This game is comedy at its heart, and so, it really demands that you play stealthy, not because of XP boosts or extra loot, but because otherwise you're going to miss all the anecdotes, and ridiculous dialogue that the enemies share. But it's also not really a stealth game--you'll either have to learn the enemy patrols or save scum your way through it--it's definitely a comedy from the 2000s, and so some of its comedy hasn't aged well, but the script, cutscenes, music, and main voice roles are all wonderful. This game is a cult classic for a reason, and I hope it gets a remake sooner than later.

A game about discovery and connection is hamstrung by some of the worst tutorialization in AAA gaming. Death Stranding tries a lot of new things, and for that it should be applauded. The world you inhabit is striking in its visual presentation, a Ridley-esque haunting, gray apocalypse, and the initial horrifying cinematics do a lot to establish the world's mystery and danger. But the game's insistence on explaining, multiple times, each mechanic or new wrinkle without any sort of characterization or easy way to skip it, makes the gameplay a chore. After 40 hours, the game starts to loosen the reins a bit, but by then its too late. Death Stranding remains an intriguing, but failed, concept. I hope Kojima is able to streamline the experience for the sequel, because this gameworld oozes untapped potential.

The fact that so much of Metroid Prime's 20 year old design not only holds up, but enthralls, is testament to the depth of its exploration and world-building. But, as a remaster, the offering here is largely superficial. The graphics upgrade, impressive as it is, ends up calling attention to the other elements that were left untouched. The save system, restrictive puzzle design, and dated soundscape are all elements that would be fine for a straight remaster, but feel jarring next to the contemporary graphics.