1999
Infamous for allegedly "killing the collectathon genre", Donkey Kong 64 is an Xtra-Large gorilla sized 3D adventure to burn lots of hours into.
It does use a lot of the bells and whistles that could only be offered with the 8MB RAM upgrade such as more advanced lighting effects among other rendering gimmicks, if you see it with the historical context, this was an obnoxiously ambitious project to push the N64 into new frontiers.
Nevertheless, plenty of features get old quickly over time, admittedly plenty of the cartoony SFX could go chill out more often for the sake of our ears.
Now if you're looking for something beyond Super Mario 64 or the two Banjo games to sink a lot of your time into, this one will be what the doctor ordered.
It does use a lot of the bells and whistles that could only be offered with the 8MB RAM upgrade such as more advanced lighting effects among other rendering gimmicks, if you see it with the historical context, this was an obnoxiously ambitious project to push the N64 into new frontiers.
Nevertheless, plenty of features get old quickly over time, admittedly plenty of the cartoony SFX could go chill out more often for the sake of our ears.
Now if you're looking for something beyond Super Mario 64 or the two Banjo games to sink a lot of your time into, this one will be what the doctor ordered.
2000
Commonly acclaimed as one of the Dreamcast's gems, Jet Grind Radio provides us a concept with a lot of undeniable style and promise, however the rough control schemes coupled with the less-than-perfect Dreamcast controller makes this a bumpy ride to go.
The soundtrack and the aesthetics are what will likely keep you wanting for more, alas underneath those elements there could be a lot of room for improvement that wouldn't be seen until its re-imagining on XBOX.
The soundtrack and the aesthetics are what will likely keep you wanting for more, alas underneath those elements there could be a lot of room for improvement that wouldn't be seen until its re-imagining on XBOX.
2005
Ashley Mizuki Robbins is a young teenager with a quest to uncover the mysteries that haunt her checkered past, and one day a mysterious invitation to Blood Edward Island seems to be the key to unveil the enigmas behind her vague early childhood memories.
A very short but very sweet point-n-click adventure with clever puzzles and a thrilling backstory to follow. Do not miss it out.
A very short but very sweet point-n-click adventure with clever puzzles and a thrilling backstory to follow. Do not miss it out.
2011
In 2011 Sonic Team released a special nostalgic trip to commemorate their flagship mascot's 20th anniversary, and to everyone's surprise they did a really good job.
As in...
REALLY good job.
Arguably the very best 3D Sonic game ever created, giving both classic and modern aspects a spectacular display, and now these days people ache for something of this caliber.
As in...
REALLY good job.
Arguably the very best 3D Sonic game ever created, giving both classic and modern aspects a spectacular display, and now these days people ache for something of this caliber.
2003
Jade is an underground reporter in the monitored mining planet of Hyllis. As the media outcries the dangers of the terrorist group of the Iris Network, she ventures to uncover the truths behind a vast conspiracy.
Some of Michel Ancel's most important work in his career, worth playing at least once.
Some of Michel Ancel's most important work in his career, worth playing at least once.
2002
The crossover that started a pop culture phenomenon.
What it lacks in mechanical elegance, it makes it up with its high production value and curiously enigmatic story crafted for a tween demographic.
What it lacks in mechanical elegance, it makes it up with its high production value and curiously enigmatic story crafted for a tween demographic.
Arguably the part FFXIV "gets good", Heavensward is the first expansion after the reboot of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.
The story takes a hard turn and our warrior is led to an isolated theocratic state surrounded by an endless ocean of snow and eternally ravaged by dragon hellfire. With only a handful of allies on your side, you have to decide what to do next as Eorzea is still threatened by the looming shadow of the Garlean Empire.
The story takes a hard turn and our warrior is led to an isolated theocratic state surrounded by an endless ocean of snow and eternally ravaged by dragon hellfire. With only a handful of allies on your side, you have to decide what to do next as Eorzea is still threatened by the looming shadow of the Garlean Empire.
This review contains spoilers
You are taken to a bizarre world flooded with blinding light, a golden wasteland haunted by wicked angelical creatures known as Sin Eaters.
At the very end of Stormblood, Shadowbringers starts to get in the way of your quests like a fly that won't stop annoying you while you're stressfully multitasking through a lot of the problems around Hydaelyn, until it finally interrupts you completely to pull you in a completely different setting.
The story is absolutely heart-touching and intriguing, easily a fan-favorite entry, and one of the best damn things SquareEnix released in decades.
If you have been over the fence on playing FFXIV, make this your main excuse to play it as you also witness the events of the prior expansions on the way.
At the very end of Stormblood, Shadowbringers starts to get in the way of your quests like a fly that won't stop annoying you while you're stressfully multitasking through a lot of the problems around Hydaelyn, until it finally interrupts you completely to pull you in a completely different setting.
The story is absolutely heart-touching and intriguing, easily a fan-favorite entry, and one of the best damn things SquareEnix released in decades.
If you have been over the fence on playing FFXIV, make this your main excuse to play it as you also witness the events of the prior expansions on the way.
2006
Arguably Shigesato Itoi's magnum opus.
MOTHER 3 is beyond a continuation of the story released on 1994 for Super Famicom, it is a story about an island's exponential descent to corruption after its exposure to capitalism.
The acting behind the sprite animations is severely underrated and has an emotionally powerful narrative. One for the ages.
MOTHER 3 is beyond a continuation of the story released on 1994 for Super Famicom, it is a story about an island's exponential descent to corruption after its exposure to capitalism.
The acting behind the sprite animations is severely underrated and has an emotionally powerful narrative. One for the ages.
A diamond in the rough in the expansions of the agglomerated MMO, Stormblood may have a flawed narrative going on especially with Lyse's insertion as a revolutionary leader, however the subtext in the game is very underrated. It tells all the aspects of an ongoing genocide of a colony, not only taking the nation's land, resources; but past, present, and future, along all traces of culture buried under imperial assimilation.
2009
Scibblenauts is the only game that I have ever purchased and decided to actually return it to GameStop shortly after purchase. I really really wanted to like it, but it thoroughly disappointed me with very loose controls, and not very satisfying puzzle solving. Feels far more like a proof of concept than a finished game. Very hard to recommend.
Endwalker marks the final chapter of the Hydaelyn saga. CBU3 does a masterful work on making some of the very best work in the Final Fantasy franchise in several years. Do not overlook this because of the MMO format, this is one of the grand ones.