Metroid Prime Remastered continues to prove that no matter the era, Metroid reigns supreme. More than 20 years after its original release, Prime stands the test of time and reaffirms itself as one of the best in the series.

Unfortunately, this remaster does little to correct the few faults of Talon IV. Although the world is beautifully designed, with intricate, unique areas with dozens of hidden items, by the end of the game it can be down-right agitating having to backtrack through the same hallways over and over. Yes, the maps do connect more and more as the game goes on, however, even then, it can kill the flow of an otherwise perfectly paced game. Fortunately, this issue does not become prevalent till near the end of the game. And I must stress, other than this, Talon IV is a blast to explore, and one of the best-designed metroidvania maps I have ever had the pleasure of exploring.

Visually, this remaster has exceeded all expectations. Exploring the environments of Talon IV with beautiful, crisp textures in 1080p is truly wonderful, and gives the planet a new breath of fresh air. Years down the road, I am almost certain people will remember this game as one of the best-looking on the switch. Although it leaves the base game itself absolutely untouched, it remains a minute issue as there is very little to improve on already.

It was wonderful going through the world of Metroid Prime once again, and I am almost certain that this release will lead me to a new playthrough each year. Although it has some flaws caused by outdated design, Prime remains one of the staples of this genre and continues to define games coming out today.

See you next mission!

I played the Super Famicom version of Live A Live during a difficult time in my life, and it remains my preferred version of the game due to my greater personal attachment to it. "During a difficult time in my life" is something I can say for most of my favourite games, honestly, but that's besides the point. It's a game I've held near and dear since, and there're so many things I want to say about it, but unfortunately don't have the strength to do so, because I'm kinda lazy and it's harder to write about games that I last finished quite a while ago. What I can say, however, is that I've tried to carry its messages with me ever since.

"I'm starting to see why [they] hated people so much.
But you know, you have nothing to gain by hating humans.
As long as someone still believes in you...
What [he] and I gave our lives protecting, you must continue to protect..."
"You must not lose hope!"

A set of lines that were unfortunately heavily altered in the remake. The remake as a whole has a lot of much needed QOL features and improvements, a very nice fresh coat of paint, and a wonderful, fully remade soundtrack that pays respect to the orignal score. Yoko Shimomura's greatest work, honestly. But as cool as the whole medieval chapter's localization was, written entirely in iambic pentameter and Shakespeareian prose, much like the latter namesake's plays, it makes the message it's trying to send a fair bit harder to pick up on. Regardless, Live A Live remains a game about unconditionally helping the weak, fighting for your friends, family and loved ones, opposing evil when the opportunity arises, and not giving in to hating the common man, as difficult as that may sometimes be, no matter the time, place, or circumstance.

Live A Live told me to keep going, and so I am, all these years later. It's really that simple.

It might be kind of easy and some chapters have their share of repetitive battles, but there is a ton here to appreciate purely as a work of art. From the deceptively simple yet satisfying combat, to the presentation, to the narrative structure, to the music, there's something here for any JRPG veteran to enjoy while still being accessible enough for new and young players alike. I think Kingdom Hearts fans in particular kind of owe it to themselves to play it, as Yoko Shimomura's first major soundtrack with Square(soft) may very well be her best. I never played the original SNES fan translation so I have little to compare it to, but this remake blew me away on several occasions. Each chapter contains a nice little bite-sized adventure and they never overstay their welcome. Despite any small gripes I have, it's an experience like no other.

But for the love of God, if you make it to the endgame use a guide and save yourself the frustration.