52 Games Challenge 2025!!!

[kashell]

31. Suikoden HD Remaster

Hot take. I like this game more than Suikoden II, which is a fine game in its own right. I just like how swift and no-nonsense the first game is. This new HD version is excellent. Along with some nifty QoL features, it the HD look really shines. The new portraits are another amazing, nice touch. Gameplay is still the classic stuff we know and love. I saved my clear data and immediately started the next game. I'm not sure if I'll play that now or later.

[bikingjahuty]

34. Shenmue III (PS4)

I last played and beat Shenmue III weeks after it came out in late 2019. At the time, I had suffered the better part of two decades of not knowing when or if the story to my two favorite games of all time would see a conclusion. I had many ups and even more downs in that time leading up to the 2015 Kickstarter campaign which I threw a generous and probably irresponsible amount of money towards at the time. So when Shenmue III finally came out and I had a copy of it in my hands (actually about 5 of them to be exact), I was beyond ready to see how Ryo Hazuki's journey played out and progressed after waiting nearly 20-years to see what happened next. In other words, I was in an emotionally heightened state and my expectations to play something at least nearly as good as Shenmue 1 and 2 were definitely strong during my first play through of 3. I gave the game a very generous 48/50 score after first beating it and even placed it in my top 10 games of all time.


Today was my first time playing or beating Shenmue III since my initial play through of it, and unlike my first time with Shenmue III several new factors were now in play. For one, it had been over a year since I last played Shenmue 1 and 2 prior to playing Shenmue 3. However, this time, I immediately jumped into Shenmue III right after beating II. Then of course, there's the fact that I've already beat Shenmue III and know what to expect, versus anxiously awaiting the unknowns of where the saga would go next. And then finally, with the game having been out for over 5 years now, I am well aware of many of the criticisms towards this game, some ridiculous and sensationalized, while others are absolutely valid and reasonable. With all this in mind, I have a new take on Shenmue III than I did after my first time beating it, which I will share with you now.


Similar to beating Shenmue III the first time in 2019, I absolutely loved my time with it overall. However, I didn't enjoy my time with it as much as I did after my initial play through. By far, the biggest factor contributing to my decreased enjoyment with Shenmue III was its gameplay. Shenmue III's gameplay is a downgrade from Shenmue II's in almost every possible way. The fighting system of Shenmue II which ripped right out of Virtua Fighter 3 and was even a noticeable upgrade over the first game which used the same underlying system. However, Shenmue III completely throws that system away and replaces it with something more akin to a beat em' up rather than a fighting game. The end result is something that feels a lot more shallow, clunky, and uninteresting compared to Shenmue II's fighting system. Shenmue III does incorporate a leveling system that complements the new fighting system to try and make it more interesting and RPG-like, but overall it just comes across as more tedious than in either previous game; doing horse stance, one inch punch, or spamming the same few moves during a sparing match over and over again to level them up is as boring and grindy as it sounds. It's not all bad, but overall it definitely made me yearn for Shenmue II's fighting system which grew on me more than any previous time I'd played that game.


Aside from the lackluster fighting system, nearly everything else that was present in Shenmue 1 and 2 feels less optimized and/or enjoyable than it did in those older games. The QTE events, while less frequent than in Shenmue II are far less forgiving and at times even felt unresponsive. There are no licensed Sega arcade games in Shenmue III (there are plenty of reminders of them via posters throughout the game though, and instead incredible dull original games that you're better off not even playing. Aside from Shenmue characters, there are no licensed Sega capsule toy figures or collectibles, which completely destroys any incentive to buy them. Even lucky hit isn't nearly as good since the ball now feels more like a super ball rather than a metal ball with actual weight, making the physics super wonky. As for the original gameplay additions of Shenmue III, most are fine, but do very little to make the game's gameplay more engaging or enjoyable. In summary, there is nothing egregiously wrong or broken with Shenmue III's gameplay; most of it works fine and some of it can be fun at times, however it's all a noticeable downgrade compared to the two older games in nearly every way.


One final aspect of Shenmue III's gameplay that I wanted to mention is its pacing. Shenmue games in general are not known for their rapid fire action and exciting plot drops; they are mostly slow, explorative games, which for some makes them amazing, while others hate them for it. I definitely lean hard into the former group, however there are a few parts of Shenmue III that even tested my patience. There are two parts specifically, one that occurs in Bailu Village and the other in Naiwu that had my eyes glazing over or were just downright annoying. Luckily the rest of the game is more in line with the pacing of the older Shenmue titles, but Shenmue III does hold the distinction of having a few of the most horribly paced sections in the entire franchise so far.


This leads me into Shenmue III's story, which I feel could have been better in terms of pushing the narrative of the saga forward. I think the game wasted far too much time in Bailu Village, which I get was partially done to build up Ryo and Shenhua's relationship, however by the time you reach Naiwu, you're practically strangers and barely interact. Bailu Village should have been a quarter of the game, tops, meanwhile Naiwu could have been 40-50%, and then presumably the beginning of Shenmue IV (assuming that ever happens) should have been the last 25% to third of the game. This all lends itself to the criticism that Shenmue III didn't do enough to push the plot and story forward, which is something I now mostly agree with. On top of that, I feel like the ending of this game was rushed and also gave the player something they'd wanted for a very long time, but did it in a way that actually felt a bit jarring and forced. I don't want to spoil what I'm referring to specifically, but it honestly came across as more fan service than the game's writers actually trying to write a well done story. Shenmue III's story is fine for what it is, and even good at times, but there were some inconsistencies, strange retconning of past events, and other things that just either left me confused or dissatisfied.


Shenmue III's presentation, which has been a hot button of contention, is actually something I have the least amount of issue with in this game. I feel like the visuals are a very good modern approximation of Shenmue 1 and 2's visuals and presentation. Given, Shenmue is no longe the graphical powerhouse it was in the late 90s and early 2000s, but I would hope YsNet would try and make Shenmue III look like GTAV or The Last of Us. I think the visuals definitely capture the unique quirkiness present in the Dreamcast games, but rendered in the Unreal Engine with modern flare. I think Shenmue III would have avoided a lot of criticism if they'd tried to make Shenmue III look just like the Dreamcast games, but I also get why they didn't and to an extent probably couldn't. This game does have some ugly, cheap looking textures and some of the shading and character animations do leave some to be desired, but overall I think Shenmue III's visuals are great for the most part.


Finally, Shenmue III's audio is also top notch and does the series justice. While some of the original tracks made for Shenmue III don't hit as hard as those found in the first two games, they're still excellent and go along perfectly with the setting and atmosphere of the game. There are also many arranged and throwback tracks from Shenmue and Shenmue II present in III which is also a very good thing. The voice acting, while often stiff and awkward is still distinctly Shenmue and absolutely fit where in many other games it would have been jarring or just straight up bad. I'm not going to say Shenmue 3's audio is incredible, but rather it fits perfectly given the precedent set in the first two games. Cory Marshal and a few other voice actors from the first two games do reprise their roles, however there are a few main characters that sound noticeably and often jarringly different than they did in the older games. This was somewhat annoying, but only a small blemish to the game's overall audio presentation.


Your mileage with Shenmue III will greatly depend on how much of a fan you were of the first two games and also how much of a fan you still are of the Shenmue saga in 2025. For me, playing through all three games still proved that I adore them and they will likely always remain my favorite games of all time, even if the story is never finished. However, even as a diehard modern Shenmue fan, I can no longer call Shenmue III a nearly flawless 48/50 game. My personal enjoyment of 3 definitely does bolster my new score quite a bit, but it's hard for me to say the gameplay is anything better than pretty good overall, mostly due to the crazy amount of things you can do in the game. And while I do mostly stand by my assertion about the presentation and audio being nearly perfect for these games, I now acknowledge they do fall short of that, if for nothing else than there lack of modern appeal. With all that said, however, I cannot in good faith call Shenmue III a top 10 game for me any longer. I still enjoy it wy more than probably 95% of the games I play, but it no longer sits in the upper echelon of games I've ever played. Shenmue III is absolutely worth playing and enjoying if you loved Shenmue and Shenmue II, but for anything else, this game is difficult to recommend. It's because of this that I worry if Shenmue IV will ever happen, but even if it doesn't, we're still left with three mostly excellent games chronicling Ryo's quest for revenge, kung fu, and capsule toys. (3/24/25) [42/50]

[bikingjahuty]

35. Thunder Force IV (Genesis)

I have mixed feelings about a lot of SHMUPs released before the mid-90s, mostly of the negative variety. While there are various titles from this time period I really enjoy, I'd say two thirds of them make me wish I was playing something from the later half of the 90s or newer within 10 minutes or so. However, one older retro SHMUP that I definitely don't feel this way about, and in fact I think is better than most SHMUPs released even decades after it is Thunder Force IV (aka Lightening Force).


From a presentation standpoint, Thunder Force IV may be top of class. There are very few SHMUPs from its era that look as good in terms of stage design, boss and enemy design, ship design and special effects, and just about everything else you can feast your eyeballs on. Thunder Force IV is absolutely gorgeous and a true labor of love from the criminally overrated Technosoft. Seriously though, this game has some of the coolest SHMUP bosses of the 90s, which are just as much fun to blast apart as you get closer and closer to defeating them.


The audio of Thunder Force IV rivals its visual presentation as this games best attribute. Seriously, this game's OST is almost up there with Genesis/MD legends like Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in terms of how freakin good it is. It's only barely shy of perfection with its amazing gritty guitar and rock inspired rifts that sound incredible coming from the Genesis' sound chip. Simply put, Thunder Force IV's is one of the best soundtracks on the Genesis, period. The sound effects, woman's voice when you pick up power ups, and all other sounds are excellent as well.


Finally, while not as remarkable as its more superficial qualities, Thunder Force IV's gameplay is exceptional for an early 90s SHMUP. There are no stupid arbitrary stage checkpoints you have to return to when you die, the game is fairly generous about balancing enemies and projectiles with your ships default weapons, and going along with that, if the game power up maroons you, you aren't completely SOL. There are generous power up pickups throughout each level and certainly enough to carry you to the boss. Thunder Force IV shows a surprising amount of balancing in terms of shot patterns, enemy projectiles, and enemy volume. The bosses in this game also subtly advertise their attacks, reminding slightly of something like the Souls games. Unfortunately a few of the bosses still have some very cheap attacks or not having specific power ups when you reach them can make the significantly harder, which means you're likely going to need  a continue or two...or three before you'll finally beat them. Luckily like many of the other Thunder Force games, you are allowed to scroll between weapons, giving you the tools to deal with most situations and bosses throughout this entry. Unfortunately, if you lose your ship while using a power up weapon, you also lose it, which sucks, but I suppose is fair.


Thunder Force IV is not just one of the best, if not the best SHMUP on the Genesis, but possibly of all time as well. It seriously blows my mind this game came out years before STG greats like Mushihimesama Futari or Ikaruga since it's not that far off in terms of overall quality and how much I adore playing through this game every few years or so. (3/24/25) [39/50]

[marvelvscapcom2]

16. Need For Speed 2015 [PS4] Finished - Mar 25th, 2025



I HATE THIS GAME

 

Oh NFS 2015. I could write poetry about you. A guteral WHY!!!  Honestly. All the good the game has to offer comes so hard and pricey. But all it's issues come cheaper than wholesale Tuna.  The game has a constant race. One race.  A race between it being a fun game and it being a broken dumpster fire.  And that distinction isnt always clear. And thats what tees me off the most about it.

always online

SERVER MAINTNENCE IN 30 MINUTES. SERVER MAINTENANCE. SERVER MAINTENANCE. SERVER MAINTENANCE. INCOMING CALL. INCOMING CALL FROM SPIKE.  HEY BROOO COME RUN THAT SAME RACE 270 MORE TIMES. NOBODY BELIEVED YOU THE FIRST 269 TIMES YOU RAN IT. BRRRRR BRRRR BRRRR PHONE CALL. BRRRR PHOHE CALL. BRRRRR. PHONE CALL. BRRRR. CALL FROM AMY.  YOOO WHATUP WHATUP. MONSTER ENERGY DRINKS AND ANGST DAWG. COME RACE THE SAME RACE. 270,000 MORE TIMES OR ELSE YOU'RE SQUARE

Please make it stop!!  Im being serious. The game at its surface had the potential to be one of the best need for speeds. It's pretty. Damn pretty.  But ask yourself. If your ex was the most gorgeous human to ever live. Like model pretty but abused you every day emotionally for your entire life? Would you stay?  If your answer is no.  Avoid need for speed 2015.   It is a gorgeous game. A pretty little dainty drop of water. An all america pro queen with perfect looks. That holds a butter knife to your throat while you sleep.  I asked myself the whole bloated run time. Does this games pros outweigh the cons?


The cons are Johnny Depp in pirates of the carribean. The pros are Orlando Bloom.  The cons are the meat of this game.

LIST OF CONS


1. Who in their right mind had the idea to make the game always online then simultaneously make it so other online players can ram you mid story? You gotta be joking. They make it so your career races merge with online players. Its a mess.

2. Vibrating phone calls interrupting you every 10 seconds. Im not exaggerating. Look it up. NFS 2015 phone.  Brrrr. Brrrr. Brrr.

3. You know the type of game that deliberately manipulates NPC to crash into you to add fake challenge to an otherwise easy game? A cab will stop in your drift line to sabotage you? Yup this game.

4. Imagine a racing game that forces you to only have 4 cars. Any more and you gotta put some in a warehouse like Austin Powers.

5. You buy a new Lambo. Thinking how fun itll be to customize. No visual parts. Only certain cars. Womp womp. What a waste.

6. Phone calls. Dont forget phone calls. If you don't like it in real life. Imagine your in laws dialing every time you win, lose or consider a race. At least 200 times in the game they call. You gotta hit L1 to answer. It doesnt automatically. They will KEEP CALLING. Trust me. Like the IRS.

7. Repetitive races. 10 hours too long.

8. Cops are not able to be crashed out of pursuits like every other NFS game ever. Just floating sherman tanks. Fun huh?

9. Servers are choppy. Crash. Game will be unplayble in the future. Probably for the best.

10. Terrible soundtrack of unlicensed grunts and techno.

11. No Ford GT

12. Slippery controls. Certain cars feel like you are driving on black ice

13. Film grain mandatory.  Devs in general seem to be obsessed with film grain. As if our eyes have perpetual fog on them. Like we want to play our games while looking through cheese cloth. It makes no sense.

14. Spike is an edgelord and makes you feel guilty for winning even though nothing comes of it.

15. No story. No plot. Just race legendary drift dude named Nagai Sahn from japan because mad peepz in the street will care. Super sideways fun.  Where is the villain? Who is my ally? What am I ever accomplishing.


The whole game is a big vape pen, buffalo wild wings and being vulgar to your own mother angsty red bull energy mess of a scenario. And boy do I wish their was less to hate. Because under it all. It rides great. Looks good. And was semi fun. Their was a smidge of something to love.


Rating - 67/100

[bikingjahuty]

36. Road Rash 64 (N64)

Back in the day of video rental stores, there were a handful of games that I either rented by myself or with a friend on a Friday or Saturday night that ended up being way more fun and entertaining than I'd imagined. Keep in mind, this was during the 90s and early 2000s, before Youtube and easily being able to see reviews and gameplay of a game before buying or renting it. Probably the biggest and best rental surprise I ever had was Grand Theft Auto III, however one other title that provided a weekend of laughs and entertainment was Road Rash 64. Prior to renting Road Rash 64 I'd never played any of the previous entries, so other than it bing a combat racer, I didn't know what else to expect. Oh man, was I pleasantly surprised when my friend and I first popped this game into my N64!


Even 25-years later, I still think this game is a riot to play. As expected you and a bunch of other outlaw bikers compete for money in illegal races around an island while swerving around cars, avoiding getting taken throw off your bike by motorcycle police, and of course knocking the crap out of all the other racers as they attempt to do the same to you. This all sounds pretty damn fun in theory, and in practice it's also very fun. However, this isn't the only thing that makes Road Rash 64 more fun than it has any right being. The physics in this game are so bad, their amazing! Think something like Goat Simulator with motorcycles and late 90s, super blocky N64 polygon graphics. Essentially, this game is hilarious. I'm not even joking when I say I was laughing out loud often while playing this game, and at a few parts specifically I completely lost it to the point where I had to pause for a moment to collect myself. Watching a terrible looking 3D police car plow his car through 4 or 5 of your opponents as they fly stiffly in every direction, including 40 feet straight up into the air is absolute gold and never got old. The ability of Road Rash 64 not to tank when so much chaos and pandemonium is going on is truly impressive and what helps make this game so damn entertaining. Unfortunately the actually racing part of the game is nothing special and there is often zero regard to how well designed several tracks are, but you'll barely care as you're knocking people off their bikes, getting knocked off or hitting cars head on, or smacking cops with a night stick or taser.


While the physics are definitely part of this game's gameplay, they also help make the visuals of this game too. It's a good thing they contribute heavily to this game's appeal since otherwise Road Rash 64 is not a particularly attractive game, even for N64 standards. Stages are fairly boring, plain, and unremarkable in any way, and there is what looks like a thick haze in every stage, which is actually the limited draw distance of the N64 and the game attempting to maintain a smooth framerate. The bikers and their motorcycles themselves are recycled heavily and don't show off a great deal of detail beyond there being a dozen or so different character models.


Finally, the audio in Road Rash 64 is pretty good all around. The soundtrack is a mix of late 90s rock music, nothing you'll likely remember being played on MTV or the radio during the time, but certainly still sounding right out of the nu-metal and late 90s punk rock scene. You just better hope you like the music in Road Rash 64, since there are only 5 or 6 songs that will continuously play on repeat over and over again during menus and while playing. Sound effects are also good and definitely add to the entertainment and charm mentioned earlier.


I hesitate to call video games underrated, but it's hard for me not to describe Road Rash 64 as such. It is such a fun, hilarious game that is made even more so if you have some friends to play with. Even if some of this game's charm falls under the so bad it's good category, what matters in the end is you having a good time and I can't imagine many people not enjoying themselves while playing Road Rash 64. (3/25/25) [34/50]

[bikingjahuty]

37. Elemental Master (Genesis)

This is another old school SHMUP I've never played, and up until fairly recently I didn't even realize it was made by Technosoft, who also made the awesome Thunder Force games. On the heels of replaying one of my favorite SHMUPS, Thunder Force IV, I decided to finally try Elemental Master out and I wasn't disappointed...well, mostly.


Elemental Master gets massive brownie points for being original and creative. Instead of a space ship or some sort of flying fantasy craft like what you see in Sorcerer Striker, you're instead on foot as a spell casting sorcerer. You are given four levels to choose from in the beginning of the game, very similar to the Thunder Force games, and in each one you're granted a new elemental ability upon completion of that level. These abilities come in the form of different fire modes that you can scroll between at will, again, similar to the Thunder Force games. You're also given the ability to shoot both in front of you and from behind. There are also quite a few hazards and obstacles in each stage which definitely make them far more terrestrial rather than just being able to fly over everything like in most SHMUPS. Unfortunately a lot of the level design, enemy placement, and boss design isn't the greatest. There are moments where you think, "wow, how is this SHMUP not talked about more!" and then a few seconds later you'll be thinking, "wow, this game kinda sucks." Overall though, I did enjoy playing Elemental Master, even if its gameplay is not the greatest at times.


One aspect of Elemental Master that definitely carries this game beyond being a forgettable, mediocre SHMUP is its visuals and presentation. Elemental Master has an impressive variety of enemy types, which keep things fresh between stages. There are also a lot of hazards and other stage elements that are unique to specific levels, making them stand out more from one another beyond one stage being the lava/fire level, one being the forest level, the next one being a water level, and so on. This game also has some of the coolest SHMUP bosses I've seen in a 16-bit SHMUP, all being a variety of fantasy characters and monster. Unfortunately there is little strategy in defeating them and their fairly static in their attack patters. The one final aspect of Elemental Master's impressive presentation are the various still image cut scenes that happen between certain levels. I really appreciate when SHMUP attempt to place some sort of narrative or story in them, and this one, while fairly generic, was still a welcome addition, particularly in those cutscenes which were well illustrated and fine to look at as each scene played out.


Finally, it would be a crime if i didn't mention Elemental Master's audio, which like most Technosoft games I've played, is pretty damn good. The game definitely has a catchy, awesome OST that also will make you massively nostalgic for the good ol' days of 16-bit console gaming. I'm absolutely addicted to the way music sounds coming out of the Genesis and the folks at Technosoft knew how to compose so excellent music through the console. Other sound effects like explosions, you're various fire modes, and the sounds of certain enemies are also a welcome addition to Elemental Master's overall sound quality.


While I can't say I'm in love with Elemental Master, I can at least say I did enjoy my time with it, even if it is inferior to most other Technosoft SHMUPs I've played. I at least have to give this game credit for how unique it is, especially for the time it was released. I just which the gameplay was a little more enjoyable and polished. (3/26/25) [34/50]

[bikingjahuty]

38. Cruis'n Exotica (N64)

Unlike Cruis'n USA and Cruis'n World, I lack really any nostalgia for Exotica, mostly because I only played it once or twice in the arcades growing up. Meanwhile, USA and World were played countless times and so many different places I went to growing up that both those games are very sentimental to me now. Unfortunately, my enjoyment of Cruis'n USA and World is heavily rooted in my nostalgia for them, seeing how neither game is anything special when it comes to racing games, even racing games from the 90s. Without that childhood nostalgia, I'm mostly left with my current year impressions of Cruis'n Exotica, which aren't stellar for the most part.


Cruis'n Exotica's gameplay is actually a downgrade over the previous two games. While all three games utilize more or less the same rubber band racing gameplay that many arcade racers of the time used, where Exotica falls short compared to its two predecessors is the AI's increased aggression and also the crash physics. In the previous two games, most other drivers did a decent job at trying to hit you and other cars, however in Exotica you'd think the AI from some unreleased bumper car car was programmed in instead. This is annoying by itself, but seeing how crashing in Cruis'n Exotica mostly just makes you and your opponents bounce of each other, it gets kind of annoying and ridiculous as you try and race through each of the tracks. As for the tracks themselves, they are definitely on par with the previous games in terms of track design and difficulty. Exotica does have more tracks with unpaved roads, which sometimes can get confusing as to where the track begins and ends, but this isn't too much of an issue overall.


The graphics in Cruis's Exotica's N64 port are pretty good for the most part, and probably even an upgrade over Cruis'n World's, which you would hopefully expect. Levels are creative and colorful, and several even have you racing in places not on earth or locations like Atlantis, which don't actually exist. Even places like the Amazon Rainforest are spiced up by including dinosaurs which is a cool addition. There are also a few levels that don't exactly scream "exotica" for me, mostly the Ireland and Holland stage, but these levels do have some redeeming qualities to make them somewhat interesting. There are also quite a few selectable cars in Exotica, some of which require you to unlock through completion of various modes. Some of these vehicles include solar powered lunar rovers and forklifts, which make them more amusing.


As for Cruis'n Exotica's audio, it's decent for the most part. The tracks that play while you're racing are a bit generic sounding and there aren't many of them, but they are feel appropriate given the theme and overall vibe of this game. There is also an enthusiastic female announcer like in the previous games that will comment on the stages you pick or what's going on during the race. This definitely adds some character and charm to Exotica that definitely makes the game just slightly more memorable and enjoyable. There are also some unique sound effects thrown in to compliment the unique action of the various stages. Sometimes this is the sound of whales or fighter jets flying overhead. Again, nothing crazy, but certainly a welcome addition to the game's overall audio design.


Cruis'n Exotica on the N64 is a fine game for the most part, however you're likely to get bored with it fairly quickly, especially now since there are may much better racing games available, even other Cruis'n series games. Luckily the game only takes about 20 minutes to beat, unless of course you want to unlock all the different cars in the game, which will appropriately increase the amount of play time. For me, this is a decent game to throw in my N64 if I'm bored, but honestly if I was going to revisit an old Cruis'n game, I'd probably just play World and possibly even USA instead. (3/26/25) [29/50]

[bikingjahuty]

39. Ridge Racer 64 (N64)

I feel like I've been on a role this year in terms of playing pretty fun, enjoyable games. Unfortunately when you play enough games, you're bound to run into a stinker or two. That's precisely what happened tonight while playing Ridge Racer 64. For the record,I have pretty limited experience with the RR franchise, having only played the original a handful of times years after its heyday in mid 90s arcades. From what I remember, the original RR was an enjoyable little arcade racer, but certainly nothing remarkable in any way. Unfortunately its translation on N64 hardware lowers the ball into downright annoying and poorly made territory.


RR64's greatest sin is its terrible controls and gameplay. Your car's stearing is ultra touchy and you'll often go slamming into a wall at the slightest press of the left or right d-pag buttons on on the analogue stick. To make matters worse there is an awfully implemented drift mechanic which is far more of a hinderance than something to help you get around tight corners. It's more akin to hitting a patch of black ice, followed by you struggling to correct the car from spinning out. It happens all the time if you let go off the accelerator button for a moment while turning and makes this game mostly unpleasant to play. Your best strategy is actually just holding down the accelerator button at full throttle constantly and bouncing yourself off the walls around the tracks. Too bad the collision physics are also mostly trash too.


Visually, RR64 fairs better with the stages looking a lot more detailed than many other n64 racing games. The only problem is there are so few of them, it's easy to get bored fast while playing. The cars are also mostly unique and cool looking, vaguely resembling real life JDM race cars. The graphics, while not amazing, are definitely the best part of this game, followed closely by RR64's audio, which is good, but not great.


For better or worse, the N64 is filled with racing games. In other words, go play one of the others on the console; there's a decent chance it'll be better that RR64. (3/26/25) [24/50]

[bikingjahuty]

40. Android Assault (Sega CD)

I've dabbled in this game before, but never seriously sat down and played through it before. While Android Assault does have some admirable traits, mostly its OST and graphics, its gameplay leaves a lot to be desired. The game revolves around various shot type power ups you can collect and use one at a time. Unfortunately, all, but two of these shot types felt a lot less useful and often became more of a handicap to use. So i just avoided those specific ones and stuck to the spread shot and hoping attacks. If you collect enough power ups of a specific type, your jet fighter ship transforms into a mech. While being the mech means your shot is as powerful as it possibly can be and also your shot charge powers up faster (more on that soon), oh, and you can take an extra shot without using up one of your ships, it also makes you a much larger target in a game that often already puts you into a lot of narrow corridors where it's easy to hit the floor or ceiling on accident while trying to avoid enemy bullets. The charge attach I mentioned has to do with an alternative version of your fire mode where if you refrain from firing your basic shot for a few seconds, it charges up and allows you to unleash a much stronger attack. You really have to time this attack just right, and even then you sometimes find yourself in crappy situation before its fully charged. The gameplay isn't terrible, but it isn't great either, which is unfortunate because Android Assault is a pretty visually appealing game. There is a lot of enemy variety, many of which are either mechs, various space craft, and various other cool lookinh enemies. The sprite work is pretty damn good, although the animations are a bit lacking compared to various other Genesis/SCD SHMUPs. The audio is also pretty good as it benefits from the Sega CD's disk based audio making it a lot clearer and less gritty than your standard Genesis game. It's not an amazing OST, but pretty good and fits in well with the action in this game. Android Assault is a fun game to at least try out, and while it is nowhere near as good as a few of its Genesis counterparts like Thunder Force IV, it's still worth a play if you can manage to find a copy for a good price or I suppose emulate it. (3/27/25) [30/50]

[bikingjahuty]

3. Gradius Gaiden (PS1) - ABANDONED

There are several game franchises that I've desperately tried to get into for years, and every time I think enough time is gone by and that series might finally click with me, I'm more often than not disappointed to find I still dislike them quite a bit. Such is the case with most of the famous Gradius series. I've mostly enjoyed the bulk of Parodius games I've played, but as for the core series, every time I try to get into it I'm left disappointed, underwhelmed, frustrated, or some combo of all three. Unfortunately that's what happened in attempting to get into one of the most acclaimed from the Gradius series, Gradius Gaiden.


Gradius Gaiden plays a lot like the rest of of the games from the franchise where you're picking up power up pickups that allow you to scroll through your power up options, making your ship faster, your shot types more powerful, and even giving you shields to withstand a hit from enemies. My problems with Gradius Gaiden, as well as most other Gradius games, lies not in this system per se, but in its ability to power up maroon you, blind side you with beginner's gotcha traps, but worst of all, using arbitrary stage checkpoints that you return to when you die. Stage checkpoints were a common feature in a lot of 80s and early 90s SHMUPs, but with Gaiden being released in 1997, it has literally no excuse to keep using these. Having to replay entire sections of a level again is as annoying as it sounds, especially when you don't have enough power ups to get through it as easily as you would have before dying. Too much of Gradius Giaden's gameplay is rooted in outdated, annoying SHMUP mechanics that I'm so thankful the genre has mostly moved past.


Visually, Gradius Gaiden is fine looking, but isn't anything special in regards to its enemies, bosses, and stages. The game definitely feels like more of a game from 1990 than 1997, which given games like Dodonpachi and Battle Garegga were eating this game's lunch all day long around the time it came out, Gaiden is comparatively unappealing to the eyes. The audio, while slightly better, is mostly generic and not anything memorable either.


I was only able to get through about three stages of Gradius Gaiden before turning it off. I definitely could have gritted my teeth and made my way through the rest of the game, but by stage 3 I was so done with it I couldn't help but turn it off. I'm 90% convinced I will never be able to get into the bulk of the Gradius series, especially since the much loved Gradius V is another title from the franchise I just couldn't get into. This game isn't for me, but I respect that other's really love this series. Maybe I'll try again in another five years or so to get into Gradius again lol. Who knows! (3/28/25) ABANDONED

[dhaabi]

17. Lisa: Definitive Edition || PlayStation 5 || 03.24.2025



Years ago, I watched a full playthrough of Lisa: The Painful and have been wanting to play it for myself all this time. Fortunately, a complete edition released a year or so ago, and a physical release was also made for the first time. So, I finally began my own playthrough of the full game titled Lisa: Definitive Edition. It's also worth mentioning that the Definitive Edition includes both Lisa: The Painful and its DLC chapter Lisa: The Joyful, and it's actually a sequel entry to the Lisa series.

Abruptly, players are introduced to a post-apocalyptic world that's left survivors in a wasteland shell of what the world once was. Periodically, the enigmatic White Flash event that caused this reality is mentioned in passing, but it's never expanded upon. However, one major detail concerning it is never left open to interpretation: all of the world's women have perished because of it. As a result, the human species obviously has a short time left before its extinction, and people all but seem resolved to have given up on civilization. Everyone left survives in the best way they know no matter how nonsensical it may or may not be. The world has not been kind to its survivors, and they, in turn, are not kind to others. Each and every person the player meets is broken which leads to frequent violence and murder. Throughout the story, what may seem like friendly encounters almost never are, and the circumstances leading up to battles demonstrate the collective's mental stability. To be expected, in the long years since the world has fallen apart, people struggle with addiction, trauma, depression, self-failure, and cycles of abuse. Unfortunately, the protagonist Brad whom players assume the role as embodies all of these hardships.

Despite the game's heavy themes, there is some glimmer of hope introduced and positivity to be found. Prior to the game's present-day events, a miracle is discovered by Brad: a baby girl whom he names Buddy. During her formative years, Brad keeps her away from the world, hidden in a basement, and only those closest to him knows of her existence. And while he understands the child's importance in being a savior to rebuild the population, he simultaneously recognizes the evil nature of men. The game's present-day events, however, begin with Buddy—now a young woman—being captured, and Brad begins his journey to reclaim his adoptive daughter. Apart from narrative, though, there is plenty to make players laugh as Lisa: Definitive Edition (particularly the main game Lisa: The Painful) utilizes dark comedy and general humor both abundantly and effectively. Going back to the game's cast of characters and NPCs, their circumstances, while usually sad, are also sometimes funny—in fact, it's often both.

Beyond story and world-building, Lisa: Definitive Edition offers much to praise including its simple RPG gameplay and exploratory discovery. While Brad serves as the game's playable protagonist, there is an expansive cast of recruitable characters as well. Together, battles can be upwards of four party members versus up to eight enemies, and party members each feel unique to play as with their own quirks and move sets. Brad is one of the few characters who has a more involved offense, too, as his attacks utilize a combo system that's best used with direct player inputs instead of selecting the action directly from the battle menu. Unless the player chooses to grind or to select the easy difficulty option, combat is often unexpected and unforgiving. All sorts of random status effects can be inflicted such as Weird, Hungover, and Crying, and their presence often makes a notable difference in performing well. There is also pleasant humor in defeating most enemies, as they won't just die but explode on screen with ridiculous theatrics.

Outside of combat, players should be weary of the world they traverse. Resting at campfires—the most accessible means of healing the party—sometimes comes with a penalty. Sickness in the form of status effects. Theft. Kidnapped party members. Party members can even willfully desert you, though this is a result also requiring certain in-game choices to be made. Through various means, party members can permanently die too. These aspects force the player to not become attached to anybody apart from Brad while also requiring them to utilize different characters' strengths when they're all that's available to you. Throughout the journey, there will also be moral choices the player must make while acting as Brad, and they're never in the player's favor as this world is cruel. Decisions must be made which results in weighty sacrifices which (sometimes literally) handicap Brad on his journey to reclaim Buddy. To my surprise, the world to explore is larger than I imagined it to be, and it's easy to become lost or overlook certain paths. There are three distinct hub areas, and they each feature a web of caverns with environments that largely look the same. Halfway through my playthrough, I decided to consult a map so that I wouldn't miss any content. This is, arguably, a fault of the game, though I think it instead promotes self-discovery more so.

If it wasn't apparent, Lisa: Definitive Edition is filled with personality. Apart from the game's sense of brutality, music is a huge highlight which elevates it all. It's unconventional and eclectic. It's jarring and obtrusive. It absolutely dominates scene presence in a non-offensive way, and there is a wide range of sounds from somber melodies to chaotic electronic beats. To my understanding, developer Austin Jorgensen played around with music creation software without any musical experience. While it's a feat to develop a game on one's own, to make the music too and for it to be so impactful is only that much more impressive.

Without a doubt, my time playing Lisa: Definitive Edition was enjoyable, and I'm glad I finally took the time to play it on my own as I'd forgotten so much of the general story and certainly didn't experience much of the optional content. The game perfectly balances absurdity and suffering, and it left quite the impression. My only (slight) regret is that I didn't first play the debut entry in the series Lisa: The First, although Lisa: Definitive Edition can certainly be enjoyed on its own.

[bikingjahuty]

41. Super Mario Odyssey (Switch)

It's amazing how the circumstances going on in your life at a particular point in time can dramatically impact your opinion of something. Case in point, when Super Mario Odyssey came out in late 2017, I was in the middle of trying to move out of a city I hated and find a new job to replace my current at the time, which I also hated. While my life in late 2017 wasn't terrible, it was certainly not great either and I always felt like it tainted my opinion of Super Mario Odyssey when I first played and beat it around that time. For the record, I didn't dislike Odyssey, quite the opposite actually. The problem was that I always felt like I should have enjoyed Super Mario Odyssey more than I did given how objectively amazing the game was. Because of this, Odyssey has been on my backlog for a very long time for me to go back and revisit. Going into replaying Odyssey, I expected to like it more than I did in 2017, but not as much as Super Mario Galaxy, and certainly not as much as Super Mario 64 which is still my all time favorite platformer as well as a top 10 game of all time for me. After beating Odyssey today, I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised by how much more I enjoyed this game compared to my first playthrough of it.


Super Mario Odyssey is an absolute masterpiece. There is no other way of putting it. The controls, the gameplay, the level design and themes, the art, the charm of the characters and overall story, the soundtrack, and the countless abilities and mechanics at your disposal as a result of the Cappy hat possession mechanic are all amazing. While I did on a select few occasions get frustrated with what the camera was trying to do at a specific spot, or the way certain enemies control once you've thrown Cappy at them, none of these things tainted my opinion of the overall gameplay experience which was just amazing. The result of all this is there isn't a single dull moment while playing Super Mario Odyssey. This is also in part thanks to how much stuff there is to do in this game as well as the countless secrets contained within it. Each stage is almost like an open sandbox that you're encouraged to explore in order to collect all that stage's moons. Moons are the primary focus of your collecting efforts in Odyssey and they vary in terms of what you have to do to get them as well as the amount of difficulty in doing these things. Some moons are super easy to obtain while others, mainly the ones I've started going after in the post game, have been hard as hell to get for one reason or another. While there are various recycled methods for obtaining moons, there are also many moons that require some sort of action that you'll likely not do more than a handful of times while playing through Odyssey. Perhaps the worse (or best) part about collecting Super Mario Odyssey's moons is just how many there are. At the time of writing this review and shortly after beating the main game, I have just shy of 300 moons, What's crazy is I haven't even collected a third of them yet, with the total number of moons in Odyssey being an astounding 999! Yeah, I still have a ways to go, but I really don't mind at all. I actually want to collect the rest of the moons, as well as various outfits, items for you ship, and other collectables not required for the game's completion. If there were ever a sign that I really enjoyed a game, it's my desire to keep playing it and doing more stuff after the credits have rolled.


Mario Odyssey is a gorgeous game. Many of the stages feel very unique compared to any others you've seen in other Mario titles, giving Odyssey a very distinct identity. Sure, the same save Peach from Bowser plot is used again as the main backdrop to you jumping from one stage to another, but you'll hardly care since everything looks and feels so good in this game. Both in terms of visuals and the gameplay involved in beating them, Odyssey has some of the best, most creative and unique boss battles in the entire franchise which just complimented how awesome everything else was in this game. One grip about the visuals, and I guess more specifically about the bosses were the reoccurring Broodle bosses, five anthropomorphic rabbits that are helping Bowser throughout the game. While I don't dislike them as much as some other people, I still found them to be a bit annoying an uninspired. They are also the least interesting bosses throughout the game in terms of how you beat them. Aside from that, I loved all the levels in terms of their themes and design and how Mario essentially has to save them in some unique way after Bowser and the Broodles caused some sort of trouble for the locals in that stage. The stages gradually open up to more and more areas and you'll have just as much fun figuring out how to get there as you will actually playing inside those new sections.


Odyssey's OST is absolutely awesome as you'd expect in a mainline 3D Mario game, however I didn't like Super Mario Odyssey's soundtrack as much as many previous Mario games despite it being absolutely no slouch. There are some incredibly catchy tracks in this game, including a few containing vocals which was a nice change compared to the purely instrumental tracks in previous mainline Mario games. Sound effects are also excellent, including the made up languages of the many different inhabitants of each stage, Cappy, and other characters and creatures throughout the game. The noises coming from destroying objects, using certain enemy abilities to progress through a stage or obtain a moon, and everything else in between is practically perfect in terms of how it sounds and how well it fits with the rest of the game.


While I can definitely say that I still love Super Mario 64 more than Odyssey, the crazy part is that the only factor that contributes to this is just how nostalgic and special SM64 is to me personally. If we were looking at these games objectively in 2025, Super Mario Odyssey is a vastly superior game in nearly every way. It essentially takes what made SM64 great and cranks it up 100x in so many different ways. I do think Super Mario 64 is a more iconic and important game when looking its overall impact on the industry and platforming genre, as well as it blowing my mind like few other games ever have back when it first came out in 1996. But yeah, in terms of modern flourishes and advancements to gameplay that have taken place between those two games, Odyssey is definitely the one to play.


On the other hand, I do actually like Odyssey more than Super Mario Galaxy, which is also a game bolstered by a fair bit of personal nostalgia. I still adore Super Mario Galaxy, and there are aspects to its gameplay that I still enjoy more than any Mario game I've ever played, but once again, when looking at everything that makes these games what they are, Super Mario Odyssey comes out on top, if only by a fairly modest amount.


I knew that I'd probably enjoy Super Mario Odyssey at least a little more than I did back in 2017, but I never imagined that I'd be wondering if this game is a top 10 game of all time for me. Regardless of whether or not it cracks into that illustrious list, I will say that this game is absolutely amazing and an incredible experience for anyone wanting to play something truly special. As far as I'm concerned, Mario is still the king of the platformer genre and no one does platformers as good as Nintendo. (3/30/25) [46/50]

[marvelvscapcom2]

17. Life Is Strange [PS4] - Finished - March 31st, 2025 (PLATTY)


 

Review

Stunned is an understatement. Baffled is a mere word. Garfunkled is made up.  This game just rocked my socks
 The plot of this game is a symphony of story telling that most big picture movies can only dream of. The run time is perfection front to back. And while it starts slower than True Colors, the dynamic of the meat that lies within is so deliciously bliss that this may be one of the greatest cinematic experiences ive had in any media. Its on par to when you find out Darth Vader is Anakin Skywalker. It's like you leave in bewildered. Still coming off it.

MAXINE FLIPPING CAUFIELD

Max is epic. No short ways to put it. The game made me feel like I could project my biases and wishes through Max but through the lens of her pre existing personality. You can be a real life super hero. Which Max is. A sort of Photo clicking, poloroid wonder woman.  But without spoilers. Theirs a duality to her that is beyond the level. A struggle between good and conflicting bad. Of course these depend on how you shape your Max with the dialogue you choose more powerfully.


What the game blows me away with most isnt so much that it's deep. It's that it takes a plot that is about as wild. Complicated and overwhelming as any. A psuedo science psy fi brain blower of a massive multi dimensional whopper. It's so much to take in. It takes it and it delivers it in a way that is so easy to follow, so casual to enjoy. Theirs not quite much like it.


Front to back I dislike Chloe. As the game progresses that begins to stifen a bit but Chloe in general is pretty self important and overwhelmingly selfish. I could get into depth about why but wont disclose many spoilers. So i'll just say. Episodes 1 to 3. Chloe is an L. But that part is what makes the game refreshing.


Each character has it's own unique progression and unlike some telltale style games. Your decisions seem to have a much much more drastic impact on the plot. The multi layering of plot is brilliant. The emotions do something to the human psyche that a movie cant. Since you control the protagonist you sorta feel this next level involvement in their life. It makes love interests and deaths and decisions in games like these so profound. It sorta sticks with you.


Its hard to write a review on a game that is basically a movie with no spoilers. But From the opening sequence till the final tear drop of my cheek. This game is a love letter to gamers. Its poetry. It's got dozens of messages. Coming to age narratives. Relatable feels. It bests true colors in it's abilities I feel. Trading emotional empathy with time bending. It immerses you cleverly in the environment of a school as a teenager. The angst and complexities that come with that.


I still have many entries to go in the franchise. And boy am I happy that I got to experience this.  This game is so good. It's another reason im greatful to be born into gods blue sphere of wonder in this decade. This moment. Of all fabric in time. I got lucky to be born on the same stitch to be able to enjoy this creation of humans. I cant sing its high graces enough.


100/100


Could be a 98 because of a few minor glitches here and there. Like one scene they were talking but mouths werent moving. Their were 2 puzzles that seemed really unnecessary imo. But to me it remains a 100 because I judge these games as the visual movies they are. Plot absolutely touched my soul. And that is worth those extra 2 points.


Its a treat. Come and eat


Rating - 100/100

[dhaabi]

18. P.T. || PlayStation 4 || 03.25.2025



As one of modern gaming's most well-known instances of an unavailable game through official means and discontinued project, P.T. exists as one of the greatest examples of what sort of direction a franchise would have taken had plans continued. The franchise in question is Silent Hill, and it's likely that it would have had a prosperous revival much earlier than in 2024 had Hideo Kojima's involvement with the series lasted. I'm fortunate that I still own my PlayStation 4 console with the game installed, so I was able to play it natively and officially instead of playing a fan recreation.

Before going further, I'll mention that I'm probably more familiar with P.T. than any other Silent Hill game, though I've not played it before. I actually remember being a spectator to this game in a casual setting at the time of its release in 2014. Lights were off and I was with a group of friends—it wasn't exactly the best environment for wanting to appreciate the finer aspects of horror, but it's a fond memory to look back upon. I know I've watched videos detailing secrets too—or perhaps they were full playthroughs, even—so I was vaguely familiar with some of the game's objectives and criteria they require, but most of my experience still felt new.

Unlike previous Silent Hill entries, P.T. is played from a first-person camera perspective and is actually a game within the adventure genre, not survival horror. Nevertheless, horror is impressively designed far more than most of the games in the series that came before it. In short, players assume the role of an unnamed protagonist who wakes up trapped in a perpetually endless corridor of hallways—one hallway, really—that loops continuously to seemingly no end. Beyond interacting with a few small parts of the environment, the player is largely limited to walking up and door the hallway space and will be forced to solve somewhat cryptic puzzles in order to reach the game's true ending. Without divulging much, the plot of P.T. highlights a series of domestic violence and murder. It's a haunting narrative about husbands and wives—men and women—and the bloodshed so regularly perpetuated.

In many ways, P.T. is a triumphant return to video game horror when taken in the context of the thematic genre's status in 2014. A large part of that is through its atmosphere and sound, and, in hindsight, I wish that I had experienced the game firsthand while wearing headphones. A ghostly woman's distorted wails ring out from the darkness all around. A newborn baby's cries instill fear, and discovering that baby later on elicits some innate terror. Downright disturbing audio recordings play out from a radio, and you're left only feeling far more uncomfortable once it subsides. Paired with sound, visuals transform from relatively quaint to disconcerting. Over the course of its short play time, P.T. subverts what little comfort there is and then doubles down on even subverting the horrors players have become familiar with. What truly sets the game apart from other horror experiences, though, is that no two playthroughs are the same. Numerous events are random and may or may not even trigger, so there is reason to explore the game further with subsequent playthroughs to discover new fears which leave a haunting impression.

Playing P.T. was my first experience with anything created by Kojima, and, suffice to say to those who are familiar with him, there are all sorts of interpretations regarding the game's puzzles and hidden messages alongside the means to collect them. I managed to trigger some of the game's more obvious secrets on my own, though I seriously doubt my capabilities to have ever been able to solve the game's final puzzle on my own which reveals a hidden video trailer. Needless to say, I did consult a guide in order to reach that final segment, yet I'm still confused about one specific step and the logic in reaching it.

Certainly, P.T. is a highlight for the series, and it's a shame that conflict between Kojima and Konami took part, though it clearly allowed Kojima to explore other opportunities to his benefit. However, even without such context, P.T. stands out as one of the more successful games in the Silent Hill series, and it is disappointing that it's not more widely accessible for those interested.

[marvelvscapcom2]

18. Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn [PS4] - Finished - March 31st, 2025



Got one in at the buzzer! Lol. Marches final game.

This game is preposterously racist lol. Now dont get me wrong. I am a Dave Chapelle, George Carlin kinda guy. I get a good joke and love dark humor at times. But the game just kinda feels less about being funny and more throwing stereotypes to see what will stick. Not much does. It is basically goofing on chinese dudes for 15 hours with some celeb bosses thrown in. It doesnt do it with the tact of a southpark episode where theirs a bit of sattire in there and its self mocking. Or most of all really freaking funny like southpark. Nope.  Full blown "Shaq is Chinese samurai daddy dumpling. They call me dragon tamer" all these things dont offend me. They also dont make me laugh though. It feels like a really long 2008 Xbox 360 Party Chat. Id almost accept what it is if it was new. Daring. Its just corny. But sometimes that works to its benefit. Its shaq fu. Its meant to be corny lol.  The proverbial legend has returned to grace us with its stank
it is less stinky this time around. But  it's still a garbage pale kids card soaked in what I can only assume is urine.  You are reminded of why it was left in the closet. For what thats worth to the player is up to assumption or consideration. But I tend to enjoy the games carefree 90s stink. It feels like a frat kids metal diary. Just a notable fyi to anyone seeking to play it.  It rides that line. You been forwarned.


Take the role of Shaq as you claim to be a Chinese kung fu master. Or in shaqs words. One of the 3 great things from China alongside the electric toothbrush and general tsaos chicken. Enemies with names like "dragon chaser" make wild bruce lee noises as they attempt to stop Shaq. Who assumes many powerups that are cute and clever in design which I do love.

Shaqtus - pretty cool. Machine gun essentially

Shaq Disel - robot Michael jackson basically. 

And many others.


Gameplay is solid enough. But its extremely repetitive and the run time is surprisingly bloated. I wouldn't say its a bad game. It's just repetitive. Type of game to widly throw hundreds of enemies in waves. And you kinda mash buttons to wipe them all out.  Rarely is their player planning involved. Although some bosses were cool and also funny. Justin Bieber, Kanye West and other easy to jab celebrities make up a roster of goof balls to bash. Giving it a real life feel.

Even has a barack obama dlc.  This game is just wacky inflatable car salesmen.


Shaq Fu had the potential. It seems a competant dev team worked on it. Its widlly playable. It's even decent looking.  I just know what a beat em up remake can be.  Think streets of rage 4. This game cant hold a candle.


Rating - 71/100