Trash0599
Absolute perfection. This feels like 10 games in 1, and all feel so polished and engaging, whilst still embracing the wackiness of the franchise. Aside from a few story fumbles that felt frustrating, this is an incredible game that everyone should experience.
Though this game seemingly didn’t need to exist, it fits a nice hole in the Yakuza series. Since straying away from Kiryu and his brutal combat, it was nice to engage with the old style in one last climactic face-off. Better than the majority of the franchise, the characters and story feel fleshed out enough, and the combat polished enough, for this fitting as Kiryu final solo adventure.
A daring departure that feels like an evolution in a stale series, something that I was happily surprised with. Completing changing the gameplay, protagonist and overall tone, this is a welcoming change that I’m excited to see the future for. A fun and exciting experience that left me in tears. Whilst sticking with its core roots, Y:LAD is a journey accessible to anyone.
Though a heartwarming (seemingly) departure for the protagonist, Y6 lacks the innovation and confidence of previous entries, ultimately ending in an incredibly anticlimactic narrative. Though the more relaxed and serene setting set a great tone for the story, the overall narrative felt very stale with no leaps of faith. This would have been terrible as Kiryu’s final entry, so I’m glad it doesn’t serve that purpose. Though keeping with the fun and joy of the franchises’ weird and experimental styles of gameplay, I felt that this game could have accomplished more.
2012
Whilst full of interesting choices from story to gameplay, that pushed the franchise even further, Y5 unfortunately falls flat as one of the most underwhelming Yakuza experiences thus far. Dragged out with side content that distracts you from the more intriguing narrative, though even when confronting said story, still feels convoluted and padded, Y5 is a total bore from start to finish. This was the moment that I started to lose interest, which is why I think highly of more engaging and experimental later entries.
Possibly the most lackluster entry in the franchise? Generic characters, boring story, and no fantastic music tracks to accompany the gameplay. This feels like a skip in an otherwise legendary franchise.
An absolute improvement on the previous game. Although suffering from a slow start with an unnecessary amount of tutorials, Blazing Blade tightly knits a powerful story featuring some of the most memorable characters in the franchise. Huge improvement in gameplays, from important units to great map design, this game makes the previous entry completely insignificant. A definitive Fire Emblem game that welcomes anyone into the franchise.
2023
Sonic feels creatively bankrupt. From experimenting with formulas, both nostalgic and new, Sonic can’t seem to shape its identity in terms of what the franchise’s future looks like. Whilst looking nice and providing some simple fun. Superstars is the most forgettable entry in Sonic history, with no significance to the legacy. Mania was truly the peak.
A short and fun experience, that feels plucked out of a much better game. Though I hold many grudges against SV, Indigo Disk did enough to keep a constant smile on my face through the DLC. Getting to become an Aipom saved this from a lower rating.
Raising the bar for DLC in the medium, Santa Monica construct a concise experience that pushes the boundaries of the gameplay, whilst offering a complex narrative. Can’t wait for the future of the franchise.
The most unnecessary edition to a story ever. The adventures of an older god-like Rose was not on my bucket list, and unfortunately will stay off the list.
2023
A gorgeous throwback to older JRPGS, yet fulfilling a greater purpose than just a stream of nostalgia, as it feels like a timeless classic for a whole new generation. The immediate response to the genre nowadays is to subvert and reflect, yet Sabotage instead embrace and celebrate the games of old. A triumph in music, visuals and combat, Sea of Stars sets itself from the rest, glowing in an industry full of tasteless ideas.
It’s hard to fumble Mario Kart. Fun and thriving settings along with catchy music is an immediate sell, and this DLC absolutely accomplishes this. Fumbling a few courses along the way, the overall result was enough to revive the game, keeping me engaged for many months.
Whilst in a current confusing state, the franchise stays strong with its resilience to embrace the horror genre through a unique lens. Though I’m not particularly interested in Ethan’s story, the narrative forcing him into a gothic nightmare with tension, stake, and a personal goal, I was gripped the entire game. This was a highlight in the franchise, and gives me hope the team will further embrace the supernatural and uncanny in later entries.
Mario is back baybeeee. After many fumbles within the 2D style of games, Wonder feels like a fantastical breath of fresh ideas and concepts, culminating in a joyous experience that pushes the gameplay to its peak. Mario once again feels like a cartoony explosion that embraces a psychedelic fever dream, which is exactly the vision of the franchise that I felt it desperately needed.