When I started Final Fantasy VII Remake, I already knew it’d become a game that I’d come to associate with the word ‘impressive’. I will admit that it’s not too hard to impress me when it comes to video game graphics, as I mainly played on handheld consoles until recently. In fact, FF7 Remake was the first AAA game I played on my first custom desktop PC, so I’m aware that a lot of the visuals that blew my mind also came with switching to better hardware. I will also add that I have never played the original Final Fantasy VII (although I’d love to eventually), so I won’t focus on comparing the two here.

One of the first things I noticed about FF7 Remake was the combat system. In my opinion, it felt very satisfying and stood out to me as a great combination of classic turn-based Final Fantasy battles and action combat. As someone that struggles with action-packed games, I appreciated the choice to slow down time while the player navigates the skills and items that can be used during battle. To be honest, even the normal difficulty proved somewhat challenging for me, but this made the victories so much more rewarding.

Something else that instantly caught my attention was the great voice acting and, as mentioned before, the beautiful graphics. These brought the characters to life in a way that I hadn’t experienced much before. Since I’m currently learning the language, I opted for the Japanese dub and was not disappointed. Another great aspect of this game is that it establishes some mysteries surrounding the main character, Cloud, from the very beginning. This made me excited to learn more about him through the story and experience his character development. Moreover, the story delves into certain political concerns that feel very relevant nowadays. The main cast of characters is a group of eco-terrorists attempting to stop a mega-corporation from draining the planet’s resources, after all…

I was also surprised by the amount of content towards the end of the game. Every time I thought “okay, this is probably it”, the game threw me into another intense cutscene plus combat sequence, topped off with amazing music. Of course, this was a positive in my book because I was enjoying the game so much that I didn’t want it to end. I honestly can’t wait for FF7 Rebirth, although it looks like I’ll have to wait quite a while since I don’t own (or plan on owning) a PlayStation 5. Regardless, I’m sure the wait will be worth it.

The Stanley Parable was created by Davey Wreden, the man who is also behind The Beginner’s Guide. I believe his games work best when you go into them without much information, so I’ll keep this one as short as possible.

One of the first things that becomes apparent when you start playing this game is that the narrator has a story in mind for our friend Stanley, and is attempting to lead Stanley to the “true ending” of said story. That said, there are no systems in place that prevent Stanley from ignoring or contradicting the narrator’s instructions. This is where the magic of this game lies, turning it into a very entertaining experience which encourages the player to discover everything it has to offer. It also deals with some meaningful topics such as the illusion of free will, the effects of routine, etc. An indie classic powered by great voice acting and excellent writing, and one that you can finish in one session (if you wish to do so).

The Beginner’s Guide is one of those video games that I would have never thought of playing if it weren’t for my partner. To be honest, I didn’t have much knowledge or access to indie gems such as this one until recently, so I mostly rely on other people’s recommendations when it comes to PC and indie gaming.

When I asked about the plot, my partner refused to elaborate any more than ‘someone shows you a collection of games that their friend developed’. Looking back, I’m glad that was all I knew before I started playing, because the narrative definitely works better the less you know about it. For that reason, I won’t go into much detail. Overall, The Beginner’s Guide is a very emotional journey which might even make you reflect on some of your own actions and the motivation behind them. So if you have about an hour and a half and £7 to spare, I recommend you give it a go!

We picked up Kingdom Hearts II immediately after we completed its prequel, Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories. And by immediately, I mean on the same day. I had been anticipating this instalment for a long time, seeing as my friends that are hardcore KH fans consider it to be the game where ‘the series gets good’.

Kingdom Hearts II throws you into a confusing situation from the moment it begins, as expected of a video game series known for its complicated storyline. Instead of seeing the familiar faces of Sora, Donald, and Goofy, we are greeted by a new character called Roxas and his group of friends. The player controls Roxas for the first portion of the game, learning about him and his relation to the characters that we already know. While confusing, I found this exciting as it set the scene for an original plot that would be less driven by Disney’s heroes and villains. The story and writing of this game feel much more mature and grounded, with characters that are more fleshed out. That said, I did find myself making notes to keep track of some of the relationships between them.

In terms of gameplay, I also noticed a significant improvement compared to its predecessors. Thanks to the improved camera and controls, the combat is a lot more fluid, and the inclusion of reaction commands (the KH name for quick time events) makes fights against different enemies feel more distinct. There are also more combo abilities that give Sora powerful—and flashy—finishing moves. The difficulty of Kingdom Hearts II is definitely lower, which allowed me to breeze through the most boring bosses while still feeling challenged by the most interesting ones. The difficulty can always be increased from the game settings, and allowed me to enjoy the game without having to retry any boss more than 10 times, or making me want to tear my hair off. Compared to how ridiculous some boss fights were in the first game, this was a win in my book.

Of course, Kingdom Hearts II also has an amazing soundtrack and many nostalgia-filled moments that made me feel like I was 12 again. The next stop in our journey will be Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, which serves as a prequel to Kingdom Hearts II but told from a different angle. Although I’ve played this game before, I can’t wait to give it another go after having learned more about the main cast of characters.