Long what I considered to be the best Uncharted game, and quite possibly, the greatest Naughty Dog title... after I played the 4th game, I'm now not quite sure which one I would rank above the other... but regardless, this is a cinematic masterpiece and was quite the experience back in 2009.
This was the first Uncharted game I played, and wow, what a thrill ride! Immediately upon booting up the game, and hearing Nate's theme at the title screen, I knew I was going to be in for quite the journey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhdJSAPS21U
This was the game that truly captured the joy and wonder experienced from your favorite Indiana Jones movie. With a great cast of characters, voice acting, graphics, music, action set pieces, etc. you'll be hard pressed to find a more cinematic experience than what Naughty Dog perfected in this title.
Initially a rented title, I eventually bought it (once on the PS3 and again as part of the Nathan Drake collection on the PS4) and have beaten it multiple times.
The only minor nitpick I have is that the ending portion was a bit far out there for my liking, but overall, it is faithful to the Indiana Jones legacy before it, and was a blast from beginning to end.
This was the first Uncharted game I played, and wow, what a thrill ride! Immediately upon booting up the game, and hearing Nate's theme at the title screen, I knew I was going to be in for quite the journey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhdJSAPS21U
This was the game that truly captured the joy and wonder experienced from your favorite Indiana Jones movie. With a great cast of characters, voice acting, graphics, music, action set pieces, etc. you'll be hard pressed to find a more cinematic experience than what Naughty Dog perfected in this title.
Initially a rented title, I eventually bought it (once on the PS3 and again as part of the Nathan Drake collection on the PS4) and have beaten it multiple times.
The only minor nitpick I have is that the ending portion was a bit far out there for my liking, but overall, it is faithful to the Indiana Jones legacy before it, and was a blast from beginning to end.
The beginning of the Uncharted series, and where Naughty Dog started to create more cinematic, action-adventure style games. Before this they were the legendary platformer developers, making such hits like Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter.
Without this game, we wouldn't have the incredible Uncharted 2 & 4, or even The Last of Us. For that, I give it a little rating boost, but be warned... this first outing is a bit rough around the edges. I played the 2nd Uncharted first, so the large step back in quality was very noticeable to me.
Without this game, we wouldn't have the incredible Uncharted 2 & 4, or even The Last of Us. For that, I give it a little rating boost, but be warned... this first outing is a bit rough around the edges. I played the 2nd Uncharted first, so the large step back in quality was very noticeable to me.
2013
Sorry Lara... Nathan Drake has surpassed you now...
This was Tomb Raider's gritty reboot and their attempt to copy Uncharted's success... it sort of worked...
The game was enjoyable enough, and I really liked using the bow throughout the entire game. But unfortunately, this game was seriously missing the fun and charm of what came before it... and it utterly failed in what it was aspiring to accomplish: reclaiming the crown from Uncharted. Sadly, the characters and storyline fall laughably short in comparison.
Also, I feel they took Lara in the entirely wrong direction in this reboot. There is no charisma from the main lead, and I just found her to be incredibly boring throughout the adventure. The only connection I really had with her was just making sure she didn't get killed in some grisly way... seriously, this game had some shockingly, gruesome death scenes that I didn't really expect! Some of that shit felt right out of a horror game.
This was Tomb Raider's gritty reboot and their attempt to copy Uncharted's success... it sort of worked...
The game was enjoyable enough, and I really liked using the bow throughout the entire game. But unfortunately, this game was seriously missing the fun and charm of what came before it... and it utterly failed in what it was aspiring to accomplish: reclaiming the crown from Uncharted. Sadly, the characters and storyline fall laughably short in comparison.
Also, I feel they took Lara in the entirely wrong direction in this reboot. There is no charisma from the main lead, and I just found her to be incredibly boring throughout the adventure. The only connection I really had with her was just making sure she didn't get killed in some grisly way... seriously, this game had some shockingly, gruesome death scenes that I didn't really expect! Some of that shit felt right out of a horror game.
One of the most shockingly great games I ever played... I expected it to be funny (and it is - especially if you enjoy the vulgar, crude, "offend everybody" humor found within the South Park TV show), but I didn't expect it to also have an interesting story, fun gameplay, an unbelievably excellent soundtrack, and a ton of South Park and RPG references littered throughout.
Who would have guessed that mixing together South Park with JRPG game mechanics would work so well...
The only issue I really had with the game was running into a handful of technical issues with the PS3 version. Not sure if those were cleaned up on future releases or not, but regardless, this game is well worth your time. It is like playing through an entire season of South Park!
Who would have guessed that mixing together South Park with JRPG game mechanics would work so well...
The only issue I really had with the game was running into a handful of technical issues with the PS3 version. Not sure if those were cleaned up on future releases or not, but regardless, this game is well worth your time. It is like playing through an entire season of South Park!
An entirely forgettable experience... it is a damn shame, what happened to the once legendary Silent Hill franchise. But hey, at least the composer and singer, Akira Yamaoka & Mary Elizabeth McGlynn respectively, always come to play. SH's music is always great, and here is no exception.
The only ones who could have saved SH from its current fate, is if Kojima and Del Toro were allowed to continue making Silent Hills (P.T.). Unfortunately, with its cancellation all those years ago, there now sits an enormous, vacant hole in the AAA video game landscape... nobody is making any true, psychological horror games anymore...
The only ones who could have saved SH from its current fate, is if Kojima and Del Toro were allowed to continue making Silent Hills (P.T.). Unfortunately, with its cancellation all those years ago, there now sits an enormous, vacant hole in the AAA video game landscape... nobody is making any true, psychological horror games anymore...
2009
I don't care what anyone says about this game - playing RE5 is a damn good time.
It's cheesy, hilarious, not scary in the slightest, doesn't feel like Resident Evil at all, but somehow, someway, it doesn't matter. You play this game cooperatively with a friend or family member, and you'll have a blast. I mean, it is essentially RE4 co-op. What's not to love?
OK, I get it... I've never played this game solo (and I never will), so I don't know what that single player experience is like at all. I'm sure it is frustrating relying upon an AI partner, and not nearly as fun...so my advice is don't play it solo!
Instead, grab a friend, kick back a few brewskis, punch a couple boulders, and have a great time!
It's cheesy, hilarious, not scary in the slightest, doesn't feel like Resident Evil at all, but somehow, someway, it doesn't matter. You play this game cooperatively with a friend or family member, and you'll have a blast. I mean, it is essentially RE4 co-op. What's not to love?
OK, I get it... I've never played this game solo (and I never will), so I don't know what that single player experience is like at all. I'm sure it is frustrating relying upon an AI partner, and not nearly as fun...so my advice is don't play it solo!
Instead, grab a friend, kick back a few brewskis, punch a couple boulders, and have a great time!
2012
Excellent fighting game - doubly so if you are a fan of Persona 4. I've since learned that Arc System Works designs fighting games that I actually enjoy, especially when they include a franchise with pre-existing characters I already know and care about.
Played this in an arcade bar when I visited Japan...and boy oh boy, did that screw me up (X's and O's are switched in the States vs Japan).
Chie was my main and a ton of fun to play. I should go back and play Ultimax as well.
Played this in an arcade bar when I visited Japan...and boy oh boy, did that screw me up (X's and O's are switched in the States vs Japan).
Chie was my main and a ton of fun to play. I should go back and play Ultimax as well.
Instead of Dark Cloud 3, we got this?! :(
Incredibly disappointing, especially considering all the hype surrounding this game at time of release. Sure, it looks pretty, has that Studio Ghibli charm, and has a decent enough soundtrack including a fantastic main theme... but otherwise, this game just didn't connect with me.
I feel much of the game's praise came from the time period when this game came out... JRPGs were a dying breed, and many a gaming journalist thought the genre was fated to go the way of the dinosaur. Fast-forward to 2023, and thankfully, that did not come to pass. In fact, I'd say we had a 2nd resurgence of JRPGs, after the golden age of the 90s, and are now in its renaissance era.
Back to Ni No Kuni... I was not a fan of the game's monster/familiar battle system at all - it seemingly tried combining a handful of things together to see what would stick, and it just felt overall messy and not a lot of fun.
I would recommend it to young kids as a first JRPG though. They'll love the gorgeous art style and Studio Ghibli storyline.
Incredibly disappointing, especially considering all the hype surrounding this game at time of release. Sure, it looks pretty, has that Studio Ghibli charm, and has a decent enough soundtrack including a fantastic main theme... but otherwise, this game just didn't connect with me.
I feel much of the game's praise came from the time period when this game came out... JRPGs were a dying breed, and many a gaming journalist thought the genre was fated to go the way of the dinosaur. Fast-forward to 2023, and thankfully, that did not come to pass. In fact, I'd say we had a 2nd resurgence of JRPGs, after the golden age of the 90s, and are now in its renaissance era.
Back to Ni No Kuni... I was not a fan of the game's monster/familiar battle system at all - it seemingly tried combining a handful of things together to see what would stick, and it just felt overall messy and not a lot of fun.
I would recommend it to young kids as a first JRPG though. They'll love the gorgeous art style and Studio Ghibli storyline.
A great collection of Metal Gear games - perfect for doing an MGS marathon.
"I'm no hero. Never was, never will be."
How is it, that in the year 2023, this is still only playable on the PS3?! I would love to replay a remastered version of this...I completed it in what feels like a lifetime ago, when the PS3 and blu-ray discs were still fairly new...
This was an incredibly emotional send-off to the MGS franchise. There were so many great moments & payoffs to the entire series that elevated MGS4 for me. A few of which, that I won't spoil here, I will never forget...
This game was truly a nostalgic experience, especially if you were an MGS fan, and played this entry on release. The music really had a weight and finality to it...
MGS4 - Love Theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGf2b1H91JA
Be warned though - this game has some looooong cutscenes, even for MGS standards! You will have to be prepared to strap yourself in for some "Hideo Kojima cinema" in this one. But that ending and epilogue are so worth it...
How is it, that in the year 2023, this is still only playable on the PS3?! I would love to replay a remastered version of this...I completed it in what feels like a lifetime ago, when the PS3 and blu-ray discs were still fairly new...
This was an incredibly emotional send-off to the MGS franchise. There were so many great moments & payoffs to the entire series that elevated MGS4 for me. A few of which, that I won't spoil here, I will never forget...
This game was truly a nostalgic experience, especially if you were an MGS fan, and played this entry on release. The music really had a weight and finality to it...
MGS4 - Love Theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGf2b1H91JA
Be warned though - this game has some looooong cutscenes, even for MGS standards! You will have to be prepared to strap yourself in for some "Hideo Kojima cinema" in this one. But that ending and epilogue are so worth it...
2012
It's Madden post-PS2/GameCube/Xbox era... of course, it is awful. This one is especially heinous with its "new and improved" physics engine... You can't even play a single series without seeing some whacky ass shit: players repeatedly stumbling over each other, weird graphical glitches, impossible limb movements (my players were breaking limbs on seemingly every play), etc.
Typical EA trash.
Typical EA trash.
2013
"Endure and survive."
Uncharted's dark, brutal, and more mature cousin. From start to finish, it takes you on quite the unrelenting and depressing journey...
But while there are many incredibly bleak moments, there is this beauty and hope that shines through, particularly in the relationship formed between Joel and Ellie. The bond that slowly builds between them is where this game truly shines.
The graphics, voice acting, direction, music, and characters are top notch, and make, what could be considered a relatively straightforward, "by-the-numbers" story, something more... add to that the surrogate father/daughter relationship, and this game can resonate and connect to its players on a much deeper level. I would advise as you play through the game, to appreciate the game's smaller moments and incredible attention to detail - the exploration of the post-apocalyptic setting, its environmental storytelling, collectibles that flesh out the world, dialogue amongst characters, etc.
As for the gameplay, it doesn't fit neatly into the "survival horror" genre, but it does share many aspects with it. I would classify it as more of a third-person action/adventure game with survival elements, which includes a heavy emphasis on resource management. On the harder difficulty levels, with such limited supplies/ammunition, it can be pretty harsh and unforgiving. Stealth is your friend here.
I would recommend playing The Last of Us game to anybody. And in the year 2023, I can understand this can be a tough sell to some... especially when confronted with a lot of the unfortunate baggage surrounding this franchise:
-- The controversy of its sequel: The Last of Us Part II. I don't even want to touch upon this... just know, that you can enjoy the first game without ever needing to play the 2nd part, if you so desire.
-- Overblown praise and hyperbole: "The Citizen Kane of video games." or "The greatest story that has ever been told in video games." These are ridiculous statements that really underplay that games have been telling meaningful and artistic stories for a loooong time before this one. Best to ignore these.
-- The common complaint that "This is an interactive movie, not a video game." Again, I point to the appreciation of the game's small moments I called out above... and not to mention, I can point to the vastly inferior TV adaption as proof that this is not true. The TV show to me, felt more like a cheap, stage play, where the characters are just imitating the original script, not elevating the source material in any way (at no fault of the actors). Almost all changes they made from the game were detrimental to the overall experience, save only a few.
If you are still on the fence about playing this game, or don't think it could live up to the massive amounts of hype surrounding it, I would advise you to ignore all the chatter and noise, and play it for yourself. It may very well surprise you.
Uncharted's dark, brutal, and more mature cousin. From start to finish, it takes you on quite the unrelenting and depressing journey...
But while there are many incredibly bleak moments, there is this beauty and hope that shines through, particularly in the relationship formed between Joel and Ellie. The bond that slowly builds between them is where this game truly shines.
The graphics, voice acting, direction, music, and characters are top notch, and make, what could be considered a relatively straightforward, "by-the-numbers" story, something more... add to that the surrogate father/daughter relationship, and this game can resonate and connect to its players on a much deeper level. I would advise as you play through the game, to appreciate the game's smaller moments and incredible attention to detail - the exploration of the post-apocalyptic setting, its environmental storytelling, collectibles that flesh out the world, dialogue amongst characters, etc.
As for the gameplay, it doesn't fit neatly into the "survival horror" genre, but it does share many aspects with it. I would classify it as more of a third-person action/adventure game with survival elements, which includes a heavy emphasis on resource management. On the harder difficulty levels, with such limited supplies/ammunition, it can be pretty harsh and unforgiving. Stealth is your friend here.
I would recommend playing The Last of Us game to anybody. And in the year 2023, I can understand this can be a tough sell to some... especially when confronted with a lot of the unfortunate baggage surrounding this franchise:
-- The controversy of its sequel: The Last of Us Part II. I don't even want to touch upon this... just know, that you can enjoy the first game without ever needing to play the 2nd part, if you so desire.
-- Overblown praise and hyperbole: "The Citizen Kane of video games." or "The greatest story that has ever been told in video games." These are ridiculous statements that really underplay that games have been telling meaningful and artistic stories for a loooong time before this one. Best to ignore these.
-- The common complaint that "This is an interactive movie, not a video game." Again, I point to the appreciation of the game's small moments I called out above... and not to mention, I can point to the vastly inferior TV adaption as proof that this is not true. The TV show to me, felt more like a cheap, stage play, where the characters are just imitating the original script, not elevating the source material in any way (at no fault of the actors). Almost all changes they made from the game were detrimental to the overall experience, save only a few.
If you are still on the fence about playing this game, or don't think it could live up to the massive amounts of hype surrounding it, I would advise you to ignore all the chatter and noise, and play it for yourself. It may very well surprise you.
The best 2 games in the Kingdom Hearts series in one package.
Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix
See my KH2 PS2 review for my full thoughts. But in summary:
The opening of KH2 is still a drag, and not just the 2-3 hour tutorial at the very beginning. It almost takes the first 10 hours and speeding through the Disney stories before you can get to the real good stuff... I really despised the rehashed Disney stories in this game more than almost any other... maybe because this was the one KH game that had the most potential for being a 10/10 solely due to its improved gameplay/battle system from the original. It isn't until you revisit Hollow Bastion for the second time, the game really picks up.
However, the additional features introduced in the Final Mix version, that weren't in vanilla KH2 on the PS2, make this a far superior product. This is a really great game.
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix
"My name is Master Aqua. Now return my friend's heart or pay the price!"
My favorite Kingdom Hearts game. It definitely doesn't have the best gameplay of the collection - that belongs to KH2. But damn, do I love this one more than any of the others. From the 3 new lead characters, non-repeated Disney worlds, the Star Wars references (Mark Hamill, Keyblade Masters, etc.), and the darker, more mature tone, KH BBS is spectacular and such a fresh KH experience (unlike the other sequels/spinoffs preceding it).
Without going into spoilers, the ending of each character's route, and the bosses you fight are incredible. Aqua's last boss fight is one of my favorite KH moments out of the entire series. And the music... oh the music! So damn extraordinary!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdKN9vWFMTQ
I wished other KH games followed more in the footsteps of this game than the others. I'd have loved for the series to continue to focus on its KH original characters, and to grow up with its audience... At least, as much as a game can, with a cast that includes Mickey Mouse, Donald and Goofy. :)
Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix
See my KH2 PS2 review for my full thoughts. But in summary:
The opening of KH2 is still a drag, and not just the 2-3 hour tutorial at the very beginning. It almost takes the first 10 hours and speeding through the Disney stories before you can get to the real good stuff... I really despised the rehashed Disney stories in this game more than almost any other... maybe because this was the one KH game that had the most potential for being a 10/10 solely due to its improved gameplay/battle system from the original. It isn't until you revisit Hollow Bastion for the second time, the game really picks up.
However, the additional features introduced in the Final Mix version, that weren't in vanilla KH2 on the PS2, make this a far superior product. This is a really great game.
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix
"My name is Master Aqua. Now return my friend's heart or pay the price!"
My favorite Kingdom Hearts game. It definitely doesn't have the best gameplay of the collection - that belongs to KH2. But damn, do I love this one more than any of the others. From the 3 new lead characters, non-repeated Disney worlds, the Star Wars references (Mark Hamill, Keyblade Masters, etc.), and the darker, more mature tone, KH BBS is spectacular and such a fresh KH experience (unlike the other sequels/spinoffs preceding it).
Without going into spoilers, the ending of each character's route, and the bosses you fight are incredible. Aqua's last boss fight is one of my favorite KH moments out of the entire series. And the music... oh the music! So damn extraordinary!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdKN9vWFMTQ
I wished other KH games followed more in the footsteps of this game than the others. I'd have loved for the series to continue to focus on its KH original characters, and to grow up with its audience... At least, as much as a game can, with a cast that includes Mickey Mouse, Donald and Goofy. :)
Kingdom Hearts Final Mix
My first experience with the Final Mix version of KH1 was fun, but not greatly different from the original NA release on the PS2. It doesn't have nearly as many changes as the KH2 Final Mix version had in comparison.
I'll always have a soft spot for the first KH. You can see my full thoughts on this game in more detail in my KH1 (PS2) review.
Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories
I played the GBA version of this game before playing the Re: version... (god, I hate the naming convention for these games... but I digress.)
It could be said that this is where the series truly begins, as this game lays out the framework for the entire KH universe. The bosses are quite challenging and fun to fight. It introduces Axel and many of the other members of Organization XIII. Yoko Shimomura's music shines yet again. However, the true downfall of this game is the grind of going through the Disney worlds again to get to the interesting story bits. But this is the biggest issue I have with the series as a whole...
The card-based gameplay is also something that I never enjoyed... this system is what really demonstrates that this was a remake of a GBA/portable title. And not just the battle system, but its progression, and how quickly you can get through it.
My first experience with the Final Mix version of KH1 was fun, but not greatly different from the original NA release on the PS2. It doesn't have nearly as many changes as the KH2 Final Mix version had in comparison.
I'll always have a soft spot for the first KH. You can see my full thoughts on this game in more detail in my KH1 (PS2) review.
Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories
I played the GBA version of this game before playing the Re: version... (god, I hate the naming convention for these games... but I digress.)
It could be said that this is where the series truly begins, as this game lays out the framework for the entire KH universe. The bosses are quite challenging and fun to fight. It introduces Axel and many of the other members of Organization XIII. Yoko Shimomura's music shines yet again. However, the true downfall of this game is the grind of going through the Disney worlds again to get to the interesting story bits. But this is the biggest issue I have with the series as a whole...
The card-based gameplay is also something that I never enjoyed... this system is what really demonstrates that this was a remake of a GBA/portable title. And not just the battle system, but its progression, and how quickly you can get through it.
Still need to circle back around to playing ICO through to its conclusion. I've beaten Shadow of the Colossus multiple times and that accounts for the majority of the score.