Overcooked is a fun time. The micromanaging of the games various dishes and level gimmicks is a blast with a couple of friends on the couch. The variety of levels on display is fantastic and leads to every level being a new challenge even if what you are doing has only changed due to the environment. There are levels on ice, on moving trucks on pirate ships and much more that make every second of the game a blast. If you can get a crew together overcooked is party game bliss, but be warned friendships could be at risk

RE6 is a mess. The quality of the game is up and down like a see-saw from mission to misson. Leon's campaign is by far the best and feels like a re5 spinoff of uncharted but was fun from start to finish (last boss not included). Chris campaign is a gears of war knock off that suffers from a lot of my problems with the cover shooting in re5 but has been improved a decent amount in this entry. Jake's campaign is also really good in my opinion with the best character moments and Ada campaign acts as a way for the game to explain the story. The story is even more chaotic and unfortunately didn't find it to engaging besides Jake's campaign. This is a game I only recommend to people with someone to play it with as solo it's a tedious slog at times particularly Chris's campaign. Mercenary's mode is back along with another slew of modes to give you something to do if the 4 campaigns weren't enough to satisfy you. In conclusion RE6 can definitely be considered a bad game but there is just enough good here to have a good time with a friend.

Rift Apart is the ps5's first killer app. Rift Apart has superbly designed planets with each planet offering something different to the player, with one planet having a dimension swap gimmick and another being an open world playground makes every planet a treat to visit. The weapons are the star of the shows as often is the case in the ratchet games with old favorites and new weapons that fit perfectly into the combat system make every second of combat an absolute joy. The use of haptic feedback makes the weapons feel even more gratifying to use than in previous games. The graphics are jaw dropping on ray tracing 60fps mode and the framerate was buttery smooth throughout. The story in rift apart is a huge improvment on the movication that occured in the 2016 game, but still has moments where the disney like kids writing comes out with characters repeating or stating things unnaturally just to ensure no one misses some of it's beats. The characters are great but Rivet steals the show in every scene she's in. The story is engaging but a few weak moments are peppered throughout. The soundtrack is enjoyable in the moment but not overly memorable beyond it. The gameplay loop is the best thing about the game is the gameplay loop as leveling up weapons gives constant gratification all through the game. The extra content the game offers is designed greatly and I only wish there was more of it which can be said about the game as a whole. Rift apart is a phenomenal game that while short is a must play for all ps5 owners

This review contains spoilers

Metroid dread is a reminder why gameplay is king in videogames. The game takes the controls from samus returns and improves on them tenfold making samus's control the best it has ever been in 2d and I'd argue it's one of the best feeling 2d games period. MercurySteam clearly learned from working on samus return as the bloated feeling present mainly due to its metroid killing grind has been evaporated and what you are left with is a fusion of metroid fusion and super in terms of design. You are given an objective but how you get there is up to you.
The level design is phenomenal with each area giving off its own atmosphere and exploring every nook and cranny to uncover everything it has to offer was invigorating(even the shinespark puzzles).
The emi are a great addition that never become manageable as each one is harder than the prior ones. They bring the dread fittingly, more than even the sax. The game also has killer bosses with the final boss being stellar and one of the fights in the middle may be my favorite fight in the series. Best boss fights in a 2d metroid hands down. The story also manages to be compelling and answers questions about who samus is, while exploring the established lore and characterising Samus more and making her look more badass than ever before.
What mercury steam pulled off is masterful a game that potentially usurps super metroids throne as best in the franchise. Only time will tell but the quality is here. This is a public service announcement if you own a switch buy this game.

Chrono Trigger is best described as a videogame epic. People say this was made by a dream team and I find it hard not to believe based on the end result. The game looks incredible for snes with vibrant sprites and locals for each time period. The soundtrack is god tier with each track being incredible and each time I hear them I just want to play it all over again (I have it on spotify). The combat is also great with being able to combine techs with 2 or 3 party members to do massive damage is always satisfying and the boss fights are a genuine challenge unless you come in prepared . While everything else is amazing the characters really steal the show for me and this game gives me a cast of party members only matched by the mass effect trilogy. Each party member has a past that depending on how you play you may never see it. Some moments had me at the edge of my seat and some caught me by surprise and some made me close to shedding a tear, the story like every other aspect has everything. Chrono Trigger is possibly the greatest time traveling story ever told and considering it's relatively short length for a jrpg(35 hours) I have no doubt I will be playing new game plus in the near future. Chrono Triggers is pure gaming bliss

Metroid Fusion is a game that isn't afraid to mess with the metroid formula.The game takes more of a linear approach to game design which could upset hardcore fans but I think this approach works very well for this game and exploration still factors in to the main path at times and exploring for powerups is back in full force. The story told is simple but keeps you engaged with a few questions throughout. The games linear design creates a unique atmosphere for a metroid game one of fear due samus's weakened state and the powerful sa-x that lurks around the research centre that the game takes place in. The loss of power suit makes every encounter a threat making this the hardest metroid game I have played yet. The fact that the game takes place on a man made ship is always apparent due to its logical construction compared to Zebes. The different breathing environments give great variety in local to explore and x parasites allow a lot of familiar foes to appear throughout the campaign. While I enjoy the linear design the fact that doors lock throughout the game stopping you exploring is my one real dislike with this entry. After the huge gap from super the devs could have played it safe and just made another super metroid like game but they decided to be bold and commit to their vision of a linear story with horror elements and it payed off in spades being a great game that's almost amazing which I could see it to be after further playthroughs bring on metroid dread

Super metroid is impeccable at everything it sets out to do. One of it's crowning achievements is how it uses every element of the game to create it's foreboding atmosphere and even more impressive is how each element feeds of this atmosphere to improve each individual element. The games intro hooks players with an epic action sequences and creating questions in the mind of the players. The game continues in this vain using the environments you explore to tell you the story of this space pirate infested planet. The music adds to this effect as while not as catchy as older metroid games it perfectly captures the vibe the game is going for and I would have it no other way. When going on the intended path super metroid is constantly rewarding you with new abilities, more health and ammo upgrades, story and lore information all through gameplay. The boss fights also add greatly to the game as while most of them aren't to hard they appear imposing to the player as many tower over samus and break up the gameplay loop just enough to keep the player constantly engaged. Each area in the game gives of it's own vibe and is a joy to explore each nook and cranny for upgrades. While maridia isn't my favorite area to explore I still found enjoyment clearing out the map just based on how clever the game makes you feel finding its more obscure secrets. The game is rewarding just critical pathing it and when going for all the upgrades but there is actually a third way to play super metroid and that is to sequence break. the game was carefully created for the critical pathway but the developers put so much work in to ensure that the player could do things out of order if they so choose to do so. This attention to detail is present in every facet of the game and it's down to this endeavour taken by the devs to create not just a masterpiece but one of games all time greats a must play for all gamers especially fans of the genre.

Samus Returns very much accomplishes just as masterful a remake of metroid 2 as Zero Mission did of metroid 1 unfortunately the foundation it is build on isn't quite as stable. Firstly the game looks great as while I would have preferred sprite work the 3d models do an excellent job at creating the trademark atmosphere and allow for cool camera tricks unseen in previous games. The music as always is killer creating fitting ambiance and being tunes to bop your head to in equal measure. The gameplay is great once again with samus feeling as good as ever and the new melee counter and free aim are great additions that add to the level design possibilities. SR38 is beautifully brought to life with vibrant environments not possible due to the limitations of the gb. However one limitation that can't be overcome is the games core structure of killing metroids to progress. In the beginning this isn't so bad but the repetitive fights eventually wear out their welcome and become a pain to complete especially due to the bloating added in an attempt to make each fight more epic. The game in general feels a bit bloated compared to its contemporaries and comes close to being overly long-winded. The unfortunate reality is that it was inevitable for it to turn out this way as removing the metroid system which was created due to gb limitations is impossible as it is the games defining characteristic. Don't get me wrong samus returns is a great game and brilliant remake but unlike the original metroid it is impossible to get rid of all the archaic elements without destroying the games identity

Metroid Zero Mission is a perfect remake. It takes the base of the original metroid and takes everything learned from super and fusion to create the definitive version of samus's first adventure. The games controls are ripped straight out of fusion making it the most fluid metroid game in the series at the time while also keeping the focal point of the original game of taking down ridley and kraid to fight mother brain. But the developers didn't just stop at improving the controls the environments are massively improved as they are made far more distinct than in the original with new power up's to find all over the place. The game also adds some of samus abilities from later games into this one making it feel just as much a sequel as it is a remake. There are new areas to explore in the game to adding even more exciting content to this already great package. The boss count has been increased to with some bosses coming out of nowhere adding to the tense atmosphere that metroid games have always created. The soundtrack is remastered beautifully with kraid's lair being a particular banger and new areas have songs that fit right in with the tunes from the original game. The game has a new epilogue that puts you in a unique scenario that acts as the cherry on top of this stellar cake. Zero Mission makes the original metroid redundant besides as a history lesson as it improves on everything the archaic original accomplished and piles more in. Exploring metroid 1 Zebes has never felt this good truly a masterful remake.

Sonic advance 3 is a game with a cool gimmick of tag teaming giving each character set unique abilities , great level theming, great music and bosses but the level design massively lets the game down for me as the problems with the level design in the first 2 games of having lots of cheap deaths is greatly magnified in this game and I didn't enjoy a lot of the game because of it. The tag mechanic is amazing however and some of the combinations are great and really make the gameplay feel unique compared to previous games. My favorite cominations where knuckles and tails and cream and knuckles but many other combos were fun as well such as tails gliding instead of flying when partnered with knuckles. The game also has hubworlds for each zone where you have to find the levels to access them. I love hubs in 3d games but I find these hubs pointless as they don't add character to the game and are tedius to explore. The chaos emerald system is better than 2 but still not great in my opinion. having to collect 10 chao in a zone is quite a lot but the fact that they save make them automatically better than the advance 2 system. Advance 3 adds to the dimps cheapness of pits and enemies with an abundance of crushing blocks that come back from off screen to kill you and I feel they have a wider killbox than they appear they should making this a game that often punishes you for trying to go fast and makes it frustrating to play for me. In conclusion the tag team mechanic is a perfect for creating great replayability but it's unfortunate that the level design actively makes me not to replay this particular entry, would love to see this mechanic to return in a game with better levels.

If sonic advance is a classic game with a modern coat of paint sonic advance 2 is a 2d version of the sonic and shadow stages in sa2. Speed has been massively emphasised in this game while keeping a good amount of platforming in the game. It is an incredibly exhilarating game when you get it down but the first time through zone 5 onward can be a bit of prick due to bottomless pits especially compared to the first game. The addition of trick jumps with the r button do a great job in adding to the thrill by allowing you to keep momentum upwards or gain momentum to the sides of springs. The main trio are back along with new character Cream who can fly but not as much as tails and can sent her pet chao to kill enemies with the attack button. She is a great addition to the cast and is broken in boss fights, which are now all auto runners and half of which are great and half are bad to terrible in my opinion. The levels look great with better themes than in advance one including winter city at night a volcano, a techno theme as well as the great music park which is my favorite level in the advance series. The ost is also great but not as good as the og in my opinion. This game has the worst method of collecting the chaos emeralds in the series however and having to do it with all 4 characters to unlock Amy is joke. Sonic advance 2 is a game that gets more and more fun the more times you play but suffers from occasional dips in quality especially in the boss fights and emerald collecting but is worth playing for fans of 2d sonic.

Sonic advance is a classic sonic game with a modern coat of paint and is the most consistent of the advance trilogy. Sonic, Tails and Knuckles are all back and control just as good as they do in sonic 3. Amy also makes her 2d platformer playable debut and her unique style of having to attack enemies with her hammer instead of jumping into them and gaining abilities to jump higher with her hammer give her both strengths and shortcomings compared to the others and is a worthy addition. The game looks great for a gba game with the character sprites standing out due their expressiveness capturing the adventure era attitude of sonic and co perfectly. The music is also top notch with every zone having a banging ost. The level design in each zone is also great in my opinion with secret base and angel island being two of my personal favorite. The last zone in the game unfortunately suffers from what Dimps would become known for with bad enemy placement, spike placement and an abundant amount of pits. The boss fights are about as good as the classic games in terms of quality some really good and some only ok bosses make up the lineup. Special stages require you to find special springs and there is only 7 in the game, leaving little options in routes if you want the true final boss. The special stages are also poor in my opinion as they are like a more 3d space version of the halfpipe from sonic 2 and I found depth perception to be a massive issue. In conclusion while the special stages aren't a favorite of mine and the last zone can be unfair in places the great music, great visuals, fantastic level design more than makes this game worth a playthrough for anyone who likes 2d sonic and can proudly stand next to the classics with it being better than sonic 1 and cd in my opinion. It's the 6th or 7th best game in the series without a shadow of a doubt

Portal is a simple game, deceptively simple at times build around a genius set of mechanics to create physic based puzzles that are satisfying to solve as the game gives you everything you need and eases you in at the begining. Placing one portal with a left click and the exit portal with a right click is a simple concept but the way it is utilised here keeps you on your toes throughout the campaign and had me anticipating every challenge. The game's writing is it's second biggest strength glados has become legendary for good reason as the wit present always put a smile on my face. The portals are the games bread and butter and it never deviates from them. There are no gimmicks present for better or worse which leads to it's consistent but short run time. The game took about four hours on my first run but after finishing it I just wanted more. Unfortunately the games advanced labs are just harder versions of the same puzzles present in the campaign and while the challenges on each room may appeal to some it didn't appeal to me. That being said those fours hours were a joy as the gratification gained from playing portals in the right place and clearing the puzzles is incredibly satisfying. Portal is undoubtedly a great game that anyone with even remote interest in physic based puzzles should play. It's a brilliant foundation but there's room to build and it seems like valve thought the same thing

Playing code Veronica gave me a new appreciation for the classic RE formula and makes me want to give Remake another go. The story follows Claire and Chris and their clashes with the Ashford family. The story gives of typical RE vibes with mystery around the Ashford family and it's experiments. The voice acting is laughably bad most of time particularly with Steve a character that gets a bad rep but he's totally harmless. Alfred is an extremely crazy villain that had me laughing a few times with his antics. The gameplay is pure tank controls that I struggled with at the start but once you adjust I found the game was designed well with the limitations in mind. The 2 areas you explore are rich in depth, atmosphere and I appreciate how they evolve over the course of the game, making treckking through them again less egregious. The boss fights are laughable even compared to other RE games with one boss in particular in midpoint being my highlight. Managing equipment through 2 characters is important but since you don't know when you will switch it can lead to being stuck with no weapons as they are on the other character which I feel is an oversight. Overall I enjoyed my time with the game and am now in the camp that believe this should be the next game to get the remake treatment. Recommended for any fan of classic resident evil and fans of survival horror in general.

DKC is a classic no doubt about it. The graphics were revolutionary and while they are very pixely they are still nice to look at. David Wise knocked it out of the park with the sound track which is probably my favourite aspect of the game, as every track fits the level theme to a T and is a great bop in it's own right. The level design is also superb using the environment as platforms giving the game a grounded feel. There are secrets galore that are helpful for extra lives and such but not overly satisfying. Animal buddies and mine carts provide needed variety to the gameplay. The game has many level themes including jungles, factories, blizzards e.t.c but there is a bit over reliance on cave levels. The one issue I have is that the roll move is slightly stiff but thats only noticeable due to playing DKCTF. The bosses aren't great besides the really good final boss. DKC does show its age in places but it's a game worth playing for platformer fans wanting a challenge