Press "A" Reviews

- Reviewed on Gameboy Advance SP - Donkey Kong Country released on November 21st, 1994.  Developed by Rare and published by Nintendo, Donkey Kong Country became one of the defining platformers of the 1990s, and even today, it's still talked about as one of the greatest games on the Super Nintendo.  Although I'm reviewing the Gameboy Advance version, the core experience is still here. After finally sitting down and completing this classic myself, I can definitely understand why Donkey Kong Country has remained so beloved for over three decades. This review WILL have Major Spoilers so keep that in mind before continuing... The story of Donkey Kong Country is very simple, but that's really all it needs to be.  Donkey Kong's massive banana hoard has been stolen by the evil King K. Rool and the Kremling Krew. Teaming up with Diddy Kong, the two set off across Donkey Kong Island to recover every last banana while defeating anyone standing in their way.  The plot isn...

- Reviewed on PS3 - Midnight Club: Los Angeles - Complete Edition released on October 12th, 2009.  Developed by Rockstar San Diego and published by Rockstar Games, Midnight Club: Los Angeles - Complete Edition is an open-world, arcade racing title that still has a dedicated fanbase years after its release.  Rockstar is obviously best known for franchises like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, but after finally spending a good amount of time with this racing game, I can confidently say that they knew exactly how to make driving feel fast, exciting, and rewarding. This review WILL have Major Spoilers so keep that in mind before continuing... The plot of Midnight Club: Los Angeles is fairly straightforward. You arrive in Los Angeles with one goal in mind: becoming one of the city's most respected street racers. Throughout the story you'll meet various racers, earn their respect, unlock new opportunities, and slowly climb your way to the top of the racing scene. Personal...

- Reviewed on  Switch 2  - The Boba Teashop released on April 20th, 2025. Developed and published by Mike Ten, this indie horror title completely caught me off guard.  Going into this, I was expecting a simple, maybe slightly eerie management style game… but what I got instead was one of the creepiest experiences I’ve had in a long time.  And yes, I mean that. This game genuinely shook me more than my last horror playthrough. This review WILL have  Major Spoilers  so keep that in mind before continuing... At its core The Boba Teashop starts off deceptively normal. You play as Risa. She is a woman who leaves behind a draining corporate life to start fresh with her own small boba tea shop.  The opening moments feel peaceful. You are introduced to your workspace and basic tools. You are also introduced to the routine of serving customers across a seven-day cycle. At first glance it feels like a cozy management sim with a relaxing loop. But very quickly th...

- Reviewed on  Switch 2  - Super Mario Galaxy released on November 1st, 2007. Developed and published by Nintendo, this is one of those landmark 3D platformers that took Mario into space and completely changed how movement and level design could work in a 3D environment. Playing this on Nintendo Switch 2 as part of the 3D All-Stars collection was honestly a great way to revisit it, especially with the improved performance and visuals. This review WILL have  Major Spoilers  so keep that in mind before continuing... The story is your classic Bowser kidnaps Peach setup, but this time he takes the entire castle into space, which forces Mario into a galaxy-spanning rescue mission.  Along the way you meet Rosalina, who ends up being a surprisingly important and emotional part of the game’s overall tone.  The story itself isn’t the main focus, but it does its job well and gives enough charm to tie everything together. Gameplay-wise, this is where the game still re...

- Reviewed on  Switch 2  - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate released on July 17th, 2024. Developed by Super Evil Megacorp and published by Viacom International, this rogue-lite brawler brought the classic TMNT universe to life in a fresh, accessible way. This review WILL have  Major Spoilers  so keep that in mind before continuing... I’ll admit, I haven’t played many TMNT games before, but jumping into Splintered Fate on Switch 2 was a blast.  The game is easy to pick up, smooth to play, and instantly satisfying, which is a big plus for newcomers or casual players like me. The story is simple but effective: the turtles are on a mission to rescue Master Splinter from Shredder.  While straightforward, it wraps nicely around the rogue-lite brawler gameplay, giving a sense of progression and stakes as you fight your way through sewers, docks, city streets, and rooftops.  Each location feels fun and memorable, and the variety keeps things fresh...

- Reviewed on  Switch 2  - Resident Evil Requiem released on February 27th, 2026. Developed and published by Capcom, Resident Evil Requiem is the latest entry in the long-running survival horror franchise.  I played RE9 on the Switch 2 and let me tell you, it’s one of the most intense and cinematic experiences I’ve had in a while. This review WILL have  Major Spoilers  so keep that in mind before continuing... The story of Resident Evil Requiem centers around two protagonists: Grace and Leon.  Grace is a newer character, forced into terrifying situations where she feels completely vulnerable, while Leon takes a more action-hero approach, taking on hordes of enemies with confidence and skill. Both characters operate in the same locations at overlapping times, giving you a unique perspective on events and creating a constant tension that I haven’t felt in a Resident Evil game before. The narrative is solid, with well-written dialogue and story beats that keep...

- Reviewed on  Switch 2  - Streets of Rage 4 released on April 30th, 2020. Developed by Lizardcube, Guard Crush Games, and Dotemu, and published by Dotemu, Streets of Rage 4 serves as a long-awaited continuation of the classic beat ‘em up franchise. Even though this series has been around for decades, this was actually my first real deep dive into Streets of Rage as a whole, and I have to say, I completely understand why this franchise has the reputation it does. This review WILL have  Major Spoilers  so keep that in mind before continuing... One of the first things I immediately noticed was just how tight and responsive the controls feel. For a beat ‘em up title, that is absolutely crucial. Every punch, kick, grab, throw, and special move feels deliberate and interactive. There’s weight behind your attacks, but not so much that the gameplay feels sluggish. It strikes a really nice balance that makes every fight feel satisfying. And the combos? Extremely fun to exper...