METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE

At this point, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance has a reputation that's wholly deserved. Platinum delivered a game so brilliant that it has lasted in the public consciousness since release day. The marriage between Kojima's Metal Gear Saga and Platinum's Action style results in a combination so magnificient that its creation rivals the genius event which combined chocolate and peanut butter. While I don't think this game's story is all that good--MGS 4's ending was perfect for series fans and the plot doesn't do enough to justify a follow up--it has enjoyable characters and some interesting interactions between protagonists and antagonists which touch on complex themes. However, I feel like this game is clearly gameplay focused, with the story looking to follow in Kojima's signature style while not overstaying its welcome or overplaying its hand. In short, the story is fun, but not the selling point--especially for a die-hard MGS fan. But the gameplay is a symphony of quick, precise cuts and pulse pounding parries. Enemies and locations are varied, at certain points you'll find the prospect of a new enemy to be absolutely terrifying as you're trying to keep your neck above water. That's not to say this is a particularly difficult game, but like all of Platinum's games--and every game in the character action genre--player skill is acknowledged and rewarded. If you're the type to want to replay until you've truly mastered a game, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance encourages you to do so and makes the ride feel luxurious. Pick this game up, it's honestly a mistake to not give this game a shot.

A nice mixture of Platinum Games' combat, Kojima's narrative, action one-liners and great music (and also "memes"). If you enjoy the above and/or slicing cyborgs and robots with a blade, this game is for you. Controlls may need getting used to, but once you figure out the patterns, the combat gets quite fun. There's some jank with blocking and dodging (especially in DLC1), but that may be relative to one's experience. All-in-all an enjoyable playthrough that doesn't overstay its welcome.

I knew of this game for a long time thanks to the numerous memes spawned from it, but I only played it recently and I must say this game ROCKS! The action is top notch! The music is amazing. The writing is insane (but in a good way). Unlike other entries in the Metal Gear franchise this game is more about slicing and dicing and less about stealth (even though there are some optional stealth elements). Speaking of slicing and dicing, this game has an incredible physics engine which lets you cut tons of stuff in the environment into bits with your sword (enemies included). The story of this game is written like a bad action movie (in the best way), 10 years after its release some of the commentary is still shockingly relevant, its not very subtle but it does makes you think a little. My only real critic of the game is the use of quick time events, if you have issues with repeated fast pressing of "x" (like if you have a representative strain injury) , then this game might be not for you, there are several points in the story that you must mash a button repeatedly in order to progress. Another nit pick I have is that to quit the game you must select a save file, which wastes a little bit of time.

As it says on the tin, a direct port of MGRR to PC, with little to no changes for better and worse. People complain about no 4k support but I never use 4k so I don't care. Any issues it had on console it has here, some frame drops during cutscenes but very few times it happens. Platinum Games at its finest with awesome over the top action and one of the best soundtracks ever in my opinion. Excellent MEMES of course, but a great game on its own and one of my favorites I play over and over.

Banger soundtrack, incredibly fun and unique combat mechanics unseen elsewhere, gameplay that is unmatched in terms of gamefeel and feedback, and bosses that actually will respond to your gameplay style. All of the above sets this game above everything else but the last point is what makes this the best game I have ever played. If you slowly walk to a boss dramatically, even on the hardest difficulties, they're not gonna immediately start bumrushing and let you savor the moment. But if you run straight towards them, they'll immediately open up. If you spam and button mash, a boss may do the same with extremely rapid and brutal attacks. If you're methodical about your combos and button presses the enemy also matches your pace organically without compromising difficulty. Seriously, the game will respect your ability to savor and take in the moment - I have not seen one other game where the AI isn't just a bunch of predictable single-behavior function. Sure, a couple bosses are traditionally pattern based and most basic enemies are still simple (but still well above average) but nothing else captures the organic feeling in a game like this. That just says how much care and effort went into this game. And it's all crammed into one of the most bombastic, ludicrous, yet somehow starkly prescient experiences ever created. It's rare I recommend a game universally, but this is a game that everyone should play. It just epitomizes what makes a game fun - and it's the ONLY games I go out of my way to replay every few years.