A dour, obnoxious exercise in self-absorption and pointless cynicism, the Devil May Cry reboot falls flat mechanically and narratively on every level.

The enhanced re-release of this tiresome reboot does little to improve on a deeply flawed story and gameplay formula, and I can't call it worth looking into.

This package contains one timeless classic which invented the character action genre, one excellent entry in said genre which helped to codify some of its most enduring design elements, and one bizarre mistake. Highly recommended to all action fans.

The return of Devil May Cry is an absolute triumph. It expands, refines and polishes existing mechanics from earlier entries while inventing an entirely new gameplay style for V, and presents and satisfying conclusion to the Sons of Sparda narrative, including a fantastic character arc for Nero.

Devil May Cry 4 has an impressive degree of mechanical depth and a fairly interesting story, but unfortunately the game is conspicuously unfinished, the latter half of the campaign simply reusing the levels and bosses from the first half and feeling very unsuited to the new mechanics gained as a result.

Sly Cooper is an excellent 3D platformer with a great aesthetic and likable characters, setting itself apart from its genre contemporaries by the inclusion of light stealth elements. A short and sweet experience that anyone can appreciate, so long as they can get past the occasionally frustrating minigames.

Sly 2 expands on the first game's formula in terms of story and heisting, but unfortunately the more open structure robs the game of a good deal of focus and shines a light on some of the ways in which the mechanics fall short.

While Metal Gear Solid 2 expands on the first game's mechanics in a number of interesting ways and features an excellent story, it unfortunately features a number of frustrating segments which make it more of a chore to get through than it needs to be.

A high water mark for early 3D level design and presentation, Metal Gear Solid is a fun arcadey stealth game wrapped in a stylish package.

Yakuza features an intriguing story, but the gameplay amounts to a pretty middling 3D beat em up and the enemy variety is lacking, resulting in a game that feels like a chore by the end.

It's Tony Hawk. Tony Hawk is a good skateboarding game. This one doesn't fuck it up. Good job.

For my money this is the peak of the series' mechanics, and the trademark parody of consumer culture is fully intact and as fun as ever. Just a good time all around.

A pretty solid if sometimes sloppy action platformer wrapped in a really fun buddy comedy package, laden with Verhoeven-esque satire

While it plays smoother than its predecessor, the pacing and difficulty curve are an absolute mess and the story devolves into sheer tedium. Unfortunately this game would serve as the template for the series for years to come.

Kingdom Hearts is one few games that I would say deliver on a real time JRPG combat system in a way that feels cohesive and enjoyable, while also delivering a touching and sincere story about a boy trying desperately to find himself and reunite with his friends. Highly recommended.