38 years later, I finally beat it as part of the Castlevania Anniversary Collection (okay, I used save states, but it still counts!) /2
What I played: Castlevania (NES, 1986) Developed and published by Konami The one that started it all! I originally played this tough-as-nails platformer in all its 8-bit glory back in the day and let me tell you, the phrase "Nintendo hard" owes a lot to Castlevania among other titles. /1
This recursion is used to solve puzzles, with neat mechanics that can have surprising effects. /2
What I played: Maquette (PS5, 2021) Developed by Graceful Decay Published by Annapurna Interactive Framed within a story about the rise and fall of a relationship, the game takes place in a recursive environment in which every level has a smaller version of itself inside it. /1
The rhythm segments increase in complexity but the game has assistive features that help you stay on beat. Recommended! /2
What I played: A Musical Story (PS5, 2022) Developed and published by Glee-Cheese Studio, Digerati, Bromio A rhythm game set against a 70s backdrop following the journey of a young musician. Excellent original music, unique visuals, and a vivid story that unfolds effectively without dialogue. /1
Probably best seen as a tech demo for future games in this franchise, The Short Message is nevertheless a short but potent Silent Hill experience. /4
--both while exploring the dilapidated building where the story takes place, and during several chase sequences when the main character must flee a cherry blossom monster through a hellish maze. /3