Your second paragraph hits it squarely for me, Plethora. We ought to acknowledge how many things this game does incredibly well. In the end it probably succumbs to conventional shooter-itis (and a few other issues Kirk notes in his piece). That's really too bad, but, man oh man, does this game ever tantalize with more.

I don't mean to be snarky or dismissive, but I'm pointing at the real problem with Infinite. Brilliant as the game is - and as earnestly as it tries to explore social-political issues - Infinite is tethered to its mechanical nature as a shooter in ways that undermine its aspirations. It's possible to love the game for…

I think it's a terrific, albeit minor, iteration - which is just fine with me. EO has never been about big overhauls or long new feature lists. The way I see it, Atlus polishes the diamond with sequels, subtly finding ways to make the game shine a little brighter each time. I like the airship and how its exploration…

Terrific piece, Jason - and thanks for linking to my essay. I try to avoid claiming games have become too easy because sometimes I enjoy the simple pleasure of doing simple things in a charming world. Animal Crossing. But, really, EO4 reminds me why I began playing games in the first place. It's a big mountain to…

Wind Waker's score melts me. Andean pan flutes, uilleann pipes, and Irish jigs. A crazy combo that transports you to the heart of the game. I'm glad so many people have found their way to embracing the game in recent years. It's easy to forget how much vitriol was poured on it when it first appeared. Such a bold,…

Jobim's music is usually associated with Astrud Gilberto's vocals, and she's fabulous. But it's Sinatra who really sends Jobim's melodies to the stratosphere. "The Sinatra-Jobim Sessions" is back in print, and it's one of my favorite records of all-time. Sinatra uses a completely different vocal technique for these…