Games I beat in 2023 
1. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII -Reunion- (PS5)
I don't know how many hours I poured into the original PSP version, but I'm pretty sure I never beat it. I had almost 0 recollection of everything post-Nibelheim so maybe I never played it? Despite that, I loved this game in my tween years. Zack was cool, dorky protag who I find endlessly charming still. The QOL improvements in this are significant, even if it's basically the same game with a fresh coat of paint.
Some of the story elements seem more cheesy to me now and this playthrough highlights how much I don't really care for Genesis, but that's vastly overshadowed by the story stuff I find really well done. Loved the budding chemistry between Zack and Aerith and the scenes between them make it all the more clear how sorrowful it is for them to have lost what might have been.
The morsels of Yuffie and Tifa we get are great, and the Vincent joke had me laughing a whole lot. Good one, guys. The game shocked me with how short it was at just under 20 hours (and honestly had I not gotten lost in the pretty video-gamey final level where you have to find the goddess materia, I probably could've shaved off an hour) but Holy heck are there way too many optional missions. I did at least 2.5 hours of them and barely made 25%? Talk about an absolute grind. Did not care for that.
Anyways, all in all, really solid game, holds up and is a worthy compliment to the original and Remake (so far). Now for me to go back and finish the original and Remake (don't tell anyone I haven't beaten them yet, woops).
"Embrace your dreams"
2. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (Game Boy via Nintendo Switch Online)
A fun little Mario game that felt great to play, although I NEVER would have been able to beat without save states and rewind. Anyone who did so without that, my hat's off to ya. Not much else to say about it other than I appreciated its brevity and that Wario sprite is the gift that keeps on giving.
3. Kirby's Dream Land (Game Boy via Switch Online)
I have never seriously played a Kirby game in my life, but look at that! The first one I made it all the way through was the original! While I appreciate the whimsical nature of this, it felt very conceptually disjointed and very manic for the sake of it. The level designs didn't feel as intentional and polished as something like, say, SML2 that I also just finished. Enjoyed it fine but I'm sure later entries are improvements.
4. #HatsuneMiku: Project DIVA f (PS3)
Beating this game is literally 10 years in the making. I pre-ordered this back in 2013 after playing Weekender Girl over and over in the demo and falling in love with the poppy charm of #vocaloid and the addicting rythym mechanics. I picked at it bit by bit over the years and FINALLY rolled credits LAST NIGHT. Had a heck of a blast every time I booted this up and will continue to play it and its sequels for years to come.
Open your heart/wallet to #Miku.
