Aaron Botts


59 games reviewed
73.9 average score
70 median score
79.7% of games recommended
Are you Aaron Botts? If so, email [email protected] to claim this critic page.
May 9, 2016

Sure, there are plenty of titles that poke fun at multiple aspects of gaming tropes and the surrounding culture. But sometimes pulling back the curtain in a creative way can really work to the medium's advantage.

Read full review

Jun 7, 2016

In an age of unnecessary grit and brown tones, it's nice to be reminded that there are games out there that can succeed at being compelling, functionally competent, and beautiful at the same time.

Read full review

Aug 8, 2016

I’m not going fault them for at least giving this a try, but I think it would have been beneficial for 773 to go back to the drawing board on this one. It’s a premise that was worth exploring, but the execution of the concept was less than stellar.

Read full review

8 / 10 - Redout
Dec 13, 2016

The amount of content stuffed in here makes the game a really good value for the asking price. It's worth a pickup, but make sure you prepare yourself for a serious test of skill.

Read full review

Dec 27, 2016

The story may be somewhat weak, but don’t let that deter you from picking this one up. Even though the game is short (my playthrough was about 4 hours), this is definitely something worth looking at.

Read full review

It shows why people fell in love with it in the first place, and it’s a great way to fall in love with Miku and the gang all over again…or for the first time.

Read full review

The amount of extra content and inclusion of DLC is reason enough to pick this up for sheer value alone.

Read full review

Apr 14, 2017

Putting this game back in my hands reminded me how enjoyable it is to relish in goofy ridiculousness. Even if it is a naturally short ride down memory lane, it’s a game well worth revisiting.

Read full review

Jun 20, 2017

Part of me wonders if this might have worked better as more of a short film or something similar, because the story really is worth looking at. Instead we get a disjointed game that ends up stumbling to deliver what it set out to do, and it is honestly quite a shame.

Read full review

It may not have the sharp writing that we’ve become accustomed to in gaming these days, but at the end of the day, it’s perfectly playable. Sometimes that’s all you need to have an enjoyable time. This one’s worth kicking back to.

Read full review

9 / 10 - Yakuza Kiwami
Aug 31, 2017

I really can't recommend this title enough. It may not hit as high as Zero did, but it does a damned fine job modernizing a game that fans fell in love with a decade ago. Tack that on with a budget price and an abundance of gameplay, and you'll be finding yourself among the ranks of Yakuza fans, as I have.

Read full review

You will find yourself laughing quite a bit at every ridiculous encounter you’ll come across, and those worried that this game may not live up to what came before it should rest easy. This is a trip into the mountains well worth taking, even if you missed out on its predecessor.

Read full review

Apr 15, 2018

Not only does it stay true to what people love about these titles, but it’s a goodbye to one of the most compelling protagonists I’ve ever played in a video game. If this is your first trip to Kamurocho, you’re going to enjoy yourself without question.

Read full review

Sep 4, 2018

Thankfully, most of the complaints I have are nitpicks at best. The nicks in the armor are noticeable, but despite that, everything manages to hold together. There’s heart, emotion, and care here that shouldn’t be passed over.

Read full review

Sep 21, 2018

The plot is fun and engaging, the multitude of distractions are a step up from its release predecessor, and Kazuma Kiryu’s steel resolve and Steve Rodgers-esque disposition makes for yet another fun romp through the seedy underworld we’ve come to know and love yet again.

Read full review

Considering that I’m limited in my exposure to this franchise as a whole, I found myself engrossed in what this game has to offer. This is a decently crafted side game with enough heart to make it competent enough to play, but a tasty side of fanservice for those who’ve been really digging alchemists and absurdly long game titles for 20 years.

Read full review

Sukeban did a fantastic job with building a cyberpunk world that feels organic, writing characters that are believable and (mostly) easy to love, and giving us a gameplay experience that would give those who are reluctant to the simple flow of visual novels a legitimate shot. I really enjoyed my time in Glitch City, and I think you will too.

Read full review

I think that longtime fans will enjoy this one, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that this could also serve as a starting point for newcomers as well. Atelier games are remarkably consistent in quality. Even though Lulua may not blow the doors off in a number of ways, it’s a nice little game that knows how to show you a good time.

Read full review

8 / 10 - Judgment
Jun 20, 2019

If you’re looking for a more accessible bar of entry to the Yakuza franchise, this is a strong entry with the studio stepping outside of its comfort zone a little bit. Thankfully, their experiment is a success.

Read full review

Aug 29, 2019

The biggest sin that this game commits is that it is bland in nearly every aspect of the word. It’s like Kirby but “totally not Kirby guys,” takes game mechanics from older titles and doesn’t do anything creative with them, and just doesn’t leave any sort of lasting impression in any way.

Read full review