guileffb
I spent almost 40 hours playing this game and despite liking it a lot, I have to admit that it misses a few right steps.
The game is beautiful! The art design of the entire game, environments, animations, bosses and heroes is utterly amazing! The soundtrack also helps to make you feel invested in it. The battle system is incredible and the challenge had the right dose of "tough, but fair". The system where you create swords is also great. Probably one of the biggest reasons why I took so long to finish it and, also, the game is packed with A LOT of content.
But the game suffers a lot from repetition. Levels, music, enemies and even dialogue. This ruined a lot of my enjoyment over time. It also "forces" you to grind to get all the endings, without actually giving you a good reason to, since the main story basically sucks. The DLC has some good tales though, but ultimately gets dull, as not all DLC pieces are fun to play.
In the end, this is a good game where you can spend hours and hours playing, but after you're done with it, you probably won't come back. Very easy to recommend it though, for the battle system and art design alone!
The game is beautiful! The art design of the entire game, environments, animations, bosses and heroes is utterly amazing! The soundtrack also helps to make you feel invested in it. The battle system is incredible and the challenge had the right dose of "tough, but fair". The system where you create swords is also great. Probably one of the biggest reasons why I took so long to finish it and, also, the game is packed with A LOT of content.
But the game suffers a lot from repetition. Levels, music, enemies and even dialogue. This ruined a lot of my enjoyment over time. It also "forces" you to grind to get all the endings, without actually giving you a good reason to, since the main story basically sucks. The DLC has some good tales though, but ultimately gets dull, as not all DLC pieces are fun to play.
In the end, this is a good game where you can spend hours and hours playing, but after you're done with it, you probably won't come back. Very easy to recommend it though, for the battle system and art design alone!
2019
This is game is the definition of boring. But I'll start with the good things.
. Its design basically made walking fun (for the most part).
. The soundtrack is pretty. Not great, but it packs a nice punch.
. The story is deep and emotional, characters are memorable and everything just feels genuinely original.
. Despite its flaws, the story kept me going and curiosity got me hooked, but I couldn't wait to see the end of it.
As for the bad things... Well, all the rest.
. The gameplay loop starts decent and fun, but ultimately overstays its welcome and becomes overly dull and repetitive.
. The story is great and unique, but MY GOD it is convoluted and tiresome!
. Why does it need to repeat the same cutscenes and messages again and again? It should skip it automatically.
. TOO MANY TUTORIALS! TOO MANY THINGS ON SCREEN! TOO MANY USELESS NEW ITEMS! JUST LET ME FUCKING WALK!
. Unrewarding long and unnecessary sidequests.
. Bosses are a joke.
. From the UI to the information displayed throughout the game, everything just feels... Messy.
Kojima, I still think you're a genius, but you missed the mark with this one, buddy.
. Its design basically made walking fun (for the most part).
. The soundtrack is pretty. Not great, but it packs a nice punch.
. The story is deep and emotional, characters are memorable and everything just feels genuinely original.
. Despite its flaws, the story kept me going and curiosity got me hooked, but I couldn't wait to see the end of it.
As for the bad things... Well, all the rest.
. The gameplay loop starts decent and fun, but ultimately overstays its welcome and becomes overly dull and repetitive.
. The story is great and unique, but MY GOD it is convoluted and tiresome!
. Why does it need to repeat the same cutscenes and messages again and again? It should skip it automatically.
. TOO MANY TUTORIALS! TOO MANY THINGS ON SCREEN! TOO MANY USELESS NEW ITEMS! JUST LET ME FUCKING WALK!
. Unrewarding long and unnecessary sidequests.
. Bosses are a joke.
. From the UI to the information displayed throughout the game, everything just feels... Messy.
Kojima, I still think you're a genius, but you missed the mark with this one, buddy.
2003
The second best Silent Hill game I've ever played and probably the most challenging one!
Silent Hill 3 is probably everything I wanted the first one to be and an amazing sequel. While it does fail to live up to my expectations after SH2, it is surprisingly well done and still relevant.
Out of the three first SH games, this one is probably the most intense. It does deliver some very scary and eery moments, but its focus is in how heavy, dense and hellish the atmosphere can be. It takes a lot of cues from the first one, ramps it up and makes it better. Some areas are quite insane for the eyes.
The soundtrack and usage of sound also work hand in hand with how tense the game is. It's no secret to anyone that Akira Yamaoka is a GOD and, while I do think think that he did a better work in SH2, there's no denying that the songs in SH3 hold a much heavier tone. Also, the use of noises/silences are just perfectly implemented.
To help creating this unique atmosphere and feeling that only Silent Hill manages to deliver, I also have to say how well the graphics hold up. For a PS2 game, it works amazingly well. Better than its two predecessors and much better than many games of its generation. Thanks to the quick evolution from one game to another, it's clear to see how well it reflects in the story and characters. Heather is probably the most charismatic protagonist in the series and every single character in the game manages to shine, even for a little while. Enemy variety also improved and their designs are scarier as hell!
Which leads me to the story.
SH3 is the perfect follow up to the first game in the series. It just does everything right in moving the story forward. The whole story and lore is expanded. You get to know more about Harry, his daughter and about the town and its folk. And while yes, it's not as deep and nuanced as SH2, it's still a hell of a time. Almost quite literally. Silent Hill 3 is probably the most devilish game I've every played when it comes to story and design. A well-written journey and a love letter to the first game.
Now where does it hurt? Well... the gameplay!
Silent Hill 3 feels like a step back in when it comes to gameplay. After you go through a very slow start, the game starts to pick its pacing up, but it never quite hits the mark!
There are enemies EVERYWHERE and I felt like the combat was even WORSE than previous games! Movement might be a little easier to pick up and camera didn't bother me as much, but battling normal enemies and bosses is a huge hassle! Enemy placement is just very bad. It increases difficulty, causes an excess of item usage (which I don't encourage) and the worst thing of all - breaks the immersion! Puzzles and boss fights also felt a little off.
It may not seem like a big thing, but it's a very visible problem and it badly hurts how the game flows. The hospital is probably the best example on how this design philosophy didn't work out well for the entire game.
Silent Hill 3 is an incredible game!
A fantastic horror game and an incredible sequel to the first one. It's a game that I can't recommend enough. The way it stands the test of time, while still managing to mess with your fear and challenge you is diamond.
Silent Hill 3 is probably everything I wanted the first one to be and an amazing sequel. While it does fail to live up to my expectations after SH2, it is surprisingly well done and still relevant.
Out of the three first SH games, this one is probably the most intense. It does deliver some very scary and eery moments, but its focus is in how heavy, dense and hellish the atmosphere can be. It takes a lot of cues from the first one, ramps it up and makes it better. Some areas are quite insane for the eyes.
The soundtrack and usage of sound also work hand in hand with how tense the game is. It's no secret to anyone that Akira Yamaoka is a GOD and, while I do think think that he did a better work in SH2, there's no denying that the songs in SH3 hold a much heavier tone. Also, the use of noises/silences are just perfectly implemented.
To help creating this unique atmosphere and feeling that only Silent Hill manages to deliver, I also have to say how well the graphics hold up. For a PS2 game, it works amazingly well. Better than its two predecessors and much better than many games of its generation. Thanks to the quick evolution from one game to another, it's clear to see how well it reflects in the story and characters. Heather is probably the most charismatic protagonist in the series and every single character in the game manages to shine, even for a little while. Enemy variety also improved and their designs are scarier as hell!
Which leads me to the story.
SH3 is the perfect follow up to the first game in the series. It just does everything right in moving the story forward. The whole story and lore is expanded. You get to know more about Harry, his daughter and about the town and its folk. And while yes, it's not as deep and nuanced as SH2, it's still a hell of a time. Almost quite literally. Silent Hill 3 is probably the most devilish game I've every played when it comes to story and design. A well-written journey and a love letter to the first game.
Now where does it hurt? Well... the gameplay!
Silent Hill 3 feels like a step back in when it comes to gameplay. After you go through a very slow start, the game starts to pick its pacing up, but it never quite hits the mark!
There are enemies EVERYWHERE and I felt like the combat was even WORSE than previous games! Movement might be a little easier to pick up and camera didn't bother me as much, but battling normal enemies and bosses is a huge hassle! Enemy placement is just very bad. It increases difficulty, causes an excess of item usage (which I don't encourage) and the worst thing of all - breaks the immersion! Puzzles and boss fights also felt a little off.
It may not seem like a big thing, but it's a very visible problem and it badly hurts how the game flows. The hospital is probably the best example on how this design philosophy didn't work out well for the entire game.
Silent Hill 3 is an incredible game!
A fantastic horror game and an incredible sequel to the first one. It's a game that I can't recommend enough. The way it stands the test of time, while still managing to mess with your fear and challenge you is diamond.
2020
Ghost of Tsushima could've been a mediocre game at best, but it proves to be much better than many other open world games out there.
This is probably the most beautiful game I've ever played, after TLOU2. Part of the reason why it is so fantastic is because of its scenery. The art direction and evinronmental design is near-perfect here and it merges VERY WELL with story and gameplay. The island of Tsushima is so rich with beauty and secrets to find, that makes you ACTUALLY strive to defend it from the Mongols. It makes you give a **** The gameplay is also top-notch. I confess that it took me a long while to fully get used to the combat but, when it clicks, it CLICKS. It mixes style with substance with ease and makes every single encounter be slightly different or intense enough to make you search for more. Especially during the big battles that the story throws you in.
Exploration (of course) plays a gigantic role in how you'll enjoy the game's progress and I'm happy to say that riding and running through the fields of Tsushima is one of the "chillest" things in gaming, in 2020. Discovering secrets, experiencing the calm soundtrack, collecting masks, flowers, completing objectives, raising your legend status and doing everything else that the open world has to offer is stunning. It might get repetitive, since objectives lose variety halfway through the 2nd act, outstaying its welcome a bit, but it's nothing gamebreaking and it's just incredible how GoT's collectables managed to keep me interested until the credits roll. Even the sidequests got me hooked. There are some very fun and well-written ones.
But the story is probably the weakest part of GoT. While it does get better in the 2nd act, characters have no charisma and the writing lacks any surprises and charm. It does come with some impactful high stakes moments and a few enjoyable samurai tropes, but not enough to make it stand out. Combat, while VERY stylish, does require some time to get used to. At first, it might feel clunky, especially when you're fighting many enemies. Fighting does not work against mobs in this game. Also, stealth mechanics, while seviceable, only work when you done perfectly. Problem is, GoT will seldom give you space or a path to always eliminate entire groups by only using stealth.
One last thing that might push you away from Ghost of Tsushima is how "cliché" it can become. It is an open world that WILL get repetitive, DOES use a bunch of systems and mechanics from others of the genre and NO, it's not as good as industry colossi like The Witcher 3 or Zelda BOTW. The thing is: That's fine! Ghost of Tsushima gets all of those clichés and problems, put them in a powerful blender and makes an impressive and bonafide juice with it. If you like action and open world games, I definitely recommend this one. It's one of the most remarkable exclusives on the console.
Unless... Unless you don't like the samurai, for some reason.
This is probably the most beautiful game I've ever played, after TLOU2. Part of the reason why it is so fantastic is because of its scenery. The art direction and evinronmental design is near-perfect here and it merges VERY WELL with story and gameplay. The island of Tsushima is so rich with beauty and secrets to find, that makes you ACTUALLY strive to defend it from the Mongols. It makes you give a **** The gameplay is also top-notch. I confess that it took me a long while to fully get used to the combat but, when it clicks, it CLICKS. It mixes style with substance with ease and makes every single encounter be slightly different or intense enough to make you search for more. Especially during the big battles that the story throws you in.
Exploration (of course) plays a gigantic role in how you'll enjoy the game's progress and I'm happy to say that riding and running through the fields of Tsushima is one of the "chillest" things in gaming, in 2020. Discovering secrets, experiencing the calm soundtrack, collecting masks, flowers, completing objectives, raising your legend status and doing everything else that the open world has to offer is stunning. It might get repetitive, since objectives lose variety halfway through the 2nd act, outstaying its welcome a bit, but it's nothing gamebreaking and it's just incredible how GoT's collectables managed to keep me interested until the credits roll. Even the sidequests got me hooked. There are some very fun and well-written ones.
But the story is probably the weakest part of GoT. While it does get better in the 2nd act, characters have no charisma and the writing lacks any surprises and charm. It does come with some impactful high stakes moments and a few enjoyable samurai tropes, but not enough to make it stand out. Combat, while VERY stylish, does require some time to get used to. At first, it might feel clunky, especially when you're fighting many enemies. Fighting does not work against mobs in this game. Also, stealth mechanics, while seviceable, only work when you done perfectly. Problem is, GoT will seldom give you space or a path to always eliminate entire groups by only using stealth.
One last thing that might push you away from Ghost of Tsushima is how "cliché" it can become. It is an open world that WILL get repetitive, DOES use a bunch of systems and mechanics from others of the genre and NO, it's not as good as industry colossi like The Witcher 3 or Zelda BOTW. The thing is: That's fine! Ghost of Tsushima gets all of those clichés and problems, put them in a powerful blender and makes an impressive and bonafide juice with it. If you like action and open world games, I definitely recommend this one. It's one of the most remarkable exclusives on the console.
Unless... Unless you don't like the samurai, for some reason.
More of the same... and I love this game for it! It's original, challenging, fast paced, creepy and addicting.
Only three reasons why it didn't score higher: lenght and lack of innovation.
It's too similar to the original and it just seems endless, which might seem cool at first, but it bored me a little. The last thing is the ending. You have to wait a bit over 2 hours with the game on to actually watch it. And it used to be 8 HOURS!
Nonsense...
Despite that, this game is great! I still prefer the first one, but I had a good time anyway.
Only three reasons why it didn't score higher: lenght and lack of innovation.
It's too similar to the original and it just seems endless, which might seem cool at first, but it bored me a little. The last thing is the ending. You have to wait a bit over 2 hours with the game on to actually watch it. And it used to be 8 HOURS!
Nonsense...
Despite that, this game is great! I still prefer the first one, but I had a good time anyway.
2022
Do not sleep on this game!
Neon White is definitely one of the best games of the year and surely one that I wasn't expecting to get me like it did. It has plenty of flaws, but it makes up for it with HUGE fun factor.
First, I need to say that what got me into this game was the soundtrack. It's just PERFECT! Not a single bad song. Songs to keep the rush going, calm songs, stylish songs and so on. If you don't get your hands on this game, at least go for the music. And this sick soundtrack matches perfectly with Neon White's sick gameplay.
Everything just flows amazingly well. You feel the rush, you want to go fast and when you accomplish it, you see yourself as this bad ass player. I'm not a guy who usually goes for record times and collectibles, but it's so fun to traverse through these VERY well-designed levels that I just went for whatever I could get, again and again. It is addictive and will keep you there.
One thing I was worried about after picking up the game was the story. But I'm happy to say that it's actually pretty fun.
I really liked the character design and voice acting, but the whacky writing and so-so jokes kept me a bit on the edge about it. But as the story proggresses, you start to figure the plot out and comprehend character motives and personality. It's not incredibly engaging, but it's interesting. Especially with characters as charismatic as Mikey, or nice the nice relationship development of White & Red's. By the end, I was satisfied with what I experienced.
But while Neon White gets a lot of things right, some of its cracks are right there, preventing it from being better than it is.
After chapter 6, there's a weird shift. The difficulty spike is HUGE and, while I did not find anything unfair, it did cut back the perfect flow and paciong built up from its very first level. Some of the new obstacles on late game levels were just a chore. There were levels that were either completely focused on shooting demons rather than quick traversal, or extremely long. That happens a lot and it sucks, because Neon White is at its best when it's fast as fuck, not trying to be a shooter.
Some other things also bothered me.
The presentation could've been better, they could've cut back the amount of useless dialogue, there are more gifts than there should be, late sidequests were a little too Celeste for me and the few boss fights in the game weren't as thrilling as I thought they could be (especially the 2nd one). And at last, but definitely not least, aiming is HORRIBLE on Switch. It works a little better when you mess around with aim assist and sensitivity, but it was the reason why I failed a lot of the more "shooter" focused levels. Don't even get me started on the Dominion card levels. If you can, play this with a mouse and keyboard.
Neon White is an EXTREMELY fun game. It may not be consistent from beginning to end, but it works a lot more than it doesn't. Do not be discouraged by its weird presentation and writing. Dive right in and I'm sure you will not want to leave.
Neon White is definitely one of the best games of the year and surely one that I wasn't expecting to get me like it did. It has plenty of flaws, but it makes up for it with HUGE fun factor.
First, I need to say that what got me into this game was the soundtrack. It's just PERFECT! Not a single bad song. Songs to keep the rush going, calm songs, stylish songs and so on. If you don't get your hands on this game, at least go for the music. And this sick soundtrack matches perfectly with Neon White's sick gameplay.
Everything just flows amazingly well. You feel the rush, you want to go fast and when you accomplish it, you see yourself as this bad ass player. I'm not a guy who usually goes for record times and collectibles, but it's so fun to traverse through these VERY well-designed levels that I just went for whatever I could get, again and again. It is addictive and will keep you there.
One thing I was worried about after picking up the game was the story. But I'm happy to say that it's actually pretty fun.
I really liked the character design and voice acting, but the whacky writing and so-so jokes kept me a bit on the edge about it. But as the story proggresses, you start to figure the plot out and comprehend character motives and personality. It's not incredibly engaging, but it's interesting. Especially with characters as charismatic as Mikey, or nice the nice relationship development of White & Red's. By the end, I was satisfied with what I experienced.
But while Neon White gets a lot of things right, some of its cracks are right there, preventing it from being better than it is.
After chapter 6, there's a weird shift. The difficulty spike is HUGE and, while I did not find anything unfair, it did cut back the perfect flow and paciong built up from its very first level. Some of the new obstacles on late game levels were just a chore. There were levels that were either completely focused on shooting demons rather than quick traversal, or extremely long. That happens a lot and it sucks, because Neon White is at its best when it's fast as fuck, not trying to be a shooter.
Some other things also bothered me.
The presentation could've been better, they could've cut back the amount of useless dialogue, there are more gifts than there should be, late sidequests were a little too Celeste for me and the few boss fights in the game weren't as thrilling as I thought they could be (especially the 2nd one). And at last, but definitely not least, aiming is HORRIBLE on Switch. It works a little better when you mess around with aim assist and sensitivity, but it was the reason why I failed a lot of the more "shooter" focused levels. Don't even get me started on the Dominion card levels. If you can, play this with a mouse and keyboard.
Neon White is an EXTREMELY fun game. It may not be consistent from beginning to end, but it works a lot more than it doesn't. Do not be discouraged by its weird presentation and writing. Dive right in and I'm sure you will not want to leave.
I have to be honest - I did not like this game so much. This is only the second game in the franchise the I've ever played, but Path of Radiance kinda got me a little disappointed.
First, the good things. The glue that holds it all together IS the combat system. The true meat of the game! Strategizing your units, taking advantage of the amazing and well-designed maps, leveling up, changing classes, getting to know characters, recruiting, losing members and etc. When it comes to what was supposed to be the basic in a tactical game, Path of Radiance is great! I had a lot of fun with it! When things work out or when you know exactly what went wrong with your strategy, that's when the game shines.
The story is alright. I liked it, but it took me several chapters to actually get a grasp of it as a whole. Things are just thrown at you. Not not just 'things', 'THINGS' are thrown at you! The pinnacle of TMI! I'm glad there were some actually interesting characters and story development, but it was all VERY slow. I blame the story flaws in the tedious writing. But, still, not a bad story. Especially when you're getting close to the end - That's when it gets GOOD!
But that's about all I actually liked about in Path of Radiance. Sure, it's basically the core of the experience, but the game lacks in so many other aspects!
The presentation, for example, it's so bad, it's offensive! This game could've been a SNES game! To me, that hurt a HUGE part of the experience. The soundtrack sounded bad, the storytelling felt stiff, the artstyle was weird and everything else seemed too archaic. And although I liked the fact that the game focuses mainly on the main story, without any sidequests or unnecessary detours, THIS TIME I missed it. See, depending on the way (and difficulty) you play, Path of Radiance can be extremely punishing and there's no extra way to grind or get a bit stronger. Some bonus exp or character recruitment requirements are never actually explained to you, so you're left in the dark, with whatever you make out of its gameplay. It also doesn't help that most units are USELESS! Their resistances/defenses are made of PAPER and their attack power can be quite low. Good luck on the field, with your 11 characters vs 22 enemies and a one-shot freak of a boss!
Add that to the preposterous permadeath system and you have a mediocre way to challenge the player, instead of actually teaching them how to get better and giving them means to it. You're basically on your own and you don't have much else to do.
Maybe my hype for this game was too big. But I'm not to blame here, since EVERYBODY LOVES Path of Radiance. I had my share of fun during battles, yes, but found no love overall, only frustration.
I don't recommend this game, unless you're an ultimate sucker for the genre and the franchise.
First, the good things. The glue that holds it all together IS the combat system. The true meat of the game! Strategizing your units, taking advantage of the amazing and well-designed maps, leveling up, changing classes, getting to know characters, recruiting, losing members and etc. When it comes to what was supposed to be the basic in a tactical game, Path of Radiance is great! I had a lot of fun with it! When things work out or when you know exactly what went wrong with your strategy, that's when the game shines.
The story is alright. I liked it, but it took me several chapters to actually get a grasp of it as a whole. Things are just thrown at you. Not not just 'things', 'THINGS' are thrown at you! The pinnacle of TMI! I'm glad there were some actually interesting characters and story development, but it was all VERY slow. I blame the story flaws in the tedious writing. But, still, not a bad story. Especially when you're getting close to the end - That's when it gets GOOD!
But that's about all I actually liked about in Path of Radiance. Sure, it's basically the core of the experience, but the game lacks in so many other aspects!
The presentation, for example, it's so bad, it's offensive! This game could've been a SNES game! To me, that hurt a HUGE part of the experience. The soundtrack sounded bad, the storytelling felt stiff, the artstyle was weird and everything else seemed too archaic. And although I liked the fact that the game focuses mainly on the main story, without any sidequests or unnecessary detours, THIS TIME I missed it. See, depending on the way (and difficulty) you play, Path of Radiance can be extremely punishing and there's no extra way to grind or get a bit stronger. Some bonus exp or character recruitment requirements are never actually explained to you, so you're left in the dark, with whatever you make out of its gameplay. It also doesn't help that most units are USELESS! Their resistances/defenses are made of PAPER and their attack power can be quite low. Good luck on the field, with your 11 characters vs 22 enemies and a one-shot freak of a boss!
Add that to the preposterous permadeath system and you have a mediocre way to challenge the player, instead of actually teaching them how to get better and giving them means to it. You're basically on your own and you don't have much else to do.
Maybe my hype for this game was too big. But I'm not to blame here, since EVERYBODY LOVES Path of Radiance. I had my share of fun during battles, yes, but found no love overall, only frustration.
I don't recommend this game, unless you're an ultimate sucker for the genre and the franchise.
It's hard to put into words what I experienced with this masterpiece. This isn't the first time that I've played Silent Hill 2, but it's the first time that I actually finished it.
I'm glad I did.
Ain't no point in delaying my verdict: this is one of the best games I've ever played! Silent Hill 2 isn't just a good survival horror, it's a deep psychological dive into the minds of disturbed characters, a masterclass in subjective imagery, a horrifying story to uncover and a stunning work of sound and music.
One thing that needs to be absolutely praised here is how this game uses sounds, noises, music and ambient songs to scare and soothe the experience. Not only every single noise, and even silent moments, is masterfully used in the right moment to put you in the mood that it wants you to feel, but it also packs a modest, immersive and beautiful soundtrack.
Thank you, Akira Yamaoka.
But sound design isn't Silent Hill 2's only key feature. The writing is interesting, level design is near flawless, pacing keeps you tense, the eerie voice acting fits the atmosphere, the dark graphics are nerve-racking and even the puzzles stand out.
Not to mention the story. In its own unique and subjective way of capturing your attention and desire to keep going, James Sunderland's melodic and frightening tale manages to tell one of gaming's deepest stories. It even manages to pay off with its 6 different endings.
The only bad aspect about Silent Hill 2 is that the gameplay is outdated. There's no running away from it. It may still hold up better than most survival horror games out there, but it's undeniably stiff and clunky. The camera sucks, tank controls are harsh, movement is too rigid, animations may feel a bit off during cutscenes and MY GOD the combat is bad. I know that the game's clunkiness adds up to its horror-factor, but the combat is just not fun.
The good thing though, maybe compesating to SH2's outdated mechanics, is that the experience is VERY scary. It messes with your eyes, ears, reflexes and perceptions. Even here, in 2021, this game is still one of the scariest and most intense games ever made, in my opinion. It not only does right by the genre, but by video game design as art.
If you somehow get your hands in this game, whether it's on a PS2, PC or even on the inferior HD remaster, you're in for a memorable experience. One for a lifetime. Especially if you're a survival horror fan.
Trust me. Take a trip to Silent Hill. You won't regret it.
I'm glad I did.
Ain't no point in delaying my verdict: this is one of the best games I've ever played! Silent Hill 2 isn't just a good survival horror, it's a deep psychological dive into the minds of disturbed characters, a masterclass in subjective imagery, a horrifying story to uncover and a stunning work of sound and music.
One thing that needs to be absolutely praised here is how this game uses sounds, noises, music and ambient songs to scare and soothe the experience. Not only every single noise, and even silent moments, is masterfully used in the right moment to put you in the mood that it wants you to feel, but it also packs a modest, immersive and beautiful soundtrack.
Thank you, Akira Yamaoka.
But sound design isn't Silent Hill 2's only key feature. The writing is interesting, level design is near flawless, pacing keeps you tense, the eerie voice acting fits the atmosphere, the dark graphics are nerve-racking and even the puzzles stand out.
Not to mention the story. In its own unique and subjective way of capturing your attention and desire to keep going, James Sunderland's melodic and frightening tale manages to tell one of gaming's deepest stories. It even manages to pay off with its 6 different endings.
The only bad aspect about Silent Hill 2 is that the gameplay is outdated. There's no running away from it. It may still hold up better than most survival horror games out there, but it's undeniably stiff and clunky. The camera sucks, tank controls are harsh, movement is too rigid, animations may feel a bit off during cutscenes and MY GOD the combat is bad. I know that the game's clunkiness adds up to its horror-factor, but the combat is just not fun.
The good thing though, maybe compesating to SH2's outdated mechanics, is that the experience is VERY scary. It messes with your eyes, ears, reflexes and perceptions. Even here, in 2021, this game is still one of the scariest and most intense games ever made, in my opinion. It not only does right by the genre, but by video game design as art.
If you somehow get your hands in this game, whether it's on a PS2, PC or even on the inferior HD remaster, you're in for a memorable experience. One for a lifetime. Especially if you're a survival horror fan.
Trust me. Take a trip to Silent Hill. You won't regret it.
I had fun with Republic Commando but, to be honest, I wouldn't give two shits about this game if it didn't carry the Star Wars name.
And I dare say that you also wouldn't.
I like the fact that this game manages to capture what we've seen/read about the clone wars, putting you in the boots of Delta Squad's leader. Giving orders to your team, managing them in the field, aiding them when they need, blasting droids and even ocasionally seeing familiar faces was pretty fun. I also loved the portrayal of famous Star Wars areas, ESPECIALLY Kashyyk's Shadow Lands, which's always a great place to visit in a SW game. I somehow got lightly attached to my teammates. Maybe it was the convincing voice actors. Or maybe it was because they're clones and I LOVE that era of the saga. Probably the latter.
The shooting's quite competent. Not quite as tactical as I expected, but if you go in gun's blazing, you'll quickly die. This isn't Doom and it's better for it. Soundtrack's also pretty good, but that should go without saying, since most SW games nails the music and atmosphere. And while the challenge feels unfair, the sense of accomplishment you get after surviving a maneuver with your squad is great.
The problem with Republic Commando is that, besides being a SW fps, it's just very... Generic? The shooting might be good, but it lacks any surprises. Enemy variety is a joke and some objectives are utterly unbalanced. In the first mission you are a badass, but on the next, your character is made of GLASS! Anything kills you! Especially since you're alone for the majority of that level.
The environments are cool, but they're only cool because you know them from the SW's universe. Outside of that, they're bland, uninspiring and painfully repetitive. Checkpoints are atrocious, the AI doesn't always function as well as it should, the weapons feel weird to use and everything gets old fast. This game only has 3 missions, around 8 hours, but it manages to OUTSTAY ITS WELCOME! The controls are very clunky too. Even changing weapons or picking up ammo feels, somehow, unresponsive. I get that the game is old, but goddamnit, HALO Combat Evolved is from 2001 and did it masterfully. As for the story? It's nice. Typical Star Wars. I liked it. Until the final scene, which just murdered the climax. Credits just rolled. A big letdown, to be frank.
Whether I recommend Republic Commando or not can be boiled down to a question: Do you love Star Wars?
If you do, pick it up. It's filled with flaws, but you'll get some entertainment out of it. If you don't, just stay far away from it.
And I dare say that you also wouldn't.
I like the fact that this game manages to capture what we've seen/read about the clone wars, putting you in the boots of Delta Squad's leader. Giving orders to your team, managing them in the field, aiding them when they need, blasting droids and even ocasionally seeing familiar faces was pretty fun. I also loved the portrayal of famous Star Wars areas, ESPECIALLY Kashyyk's Shadow Lands, which's always a great place to visit in a SW game. I somehow got lightly attached to my teammates. Maybe it was the convincing voice actors. Or maybe it was because they're clones and I LOVE that era of the saga. Probably the latter.
The shooting's quite competent. Not quite as tactical as I expected, but if you go in gun's blazing, you'll quickly die. This isn't Doom and it's better for it. Soundtrack's also pretty good, but that should go without saying, since most SW games nails the music and atmosphere. And while the challenge feels unfair, the sense of accomplishment you get after surviving a maneuver with your squad is great.
The problem with Republic Commando is that, besides being a SW fps, it's just very... Generic? The shooting might be good, but it lacks any surprises. Enemy variety is a joke and some objectives are utterly unbalanced. In the first mission you are a badass, but on the next, your character is made of GLASS! Anything kills you! Especially since you're alone for the majority of that level.
The environments are cool, but they're only cool because you know them from the SW's universe. Outside of that, they're bland, uninspiring and painfully repetitive. Checkpoints are atrocious, the AI doesn't always function as well as it should, the weapons feel weird to use and everything gets old fast. This game only has 3 missions, around 8 hours, but it manages to OUTSTAY ITS WELCOME! The controls are very clunky too. Even changing weapons or picking up ammo feels, somehow, unresponsive. I get that the game is old, but goddamnit, HALO Combat Evolved is from 2001 and did it masterfully. As for the story? It's nice. Typical Star Wars. I liked it. Until the final scene, which just murdered the climax. Credits just rolled. A big letdown, to be frank.
Whether I recommend Republic Commando or not can be boiled down to a question: Do you love Star Wars?
If you do, pick it up. It's filled with flaws, but you'll get some entertainment out of it. If you don't, just stay far away from it.
I'm trying to understand why people hate The Last of Us 2. This is one of the best sequels I've played in my entire life. Last time I got sucked into a story like this was with Red Dead Redemption 2 and LOU2 stands toe to toe with it.
I loved the first game and I really thought that a second part was unnecessary. ND's biggest challenge was to justify the sequel's existence and GODDAMN they did it! I love it even more. It's hard to find anything negative about it. Even the soundtrack is fantastic and I really thought they wouldn' top that. Well, they did that too.
For starters, this is the most beautiful game of this generation. The level of detail and animation technology here is stunning. Part of the reason why you get so convinced in getting involved with the characters is because of how they talk, move, laugh, cry, talk and just react to things. What the devs pulled here was a work of art. A phenomenal graphical powerhouse that paves the way for an incredibly elaborate story.
The gameplay's still very reminiscent of the first entry, but much more improved. Combat and stealth are gruesome, intelligent, challenging, intense and breathtaking. You may not have the level of flexibility of MGSV or the improvisation possibilities of Uncharted 4, but you can ACTUALLY plan how you're going to face encounters and recover from bad decisions, turning the tide to your favor. It's almost flawless. I mean, even the enemies react to what you're doing. They communicate with each other and scream in agony when their comrades die in battle! Upgrading your character also feels a lot more rewarding now. Looking for supplies and saving bullets and items matters a lot more, this time. Oh and the environments are GORGEOUS! Not only to look at, but to explore. They felt scary AND charming at the same time.
But the true driving force of TLOU2 is the story. The acting and writing is at its best. I've seen few things like it in a video game. Without getting into the infamous heavy controversial spoilers, I felt like EVERY decision made in its plot was masterfully done and well justified. It's weird when they break the tale's climax to change the perspective, but when you get further into the script, you just get it. You root for both characters. You may even hate them both. It makes you question MANY things about society, revenge, choice, family, humanity and love. All of these things backed by the strong portrayal of amazing actors, great writing, precise details and impressive animations. Can't remember the last time I cried and laughed this much as I did here.
I guess the bad parts of TLOU2 are in its structure. Like I said, it is extremely justifiable, but it takes a while to justify it. The story is massive and beautiful, but they break it with many flashbacks and perspective moves. Pacing kinda drags, especially with the "Can't Go This Way, Let's Find Another One" moments. It definitely did not trouble my experience, but I get that it can be bothersome. The third act, albeit VERY impactful, can kinda feels rushed. Specially since they just throw a new group of enemies at you without any background. The stealth, when facing the infected, doesn't always work. Maybe it's on purpose, but I went through some frustrating moments when dealing with them. Also, your companion's AI sort of... Sucks?
It's really hard to give this game anything different than a 10. It might not feel like it in the future, but I really see almost no flaw in it. I had fun, I got sad, angry, happy, frustrated and felt challenged by TLOU2. Challenged not only by the gameplay, but also by the story. The game's biggest challenge is to see both sides and to deal and accept that, well... Tomorrow begats tomorrow. Wether it's a good or a bad one. A brutal or a beautiful one. A bloody or a peaceful tomorrow. Your decisions will make it or break it, for you and for others.
If you love video games, play this one.
I loved the first game and I really thought that a second part was unnecessary. ND's biggest challenge was to justify the sequel's existence and GODDAMN they did it! I love it even more. It's hard to find anything negative about it. Even the soundtrack is fantastic and I really thought they wouldn' top that. Well, they did that too.
For starters, this is the most beautiful game of this generation. The level of detail and animation technology here is stunning. Part of the reason why you get so convinced in getting involved with the characters is because of how they talk, move, laugh, cry, talk and just react to things. What the devs pulled here was a work of art. A phenomenal graphical powerhouse that paves the way for an incredibly elaborate story.
The gameplay's still very reminiscent of the first entry, but much more improved. Combat and stealth are gruesome, intelligent, challenging, intense and breathtaking. You may not have the level of flexibility of MGSV or the improvisation possibilities of Uncharted 4, but you can ACTUALLY plan how you're going to face encounters and recover from bad decisions, turning the tide to your favor. It's almost flawless. I mean, even the enemies react to what you're doing. They communicate with each other and scream in agony when their comrades die in battle! Upgrading your character also feels a lot more rewarding now. Looking for supplies and saving bullets and items matters a lot more, this time. Oh and the environments are GORGEOUS! Not only to look at, but to explore. They felt scary AND charming at the same time.
But the true driving force of TLOU2 is the story. The acting and writing is at its best. I've seen few things like it in a video game. Without getting into the infamous heavy controversial spoilers, I felt like EVERY decision made in its plot was masterfully done and well justified. It's weird when they break the tale's climax to change the perspective, but when you get further into the script, you just get it. You root for both characters. You may even hate them both. It makes you question MANY things about society, revenge, choice, family, humanity and love. All of these things backed by the strong portrayal of amazing actors, great writing, precise details and impressive animations. Can't remember the last time I cried and laughed this much as I did here.
I guess the bad parts of TLOU2 are in its structure. Like I said, it is extremely justifiable, but it takes a while to justify it. The story is massive and beautiful, but they break it with many flashbacks and perspective moves. Pacing kinda drags, especially with the "Can't Go This Way, Let's Find Another One" moments. It definitely did not trouble my experience, but I get that it can be bothersome. The third act, albeit VERY impactful, can kinda feels rushed. Specially since they just throw a new group of enemies at you without any background. The stealth, when facing the infected, doesn't always work. Maybe it's on purpose, but I went through some frustrating moments when dealing with them. Also, your companion's AI sort of... Sucks?
It's really hard to give this game anything different than a 10. It might not feel like it in the future, but I really see almost no flaw in it. I had fun, I got sad, angry, happy, frustrated and felt challenged by TLOU2. Challenged not only by the gameplay, but also by the story. The game's biggest challenge is to see both sides and to deal and accept that, well... Tomorrow begats tomorrow. Wether it's a good or a bad one. A brutal or a beautiful one. A bloody or a peaceful tomorrow. Your decisions will make it or break it, for you and for others.
If you love video games, play this one.
Definitely one of the best JRPGS i've ever played. My nostalgia got hit pretty good. Epic from start to finish, filled with great characters and a compelling story. Not much to complain about this game. I just wish the soundtrack was better used and the enemy variety was bigger. Other than that, this is the best in the franchise.
2003
This game is amazing! Probably one of the best beat 'em ups I've ever played. The action, writing, characters, levels and even the graphics, everything is very over the top and exaggerated. But the best thing is that it just fits perfectly! The gameplay also helps this "anime-feel", since you really need to know what you're doing in order to get to the ending and it's just nice to pull a good tough combo or figure out how to defeat a boss. Also, there are some very good unlockables here!
Few things annoyed me, though. This game is brutal and that's ok, but some parts felt like it was brutal for the sake of being brutal. That "boss gauntlet" is just bad design and what's up with the final episode? Everything in it is just repetitive and tedious. In my opinion, the devs got lazy after the fight with Leo.
Other than that, GREAT game! Play it NOW!
Few things annoyed me, though. This game is brutal and that's ok, but some parts felt like it was brutal for the sake of being brutal. That "boss gauntlet" is just bad design and what's up with the final episode? Everything in it is just repetitive and tedious. In my opinion, the devs got lazy after the fight with Leo.
Other than that, GREAT game! Play it NOW!
Resident Evil Revelations does exactly whats it sets out to do and actually manages to be a better game than RE5 and RE6.
It's definitely not the series' best effort and it feels too much like these two previous titles, but it surprisingly works.
The first thing that I have to say here is that it felt good having Jill Valentine back as a protagonist. Especially when you join with Chris later on. Jill's a very strong character for the franchise and I hope Capcom uses her (and a few others often ignored) better.
With that said, I also have to give credit to Revelations' new characters. I'm pretty sure that they'll never ever show up again, but Jessica, Parker and Raymond had their own strong personalities and motivations, aiding the plot to move forward with Jill and Chris.
Speaking of plot, the interconnected story in Revelations is good. It's Not amazing, but it got me interested. The whole FBC/Terragrigia revelation didn't make any sense to me, which kinda weirds things a little, but it works for the most part. Sure, the writing is still VERY cheesy, like a 'B-Movie', but that's part of RE's classic charm at this point.
The only problem is that it is very inconsistent in its constat change of characters and that problem leaks to the gameplay.
Jill's campaign is great and the game should've just been that. Exploring the ship carries a bit of RE4's taste and the level design, although not perfect, is decent. But when you go back and forward in time, with different characters, in different places, it slowly breaks the pace and atmosphere that the game itself builds up.
I mean, you go from elegantly doing puzzles and running away from Rachel with Jill, to completely changing your weapon loadout to play as two bland new characters (Quint and Keith) fighting hordes of hunters or an on-rails shooting moment with Chris, facing a giant worm monster, in a totally different map...
Add this to a few gameplay setbacks and Revelations starts losing a lot of its steam. The dodging mechanic sucks and it feels mandatory sometimes, using the Genesis isn't always fun or useful, movement is a bit clunky, inventory management is nonexistent, backtracking decelerate things and the final boss is the worst in the franchise.
And this is a shame because everything else in the gameplay DOES work. The atmosphere, shooting mechanics, Raid mode, cool unlockables, gruesome enemies (Rachel scares me), nice exploration and even SOLID water levels.
I am not sure how to accurately rate Resident Evil Revelations. I liked it a lot, but when I think too much about it, I can see its cracks. And there are plenty. Maybe the game just works better on a 3DS, but I played it on the Switch, so I can't tell.
But it's a grower. Short and sweet, like a Resident Evil should be. But despite its mishaps, I definitely recommend it.
It's definitely not the series' best effort and it feels too much like these two previous titles, but it surprisingly works.
The first thing that I have to say here is that it felt good having Jill Valentine back as a protagonist. Especially when you join with Chris later on. Jill's a very strong character for the franchise and I hope Capcom uses her (and a few others often ignored) better.
With that said, I also have to give credit to Revelations' new characters. I'm pretty sure that they'll never ever show up again, but Jessica, Parker and Raymond had their own strong personalities and motivations, aiding the plot to move forward with Jill and Chris.
Speaking of plot, the interconnected story in Revelations is good. It's Not amazing, but it got me interested. The whole FBC/Terragrigia revelation didn't make any sense to me, which kinda weirds things a little, but it works for the most part. Sure, the writing is still VERY cheesy, like a 'B-Movie', but that's part of RE's classic charm at this point.
The only problem is that it is very inconsistent in its constat change of characters and that problem leaks to the gameplay.
Jill's campaign is great and the game should've just been that. Exploring the ship carries a bit of RE4's taste and the level design, although not perfect, is decent. But when you go back and forward in time, with different characters, in different places, it slowly breaks the pace and atmosphere that the game itself builds up.
I mean, you go from elegantly doing puzzles and running away from Rachel with Jill, to completely changing your weapon loadout to play as two bland new characters (Quint and Keith) fighting hordes of hunters or an on-rails shooting moment with Chris, facing a giant worm monster, in a totally different map...
Add this to a few gameplay setbacks and Revelations starts losing a lot of its steam. The dodging mechanic sucks and it feels mandatory sometimes, using the Genesis isn't always fun or useful, movement is a bit clunky, inventory management is nonexistent, backtracking decelerate things and the final boss is the worst in the franchise.
And this is a shame because everything else in the gameplay DOES work. The atmosphere, shooting mechanics, Raid mode, cool unlockables, gruesome enemies (Rachel scares me), nice exploration and even SOLID water levels.
I am not sure how to accurately rate Resident Evil Revelations. I liked it a lot, but when I think too much about it, I can see its cracks. And there are plenty. Maybe the game just works better on a 3DS, but I played it on the Switch, so I can't tell.
But it's a grower. Short and sweet, like a Resident Evil should be. But despite its mishaps, I definitely recommend it.
2020
I didn't think I was going to like Doom Eternal as much as 2016's, but I ended up loving it just as much, if not more! Simply put: This is just much MORE of what you got out of the first Doom, but it's bigger, larger, prettier and meatier.
Controls are tighter than ever, precision and agility is still essential, every single weapon feels brutal and tasty, level design is clever, enemy variety is still as good as in the first game, graphics are amazing, the pacing is brilliant and the soundtrack packs an even bigger punch than before. Everything just works amazingly well! Doom Eternal's gameplay is so well done, that makes its flaws feel very small. Hell, even the control scheme makes every mechanic seamless to use. And there are A LOT of mechanics to learn, use and master.
Everything feels much more epic and I think that this happened not only due to the precise and frantic gameplay, but also because of its new charm and aesthetic. Cutscenes are way more cinematic, Doomguy's portrayal is better, each level feels different, with beautiful/grotesque environments throughout the entire campaign, glory kills are satisfying to pull and the sense of scale in each of the 13 missions is incredible. Even the story is better. It's still forgettable and lacks character, but it's a bit more interesting than before, certainly weightier and perfectly fits with the context of... Well, Doomguy's endless demon killing spree!
Doom Eternal's flaws are almost the same as its predecessor. Since it got bigger and tried different things, some issues were a bit hard to ignore, despite the stunning time I had with it.
Platforming moments felt clumsy and a bit out of place - Doom's gameplay is so polished, that when something goes wrong, it's very easy to notice. The platforming sections, for example, felt janky and kinda off.
Some levels were VERY long - I like the larger nature of this game, but I prefer Doom 2016's more streamlined missions a lot more. They aren't SUBSTANTIALLY bigger, but they can get a little bit tiring.
Collectibles/Secrets overdose - One of the things that I did not care for in Doom 2016 were its collectibles and secrets. Here, the feeling of completing a hidden challenge or finding a secret is nice, but they focused TOO MUCH on it. Everything is optional, but when your entire fortress is basically a collectible sanctuary, it's hard to ignore. I much rather focus on demon slaying.
The Marauder - Fuck this guy. He is broken. ESPECIALLY on the hardest difficulties. Just nerf him or take him out, because he can EASILY disjunction your experience.
I HIGLY RECOMMEND Doom Eternal! Whether you played the first one or not, this game is fantastic!
Play it now, unless you have a problem with FPS games, blood or demons.
Controls are tighter than ever, precision and agility is still essential, every single weapon feels brutal and tasty, level design is clever, enemy variety is still as good as in the first game, graphics are amazing, the pacing is brilliant and the soundtrack packs an even bigger punch than before. Everything just works amazingly well! Doom Eternal's gameplay is so well done, that makes its flaws feel very small. Hell, even the control scheme makes every mechanic seamless to use. And there are A LOT of mechanics to learn, use and master.
Everything feels much more epic and I think that this happened not only due to the precise and frantic gameplay, but also because of its new charm and aesthetic. Cutscenes are way more cinematic, Doomguy's portrayal is better, each level feels different, with beautiful/grotesque environments throughout the entire campaign, glory kills are satisfying to pull and the sense of scale in each of the 13 missions is incredible. Even the story is better. It's still forgettable and lacks character, but it's a bit more interesting than before, certainly weightier and perfectly fits with the context of... Well, Doomguy's endless demon killing spree!
Doom Eternal's flaws are almost the same as its predecessor. Since it got bigger and tried different things, some issues were a bit hard to ignore, despite the stunning time I had with it.
Platforming moments felt clumsy and a bit out of place - Doom's gameplay is so polished, that when something goes wrong, it's very easy to notice. The platforming sections, for example, felt janky and kinda off.
Some levels were VERY long - I like the larger nature of this game, but I prefer Doom 2016's more streamlined missions a lot more. They aren't SUBSTANTIALLY bigger, but they can get a little bit tiring.
Collectibles/Secrets overdose - One of the things that I did not care for in Doom 2016 were its collectibles and secrets. Here, the feeling of completing a hidden challenge or finding a secret is nice, but they focused TOO MUCH on it. Everything is optional, but when your entire fortress is basically a collectible sanctuary, it's hard to ignore. I much rather focus on demon slaying.
The Marauder - Fuck this guy. He is broken. ESPECIALLY on the hardest difficulties. Just nerf him or take him out, because he can EASILY disjunction your experience.
I HIGLY RECOMMEND Doom Eternal! Whether you played the first one or not, this game is fantastic!
Play it now, unless you have a problem with FPS games, blood or demons.
2019
I finally got to play my first Persona game and I'm so glad I got to do it by taking my time with it. This game is fantastic! At this point, there is not much I need say to praise it, since it has been beloved enough ever since its vanilla release, back in 2016, but I'll say a few things.
This is probably the most stylish game I've ever played. From the menus, to story presentation, characters, personas and the entire combat system - Everything oozes style! It seems complicated at first, but you'll easily fall in love with how the game looks, sounds and plays with ease as you move forward. Although this is a traditional turn-based RPG, I just love how it tries its best to make EVERYTHING different! Battles are fast-paced and energetic, bosses are epic, story is heavy but light to absorb, the way you handle traditional mechanics on a JRPG (like HP, MP, items and etc) are completely different here and that's all due to the INCREDIBLE amount of depth that the system has. Fusing and hunting Personas always gives you something new and also a sense of progression that pays off when you battle (or outside of battles too). It's an incredible system that blends very well with the rest of the overall tone. Outside from palaces, fights and personas, there's an entire "real life simulation" that works very well. Nothing feels like a chore here and every side or main character tells an interesting story. It all just matters in the end! When the game says "Take your time" during load screens, they actually mean it, because managing it and experiencing the perks you get from it, is more than half of the game. Also, the soundtrack is superb. Every single song. Haven't felt like that with a soundtrack since Zelda BOTW.
My complaints that prevents this game from getting a perfect 10 lies in how overwhelmingly huge it can be - and unnecessarily so! TOO many tutorials, TOO many systems, conversations, mechanics, things to remember, things to do, Personas to acquire, confidants, statuses, items... It's all TOO MUCH! You will NOT experience all you can from only one playthrough, but playing 145 hours of it AGAIN won't come cheap and won't come soon. I love the amount of content and uniqueness in Royal, but it can feel very bloated, at times. Specially with so many missable things going on. Despite loving the story and characters, sometimes I felt that the writing and pacing was inconsistent and a tad repetitive. Nothing that broke my immersion from it, but it bothered me a little. Bosses were good, but not all of them. There were some great ones, but most felt very gimmicky. And what's up with Futaba?? She's a GREAT character, but seldom useful in fights! Why not just make her a regular character???
Persona 5 is one of the most special and modern JRPGs ever. It packs an impactful story, with a meaningful and beautiful message, boxed inside a myriad of addictive gameplay mechanics and systems. It feels like a glorified visual novel and RPG hybrid. It works perfectly and it deserves your attention. And well, even if you don't have the time to play this behemoth, just give the OST a try, ok?
Take your time.
This is probably the most stylish game I've ever played. From the menus, to story presentation, characters, personas and the entire combat system - Everything oozes style! It seems complicated at first, but you'll easily fall in love with how the game looks, sounds and plays with ease as you move forward. Although this is a traditional turn-based RPG, I just love how it tries its best to make EVERYTHING different! Battles are fast-paced and energetic, bosses are epic, story is heavy but light to absorb, the way you handle traditional mechanics on a JRPG (like HP, MP, items and etc) are completely different here and that's all due to the INCREDIBLE amount of depth that the system has. Fusing and hunting Personas always gives you something new and also a sense of progression that pays off when you battle (or outside of battles too). It's an incredible system that blends very well with the rest of the overall tone. Outside from palaces, fights and personas, there's an entire "real life simulation" that works very well. Nothing feels like a chore here and every side or main character tells an interesting story. It all just matters in the end! When the game says "Take your time" during load screens, they actually mean it, because managing it and experiencing the perks you get from it, is more than half of the game. Also, the soundtrack is superb. Every single song. Haven't felt like that with a soundtrack since Zelda BOTW.
My complaints that prevents this game from getting a perfect 10 lies in how overwhelmingly huge it can be - and unnecessarily so! TOO many tutorials, TOO many systems, conversations, mechanics, things to remember, things to do, Personas to acquire, confidants, statuses, items... It's all TOO MUCH! You will NOT experience all you can from only one playthrough, but playing 145 hours of it AGAIN won't come cheap and won't come soon. I love the amount of content and uniqueness in Royal, but it can feel very bloated, at times. Specially with so many missable things going on. Despite loving the story and characters, sometimes I felt that the writing and pacing was inconsistent and a tad repetitive. Nothing that broke my immersion from it, but it bothered me a little. Bosses were good, but not all of them. There were some great ones, but most felt very gimmicky. And what's up with Futaba?? She's a GREAT character, but seldom useful in fights! Why not just make her a regular character???
Persona 5 is one of the most special and modern JRPGs ever. It packs an impactful story, with a meaningful and beautiful message, boxed inside a myriad of addictive gameplay mechanics and systems. It feels like a glorified visual novel and RPG hybrid. It works perfectly and it deserves your attention. And well, even if you don't have the time to play this behemoth, just give the OST a try, ok?
Take your time.