IriidaV
2006
It's always cool to see a developer switch up their game formula a little, and in the wake of the PlayStation 2 GTA trilogy, Bully is a unique experience. The way in which the GTA gameloop is carried over to a school setting feels surprisingly effortless but just as entertaining, if not moreso in some places.
Tekken: Dark Resurrection is a fantastic experience on Sony's first handheld. Porting a 60hz PS2 fighting game to the PSP can't have been easy but it carries over the experience and visuals with minimum downgrades fairly flawlessly. This is a must-play for PSP owners.
2006
It feels weird to say that one of the reasons the PSP was a must-buy system at the time because of a child-friendly puzzle-platformer but here we are. Saying it's "simplistic" is a disservice since the art style is incredibly pleasing to look at and the physics-based control scheme feels satisfying to utilise. Japan Studio was great at these small-scale titles and it's a shame they're no longer around in Sony's modern "PlayStation Studios" line up.
2006
Now that we're well an truly through with the second reboot series of Tomb Raider, Legend is still a great game to go back to today. On the PlayStation 2 it provides a 480p, 60hz experience and a very modern control scheme that makes you wish to never return to the older games. The update in face model to better reflect the Angelina Jolie movies of the time is a little distracting, but thankfully it's not an exact 1:1 likeness.
The game is just a joy to play and the addition of the grapple make for a very satisfying experience.
The game is just a joy to play and the addition of the grapple make for a very satisfying experience.
2004
Every time I remember I played this game for hours on end on the PSP never fails to surprise me. Adding a story mode to the Sims 2 was kind of genious in my opinion and was a great level of absurdity to an already fairly great port to Sony's portable console at the time.
2005
I don't remember much about this game, but the fact I only bought it as a teen because it had the band Slipknot as playable characters probably tells me all I need to know form an opinion on it today.
2005
This was my SSX game growing up - the high school sketchy notebook art direction mixed with the character customisation and long mountain routes made for an exciting (and sometimes chill) experience. Great music selection too.
2005
I feel a lot of people forget about this entry when the discussion of best Spider-Man games gets brought up. It might not have broken ground that the Spider-Man 2 tie-in did but I feel it drastically improved on the gameplay mechanics while having an infinitely better art direction and overall experience. The addition of Venom here is a fun gameplay gimick, but him being locked off until the game is finished sucks the fun out a bit. Overall, the game feels more fluid and natural to a Spider-Man experience and the fact you get to eat a child may or may not bump the score up a notch.
This, accompanied with the earlier Sonic Mega Collection, made for a great way to house (nearly) all of Sonic's games prior to the Adventure duology on two discs. Admittedly, they're not the best of the series (no, you're wrong, Sonic CD is fine at best) nor are the port jobs perfect, but it was a great way to experience the rest of the hidden gems outside of SegaSonic Arcade and Sonic Jam.
On a home console, this could have been a really good game. But on Sony's handheld, the PSP, this is one of the greatest street-racers of this time period. A great selection of maps and wide array of cars with the ability to import your own music collection as a radio station. This was an amazing experience to take with you on the go.
2004
This is the true start of modern Tekken and it's downright phenomenal. Fighting feels fast and heavy, and the cinematics on display are gorgeous. With a 480p, 60hz picture, this feels like Namco at the top of their game honestly.
2004
I don't think it's possible for me to be impartial with this game - it was my watershed moment for the quality of storytelling in video-games and remains my favourite conclusion to a trilogy of all time, possibly in all media. I was 10 when this came out and I had never been so hyped for a video game release before.
The story manages to balance out the edginess of it's predecessor, making it the integral theme to it's narrative, all the while improving gunplay, having more platforming segments, and creating a whole driving mechanic that still feels satisfying to control today.
The Last of Us? Uncharted? This is Naughty Dog's true opus.
The story manages to balance out the edginess of it's predecessor, making it the integral theme to it's narrative, all the while improving gunplay, having more platforming segments, and creating a whole driving mechanic that still feels satisfying to control today.
The Last of Us? Uncharted? This is Naughty Dog's true opus.
2004
What's left to say about this game? It single-handedly set the bar for how superhero games should be whilst providing one of the best experiences with web-swinging that future games would struggle to surpass. Having played the more recent titles from Insomniac, this definitely feels dated in many ways, but it's still a fun time if you have the nostalgia for it and the movie.
Possibly my favourite of the PS2 Ratchet & Clank games, Going Commando takes everything from the original and ratchets (hah) it up to 11 - the rpg mechanics and supplementary guns and armours were a great addition and the tweaked controls to allow for strafing were very much appreciated. A 480p, 60hz experience here and an amazing one at that.
2003
What an odd decision for Naughty Dog to hop on the GTAIII band-wagon and make their own "hijack vehicles in a vast open world and blast folks with guns, oh and also a skateboard too" game. It works, just about, but there is a charm from the original that definitely gets lost in favour of the more edgy approach to story-telling. It's very much down to each individual that plays it to whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. But hey, open world with a fairly solid art direction on the PS2 at 480p, 60hz was a great experience at the time!