This is a great example of a sequel improving just about everything about the original. The already fun gameplay has been tweaked just enough to feel markedly better than the first game, the story kept me much more actively engaged, especially towards the finale, where I think the original Battle Network falters, and Navi fights are all around generally better, with higher highs than the first game ever had. Unfortunately I do think the game does have two notable low points involving KnightMan and ESPECIALLY FreezeMan. That being said this is overall a great improvement on an interesting idea for an RPG, and knowing the next game is supposed to be even better has me so excited to see what Battle Network 3 is all about!!

I fell off FES fairly late into the game so I was excited to finally finish P3 with this remake, and it did not be any metric disappoint. This game has fully reminded me of everything I about Persona after bouncing off 5 Royal a few times and very firmly places itself, at least currently, as my favorite Persona game, with themes and and an ending that I haven't stopped thinking about since I finished it in the wee hours of the morning. Fucking phenomenal, and the Episode Aigis DLC will be a minute 0 playthrough for me.

Kingdom Hearts II is a great example that a game can have several annoying aspects or sections but still be amazing based off of vibe and a good finale. Second visits to each world could be pretty annoying and yet it still never lost me, because the game never fails at feeling engaging in both gameplay and especially in its story and characters. A genuine, absolute joy from beginning to end even despite the annoyances I have with certain sections. Maybe one day I'll come back to fight the superbosses, but for now I look forward to seeing how the games progress from here for myself!

my moon is fucking ugly again

long review: i rarely write long reviews but god this game made me feel a want to. the original sun and moon is my favorite pokemon mainline game, but most changes in this update i do not like. lusamine's character as an antagonist are completely botched, which in turn ruins the arcs of both lillie and gladion. the change to the fire trial makes it less funny and therefore worse, the grass trial's structure is significantly less interesting, i just straight up don't like the electric trial, and i just feel a lot of soul was lost from the original game.

the stuff in rainbow rocket was pretty rad tho

tl;dr my moon is fucking ugly again