10/10
Ignoring the awful dub and stiff mo-cap animations, it's an absolute masterpiece. Comfortably having both my favorite story and gameplay in Final Fantasy so far. An adventure full of life and energy through a world drowning in sorrow. There's this beautifully profound sense of melancholy that permeates through every stretch of the game. It's genuinely amazing how well it manages to balance its goofy lightheartedness with its tragic and depressing emotional beats. It's juggling of a multitude of subject matter, from the nature of grief to the toxicity of extreme traditions, all coalesce perfectly by its finale. Holds one of the most mechanically tight and wonderfully strategic combat systems in the entire JRPG genre. Every party member and every mechanic serves a purpose all the way through to the end. The freedom it provides to the player and the way it all flows smoothly during combat already got me looking forward to the next time I replay.
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Insane how the best FF gameplay is in the entry they decided to drop ATB combat for the first time since IV btw. If I were any less intelligent, I'd call that a coincidence.

10/10
A wonderful, dare I say, essential expansion. Adds to the original work in so many intricate, substantive ways and provides conclusions I didn't know I needed for some of its best characters and thematic ideas. Given its context, I didn't expect anything more than a finer exploration of two key figures from the original story, but it ends up being even more, especially thanks to the extra short stories. It's been a year since I finished the base game so I can't stress how much I enjoyed finally returning to this universe and learning more about a cast I already adored so greatly.

10/10
One of those games that comes along and reminds you why this medium is so cool. Feels like it's been so long since I've played a game for the first time that's been able to evoke such visceral emotions out of me so consistently. Exploring a world with this constant sense of dread looming in your head for the entire 20+ hour run hasn't been this fun since Majora's Mask, fittingly enough.The strategic sides of survival horror and turn based combat blend wonderfully to create an experience where you're always trying to think several steps ahead before every single action. Can't wait for the future updates!!!

9/10
I needed this so fucking bad and it delivered. It may double down on any and everything relating to Breath of the Wild's design, but that doesn't stop it from being a heartfelt celebration of everything Zelda as a franchise stands for. This is physics based sandbox joy at its finest. Having a significantly higher degree of control over combat and traversal is such a freeing thing. The fact that I'm still learning new material fusions to use mid combat or different applications for devices I've had since the start 75+ hours later says it all. As someone who kinda enjoyed BotW's story, I'd say the narrative is a step back overall. In many ways, it's the most traditional Zelda story to ever Zelda, in sharp contrast to the last game's more down to earth focus on its characters. Though it still retained a few story beats that struck me to my core. There's so many recurring franchise tropes done to absolute perfection here. And I completely adore this take on Hyrule. The most alive it's ever felt, its sense of community is unrivaled.

9/10
A remake that looks to form its own identity whilst still keeping the core and spirit of the original in tact. Though still retaining much of the campiness, it's comparatively dreary tone perfectly accentuates the horror aspects of the original experience. This aim extends to gameplay, which does result in a game that's far less tight in design in comparison to the original. Mostly due to its reliance on RNG, combined with the unpredictability of enemies. But as a result, its capable of creating much more intense encounters throughout the whole playthrough. The balance of the difficulties beyond Standard may be fucked, but going back and completing all the challenges was still a satisfying and rewarding experience. Also shocked by how much I fw the story. Its main theme revolves around the idea of change. It's simple in its exploration but its pushed quite solidly through an extremely lovable cast.

9/10
Such an amazing blend of survival horror and action RPG gameplay. Combat feels frantic and coming to understand tank controls in a way I've never played felt really satisfying once I got the hang of it. I was worried the over-the-top, cheesy B movie moments that came with the tonal shift would detract from the times where the game actively wanted to be unsettling, but it surprisingly wasn't much of an issue with how effectively it can humble the player through surprise encounters. Definitely much prefer the balance maintained in the second and third chapters than the solely action focused finale, but I still loved the whole experience.

9/10
Definitely the quintessential Metroidvania in my eyes. I LOVE traditional RPG mechanics being just as essential to gameplay as all the other classic Castlevania elements. It all lends so well to exploration and the general sense of progression. It's always on a constant high and it feels so rewarding to look back after witnessing all the shit Alucard can do in the endgame. Presentation is also peak. Gorgeous sprite work that looks just as fluid as it feels to control. The OST feels so distinct, with it constantly shifting between tracks that reinforce the gothic horror of Dracula's Castle to more jazzy, stylish ones. Only big gripe is that I wish there was a boss you couldn't effortlessly embarrass on your first try.

9/10
Yuri Hill is real... Clever puzzle design topped with immaculate, surreal vibes. Through its blend of its low poly aesthetic and visceral pixel art, it holds a uniquely striking visual identity in spite of the many atmospheric touches it directly takes from the classics it was inspired by. Might need another playthrough to piece together its story, but its strongest emotional beats still hit like crazy.

9/10
It sets out to encapsulate the endless, dehumanizing cycle of the corporate capitalist grind and succeeds in doing so. It's monotonous, tedious, arduous, and unfair. But still manages to be one of the most enjoyable co-op games in recent years due to how all these limiting mechanics that purposefully set the player up for failure mesh with the absolute chaos of the collective group experience. Everything I do, I do for this company.

9/10
The greatest entry fighting game I've ever played. Very easy to grasp and super fun to improve in. Has the most enjoyable unique gimmicks I've seen from one. Full of vibrant, colorful characters that compliment the stunning artstyle. Also the online is actually insane. Every single match feels almost as good as local play, even when the connection is at its most shakey. This game might be the gateway I needed into this genre... I love u Kimberly.

8.5/10
DMC1 but fully realized. Many of the additions this game makes seem small at first, but each one's ramifications on progression cannot be overstated. The style meter did wonders at guaranteeing my intrinsic motivation to improve. Each style barely goes beyond the single action they grant you at the start, but they're able to completely overhaul your playstyle in accordance to the one you chose. It's story managed to sell its emotional beats without compromising on the over-the-top action in its stylized cutscenes. The game can feel like it's dragging its feet in the third act, as its occasionally obtuse level design starts to weigh up. But thankfully, that doesn't affect the combat, as it still feels fresh until the end. Excited to see where the franchise goes from here in the next two entries.

8/10
Retains that same captivating sense of adventure that the previous two PSX Final Fantasys' had, but it's whimsical tone and fairy-tale like setting give it a distinct charm like no other. It's got a very endearing cast, it depicts the individuality of each character perfectly thanks to things like the Active Time Event system. Really enjoy its subject matter, mainly regarding its exploration into loss, individualism, and finding purpose within life. I think, overall, there could've been less of a focus on the overarching adventure and more attention given to the cast's personal dilemmas. Their odd distribution of screentime leaves its character writing feeling disjointed by the final act. And Final Fantasy ATB gameplay still fucking sucks.

vivi goat doe

8/10
Easily the best out of the NES era FF games (shocking). Some incredible character work to be found. Great at establishing its desolate, but optimistic tone, especially thanks to its OST. Terra's theme saved my life. Not afraid to pull its punches with its subject matter. Definitely far too ambitious for its own good though. The ensemble nature of the cast hurts even its better characters, since the game can't dedicate the time to exploring them without rushing over their stories. A remake would go raw.

8/10
To be completely honest, the fact that I liked this as much as I did was shocking. It was obvious with the final act of the last game that this trilogy will only look to get deeper and deeper into the batshit insane. Not an angle I very much care for, to say the least. But the melodramatic sci-fi anime hoopla actually had its charm in this entry and was well framed alongside the deceptively simplistic emotional conflict between its characters. Serah and Noel as a duo don't hold a candle to XIII's cast, but they're more than charismatic enough to be worthy of leads. The gameplay improvements aren't substantial enough to wipe away the structural flaws its predecessor had, but it sure as hell feels a lot less restrictive and much more fun to engage with.

8/10
It's an interesting decision to return to something more reminiscent of the NES Final Fantasy's with this entry after the developments made by FFIV. Certainly prefer this one though.
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The addition of job abilities provides such an insane amount of flexibly. White Magic casting Ninjas or Summoner Black Mages. Never felt so free creating synergistic team comps... If only they found a way to balance all that, cuz throwing countless status inflicting enemies at the player in the second half (in a game where some statuses last until the battle ends and some don't have cures) was not the move. Adore the boss design though. Despite its flaws, it remains as the best ATB FF combat to this day. A lot of people give flack to the story because it's tone is consistently unserious relative to FFIV. But it consisting of a bunch of small, simple, and emotional character moments made it a far more entertaining venture than the former entry. The peaks aren't as great, but at least most of its cast felt like actual characters.

8/10
Unironically surprised by how much I got out of this. One of the most creative series anniversary celebration titles I've seen yet, all while having a great combat system and one of the best incarnations of the job system to boot. The story obviously rocks. Drakengard Final Fantasy is real. Jack Garland... you rocked my world.

8/10
Blew my expectations out of the water. From the new, but simple additions to traversal to the bold reworking of core combat mechanics, they created a game that feels exponentially more expressive and fluid to play in comparison to its predecessors. While I still think Insomniac struggles when it comes to structuring these stories, their understanding of Spider-Man as a character and what he represents can't be understated. Stands as a very solid exploration of what the "great responsibility" motto entails entirely for the person behind the persona. Also big shout out to the much more narratively substantial side content this time around.

8/10
The RE4 DNA is strong with this one. Fast paced and satisfying gameplay loop that rewards meticulous play. Dull inventory management and upgrade system aside, I loved the wide array of brutal sci-fi weaponry and each gun feels amazing to handle. Not too familiar with the original, but I loved the visual overhaul of the remake. Looked gorgeous while still being able to invoke the claustrophobic dread of the whole situation.

7/10
It's hard to ignore the perception of this game in the modern day with how many are quick to note some of its more dated aspects. I half-heartedly tried it a long, long time ago, but put it down quickly after those fixed camera angles kicked the shit out of me. But coming back and giving it an actual, fair shot really showed to me how impressive this was for this genre's first outing. Outside of the aforementioned camera, it's really aged like wine. Combat is both easy to grasp and rewarding thanks to its high skill ceiling, all helped by how fluid it feels to control. The enemy design is strong, and the gothic, RE-derived atmosphere meshed with the edgy 2000s rock aesthetic kicks ass. Shame about the excessive boss reuse though and the lack of a proper targeting system.

7/10
I think I liked this a lot? Idk. It's messy as shit and it's hard to say it truly excels in any categories without heavy caveats. This is the first time in Final Fantasy history where the series made an actual attempt at justifying ATB as something more than a gimmick tacked onto a traditionally turn based system. Incentivizing the player to complete battles with speed and efficiency pairs nicely with the time sensitive stagger mechanic and all the other changes made to combat. Though by the end game, battles start lasting longer than they have any right to, which isn't helped by the lack of variety in gameplay options. The overarching narrative is convoluted as fuck. Full of rich worldbuilding presented in the worst way possible. Multiple antagonists with an awful sense of presence. But in spite of all that... it might have my favorite cast in the series? Flawed as hell, mostly borderline unlikeable ragtag group that wonderfully blossoms into this loveable, synergistic team. That's my shit. Loved them all.
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It's hard to fully convey my conflicted thoughts on this game in these lil condensed blurbs and I don't feel like writing a review. But overall, I did enjoy my time with this ambitious clusterfuck. Also Final Fantasy fans need to take reading comprehension classes or sumn, cuz Lightning and Hope are raw as fuck.

7/10
Everything I'd say about the original Crisis Core (a strangely unfocused narrative with the most bizzare script of all time, held up by virtue of Zack Fair being the most entertaining video game protagonist ever) except this time, the gameplay isn't awful. The streamlining of its combat does wonders in helping it not feel like a total slog by the end. Visually gorgeous as well and I'm glad to see the Remake Trilogy's style is able to retain much of the energy from the original's character acting. I still greatly prefer the PSP's aesthetics and losing Rick Gomez's performance as Zack is a heavy loss, but the positives in these compromises solidify this as the definitive way to experience this game.

7/10
Punishing but rewarding. Not too big on Richter's inherently restrictive movement as it simply doesn't feel all too good to control, but I do think it creates some fun challenges and limitations to play around. The level design is very strong and I've already came back to replay some stages since finishing a couple times. The sprite work is great and the synthwave OST fucks. This is true 90s media.

Also we should bring back easy modes like Maria Renard. Stupidly overpowered characters that completely shatter grimdark atmospheres to compensate.

7/10
In many ways, feels like a stripped down version of Resident Evil 4. Melee stagger attacks losing most of their effectiveness, the simplified inventory system, the poor boss design, etc. But I'm willing to grant it some levity, because it very apparently prioritizes the co-op experience and it's very successful in that goal. Me and my friend balanced a fun playstyle, where I carried short ranged, crowd control weapons and he held the long range, single target ones. It's really fun. The story does fucking blow though and the occasional campy action sequence really doesn't save it. My queen Sheva did not deserve the token treatment 💔

6/10
So conflicted! I adored the last game and I feel this was such a stepback narratively speaking. Every single returning character is static, merely there to fulfill their role in solving problems within the city. All the original characters with a semblance of intrigue aren't at all realized or explored until the final few chapters of the game. It tries to wax philosophical, musing on the nature of judicial punishment. But in creating contrived holes in the execution of the antagonist's plan, the story paves the way for Yagami to completely sidestep the discussion all together as he regurgitates the same counter that has nothing to do with the game's thesis all the way through to the end. It ultimately ends up saying nothing the first game didn't already cover. It's all so dull, especially when I think back to how well Judgment weaved its murder mystery with Yagami and gang's heartful search for truth and solace. Thankfully, it's all saved by some of the strongest beat-em-up gameplay I've ever experienced. A great improvement in every regard and definitely lived up to its hype. Also enjoyed a couple of the long running School Stories sidequests. Tons of cheesy, campy fun.

6/10
I've been going back and forth on this, but I think I've finally, and rather unfortunately, settled on the more negative side. A lot of sparks of greatness to be found, with a sound, expressive combat system, setpieces crafted with an unrivalled level of visual spectacle, and a very strong protagonist in Clive Rosfield. But all these aspects are so hampered by the fact that none of them were made to last a 50 hour campaign. Though not nearly as bad as FFXV, it feels like this is lacking in terms of holding a cohesive identity. It attempts to mishmash genres, both in gameplay and in narrative, but none of the attempts feel very well thought out. I would be optimistic to see CBU3 take another go at a mainline title in the future, as I think what's here still holds a lot of potential.

6/10
This is the sequel to Fire Emblem Fates. Much like it, it's a very strong reminder that Fire Emblem only appeals to me when all of its individual elements are realized and come together in a cohesive fashion. Engage is very strong from a mechanical standpoint. It avoids many trappings of other games in the franchise through implementing bold and unique mechanics that enjoyably encourages aggressive play along with very strong, complementary map and enemy design. But almost every other aspect of this game is so awful it puts me off from ever thinking of touching this again.

6/10
I deeply respect this game's impact on the franchise and storytelling in video games as a medium as a whole, but I can't help but feel a lil bit disappointed after it started to dip far below the standards set by its opening. The first act is genuinely great, Cecil's standing as a protagonist, and the story's intimate exploration of his overwhelming guilt had me shocked af after the last three games' lackluster attempt at storytelling. But it kinda reverts back to a standard Final Fantasy romp in the second act and it doesn't help that most attempts at character writing fall flat for me. ATB is the worst battle system of all time, so I actually do hate this game a lot. But I was surprised to see it only occasionally made me want to rip my hair out. Def works better in 2D than 3D. Despite having zero customization, its set party members were all strongly designed and led to some surprisingly fun boss fights.

6/10
Step up from the last two in like every regard. Story still isn't anything remarkable, but its far more substantial than FFI and not as over-abundant with its melodrama as FFII. Gameplay feels like a more refined take on FFI's. Dungeons were still basic, but them incentivizing exploration with hidden paths made going through them not as mindless. Job system is fun to play around with. Most classes had neat abilities that kept me switching back to them at least once. That endgame is atrocious though.

Also bless the Pixel Remasters for removing drawbacks for swapping classes. Completely overhauling your party setup on the fly is really fun. I think I'd just not like the game if I played any other version LOL.

6/10
A bit hard to call it a step in the right direction, cuz I do NOT want to see no "open zone" Sonic game again, but I'm glad 3D Sonic is back to having a pulse again after Forces. There's some neat ideas present. Navigation is fun and the gameplay loop, in theory, is sound. But I really wish the devs got more time to actually refine said ideas. This is a title that desperately wants to channel the spark of more ambitious series innovators like Breath of the Wild, but its hampered by an astounding lack of polish. Repetitive puzzles, bland visuals, and shallow combat; all these issues feel like a result of the game stretching itself to reach 15+ hours in length. Despite the clear rush, it still managed to tell a pretty solid story that properly sells its somber tone. It's the most characterful Sonic as a franchise has been in ages and I'd love to see a more focused narrative in the next entry.

All in all, a good reminder that Sonic Team does care. Just hoping the next entry shows a bit more promise.

5/10
A real "Not For Me" kind of game. Longing for Final Fantasy to incorporate more strategy into its gameplay systems was a harrowing monkey's paw. Encourages you to spend a plentiful amount of time on menu tweaking for the sole purpose of letting the game play itself, lest you subject yourself to the most monotonous combat in the franchise. Apparently auto-battlers have their audience, but this was the farthest I've felt from engaged while playing a game in a while. If 4x speed up wasn't an inherent option of this remaster, this would be DROPPED. There's probably something ultra compelling within the bones of this story, but I couldn't care much for its hyperfocus on Ivalice's politics. The occasional character building moments were great, but the personal stories of the cast feel like afterthoughts in the face of the grander narrative. Did really love Ivalice as a world regardless. Every culture feels distinct and each nationality having their own accent was great. Love the scripting, everyone feels so elegant with their deliveries, and it really brings these characters to life. Also probably the best looking PS2 game.

5/10
Obviously this entry stands as an age old product of its time and RPGs have come a long way since it's creation, but I had a pretty enjoyable time with it, all things considered. Surprisingly competent gameplay, with my only big gripe being how poorly implemented and flow destroying the random encounters are. Team building is surprisingly very fun and holds a relatively considerable amount of depth. But playing this game without a guide is a hell I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy, cuz idk what they were cooking with that story progression.

5/10
The core combat is strong and the elemental synergy system is very fun to mess around with. Unfortunately doesn't have much substance beyond that, with its dull and repetitive mission structure. Had fun with friends, but multiplayer feels very tacked on. There's very little strategizing required between players and it just breaks the balance in half. Honestly wonder if I would've enjoyed this as a game more if I played solo. Also for the love of god, can we please stop letting redditors into the writing room? 🙏🏿

4/10
Probably the worst structured RPG I've ever played. Gone is the densely written, neatly paced storytelling formula of FFX, where each area added something substantial to most of the cast. Replaced by an aimless campaign that overly relies on bland, optional side quests in an attempt to form a coherent experience. Every returning aspect from FFX feels so dissonant from what I've come to love about it that I have a hard time resonating with most story beats here. Stuff like Yuna's abrupt change in personality or the gutting of FFX's somber tone. I understand that these decisions were deliberate in order to convey the new disposition of Spira as a world, but it feels like I'm missing a whole other story that properly sold these developments. Gameplay is pretty solid though. Translates FFX's battle system to ATB pretty well, though the inherent reaction based design of ATB holds it back in a lot of ways. In battle job switching just does NOT have the same fluidity as party member swapping and you could easily play through most of the game without engaging with it too much.

4/10
I mentally checked out the second the premise for this game was fully established. And I think I lost a brain cell anytime one of the characters spoke in heavy handed metaphors. This really is the culmination of everything to do with corny Final Fantasy scripts. My apathy towards literally anything going on the story wasn't helped by the most dated attempt at creating an expansive world I've seen. Muddy textures, lifeless animations, cities way too big for their own good. It's dire. Experience was somewhat saved by the genuinely unique and intuitive core combat. The attempt at implementing a doomsday timer would be respectable, if it wasn't so easily trivialized or didn't feel dull as shit to play around. You deserved a better send off, Lightning.

4/10
The story is a respectable attempt at telling a narrative with actual characters, but not much more to praise beyond that. Idk how they took several steps back from FFI in terms of gameplay, but they did. The stat progression system is an interesting concept, but not cool enough to completely be rid of its predecessor's class system. It provides the same level of flexibly at the cost of character's innate identity in gameplay along with forcing grinding. And what the FUCK are those dungeons dude? Why are 90% of the rooms in every dungeon just empty spaces?


Anyways. Fuck this braindead ass game. I watched three seasons of Atlanta while playing it. That show is sooooo good. Thank you, Donald Glover.

3/10
Astonishingly bad. In a charming, funny way. Kinda. Graphically appealing, but that only hides the fact that this game feels sorely unfinished. With the exception of the main cast's personalities and minor quirks, each and every story beat is about as shallow as something I'd expect from an NES Final Fantasy entry. It's honestly the craziest part of the game to me, because it's emphasis on the party dynamic fooled me into thinking I'd witness some great, interpersonal conflicts. Yet it's rare to see these guys share anything more than light banter. I'm not touching the DLC because having to engage with extra, optional content to witness the proper context I SHOULD have seen in the main story annoys me greatly. I really enjoyed the "road trip" angle of the first half, but it doesn't compliment anything else the game attempts to do. And what the fuck is this combat system? I'm sorry for making fun of ATB, man. A weird mishmash of ideas found between traditional RPGs and action games, with it failing to deliver something even remotely competent in either categories. Weightless, automated, pathetically easy, and clunky as hell.