Silent_
'Reach for the Moon, Immortal Smoke' is the coolest sequence of words ever arranged together in the English language and nobody can convince me of otherwise.
While the gameplay improves upon and deepens that of its already excellent predecessor, the characters lean further into egregious anime tropes and the story is looser and sillier in premise. If you liked 1 you'll like this, but you'll find yourself missing the feelings of always being on edge and having to fight to survive that 1 invoked in spades.
Mechanically simpler than its sequel, but narratively far superior. The creeping dread and claustrophobic atmosphere to the story as you and your crew find yourselves trapped in Tokyo with demons and other desperate survivors is backed by a great soundtrack featuring heart-pumping beats and wailing guitars.
It also has enough strategical gameplay depth and branching story decisions/endings to facilitate half a dozen or more playthroughs. Of everything I've played, it's no contest the game I've replayed the most, and every year or so I find myself itching to play it again.
It also has enough strategical gameplay depth and branching story decisions/endings to facilitate half a dozen or more playthroughs. Of everything I've played, it's no contest the game I've replayed the most, and every year or so I find myself itching to play it again.
2009
I've played thousands of hours in my lifetime, including at the highest (non-pro) skill level.
Take it from me: it doesn't get better.
If you're happy with what you have in the moment, though, power to you. It's League. We all know what we're in for.
Take it from me: it doesn't get better.
If you're happy with what you have in the moment, though, power to you. It's League. We all know what we're in for.
2016
For an amazing two weeks, humanity came the closest we've ever gotten to world peace.
Then we got bored with a lack of content.
Then we got bored with a lack of content.
It's like they picked two random adjectives out of a hat to make every character. Hard to care about the mystery when nothing gives you a reason to care.
How did we go from characters like Lyndis and Matthew to this? The gameplay is fine, the rest is a travesty.
I will participate in the skinner box and I will enjoy it. And I will do it again, and again, and again, for as many times as it takes to get more incremental upgrades, shiny weapons, and armour than I can shake a stick at.
Tight combat that's difficult enough to be exhilarating and a simply unbelievable amount of content, for the right person.
Tight combat that's difficult enough to be exhilarating and a simply unbelievable amount of content, for the right person.
2019
All skill, baby.
Hearing the Littleroot Town theme feels more like home than home. Wally's journey is genuinely touching. Has some of the most iconic pokemon in the entire series.
The best installation to ever grace Pokemon.
The best installation to ever grace Pokemon.
2009
Mechanically not as tight as its successors, but more than makes up for it narratively. The repetitive grind through Tartarus is not for everybody, but those who pull through will find much maturer themes and developed character material than the lighthearted experiences provided by 4 & 5.
Emotionally impactful and my personal favourite game of all time.
Emotionally impactful and my personal favourite game of all time.
2012
Unsatisfying gunplay with bullet-sponge enemies and extremely hit-or-miss writing & humour (Most of it missed for me.) Loot system is adequately compelling.
Altogether a tolerable experience when played through with friends.
Altogether a tolerable experience when played through with friends.
2015
The best handheld/console rhythm game I've ever played. Usually the arcade experience is unbeatable with rhythm games, but IA/VT matches that easily. The tactile feedback from its control system using the vita buttons is extremely satisfying and far superior compared to other control schemes I've experienced (Project Diva, Persona Dancing, etc.). The music selection is excellent for even non-vocaloid fans too, with a wide range of coverage genre-wise and difficulty level-wise.
2022
Have never had a more immersive video game experience. Almost every aspect feels crafted specifically for the purpose of breathing life into an authentic world. That the gameplay is as compelling and seamlessly integrated as it is is just unfair.
Of particular note to me is the polarising quest system; while I understand the grievances calling it obtuse, I find that it's for that exact reason that I feel like I'm stumbling across naturally emerging storylines throughout my travels. The cost of lacking a quest journal and marker is well overcompensated for by the trust it places in the player to buy into the conceit and play their role in the story. An unforgettable journey.
Of particular note to me is the polarising quest system; while I understand the grievances calling it obtuse, I find that it's for that exact reason that I feel like I'm stumbling across naturally emerging storylines throughout my travels. The cost of lacking a quest journal and marker is well overcompensated for by the trust it places in the player to buy into the conceit and play their role in the story. An unforgettable journey.