Despite all of its flaws, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 endeared itself to me, often through its sheer sincerity.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – That Grand RPG Feeling
Final Fantasy XVI – A Roller Coaster, for Worse
Producer Naoki Yoshida described Final Fantasy XVI as a roller coaster. This may sound needlessly smug, but he was more right than he knew.
Resident Evil 2 (2019) and 4 (2023) – You’re Small Time, But Alas, Also Big Time
I came to understand that the enduring appeal of Resident Evil lies not only in grimy corridors and memorable monsters, but in a craftsmanship of game design that reinforces the game's horrors and makes for great replayability.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus – More Than Mac & Cheese
What excited me about Pokemon as a kid was more than the games -- it was that childlike hope, a world of play that sprawled out from within me.
God of War – Or, How Kratos Became Dad of the Year
God of War does an interesting thing. It sidesteps the question of whether a man who has done horrible things can be redeemed, and instead asks how such a man can keep his past from destroying his son.
Hotel Dusk: Room 215 – A Long Goodbye
No one wants to relinquish the truth, which will expose them totally -- their failures, their weaknesses. But they hold fast to the lingering, secret hope of meeting someone who can leap past their defenses so that they can finally lower them and rest.
Alundra – My First Game
No one knows as a child when they are having a formative experience.
Gravity Rush 2 – A Charming, Messy Whirlwind
This game is a prism of powerful artistry and rough execution, but when the light shines through it at just the right angle, the light is dazzling.
Alan's Party 