Release Year: 2012
Reading Year: WI2024
Developer/Publisher: GameFreak/Nintendo
Time to Beat: XX Hours

Thoughts: I think this is the best Pokemon game. I get it. As someone who played every single of game in the main-series except this one, I had always heard that the Black and White games were different. Now, I can I say that I agree. So, I am mostly going to say what others have already said. The story is more nuanced, but more importantly is given space to breathe. The Team Rocket equivalent is muddied in a very refreshing way, especially with N as a character. It should be high praise that this game felt like i was present playing a Pokemon game and not just going through the motions. I will also say it was the first time since Sword and Shield that I felt wowed by the animation gimmicks. Every Pokemon game there some marginal animation improvement and it typically feels like a waste of resources. But here, I was genuinely excited with each gym to interact with the 3D space or see these magnificent bridges and cityscapes! This is the best of Pokemon in the classic handheld era hands down.

Release Year: 2017
Reading Year: WI2023
Developer/Publisher: Arkane Studios/Bethesda Softworks
Time to Beat: 22 Hours

Thoughts: Prey is exactly the kind of game I hate. It’s a game with too many systems and too little guidance. It is too easy to feel stupid or lost in a game meant to “fit any play-style.” Prey is also difficult. Especially in the early game. You are meant to feel powerless and carefully plan your enemy engagements – which usually amounts to finding any way to not engage. However, you aren’t told this. Instead you will be stonewalled by a Voltaic Phantom or die one too many times to a household object. In either case, it can feel unforgiving, unfair, and directionless. If you end up finishing, you may feel that you didn’t play “correctly” and still don’t understand why people love this game so much.

Release Year: 1996
Reading Year: WI2023
Developer/Publisher: Square/Nintendo
Time to Beat: 7 Hours

Thoughts: I am not a fan of Mario games, but this one won me over. Somehow Square Enix was able to take the dull and intentionally flat character of Mario and make him funny. I can’t get over how funny this game is. The way the characters use physical humor or impersonation to make their jokes with no dialogue. It feels reminiscent of Scooby-Doo. I was always so surprised each time I would have a long/important dialogue interaction because I would always be cracking up. I can’t overstate how strange, odd, and fun the characters and story are.