, there are a few times where instant death pits and spikes feel unwarranted, but by no means is that much a dealbreaker.
But not only do the controls hold up, so does this game’s graphics. The children’s book art-style gives the game a sense of whimsy that can still be felt 30 years later. Additionally, thanks to the Super FX chip, the 3D graphics are just mindboggling and add to the already impressive graphics for the time. Even today, the graphics still hold up shockingly well and is just a testament to how strong of an impression this game has on its players. Everything to the music to the enemy designs are just so delightful and full of that Nintendo charm. It’s easily one of the best platformers Nintendo has ever put out and it's clear to see why this single game spawned a franchise of its own. Now if only any of the other titles lived up to this entry…

Resident Evil 1 is certainly a product of its time. It controls like molasses and its tank controls don’t help much. Since I played the original version, I did not have access to the auto-aim system that’s found in the Director’s Cut and Dualshock versions which made enemy encounters a lot more difficult than they needed to be. You could argue that this does enhance the horror aspects of this game, making you feel powerless against these monsters, however, it felt less like an intentional choice and more of a fault with the gameplay. Puzzles aren’t as tricky or archaic as I thought they were going to be. Every puzzle is fairly obvious and there are plenty of clues barring a few instances but for a PS1 puzzle game, that is an accomplishment. The story is total non-sense thanks to the terrible voice-acting but despite this, I could still get invested in these characters. There’s enough intrigue where I felt interested in this game’s plot despite of its flaws that I’m actually excited to play its sequels. If you’re going to play RE1 for the PlayStation, just play the later editions as they fix many flaws found with this version.

Fire Emblem Engage is like that one Ratatouille GIF. You take one unassuming bite into its pie and are instantly thrown back to the first time you played Fire Emblem for the GBA. Compared to its Switch sibling: Fire Emblem: Three Houses, it feels like such a step up in quality, at least where gameplay is concerned. Everything just feels a lot snappier and less repetitive than 3H. There’s a lot less downtime of fooling around at your hub and more time is spent in the actually SRPG battles themselves. In addition, the “Engage” mechanic is so much fun to play around with. It essentially allows the player to turn any unit into another type of unit for a few turns, which makes strategizing around this mechanic quite fun. It’s almost a shame that this gimmick feels like it will be stuck with this game, as I would welcome it returning in a future title. Sure, Engage does falter in its main story a bit, but by no means is any of it bad. The messages of the game are clear as day and are still captivating. I particularly like how Alear was handled, as they are their own fleshed out character and have presence in the story unlike Byleth. This cast overall is dynamic and fun, a bit tropey reminiscent of how older FE titles handled their cast. Engage’s strengths more than make up for its faults and I recommended this title to newcomers and veterans alike, as it perfectly encapsulates what Fire Emblem as a series is all about.

What I thought would just be a kind of mid Platinum game turned into an awesome adventure that somehow blends Pikmin-like gameplay with the over-the-top Metal Gear Rising action the company is known for. It's honestly really funny to me that half of the game is just Platinum Games jerking themselves off with how many references to their own games and accolades they sneak into the narrative.

The overall story is mostly great with just a cheesy Saturday morning cartoon vibe but is undermined by what may be one of the worst fictional characters ever created: Luka. Luke is whiney and hotheaded who the game expects you to gain some sympathy for, but you end up loathing his existence for the entire duration of your playthrough that he exists in. The story besides him is actually pretty fun. There are plenty of characters to get attached to each with their own unique personalities that end up blending well together. Wonder Blue is probably my favorite out of the main cast. It's only Luka that ends up as a real blight on an otherwise great cast.

The gameplay does take a bit of time to get used to. But once you finally understand it how it plays, the clunkiness of the controls fades away and its beings to click. The combat is pretty fun and the multiple forms you can approach combat is always neat to see. There are times where the game is vague on how to approach certain obstacles, especially with how many new diverse minigame styles they throw at you. This game definitely needed more tutorials.

Overall, though if you're on the fence about playing this game, I really recommend giving it a try. It's a fantastic adventure that feels like you're going on a rollercoaster ride. Sure, the ascent may feel slow and awkward at first, but once you go past that first slope, it's an action-packed adventure that is unforgettable.

If both Sonic's jumps had just a little bit extra height, this would fix a lot of my problems with the 2D sections of this game. Every jump is either a toss between just barely making the platform, or just barely missing the platform and falling to your doom. Classic Sonic in general feels like something is missing in his moveset which I have never felt like when I played any of Sonic's classic games. The level design just doesn't feel designed with him in mind. That being said, the 3D sonic gameplay is top notch and easily the best part of the game. They are just a blast to go through and really well designed. It's just a shame when Modern Sonic is thrust into the 2D section which somehow feels EVEN WORSE than Classic. Seriously his double jump shoots him forward so fast that you don't have enough time to readjust yourself on the platform. This isn't as bad in 3D as you're given plenty of space to readjust but in 2D? You just end up falling off the platform more often then you would like. Progression in this game would be fine, excellent even, if you weren't forced to play stupid challenges in order to progress through the game. Thankfully you only need to complete one for each level but some of them can get really jank at times, especially the guest character ones. The bosses are all around pretty good especially the rival battles but the final boss, the Time Eater, is one of the worst bosses I have ever fought in any video game EVER. It's just a slog to get through as none of its attacks really hit you and you usually end up running out of rings because of how long it takes for the boss to open its weak spot instead of any interference from the creature itself. Music is easily the best thing this game has going for it and that's saying something from a series that constantly pulls out bangers. I really wanted to like this game but there are just too many issues that really bring it down the experience for me. I'm sure a dedicated Sonic fan will enjoy this game very much, it's just not for me.

Spirit of Justice is a great climax for Apollo's story and great finisher for the Apollo trilogy as a whole. Apollo is basically a comic book character at this point with how many convoluted and intersecting backstories they keeping giving the guy. But I feel the one in this game is his most compelling. The new setting is a good break from the typical Japanifornia setting the series is accustomed. I actually like Insights as a gimmick quite a bit but I wish it wasn't so precise in what you had to identify. Unlike the previous game, their really isn't a case I actively dislike besides case 4 which is inoffensive if anything. The final case is a definite highlight as it manages to introduce a new character and make them work so well to the main cast that you forget he wasn't present in the previous cases. Overall a great game in the series if you've been playing through all 6 games.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is a great package. The lives system is forgiving but not so forgiving where you can breeze through the game which is a great balance in difficulty. I wish the level progression carried over between characters so I could freely swap between them but with the game's short length, I can understand why this isn't the case. The presentation is top notch with great sprite work and great animations. Gameplay is you're typical beat-em-up that only gets annoying when the introduce any flying enemies, as there aren't a lot of options for dealing with midair foes besides a flimsy air kick. Overall it's challenging but fair and nicely short so you can beat it in a session or two.

River City Girls is a wild ride of a beat 'em up game that offers a fun and short adventure. While the 2000s dialogue may not be for everyone, it adds a certain charm to the game. The story may not be groundbreaking, but it gets the job done and serves its purpose well enough. At first, combat can feel slow and tedious as enemies take a while to take down. However, once you unlock the 5-string combo from the dojo, the fights become a blast.

Unfortunately, movement can feel stiff at times, particularly when moving up and down. This can be especially frustrating when trying to hit enemies that are slightly above you. Additionally, it can feel like enemies can hit you right after getting back up, which disrupts the flow of fights. Despite these minor issues, the game's foundation is solid and enjoyable.
Overall, River City Girls is a great choice for those looking for a good multiplayer game that's full of action and adventure. While it may need some minor tweaks to improve the gameplay, it's still an enjoyable experience that's worth playing.

Artsy games have never been something I have really played all that much. Sure I’ve heard down the grapevine that Journey is a breathtaking masterpiece and Child of Light is an unforgettable experience but never I’ve never felt the need to sit down and play these games for myself. So it’s pretty strange to me that I just decided one day to sit down and play the stunning work of art that is GRIS.

GRIS’s obvious main allure is its brilliant art style. The game takes on a beautiful watercolor aesthetic that feels like a moving painting. The animations are wonderfully crafted, making it sometimes hard to believe that this game is even a game at all. At times during my playthrough, I honestly had to stop and just admire the breathtaking scenery. The attention to detail is exceptional, with little critters moving about the environments making the world feel so much more alive. The aesthetic even plays into the game’s central theme, with the player unlocking more and more colors to the world as the game progresses. Not only do these colors enrich the environments, but they also tie into the mechanics of the game. When you unlock Yellow, light fixtures glow to reveal the path forward. When you unlock Red, powerful sandstorms whip up and push back at you, impeding your progress. This perfect blend of gameplay with visuals elevates the game even further, creating a truly unique experience.

The gameplay is of a simple side-scrolling puzzle-platformer where your character navigates the four distinct landscapes. No dialogue is given throughout the entire game, letting the player figure out solutions to its simple yet-neat little puzzles it presents when traversing its gorgeous environments. Its almost Metroidvania-like in a way, where your character gains new abilities and has to use those abilities to traverse the game’s landscapes. This simplistic gameplay makes you enter this almost zen-like state letting you just absorb the visuals and music and taking in everything the game has to offer.

GRIS’s captivating art style and serene gameplay offer a cozy experience perfect for anyone to jump in and play. This perfect blend of visuals and gameplay really emphasize GRIS’s message without taking away from either. While its meager four-hour playtime may turn off a few, it more then makes up for it by providing a stellar experience for all. Even as a non-artsy game fan I can still recommend this game to anyone and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy adventure to play through for a night.

A game that kinda meanders through the first two cases but then knocks it out of the park with case 3 and 4/5. The final case in particular is great with how it brings all the three main lawyer's main skills to crack the case. I appreciate how streamlined the investigation part of the game is now, there's no more guessing what you have to do and rarely did I have to look up a guide in what I had to do next. The return of original trilogy characters as well as others from Apollo are nice to see albeit in more of a cameo appearances rather than any main roles. The new 3D models and animations successfully capture the same expressiveness that the first 4 games' characters had, which is very impressive. Overall this is a great entry in this top notch series, with a few problems here and there.

Overall a fun kart racer that takes a bit to warm up too. Coming from someone with tons of hours in Mario Kart 8, the drifting mechanics do take some getting used to. At first, I was totally put off by how drifting worked, just felt unresponsive and kinda finicky to pull off. But after getting used to it, I kinda like how dynamic it makes races feel. My only main critiques are how you have to both press the direction button AND the drift button if you want to activate it. Additionally, I really wish the boost gauge was closer to the actual character racing and not in the small bottom-right corner. The way the pit shop works is also really annoying. It feels like I have to grind for all the character when I really wish I could just unlock all of them from the start. Overall it's a pretty fun package, just with some tiny nitpicks that keep it from being a really great game.

Transformers: Devastation is a game that is tied up in so many licensing issues that it's a damn shame not many have played this game. It's honestly one of Platinum Games's best. Great combos, fun moves, and really awesome exhilarating boss fights. Yea, you can definitely see where the budget starts to creep up on the creators, as each chapter comically gets shorter and shorter as you move along the story. There are a ton of reused assets; you practically only have two areas you really explore in the entire game. However, the game's short length combined with the fast action gameplay really masks the imperfections that lie just beneath the surface. The story is serviceable with a very strange tie-in with the active toyline going at the time. Despite low-budget, it manages to be one of the best licensed games of all time, and even one of Platinum Game's best