1. The Bouncer [PS2] - Finished Jan 1st, 2026
I am so incapacitated by flu that it's almost depressing at this point. I cough in my dreams. I really wish everyone health and safety away from this strand. For whatever that's worth. But being bed ridden for a week sent me to this off the wall classic! I was able to sit as the ball dropped and get my first score on the board early just like last year! Beaten at 2:00 am EST of 2026. To ring in the year. And i'm happy with the choice off sentimentality alone.
This time with a very nostalgic childhood game. It is very symbolic for me. Even the title entrance voice thheeeee Bouncerrr. This is a lesser spoken of Squaresoft beat em up. My stance on it is that considering some people paid 60 dollars for this game at launch back in the early 2000s. That's quite the tough out. But as a small experience, I enjoyed my time with it. And my brother let me borrow this game when I was like 7 years old. So its full circle to witness end credits with it
The plot is I believe meant to pivot around choosing sion. I chose volt and leveled up only volt. It punishes you slightly with dialogue for doing this. The game is a bare bones rudementary beat em up that actually has stellar graphics for its time. Some of these cut scenes have such great visual light reflection effects that it looks borderline Ray Tracing!! It's very pretty for a game that I remember playing before passion of the christ the movie was even released. 2 decades or more of added onto my back like armadillo scales but the game remains what it always was. An easy. Anyone can do it beat em up for begginers of the genre. I was able to beat the game without buying any special moves.
The plot is ok... although rushed. Not as flushed out as say kingdom hearts but more flushed out than say dynasty warriors. The combat is ok although not very nuianced. I do think its simplicity is what aids its nostalgia for me because it is how I remembered the game being. Some of the fighting feels club brawl style and fist fighting fun.
Sion - Dollar General Sora
Volt - spike from buffy the vampie slayer
Other dude - the host of ink master Dave Navaro.
This is lamens terms of what were dealing with in terms of character development. And they seek to rescue A drew berrymore blonde girl from some disapperance or kidnapping. It's random and off the rails but it keeps itself somewhat glued with the well animated cut scenes. The blonde girl. Has secrets. So does All the characters really.
The game is very punch punch kick repeat. Unless you buy combo moves which I didnt.
Overall its a nostalgic cute simple beat em up for ps2.
77/100
