The epitome of Keep It Simple, Stupid. Absolutely rules when you can focus on run and gun FPS mayhem... where it falters is when it tries more complex objectives, many of which end up obscure and unreadable without either looking them up or simply having prior knowledge from spending way too much time with it back in the 90s. The game will often not do much of anything to communicate how you're intended to complete some of these objectives (or in some cases even identify what they actually are), and doesn't really have a way to without spelling it out entirely and ruining the exploration. This, combined with some questionable level design, can make the game needlessly frustrating from time to time. Control on anything above Agent? Those turrets are absolute misery, it becomes a truly godawful level. Caverns, the most linear and basic level in the game, will be the easiest thing to run until the very end where horribly placed inept (or seemingly suicidal) enemies at the end regularly throw a grenade at you that they almost always manage to blow themselves and the radio up with. Most of the levels are fun to play through, but some of these little moments just hamper an otherwise very enjoyable game.

What's most impressive to me is that it is a hell of an adaptation of the movie. Watched the movie for the first time two or three years ago, and it makes it very easy to appreciate the care the game took in adapting the various locales and setpieces... it's an achievement by Rare just how authentic it feels to its source. I watched the movie 25ish years after playing the game and could identify almost everything as a discrete moment from the game. Even with N64 graphics, you can identify things with ease, it's insanely readable and shows the care that Rare handled this with. Excellent work.

The best RPG's feel like a real journey, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 nails that bench mark. The story concept is out there enough to be unique, but resonant enough to hook you and keep you playing. The soundtrack pulls out all the stops and really aids in the emotional high notes hitting as hard as they do. The world is tremendous, packed to the brim with nooks and crannies to explore. The team building in gameplay is fantastic, giving you a huge degree of customization to make your dream team of warriors. If you've played any other Xenoblade games and liked them, you absolutely cannot miss this one.

Certainly the game isn't perfect, some things exist just to bloat the hefty run time, and certain aspects seem cool at first but way overstay their welcome (chain attack theme lol), but you can easily work past those. Just go with the flow of the game, and let your sense of adventure take over and you'll have a wonderful time.

When I first heard Persona 3 was getting a remake, I imagined it would provide a shiny new coat of paint on an enjoyable but flawed entry to the series. As more trailers trickled through in the lead-up to release, I got more excited for what could be much more than just a graphical update.

That's not to say the game hasn't undergone a gorgeous graphical overhaul. Persona 3 Reload is consistently breathtaking on stunning beaches or foreboding hellscapes. Hell, even the menus had me in awe of the sleek design, which, to Atlus' credit, has become standard for their games nowadays. Overall, the game feels like an animated film, and I mean that in the best way—just pure, unfiltered eye candy.

The gameplay of Persona 3/FES/Portable has always been the number one criticism of the entries. As such, I was ill-prepared for anything mind-blowing in that department. I've never been happier to be humbled, with Persona 3 Reload pulling no punches when it comes to innovating. Including quality-of-life mechanics, such as the 'Shift' pass, makes it much easier to wipe out hordes of Shadows easily. The Theurgy mechanic is a great addition that gives us a deeper insight into the characters while providing potent abilities. Throughout the main dungeon in the game, you are thrown curveballs, where some floors will have additional challenges, such as Monad doors, where you're given the option to fight brutal enemies for rare items used for crafting. These new challenges, along with some other gameplay mechanics, make the main dungeon much more engaging in my eyes and are a welcome addition.

In Persona 3 Reload, as with most Persona games, a social link mechanic rewards you for building friendships with powerful unlockables. This remake stays faithful to the original game, for better or worse. Unfortunately, the social links in this version can be a letdown. Some links feature poorly developed characters, making them a chore, while others could be more exciting.

However, Atlus did add some new events involving members of S.E.E.S., which was a welcome addition. These events helped understand the characters' motivations better and made the experience more enjoyable. I wish there had been more of these events and fewer involving the strange teacher.

Unfortunately, I didn't connect with the remixed soundtrack as much as the originals. That may be due to my love for the original soundtrack.

One of the most vital aspects of Persona 3 Reload is its narrative, which has remained essentially unchanged. There is no need for significant changes to the story since it was never a problem in the original game. The game straightforwardly delivers its message, making it easy for players to connect with.

In short, whilst the game has issues like some of the weirder social links and the soundtrack, this is still the definitive way to experience the beautiful, bittersweet story that is Persona 3. The wide array of additions makes this an absolute joy to play, and I'm already thinking about my next playthrough.

TL;DR: Fantastic, play this game if you can.