For those of you who have known me for any period of time.. or it may be more accurate to say, for those who I trust enough to speak without reservation, you would know I have an incredibly complicated history with Sen no Kiseki IV. This game, since its release, has been the most divisive entry in this entire franchise for me. It should be of no surprise to anyone that I live, breathe and thrive off of Kiseki so I would imagine my words have some weight. However, I am writing this due to my selfish desire to leave some record of my thoughts in this infinite sea of data. Ultimately, when Sen no Kiseki IV is good, it is some of the greatest moments this series has ever produced but when it is bad, it is arguably the worst. But- I'm not really going to talk about that. I had an entire review written up to air out my thoughts regarding this entry in the franchise and- I think I'm alright. Genuinely speaking, I have went on for hours and years about how I find masks to be an incredibly contrived plot point that insults both the writers and the readers. I have went on about how I feel the "curse" is a joke outside of the main narrative. And I have went on about how I feel regarding some of the other pertinent negatives I experienced playing this game. But I want to talk about what I liked because I want to gush about my passion for this franchise, as I usually do.

To begin I would like to mention shifting the protagonist role to Juna. This was the best decision Falcom had made. Putting my absolute love and adoration for Juna aside, she best embodies both Lloyd and Rean's spirit. She possesses Lloyd's will to surmount even the most impossible of barriers and Rean's will to relentlessly move forward into the unknown. She is the bridge between Crossbell and Erebonia, and between Class VII and the SSS. She possesses the staunch stubbornness seen in Rean and Lloyd and the unrelenting drive to do the right thing which is precisely what Zemuria needed come Sen 4. To this end her desire to act, which has been shown repeatedly in Sen 3 stemming from her desire to protect Crossbell, snaps Class VII out of their stupor and pushes everyone to action. This allows the narrative to shift focus to New Class VII and provides them an opportunity to demonstrate their growth as Rean's students. I adore this shift in dynamic and feel it adds a breath of fresh air to the story. Of course, I am bias because this means more Juna and you can never get enough of Juna.

The last detail I would like to eagerly mention is the world-building and lore. Sen IV does an excellent job of executing on the lore we have been provided so far. I would even say this is when the game is at its greatest. Eryn is one of, if not, my favorite town in Kiseki. Saint Gral Labyrinth is one of my favorite dungeons. Hexen Breed are absolutely rich in culture and background and Eryn serves as an excellent hub for that first portion of the game to say nothing of the OST. Additional locations and their associated tracks are also simply beautiful, Alster, Osgiliath Basin, Tuatha de Danann, Sanctuaries, etc. etc. etc. all are wonderfully crafted and execute well on the "magic" aspect of Erebonia. It is difficult to find fault in this as there is passion and purpose behind each location in this game. I genuinely love the mythical, fantastical aspect of Erebonia and deeply adore how Sen IV melds such fantasy into the narrative. Additionally, it must be said that Act III and beyond in Sen IV are wonderful. The conclusion of Lianne and Rutger's stories, the determination and resolution demonstrated by Duvalie and Fie, the assault on the Pales and final confrontations at Tuatha de Danaan were all enthralling. Final chapter does an excellent job of tying up loose ends and bringing closure to Liberl as well as Elie's stories. And I think this is the important part. Every moment from Act III onwards, aside from those involving the absolutely inane masks, feels deserved, deliberate and satisfactory. It is filled with a genuine desire to bring to conclusion everything this series has been building towards and pave a new path for future entries. In this game, we see the culmination of two years of Class VII's struggle. Two years of pain, grief, sadness, anger, hate, pity and all the other messy emotions binding us to our humanity. We witness the realization of Olivert's dream and the conclusion of so many stories within Erebonia. As Sara mentions, and as Emma has mentioned previously, Class VII truly is the greatest class and they embody such pure determination and hope as they make their way into the future you can only cheer for them. And to that end, the emotion this entry provokes, the genuine familial bond demonstrated between Class VII and their desire to become the foundation of the world is nothing short of perfection. And I will never not be grateful for being able to witness such a beautiful story.

Class VII is the best class.

A touching and personal story about fighting to survive. An timeless commentary about humanities inherent will to fight and to claim the future we seek because we shouldn't falter in the face of our preordained circumstances. It's a call to rise up against our predetermined fate because despite humanity being forever doomed to live and die in an continuous, endless cycle, it is the events in the cycle which represent who we are and what we do.


It remains one of the greatest games of all time. I needed this replay at this moment in my life.

This is the game which sold me on Takahashi's vision all the way back in 2011. Xenoblade's story stands the test of time as an incredibly beautiful narrative on the desire for revenge and what it means to be in control of one's own destiny. Xenoblade Chronicles combines a beautifully different world with an amazing OST, compelling characters and a wonderful narrative which makes Xenoblade not a game, but an experience. Takahashi and Monolith absolutely popped off on this game.

I had 100% this game back when DE first released, so this replay was dedicated entirely to re-experiencing the story and I can say for certainty this game resonates with me the same as it did all those years ago.

So rarely does a work come along that genuinely resonates so deeply with each and everyone of us. Some narrative, song, game, movie, artwork that enamors, moves and wholly enraptures us within its framework. Individuals may prefer to call it perfection and others, art in its purest form. But whatever you choose to call it, there is one word that encompasses such emotion.. "love". And even more rarely does a long running series continually release works that one can persistently and genuinely "love" with their mind, body and soul. I love Kiseki. And I love this game.

Kuro no Kiseki serves as a testament to Falcom's ability to continue providing pure unfiltered emotional experiences that draw you in and capture you within its world. This is a game that reignited my passion for this series in a way that I've never experienced before. Not to say that I had ever lost it but Kuro no Kiseki reminded me why I continue to invest so much time, energy, money and love into Kiseki. Every single chapter, every single moment, every single character, every single location, every single soundtrack, every single everything is
intentional, deliberate and crafted with such love for this world. Arkride Solutions Office acts as the perfect family for the cast, a home that guides, pushes and gently brings out the best in such a colorful and wonderful crew. And Falcom, years later, continues to write the most wonderful protagonists with Van acting as our gateway into the country of Calvard as a completely "gray" force. Arkride Solutions Office is "family" and it is "home". It is family and it is home much in the way the Liberl cast, SSS and Class VII are. And much like with Sora, Zero/Ao, Sen/Hajimari this game earns its place within this franchises legacy. It is an experience that brings to life the adage, "Family isn't writ in blood, it is only proven true by bonds." It becomes home for every single member that Van connects with and ultimately for you- as you come to understand just what it means to be a Spriggan who carries the burden of guiding those who fall into the "gray". It's difficult for me to write more because I feel that no matter how deeply I delve into why I love this game, I will never be able to fully convey how much warmth this game fills me with so all I'll say is this. Van Arkride and Arkride Solutions Office truly is "aoguro"- the gentle color that precedes dawn. They are that dark-bluish hue which represents the end of a long night and start of a new day. That dark-bluish hue which gently lifts you awake from a long nightmare and pushes you forward to face whatever challenges that may come. That dark-bluish hue that envelopes you softly and encourages you to keep pushing forward. That is what Van Arkride, Arkride Solutions Office, Kuro no Kiseki, Kiseki and Eiyuu Densetsu as a whole mean to me. To Falcom, thank you for that gentle aoguro light that keeps driving me forward, relentlessly.

I don't believe this review will change people's thoughts on this game or franchise nor do I believe it will inspire others to start it. However, I have to leave some record of my emotions somewhere regarding this franchise so I apologize in advance for this heartfelt and somewhat cringe outpouring of thoughts.

Rean Schwarzer and Class VII is what it means to be "human". To possess faults, to grapple with emotional trauma, to understand lineage, to constantly be at war with who you are, who you want to be and who you must be. All of these are facets of reality that humanity has to constantly grapple with, the "human condition". And Sen no Kiseki I does an excellent job of providing a cast that is so colorful, so full of life and so "human" that you cannot help but root for them. This cast is affected and affect the meticulously and beautifully crafted world of Zemuria to form a narrative which from the very moment of starting the game, takes you through a story written with so much love it continuously draws you back. To see Rean and Class VII learn, grow and overcome each obstacle is nothing short of awe-inspiring. To understand where this cast goes from this point forward in the next several games and knowing these are the roots for their understanding of the world is incredible. To say nothing of the beautiful OST which perfectly complements each region, each character, each moment. To say nothing of the amazing locations within the game that have incredibly complex world-building and lore associated with them. To say nothing of the colorful band of NPC's who live and breathe in this world with tangible emotions and story arcs. To say nothing of the phenomenal art which can be associated with this game and it's promotional period. This game is a bundle of love that just never stops capturing your heart and I am grateful to have played this and every game within this franchise.

Genuinely, I love this game. To many people this will always just be "another JRPG" and maybe even a faulty one at that. But to me, this game and this franchise make up a core part of who I am. About almost ten years ago now, I heard Falcom Sound Team's wondrous OST for Sen no Kiseki I while perusing YouTube and it's almost amazing how that one experience fundamentally changed my life. Upon playing this game shortly after, I spiraled into a stupor of consuming as much Falcom content as I possibly could and have never stopped since then. This game triggered my pursuit of learning Japanese ages ago and allowed me to meet people who have helped me to become who I am today. Kiseki transcends being just a "series" and is ultimately a manifestation of my desire to grow, to learn, to be better and to become more. It is both a dear friend and comfortable home within which I can take respite. It is a series which I have replayed countless, countless times and have bought countless, countless times and yet it will never grow old. Each play-through of each game feels like my first and I fall in love with this world.. over and over and over again.

As Rean states at the end of the game, "And I think you'd have to agree Class President, Class VII is the greatest class there is." There is no series, no world, no characters, no soundtrack, no lore or world-building, etc. etc. etc. like Eiyuu Densetsu: Sora/Zero/Ao/Sen/Hajimari/Kuro no Kiseki. And certainly, there is no class quite like Class VII.

I wish someone made me play this game sooner. In sum, it was amazing.

For context, my only other Resident Evil experience was 5 co-op which was fun.. but I wasn't entirely invested in the story, world, characters or even setting. This game however made me understand why so many rave over this series as they do. I was incredibly invested in Leon and Ashley's journey and felt the tidbits of world-building we received were fascinating. It was just enough to make you both understand and crave more from the overarching plot. Story was simple enough but had some amazing beats such as Major Krausser, Luis, Ramon, that were effective in execution. Set pieces were wonderful and each location felt deliberate and purposeful. Gun play was so addictive. And as I've been made aware the shooting range was allegedly not in the original? If true, what a fun addition. Devs were clearly very confident in what they achieved here, as they should be. There isn't anything negative to say. This is a beautiful game and Leon is HIM.

Actually I also must admit, a big part of my enjoyment was associating each gun with their Girls Frontline counterpart because I'm a weeb. I'm happy to say VP70, no matter which game it is, continues to come in clutch.

Unlike with Kiseki I do not have any profound or profusely deep thoughts on Ys. That isn’t to say Ys is bad… in fact it shines as one of the most fulfilling narrative experiences one could have. However, it is to say that you receive exactly what you expect from Ys which isn’t a negative evaluation by any means. Ys is and always will be the story of one very proficient red-haired swordsman who embarks on a myriad of adventures and Ys VIII Lacrimosa of Dana is no different. In a way, I’d even say this game is the pinnacle of Ys experiences and rightfully reoriented the franchise.

Ys VIII covers the travelogue of Adol’s shipwreck on the Isle of Seiren and what a gold mine Falcom struck with such a setting. This game was many people’s initial foray into this franchise and so orienting Adol in a world that is completely unknown to him fully embraces us into his role. This island is as mysterious to him as it is to us and each new discovery, landmark and detail really allows the player to inherit the role of “Adventurer”. Rather than Ys VIII explaining to us “why” adventuring is so exciting to Adol, we learn first hand just what it means to him by instilling in us that very same awe, wonder and excitement. Throughout the game many characters scoff, ridicule or even question Adol’s self-proclaimed title but each location in this game reinforces in us “why” we adventure. To that end, Lacrimosa of Dana does an excellent job of conveying this world to us as players. It is no surprise that Falcom was operating under heavy technical limitations between the Vita and PS4 but despite this, each location is incredibly inspired and purposeful. There is purposeful intent behind every new discovery you make and this is one aspect Ys VIII absolutely excels at.. even more so than its predecessors. This game is a masterclass in environmental story-telling. There is so much to learn just from paying attention to the world and how every location is oriented in respect to each other. One detail I feel many overlook is how each location is named by the party themselves. Discovering why “Nameless Coast”, “Eroded Valley”, “Nostalgia Cape” are named as such and how the landmarks present in these locations prompted such names is so much fun. One of my favorite moments in any game comes from Ys VIII and it is when the cast finally reaches the summit of Gens d’Armes. That view from South to North has no English dictionary word describing what it makes one feel. Add to this the underlying mysteries behind each Pirate’s Note or discovery you make regarding the truth of Seiren and there is so much subtle build-up that absolutely pays off in spades as you progress. To this day, the minute approach of Eleftheria and Captain Reed’s story is some of my favorite Ys storytelling to date. Add to this how each new location is delivered with soulful art and environment direction. Even despite its release in 2016, it is hard to say this game aged poorly when so many locations look incredibly beautiful and convey just how Seiren’s isolation from the progression of mankind is as magnificent as it is awe-inspiring. This purposeful world-crafting pairs sublimely with Falcom Sound Team JDK’s pure euphoria-inducing soundtrack. Tracks such as “Eroded Valley”, “Sibylline Road”, “Gens d’Armes”, “A Slow and Deep Breath”, “Iclucian Dance” and “Valley of Kings” to name a few all help illustrate the diverse and dense world of Seiren. The pure emotions conveyed from Unisuga, Jindo, Singa and Sonoda’s work here is unparalleled. I’d even go so far as to say Ys VIII’s soundtrack illustrates the golden era of Falcom discography. Every track has so much passion poured into it, each telling a story of its own that combines flawlessly with the emotion and tragedy of each location to deliver such profound sentiment. I cannot stress enough how much of a marriage the two are. And I cannot stress enough how this fuels your desire for “adventure”. This game very much feels like a love letter to the concept of discovery and fully embodies what Adol Christin as a character represents in this world.

And regarding the “world”, Ys VIII does an excellent job of tying together its theme of unity. From the very beginning it is stressed that only together can each castaway survive on Seiren. And this very theme is ever present in them, in Dana, in Eternia, in the Wardens and in Selen Garden. It is only through unity can humanity, or rather, our collective consciousness endure. Ys VIII takes this theme and masterfully weaves it into the ever-increasing stakes so well that you can’t help but root for each character as they overcome each tribulation. And oh man, the characters. This game has an incredibly strong cast from Laxia whose arc teaches us to overcome our own indecisiveness and take action, Sahad who reminds us to be humble in the face of how great the world is, Hummel who demonstrates how duty drives humanity to be ever greater in their cause, Ricotta who shows us no matter how lost we are never alone and Dana who enforces that so long as we are unrelenting we will overcome. It is hard to feel any character ever falls behind as each proves themselves to be more than just a caricature of some niche. Sahad’s words to Adol and Laxia under the night sky on remaining humble in front of the ocean stay with me to this day. It is hard to imagine this game without any one of its cast members.

It’s amazing for me honestly. I have played this game many times before but it hasn’t resonated so deeply with me until now. This is just a really good game and certainly one of my favorite Ys experiences. It encapsulates just what Ys means. It features some phenomenal story-telling, environments, OST, characters and really embraces what it means to sit down and go on a fantastical adventure. Ys VIII embodies both the legacy and philosophy of Ys. Ys VIII is at its core the truest Ys experience.

ANNO: Mutationem is a beautifully crafted game that uses phenomenal pixel art to bring to life a world that is so rich you want to keep coming back. It's a game that combines incredibly fun exploration, combat, world-building, characters, beautiful art direction, and stunning sound design to such a degree that the 10-20 hours I spend with this game just isn't enough. It's such an incredible hidden gem that I encourage everyone to pick up and play.

The most common criticism I see about ANNO: Mutationem is a lackluster story. I understand this complaint to a degree because if a player tends to avoid the extra in-game articles, data logs, and lore/world-building information there will be a disconnect from what occurs in the story to what you should have learned through other material in-game. If I had any criticisms at all, they would just be to implement a dash mechanic for overworld traversal to make back-tracking during collectible hunting more efficient. I'm very hopeful for a sequel and if we were to get one I would be incredibly grateful (and excited) and appreciate side quests that genuinely touched upon some of the world-building elements present in the game and a better incorporation of the extra lore hidden around the world into the main story. Otherwise, even despite this, I continue to enjoy my time with this excellent title.

I had originally played ANNO: Mutationem some time ago because I had heard Vanguard Sounds was responsible for the OST and I continue to not be disappointed at all. They delivered nothing but quality and love with every track in this game. It's amazing.

My experience with generation 7 and Alola has always been negative. I was never a fan of Sun/Moon, Alola, Z-moves, the cast and so much more. I felt it was always the "weird" entry that just didn't belong in the franchise.

So, in the vein of giving things a second chance I decided to finally play and finish the only Pokemon game I had not touched. To my surprise I enjoyed this game a lot. I'm unsure if its the passage of time or just a difference in how I play games but Ultra Sun was a lot of fun. I still have some grievances with it. I was not a fan of how much the performance of this game lacked, it made the journey really unappealing. I felt a majority of the routes and towns were unmemorable. Of note, the only routes I felt were "good" are Vast Poni Canyon and Mount Lanakila. Totem Pokemon felt unfair and while the difficulty was nice, I think the game should have done more mechanically to make each encounter satisfying. I was also not a fan of Z-moves, I don't think that will ever change.

On the other hand, I absolutely adored the cast. I felt this game had a strong cast overall, from Hau to Gladion to Lillie, it genuinely felt like each character had purpose. I was a big fan of their respective character arcs. I really enjoyed the region with this game. Alola has a big overarching theme of connection and I really did come to understand that through Ultra Sun. I think the OST was really strong and had some great tracks throughout. And ultimately, the second half of this game (after the Sophocles trial) was really well done. In fact, I feel that Ultra Sun is at its best when it isn't following the conventional 8 gym/trials formula. The game stepped away from this structure shortly after Acerola's trial and I was much more enthralled with the overall journey. Of course, I would be remiss not to mention all of the references and returning characters within Alola. Keeping true to the theme of "connection" there are a lot of familiar faces and references to other regions. In many ways, this game feels like a celebration of this franchise's history and I enjoyed this aspect a lot.


I will admit, this playthrough really did warm me up to generation 7 and can confidently say it's a comfy game. I don't think it's THE BEST but it's a game I will look back on fondly.

Girls Frontline is a franchise that has meant a lot to me over the last ~7 years. I distinctly remember the announcement of Codename: Bakery Girl remake in January 2018 and being filled with indescribable excitement at the idea of that game being fully realized. It has been almost 6 years since and I can say with no uncertainty that this game surpassed my expectations and is one of the best games I have ever played.

Reverse Collapse takes the original Codename: Bakery Girl and elevates it to an entirely new level. It is a phenomenal remake that surpasses the original in every regard. Every character, story beat, dialogue, interaction, character sprite, artwork, CG, soundtrack, and map/level design is filled with love and attention. You can feel the passion and love for this franchise oozing through every second of this adventure. It is filled with authentic zeal to tell its story reminiscent of Bakehouse and ambition to deliver an engaging experience reminiscent of Codename: Bakery Girl. It is the best parts of Girls Frontline, Girls Frontline: Neural Cloud, Girls Frontline 2, the original Bakehouse, and Codename: Bakery Girl. It is a love letter not only to this franchise and its original vision but also to the fans who have and continue to dedicate themselves to one of the most ambitious stories told.

It's amazing just how deeply I fell in love with the cast: Mendo, Jefuty, Atena, Jevon, and Carl are all such charismatic characters. I can genuinely say I love them all. Jefuty and Mendo in particular are so phenomenal, presenting such engaging chemistry that you can't help but root for them through each story beat. I thoroughly enjoyed the villains and each twist and turn through the Caucasus Mountain region. I loved all the collectibles referencing older characters or events. I loved all the confidential files that took advantage of Girls Frontline's amazing and intricate world. I cannot stress enough how excited I was seeing certain entries. I loved seeing the culmination of this journey and wish so desperately I could experience it for the first time again.

I could go on and on and on and on about Reverse Collapse but ultimately, Reverse Collapse is a game about love, sacrifice, hope, despair, and unyielding determination. It is about doing right by those you love and choosing the impossible, enduring unending tragedy so those you love can live happily and freely. It is a beautiful story about choice and the consequences of it.

To Yuzhong, to Shaonian, to MICA and its talented devs, to XD and everyone involved in this project thank you for delivering an experience so beautiful it will remain with me for years.

And once more to Yuzhong, and MICA, thank you so much for continually writing stories that resonate with so many people. Thank you for Girls Frontline, Neural Cloud, Reverse Collapse and all the stories you've shared in this beautiful world you've crafted.