Bang Bang Fire: Cannot intuit the mechanics of the Death Note/Could not solve the Kira case.

Fixer: Cannot intuit the mechanics of the Death Note/Could solve the Kira case.

Healer: Can intuit the mechanics of the Death Note/Could not solve the Kira case.

Knower: Can intuit the mechanics of the Death Note/Could solve the Kira case.

Watcher: Probably would be manipulated and killed by kira.

This will be more of a comment on the Playstation division today and how Team Asobi fits into its context, rather than a review itself. And what game is better than that than a Playstation 5 tech demo that pays homage to the entire legacy and history of Playstation games?

The massive westernization that has been affecting Playstation first party games over the last 10 years really disgusts me. The Playstation studios games, that was so remarkable and present in my life, I no longer recognize. At least the most part of them.

Ready-made formulas for triple A games, whether cinematic experiences, sandboxes with generic exploration that look more like Ubisoft games, or just games as a service, are far from what was Sony's peak in this industry. And dont get me wrong, I absolutely have nothing against these kind of games, in fact, I believe that Naughty Dog, Santa Monica and Insomniac games are among the best and most talented game developers in the world. And that's exactly where I want to get to. Having a library of games that are very similar in design and formula is not a good thing, even if the games were good. But when you uses The Last of Us and Horizon Zero Dawn as benchmarks to be followed for a big part of your games, well...the result doesn't please me at all.

Sure, there are exceptions: Returnal, Ratchet and Clank, Death Stranding are really cool games with a great vision and originality, but as I said, exceptions.

Playstation studios had a vast and diverse library of games. We don't need to go that far, let's take the Ps3 and Vita era, as an example. Demon's Souls, Uncharted, Gravity Rush, Infamous, Little Big Planet, Killzone, Resistance and God of War are just a few examples of first party games from that time that were not only very good, but also had a high degree of dissimilarity between them.

Now, lets rewind the time. Unprecedented experimentation, absurd creativity, unique games that marked an era in their own and irreplicable way, are a great hallmark of Japan Studios, which I consider to be the best Playstation developer of all time. Astro's Playroom, a charismatic and inventive 3d platformer game, was developed by Team Asobi, a new division that was spun off from within Japan Studios. The thing is, games like this are less and less requested by the company directors. The recent announcement of the Astro Bot game, (which looks amazing) seems more like a miracle, and makes it clear that it is very different from the current wave of first party games on Playstation. Yes, let's not be naive, I am fully aware that games like this are not that profitable in the current triple A scenario. That's the reality, and that's the way it is, but yeah, it sucks. And the thought that we probably will have to await years to another game like that just makes me sad.

We are in a nebulous and uncertain moment in the gaming industry, where Playstation is losing its original identity every year with fewer and fewer first party games released, the Xbox division changes strategies with the same regularity as someone changes clothes and seems to have no confidence or certainty in its own future, and Nintendo... it continues to deliver incredible games as it has always done, but it means that it is the same Nintendo as always, a big rubbish anti-consumer company.

However, games like Astro's Playroom give me that spark of hope, especially placing them as the antithesis of current PlayStation studios, and I really hope and wish all the success in the world for Team Asobi.

Hellblade 2 is a game that should be more honest with itself. Solving third-rate puzzles that don't provide any challenge, or facing enemies in scripted combat from the beginning to the end of the game, doesn't do him any good. And I think that's the point that so many people are missing. In fact, Hellblade 2 would not be better with wider and deeper gameplay, but rather, with a greater absence of it.

Senua's Saga's greatest strengths are the moments when the game sets out to be a unique and bizarre experience, rather than its gameplay-focused segments. It's been a long time since I felt genuine anxiety playing something, and Hellblade 2 gave me that, whether with extremely uncomfortable sequences that cause a feeling of claustrophobia, dread and disgust, or just with Senua deliberating, disturbed and lost with herself and her thoughts, insecurities, and fear of whatever lies ahead.

I already had this thought when I played the first game, and it only intensified and became more serious when the developer releases a sequel seven years later, with one hell of a generational leap, and delivers something extremely similar, not to mention simpler and less meaningfull than the previous one.

There's no shame in developing a cinematic and interactive game focused completely on the narrative and remarkable moments. I can only hope that, if we are ever going to have a third game, Ninja Theory has a more aligned vision of delivering ONLY what Hellblade in its essence truly is, or at least should be.

[LEARN THE DIFFERENCE]

Has politics (BAD)
Don't has politics (GOOD)

Thank goodness they will never put politics in my beloved Kiseki games.

"Don't call me if you don't need me, Kupo!"
"You're starting to tick me off, Kupo!"
"I'm sharpening my knife, Kupo!"
"STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT! Ku-pheh!"

Funniest shit i've seen in my life.

To say that Final Fantasy was important in my life would be a huge understatement. It goes far beyond being my favorite video game series of all time. It's part of who I am today.

But what, you might ask, makes these games so special to me? I believe that Final Fantasy is a very honest videogame series, which doesn't try to appear smarter than it actually is. I can list an extensive list of Japanese RPGs that have a more refined and robust narrative than most games in the Final Fantasy franchise; or even, several with better-designed combat systems, or that have a more modern game design in relation to their time. But that's the point: these things aren't the most important thing in a Final Fantasy game. Instead, the series tries to win over its player through feelings and emotions, unforgettable moments that will remain etched in their memory forever, and this is truly something that few RPG franchises can boast of having managed to achieve.

Perhaps the original Final Fantasy VII is the culmination of this representation. A brilliant game for its time, which has carried a huge legacy to this day. Not because of the gameplay, not because of its design, but because of what it represents, and the way it connected and was important to its players. And in this, Rebirth manages to replicate and get it right with all its strength.

Developing that group of characters to the point where you almost consider them lifelong friends, or a member of your own family, is really something. If you believe that the journey is more important than the final destination, Rebirth is a greater representation of the journey within the story of FF VII. Going from city to city, getting to know the group members' past, their anxieties, their traumas, the things that makes them happy, is priceless. The level of detail and care that Square Enix had in each interaction, each dialogue between the characters, was truly special. After playing video games for so many years, you can really tell when a development team is involved in that project, and are fans of the title as much of you are.

Earlier, I mentioned that gameplay is not the main selling point of the franchise, after all, its own philosophy is focused on innovation in each game. Even in the era of turn-based combat, we saw great differences and nuances in the gameplay of each game. It is a franchise that has a strong identity, without necessarily having a fixed identity. But in this regard, Rebirth absolutely rules. It truly has one of the best combat systems I've experienced in an action RPG, the level of experimentation and ways the player can play with it is much greater than in the Final Fantasy VII remake, which I already considered impressive.

In fact, beyond the combat system, Rebirth can very well be considered an amusement park. The abundance of minigames, activities, ways of leisure and passing time are unbelievably abundant. It's experimentation, and fun in the greatest essence of the word. Secret amazing bosses, insane difficult challenges, rewarding relationship system, the game just have all you could ask for a JRPG, and scream the words ''Final Fantasy".

Now, I'm not going to give away any spoilers, but I can say that Rebirth is one of the bravest games I've ever seen. Suffice it to say that if we put 100 players of the game in a room, we would probably have 100 different opinions about the developments and direction the story took. Its ending is something that will be absorbed and debated for years, and that's something I really admire.

I never tire of repeating that the most important thing to define your favorite games are not things like design, fun, or even technical aspects. But yes, the experience and the way you absorb it, and remember that game over time. And since the original Final Fantasy VII has always been in my memory, it will have to make room for Rebirth next to it, because my friend, I shouldn't forget it anytime soon.

Just like its predecessor, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a love letter to all Jrpgs.

He is Dragon Quest
He is Final Fantasy
He is Pokémon
He is Persona
He is SMT
He is Breath of fire
He is Chrono
He is Xenoblade
He is The Legend of Heroes
He is Ys
He is Suikoden
He is Mother
He is Paper Mario

And much more! He is every Jrpg ever made! And it will be all the jrpgs that will still exist someday.
And above all, a Yakuza game in its purest essence and purity. RGG should be proud of this one.