I wasn't expecting much out of an April Fool's game but this one was charming. Makes me want another Sonic visual novel. It's got amusing dialogue, fun gameplay, a chill soundtrack, a pleasant artstyle, which is everything I'd want out of a Sonic game. Especially the way the characters are utilized. You know, Sonic's friends are mad enjoyable when they get to show off their personalities and aren't just there, being cheerleaders. If Sega made more fun and silly games like this, I'd be more than happy to support them.

I felt like Federation Force was one of those games I had to play online before the 3DS shut down, because its reputation among Metroid fans intrigued me. It was tough since everyone I asked to play it with wasn't interested, couldn't do it, didn't have the time, or straight up flaked out. It's mostly understandable, but it still hurts my feelings. Fortunately for me, rito and some strangers online were crazy enough to join me so that I could experience the game as it was intended.

Yeah, you can definitely tell Nintendo dropped this to shut up the Metroid fans. I wanted to like this game because the concept of a 4 player Metroid is interesting, but instead it feels half-assed. If you want to be put to sleep, play this game's missions and you'll be knocked out. Nothing cool ever happens. You just get dropped into a planet, do some lame puzzles, shoot some shit and watch boring cutscenes. The shooting doesn't fare much better. The stiff controls and weird aiming (which is something you shouldn't have in a first-person shooter) just makes the experience more dull than it needs to be, and I probably would have been more lenient to Federation Force if the shooting aspect was fun and moving didn't feel like your suit was filled with fuckin' cement. The game isn't worth playing for $40, let alone zero.

I decided to play The Coal out of morbid curiosity, thanks to everyone making this game out to be worse than Satan and @ZeusDeeGoose's disdain for the writing. Putting aside the creator's creepy, barely disguised incest fetish with the two mentally ill protagonists flirting, the gameplay is dull puzzle schlock, and the dialogue is something only a middle schooler could enjoy. How am I expected to take this "horror" game seriously when it doesn't even take itself seriously, or have anything of substance to say? Everything's just shocking for the sake of it. Satanism? Murder? Cannibalism? Shiver me timbers!!!

(Played with the Yakuza Restoration patch)
I decided to start with the first Ryu Ga Gotoku game on PS2 instead of starting with 0 like everyone else, for the sake of seeing how the gameplay evolves with each entry. I have to say, this isn't a bad introduction to the franchise.

Say what you will about the gameplay, but if you put all of that aside, you're left with an interesting crime drama about the lengths people go to for power, and how it affects the world around them.

I found it hard to care for some aspects of the story such as Nishikiyama and Kiryu's relationship because of the little screentime they had together, along with the deaths that are only there for shock value, but I couldn't help but get invested thanks to the story revolving around Haruka's value. If it weren't for her inclusion, I wouldn't have been as invested. I also appreciate the side characters like Makoto Date and Goro Majima for having their own fun relationships with Kiryu. Date is an intelligent detective who was willing to help Kiryu with his problems despite him being an ex-yakuza, and Majima is just batshit insane.

Of course, since this is the first game in the series, things are going to be rough around the edges. I've had some gripes with the combat being a little bit stiff, and the camera being uncooperative at times, but it's not as horrible as some people make it out to be. You should breeze through everything so long as you manage your healing items carefully and learn extra moves (which shouldn't be optional in the first place) from Komaki. I think the only real problems are how unreactable the QTEs are, the groups of enemies constantly pouncing on you, and how annoying it is to fight gun-wielding mooks—especially that one boss I nearly died to. How was I supposed to know where to get a bulletproof vest?

One last thing I want to appreciate is the general aesthetic of the game. The graphics aren't on par with the things we have today but it's not bad by any means. The lighting is great, alongside the characters looking realistic and expressive. Kamurocho's nighttime strolls full of civilians walking around, gangsters lurking, and interesting landmarks are quite immersive and makes the world feel like it's truly lived in. The soundtrack also has this grungy 2000's feel that I think is awesome, and it's also one of the reasons why I played this over Kiwami. That OST just doesn't hit the same.

Overall, I think the game is good, but flawed in most areas. I think this is a valid starting point if you've got an available way to play PS2 games. But I feel like I have to start BEGGING you not to play the original English version, because the dub is terrible and a lot of dialogue is butchered (or in some cases, enhanced) by gratuitous swearing. Or suit your fucking self and play it anyway. I'm not your fucking dad, motherfucker.

It's an ok game that thinks it's cool when it really isn't, but I had fun going around shooting people for no reason. The pressure from enemies constantly kept me on my toes, forcing me to adapt to the environment and experiment with the weapons. Sucks that the game doesn't tell you how things work unless you look at the controls menu and memorize everything. I don't have much else to say except that it's funny how a game this stupid managed to offend people, with the Postal Dude's constant quips and comically edgy monologues between levels. (am I just desensitized?) It's not the best thing in the world, but it ain't that bad.

Despite Splatoon 2 & 3 being more popular and slightly better games, I still hold a heavy amount of nostalgia for this game. I admire so much about it, from its characters, the lore, the smooth gameplay and the OST which is unironically fantastic. The dual screen gameplay is the best in the series, and I greatly prefer it over 2 and 3's controls. The game's playerbase is still active even though it's on a dead console, which goes to show how much of a classic this game is. I'm so glad this game's legacy lives on, and I'll always love this game until my dying breath.

After beating Fatal Fury, I felt obligated to play Art of Fighting because of how much I liked it. Sadly I didn't get the same enjoyment here.

The music is decent, the graphics are good looking, the movement is much better Fatal Fury's, and I like how the story is framed as a kung-fu action movie with cutscenes thrown in the mix. I just feel like the gameplay holds AoF back.

This is probably a me problem, but I don't like how sluggish the special moves feel. A Hien Shippuu Kyaku or a Haoh Shoukou Ken takes eons to come out, so don't go using them willy-nilly. Then there's the meter mechanic, the Spirit Gauge. I feel that it's a hindrance.

Not only do you need it to perform special moves which drain a lot of it, but it's difficult to get it charged high enough with the AI being so neurotic. They'll be constantly taunting you to shrink the gauge or outright intercept you, while they constantly charge theirs up. It feels like this picture. Mr. Big is especially guilty of this. Penis-headed bitch. But I'll give SNK some credit, the Spirit Gauge adds another layer of strategy to the game, which did keep things interesting.

I respect this game as one of SNK's legacy titles, but it's not something I'd like to revisit.