Phenomenal game. The first one in the series I played, and easily sets the bar incredibly high for a story. Easily could take the contender as the greatest game I've ever played in terms of writing alone.

Aside from that, the mini-games (one in particular) are something I adored, and I was glad to see it return two games later in the franchise. The substories in this game as well are humorous and enjoyable, not overly saturated, and felt rewarding to complete.

Do I recommend playing this? Absolutely. Do I recommend 100%'ing the game? .. maybe not. Some of the stuff required for the completion list are nuts. And a few achievements in particular are bonkers to complete.

Sega did wonders with this game being a prequel to 1, and they definitely did not disappoint in that regard.

Phenomenal game. The first one in the series I played, and easily sets the bar incredibly high for a story. Easily could take the contender as the greatest game I've ever played in terms of writing alone. Aside from that, the mini-games (one in particular) are something I adored, and I was glad to see it return two games later in the franchise. The substories in this game as well are humorous and enjoyable, not overly saturated, and felt rewarding to complete. Do I recommend playing this? Absolutely. Do I recommend 100%'ing the game? .. maybe not. Some of the stuff required for the completion list are nuts. And a few achievements in particular are bonkers to complete. Sega did wonders with this game being a prequel to 1, and they definitely did not disappoint in that regard.