I just absolutely adored this game and could not put it down. I love tactics games and this unique turned based hybrid real time was just perfect for me.

Lets start with the story. There are some good twists overall but it's a pretty simple fantasy storyline of good vs evil which I really enjoyed. The characters are great and I love how involved with the story most of them are. They also have dedicated support conversations for every characters which fleshes out all the characters nicely. You are able to choose a partner in marriage which plays a big part in the story with a nice fully voiced proposal scene. The support conversations reminded me a lot of Fire Emblem which you can see this game has heavy inspiration from.

The gameplay as I mentioned combines turned based strategy with real time. Throughout the game you will earn honor points which let you upgrade how many units each battalion can hold. You only start out with 2 units per battalion but you will eventually get to twelve units with 5 characters per. This sounds confusing but it all gets introduced slowly and is easy to wrap your head around. You move these battalions in real time but can pause at any time. You setup what characters and what type of moves you want them to do most often or for specific circumstances. There is a ton of customization and it's a lot of fun to experiment. They have a bunch of different difficulty options which give you different levels to find your perfect comfort zone, and it can be changed whenever.

The world map is the biggest and best surprise about this game. It is fully interactive with tons of resources and secrets to find. Each village you build up with increase your honor score and then you can assign a guard which will auto gather resources for you. The graphics are just gorgeous in typical Vanillaware fashion. The characters always look great and the battles are super flashy.

Overall I just adore this game and can't say enough good things about it. Vanillaware you did again!

This wasn't entirely new for me but I only played the original once quite a few years ago so it was a welcome opportunity to revisit. The world is unique, full of original characters headlined by Mallow and Geno which gives the game it's own totally unique feel. The writing is snappy and funny, and while the plot certainly isn't intricate it is nice to have a different cast of villains than the usual (the dynamic of Bowser being an ally is a real highlight).

The combat is solid, the timing button presses for attacks and defending keeps you always focused, and all 5 of the characters feel important to the squad. I love when JRPGs allow you to swap characters in and out without wasting a turn, it allows you to give them all time in the spotlight without feeling like you are wasting time. The new additions for the remake are a nice touch, but they do make the game incredibly easy. This isn't a huge deal but it does make it feel like fighting every enemy you see is a bit pointless and tedious.

Ultimately I think this game holds up really well and you can see it's influence in all the Mario RPGs that came after it. While I think it is lesser than the original 3 Mario and Luigi games and Paper Mario (haven't played TTYD yet but I am guessing that one as well) that doesn't mean it is bad at all, just a bit simple but it is a good time.

Like a Dragon Gaiden pays a heartfelt homage to Kazuma Kiryu, cementing the Dragon of Dojima's legendary status as one of the greatest videogame characters of all time. As a dedicated Yakuza enthusiast, diving into Gaiden felt like a pilgrimage to the core foundations of the series, creating an ultimate celebration of Yakuza's storied history while injecting a refreshing narrative full of crazy twists.

Set against the backdrop of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Gaiden asserts itself as a standalone entry, crafting one of the most unique tie-in gaming experiences I've encountered. The narrative weaves a deep and personal tale, skillfully drawing on elements from previous games to resonate with long-time fans while introducing new layers to the lore.

The combat system in Gaiden, utilizing the robust Dragon Engine, showcases a branching from the style seen in the Judgment series. The introduction of the addicting Agent style, reminiscent of the agile Crane style used by Takayuki Yagami, adds a layer of excitement to large group encounters. The game's emphasis on facing larger mobs of enemies highlights the developers' commitment to providing a thrilling and dynamic combat experience, encouraging players to experiment with an arsenal of gadgets and abilities.

One of the standout features of the Yakuza series has consistently been its electrifying and intense soundtrack, and Gaiden lives up to this tradition. The blend of EDM, heavy rock, and high-energy pop creates a sonic landscape that is quintessentially the soul of Ryu Ga Gotoku. Standout tracks like Hellish Octagon, Bring It On, Fleeting Dream, Like A Butterfly, and Deadly Struggle contribute to an OST that is not only memorable but also a strong contender for my personal soundtrack of the year for 2023.

Avoiding a deep dive into the story to preserve the impact for fellow Kiryu enthusiasts, I can't help but emphasize the emotional connection I felt throughout the narrative. Kiryu, a character I've cherished since my teenage years, delivers a poignant experience that culminated in a 2am emotional rollercoaster, leaving me in tears. As I eagerly await the release of Like a Dragon 8, Gaiden stands as a testament to the developers' dedication to creating a game tailored for Kiryu fans worldwide. It undeniably deserves to be hailed as the peak of the Yakuza series, offering an immersive and emotional journey that resonates long after the credits roll.

I think to start this review one thing needs to be made very clear. I despite tactics gameplay. I do not like the challenge or the strategy involved, I do not like the difficulty, and it's just something I've personally never jived with,

I feel like Persona 5 Tactics was made for someone like me, more than the hardcore tactics fan. Someone who's a hardcore Persona fan, who maybe wants to dip their toe into something a little bit new.

Dare I say, by the end of this game, I enjoyed some of the creative style boss fights and gameplay. Not enough to try more difficult ones, but just enough to keep the experience from being Dull for me.

What really shines here for me is the story. Erina and Toshrio are fantastic characters, and just perfect additions to the persona cast. This is certainly more of a side story than Strikers (strikers was a proper epilogue really) but if I'm being honest, I think I enjoyed the story in this game even more than Strikers, based off the work by these two damn strong characters. Erina is someone so awesome I wish she was in the main cast. It's a shame she wasn't.

The music, as always is tremendous. My biggest complaints about this game (besides the gameplay being a style I don't really like), I think the side quests sucked. They were mostly puzzle based ones where you'd need a pretty exact solution to figure it out, and that just wasn't fun to me.

Overall though, This was a wonderful game, and a total surprise from me. I didn't even have plans to play it this year, but I gave it a shot and it hooked me. Persona games clearly hold a special place in my heart (from the tremendous Persona 5 Royal being one of my favorite games of all time) so I'll clearly give anything involving this cast a bit of a bump, but this one was genuinely fantastic in my opinion.

Spiderman 2 is a game that if I'm being totally honest I wasn't super looking forward too. Let me explain, I've always held the thought that Insomniac made good games, but not great games. The OG spiderman was a fun game for sure, but at the end of the day the story was a little too inconsistent for me overall, and besides Doc Oc the bad guys didn't do much for me. I had avoided most trailers for this game thankfully, and I almost skipped buying the game day one.

However, I'm happy to report, not only did I really end up loving this game, I think it's pretty easily my favorite game Insomniac has made. This game is just more spiderman at it's core, something I see being hurled towards it as an insult a lot, but it's more than that to me. It's the best possible version of Spiderman one. The combat is more fun, the swinging and traversal is even better, and the biggest upgrade is in the story in my opinion. The opening few hours can be a little slower, but I was invested when Kraven made his first appearance and everything that followed in this game.

There's so many little easter eggs, and setup for possible future games/DLC in here, and it's clear Insomniac loves Spiderman with the love they've put into a lot of this game.

Also, the reports of bugs and crashes in this game is RAPANT, but funny enough, I had one bug the entire game, where the audio stopped working and a restart fixed. Not one crash otherwise. Perhaps I have a golden PS5, but nothing effected me here.

I think my biggest complaint with the game, is some of the pacing in the story seems almost a little TOO quick paced, and I will say I wished for a little more risk/consquence in the story especially with the ending. But overall, this was a fantastic game, one of the very best in a stacked year. Can't wait to see what they cook up next!

Spider-Man 2 is an absolute triumph and masterpiece for me in the world of gaming. It's a masterful amalgamation of various Spider-Man narratives, expertly woven together to create what I genuinely believe to be the quintessential Spider-Man story. This game is a finely tuned masterpiece, crafted with an abundance of love and soul. Even a week after completing it, I'm still captivated by its brilliance. Insomniac has gifted us a heartfelt love letter, and they've earned every ounce of our admiration. Spider-Man 1 was already a top-tier game for me, defying all expectations when I had lost hope in Spider-Man games. Spider-Man 2 takes that foundation and elevates it to unparalleled heights.

This game showcases my favorite portrayals of Peter and Miles. While the Spider-verse films deserve credit, these two characters shine brighter, move faster, and hit harder than any other medium. The abilities you acquire in this game are absolutely amazing. You can feel the impact of every punch and kick not only in your DualSense controller but coursing through your veins. Pinning enemies against walls and shattering their ribs with a flurry of kicks, hurling chains of lightning, or employing symbiote tendrils to lift a dozen foes into the air before slamming them down – it's addicting and seriously badass. The gameplay remains endlessly engaging, even when facing challenging foes. Not once did frustration overtake me despite dying more times than I can count. With each boss, I embraced the learning curve, meticulously dissecting their attacks and ultimately reveling in their defeat while hardly upgrading my health and damage.

Yet it's not just the gameplay that astounds; it's the story. In just under 20 hours, Spider-Man 2 delivers a rich, detailed narrative laden with lengthy, cinematic cutscenes. Each cutscene draws you in, akin to watching the perfect Spider-Man movie, evoking nostalgia and wonder. I never wanted this story to end. Without delving into spoilers, rest assured, the story caters to Spider-Man enthusiasts. If the first game left you less invested in the narrative, Spider-Man 2 won't drastically change that, as Insomniac tailored it to a specific audience. Peter, Miles, MJ, Harry, and other characters are faithfully and expertly written, making them arguably the best adaptations. Even a character like MJ, who was "okay" in the previous game, shines as a favorite adaptation in this installment. The overall narrative is exceptionally well-crafted, raising the bar for the MCU's portrayal of Spider-Man.

I also briefly need to discuss Venom without spoilers. I had high expectations, and this iteration did not disappoint. He is a formidable presence on screen, with a scale that dwarfs the Spider-Men, impressively bringing justice to the character. This version of Venom stands in stark contrast to the Tom Hardy version I've been familiarized with, making it difficult to appreciate the latter. The distinction in design, personality, and sheer raw power is remarkable. And with Venom in the picture, I absolutely must mention the symbiote in general. Avoiding spoilers, this game excels in portraying Peter Parker's gradual descent into aggression, jealousy, and hatred, outshining Maguire's version in Spider-Man 3 without any close contest. Yuri Lowenthal's performance as Peter's darker side is nothing short of exceptional, further solidifying him as my favorite voice actor.

Spider-Man 2 doesn't stop at fantastic gameplay and storytelling. It boasts an electrifying soundtrack, particularly the main theme, jaw-dropping setpieces, and an exceptional traversal system that outshines all previous Spider-Man games. The web wings in particular pleasantly surprised me, as I initially had low expectations for this mechanic and expected something half-baked. I found myself frequently using it while swinging through New York, more-so than I'd like to admit, and it definitely added a huge new layer of fun to the experience.

Insomniac Games has created what might be my favorite gameplay in any video game with Spider-Man 2's combat and web swinging. Playing Ultimate Spider-Man after this will be a tough act to follow, but my gaming appetite will have to adapt. Earth-1048 represents the quintessential Spider-Man experience, and I'm immensely grateful for this top-tier celebration of my favorite superhero. Thank you, Insomniac Games, for delivering one of the finest games I've ever played.

First of all I'd like to thank my buddy Mokey for generously gifting me this game so I could finally play it. Truth be told I HAD tried around an hour of this on game pass, when it first came out, but it wasn't hitting at that time, so I decided to shelve and I am glad I came back and got a chance to complete this really interesting unique game.

First of all, if we're scoring on vibes this game is a 10/10. Just wonderful vibes, insanely spooky feeling, some great tension and atmosphere, and a killer soundtrack (I love me some classical music, and this game filled that love for me hard.)

I think the story is very interesting, and I won't fully to pretend to understand it (even after looking some stuff up). It's not my favorite, but I really do appreciate them not spoon feeding you everything and letting you kind of discover things for yourself here and make your own assumptions.

I have a couple of pretty big complaints about the game. I think the gameplay itself is just fine at best, and really annoying at others. Aiming just never seemed to consistently go where I wanted it too, where in a survival horror game you really need to make every shot count.

I also really hate the incredibly limited inventory system. I'm not wanting 20 slots or anything to make it trival, but an upgrade to go from 6 to 8 would have gone a LONG way at some point in this game (I'm fine making tough choices, but there's a lot of time that the game just became me entering a room, picking up items, running back to a save room and then progressing).

Finally, there's a section later in the game that is downright rage inducing, making it difficult to travel around, and some rooms that are just filled with an insane amount of enemies. There's already enough tension in the game, this pulled it to far.

I do wish they game had a bit of a bigger budget, I think there's a really special idea here, that if a bit more money could have been put into this you could have ended up with something TRULY special. That being said, I still really enjoyed my time with it overall, and it's cool to see some unique fresh survival horror out there. Definitely check it out if that seems appealing.