I'd say I'm probably more positive on Kingdom Hearts III than a lot of fans, because its fanservice genuinely hits for me. Re:Mind is essentially just more fanservice, and adding stuff that probably should have just been in the game to begin with. In a way, adding everything that once was Final Mix content into a DLC sounds like an improvement for Kingdom Hearts, but here it might be a detriment. The new content isn't integrated directly into the game, and instead is in its own menu with its own saves. It totally limits how much of a game changer the content can really be, especially in comparison to II's Final Mix. All in all, it doesn't feel strictly necessary, nor does it really change my opinion on Kingdom Hearts III.

I'm gonna start off this review by saying, I don't think NEO has the same level of thematic cohesion as the first game, and that's disappointing. It's sorta difficult to do things like give EXP for having the game off while you go outside on console. I think there was a missed opportunity to integrate online elements to fill that gap, especially since social media plays a big role in the arcs of these characters. I also just, don't enjoy the combat as much? There is less enemy and ability variety, and battles can take an overly long time.

All that being said, the only reason I didn't put NEO in my favorites on this site is that I prefer the first game's box art.

The message of the first TWEWY resonates, I praised the hell out of it in my review, but it's also, in a way, sort of easy? Like, Neku is an obviously flawed character you do not want to be like. NEO's protagonist Rindo is much more subtlely flawed, and I think that makes the point his arc makes hit a wider range of people more directly, particularly myself. Where Neku was perhaps too individualistic, rejecting connection with others, Rindo isn't enough of his own being. He defers to others for hard decisions, he's quick to jump to his phone under stress, he lives his life according to trite, motivational instagram memes. Rindo doesn't outright reject the world around him, but he lets it glaze by him while he's playing Pokemon Go. Once again, the critique is balanced. Games and the internet are wonderful and create connections, but they are not a replacement for real life.

In a way, NEO being delayed for 15 years ended up working to its benefit. It's able to tell a similar story, but geared to a generation distant enough from the mid 2000s that a new message is needed. I love TWEWY, but it didn't make reasses my life. NEO did. After the Covid-19 Pandemic I'd become a bit of a NEET, spending her whole day on Twitter or Discord, talking to people who did not make me happy, at the cost of the rest of my life. It's NEO that inspired me, once I restarted my education, put my phone away in class and force myself to talk to other people, reach out for leadership positions, make new friends, go and really see the wonderful world that's out there.

second time completing this game...its not the best thing ever, and it definitely shows its age. however while i say that, this game holds a very special place in my heart. i played dragon quest during a very dark and serious time in my life and it really did help me through those days. this game is like on my short list of nes games that are playable, and the whole vibe is just so cozy. toriyamas art really gives so so much life to this series. its crazy how his monster designs changed everything. theyre so iconic, so cute, so cool, just so everything. everyone working on this game was a master of their respective crafts, its really incredible.

What makes The World Ends With You so special is how it uses its medium and genre, which is often aimed at a specific kind of introverted youth, to encourage them exit their comfort zone. Everything from the story to the mechanics tells the player that yes, video games are cool and fun, but go out and experience life and interact with others too. The battle system is an extremely unintututive simultaneous dual screen action game, mirroring the difficulty of communicating and cooperating with others, but is also incredibly rewarding to those who put in the effort to overcome said difficulty. Just like real relationships. The progression system is centered on mastering as many abilities as possible, encouraging you to constantly cycle out your moveset and experience new ways of play. Difficulty can be modified on the fly, but you are incentivized with more and better loot for trying to make things as challenging as possible. There's a wide range of music genres, fashion styles, and youth subcultures influencing the game's setting, hopefully introducing the audience to new interests. The game even rewards you for not playing and going outside; just have your DS closed in your pocket as you go about your day. The message of the game truly shines because you can see the devs practicing what they preach: creating something so weird and different from the average RPG, basing its setting on real life locations and cultures outside of gaming. The World Ends With You is a title that does reflect this overall theme, but personally I think the original Japanese title illustrates it more beautifully: It's A Wonderful World. Go out and experience it.

Still my favorite Mega Man game. I'm not gonna say this game has incredible writing, but the relative bleakness of the setting combined with the intense mission based structure where the game continues whether you complete the stage or not creates a real mood. You are a lone resistance fighter, going up against an entire empire oppressing your people. It's incredibly punishing, the odds are stacked against you, and there 3 more games in this series after this. The road to freedom is long and arduous.