Fynn's Top 25 games

[Pumpkin]

Love XII. I didn't like it the first time I played but now it's one of my favourites

Did playing and enjoying other western and open world RPGs play a role in changing your mind about it? I ask because while I did like XII right from the start, when I replayed it recently after many years and after going through western/open world games like Skyrim/Oblivion, Dragon Age and the like, my appreciation of it increased.

No not really. I think it came from the fact that I was expecting something different from an FF game so I was disappointed. But once I started to appreciate it for what it was I liked it much more

[Fynn]

I can't wait until I reach FF XII, but seeing as how I still need finish VI and onward, that will be quite a while yet.
I also can't wait until I can play XIII just because of how much flak it gets. Knowing me, I'll probably love it and defend it to no end because most people don't. That's kinda how I am with FF II. :p

FFII is a fantastic game. And XIII is getting its share of fans now too :p I personally consider it simply a hugely wasted opportunity, as the potential for greatness is there, but it seems rushed and the end effect is mediocre at best, sadly. I really don't hate XIII, I just feel really sad for it at this point.

[Egami]

No not really. I think it came from the fact that I was expecting something different from an FF game so I was disappointed. But once I started to appreciate it for what it was I liked it much more

Yeah, XII was really something different. I personally found it to be a bold and riveting step forward for the series and it has a certain western RPG vibe (no doubt due to Matsuno's appreciation of the genre) which is probably what set back some of the fans on first impression. I hope it gets an HD remaster since I think it would be more appreciated today than it was back when it came out.

[Karifean]

Ah yes, Final Fantasy XII. The original game was pretty good, the IZJS version made it one of my favorites and on-par with the PSX titles.

Besides maybe X-2 (but only thanks to X) I've never had so much fun going through the world more than once, revisiting areas I've already gone through. XII Ivalice really is a beautiful world and the amount of freedom you get is just perfect. Also there's never been an FF game where just running around killing random monsters has been nearly as fun and satisfying. Can't say I cared all that much for the original License board, but IZJS solved just about all the issues I had with it.

The original had a few dark stains on its postgame content, what with Yiazmat and the crippling damage limit also making other bosses quite annoying, but IZJS solved even that with the removal of the damage limit and creation of the "Trial Mode Yiazmat" where he only has 4.5 mill HP, cutting just about all the redundant and boring parts right out. Though whatever they were thinking giving the player a win button... I will never understand. I still love IZJS quite a lot.

Amazing game. Playing through it together with my brother when he had a fracture last year is a treasured memory.

[Scotty_ffgamer]

I'm finally working my way towards beating XII for the first time. The furthest I've gotten before is just before Phon Coast (I may have gotten to Phon Coast, but it's not familiar to me at all). Every time I try to play this game again, I find myself having more and more fun with it. I do think my issue when I first played it was that it felt very different from other FF games, and it just wasn't what I was looking for at the time.

That being said, it's an extremely pretty game, and I love the soundtrack. The soundtrack doesn't have the emotional punch that I get from other FF games, but it's always fitting and fun to listen to. I like most of the monster and character designs. I liked that the world felt alive as well. This is not just because of the populated towns/camps/cities, but also the fact that you could see other hunters occasionally roaming the world or monsters that have no desire to attack you unless you fight first.

Now some things I don't like (and keep in mind, I have no experience with the IZJS version)... My main issue is the license board. I would have preferred something a little more akin to the Sphere Grid where you are focusing more both on stat upgrades and abilities. I didn't really like having armor and weapons tied to it. It doesn't really hinder me that much when I play, but it creates a sometimes unnecessary grind for License Points when wanting to equip certain things. I also would have preferred to have licenses unlock abilities rather than having to buy those as well. The game is kind of stingy when it comes to money.

Another thing I don't like: The treasure system. Chests usually give me pretty pointless things like extremely small amounts of gil. I would prefer a smaller number of chests with useful things than a large number of useless chests. I also don't like the thing with the Zodiac Spear. That design just feels like something made to sell strategy guides more than anything. I don't necessarily have an issue with setting something up where you should avoid certain chests or have to weigh the risks and rewards of getting a pretty good thing now to miss out on something great later on. That's fine... but the game does nothing to even hint that you should avoid opening some chests. This is particularly annoying considering you start getting these chests right at the beginning of the game right by places you go to to progress the story.

I like the story and characters, but I do think the pacing is a bit odd at times to where it feels a bit too much like you aren't getting much story or development at all. I think this could have been vastly improved upon were the game made for the PS3/PS4. Higher specs and more disc space I think could have created more opportunities for the characters to have some banter while you are exploring places like the Yensa Sandsea or during battles. I think that just that little extra push for interaction in those sections could have gone a long way towards both making sure the player doesn't forget what they are doing and to help build the characterization of the characters. I also think that more development throughout the game would have been nice in general. There are some nuggets of Vaan or Balthier or Ash's past that I think should have had more prevalence throughout the game. Most of the characters feel like they just kind of appear and that's it for much of the game outside of a few scenes for each. I just want more for each of the characters as I genuinely like everyone that appears in the party.

[Fynn]

It's funny how you mention the Sphere Grid because I've actually recently ragequit my playthrough of X HD and moved straight on to X-2 HD because of it. Even with the Expert Sphere Grid, I found the system way to restrictive and stressful in a way. I always kept worrying that I still had so much to go to get all those stats that I need right now and all those abilities. I felt much more comfortable gaining regular levels and just obtaining licences for armor and skills in FFXII. Though I think it could have been more robust. I'm pretty sure IZJS resolves that issue though?

Anyway, stay tuned for an update in a couple of minutes.

Let me just warn you that from now on, unmarked spoilers abound.

[Scotty_ffgamer]

The Sphere Grid isn't perfect either. I kind of like the layout of the license board. It's easier to go for the exact thing you want to get rather than having to go along the more restricted path in things like the Sphere Grid. The sphere grid was just the only thing I could think of as a sort of close comparison to the license board in terms of FF games. I'd just like the freedom of the license board with more of a focus on abilities and stats. Not paying gil for magic and abilities and having the ability to just pay for equipment and wear it would be ideal for me. I can deal with it, and it doesn't really hinder my enjoyment of the game.

[Fynn]

#6

Another entry in a well-known series that has already appeared twice on this list. While it may not be the most popular entry, it holds a really special place in my heart, not only because it was my first Kingdom Hearts game ever…

KINGDOM HEARTS: CHAIN OF MEMORIES


http://static.zerochan.net/Kingdom.Hearts%3A.Chain.of.Memories.full.9451.jpg
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This game set the annoying standard of the really good games in the series appearing on handhelds. I personally couldn’t be bothered by that, but I am almost exclusively a handheld gamer, always have been, but this has alienated the fanbase somewhat. People thought the handheld games were just side-stories and went into further games confused, having missed crucial plot-points from the handheld titles. Still, the handheld games are really where the heart and soul of the series is, and this is perhaps the most evident in Chain of Memories. Spoilers ahead, by the way.


http://lparchive.org/Kingdom-Hearts-Chain-of-Memories/Update%2042/42-VisualBoyAdvance_2007-07-18_21-11-31-93.jpg
Shhh. Let's not spoil the whole game now.

What starts of as an innocent revisiting of old KHI locales quickly devolves into a very brutal deconstruction of the Mary Sue trope (yet again – Nomura, you must really fucking hate the fanficion your fans write :p), where Sora’s cheerful optimism and drive to do the right thing and save his friends turns into a really dark obsession. His search for a false friend makes him forget who he really is – literally! He even abandons Donald and Goofy at some point, as he becomes more and more fanatical in his pursuit of the organization. And then we have the very character of Naminé who doesn’t want to do the things she is forced to, but it is clear it feels good to her to be so loved by Sora, even if it’s fake. The Riku Replica arc is just amazingly done. Never have I found a recurring villain’s story so tragic and sad, and it’s really devastating how it all ends for him. Oh yeah, you also get a whole storyline devoted to Riku once you beat Sora’s story and it is all sorts of amazing. I loved how this game really drove home the shades of gray that seemed absent from the original game, and how even though Riku has come back to the light, he can never truly leave behind him the darkness that tempted him. And best of all – that may not necessarily be a bad thing. I feel that this game is actually only the beginning of Riku’s story and it has some really fantastic payoff in KH 3D.


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I don't think i've ever experienced a villain I wanted to punch in the schnoz as much as Larxene.

I guess what I’m trying to say throughout the whole paragraph is this: the writing in this game is hands-down the best in the series. It’s surprisingly dark and suspenseful, the characters are amazingly done and really, I wish KHII had at least half the quality of this game’s writing.


http://lparchive.org/Kingdom-Hearts-Chain-of-Memories/Update%2048/22-VisualBoyAdvance_2007-07-28_13-41-08-42.jpg
The promise of future handheld title greatness.

I also really enjoy the battle system, although I know it’s a mixed bag to a lot of fans. I personally had no problem managing my own deck in real time, keeping track of the number values and the enemy movement at the same time. It was a bit harder in the 3D remake, but I still managed. It’s really unique and fast-paced. It keeps you on your toes and boasts a robust collecting element that is sure to give those with more serious cases of completionist OCD a headache :D


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The GBA original had some really gorgeous, detailed sprites. I think the Disney characters look especially good, as they’re all very faithful to their original designs and have really fluid movements. That’s not to say the original characters didn’t have fantastic spritework – they totally did, but there’s just something incredibly satisfying in seeing your favorite Disney characters in sprite form. The remake uses the KHI engine, with most models from the first game intact, which is still okay, but I really missed the charm of those sprites in that game.


http://sleepingkingdom-info.weebly.com/uploads/3/7/2/5/3725811/655193_orig.jpg
It still looks pretty epic either way.

What new music tracks Shimomura introduces are gorgeous, but you’d expect nothing less. The remake gives us one new final battle track, but other than that, it’s all pretty much the same.


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Now you guys got the HD ReMix available, so there’s no excuse to not play this game. Just because it was out on a handheld, doesn’t mean it’s any less of a Kingdom Hearts game. In fact, with its unique battle system and amazing story, I honestly believe this is the best entry in the Kingdom Hearts series.

[Scotty_ffgamer]

Out of curiosity, did you think the GBA version or PS2 version told this story better?

[Fynn]

Out of curiosity, did you think the GBA version or PS2 version told this story better?

Hmm... That is a good question. I think they both did really well. The sprites in the GBA version are very emotive and it really does help you get immersed in it. The voices in the remake are a pretty great addition, but I think some changes in the script were unnecessary. I mean, it's neat that Axel has his catchphrase now, but Marlixia's Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness was really overdone. Stil, I think they're both good.

[Scotty_ffgamer]

I feel like I preferred Axel's characterization in the original GBA version instead of pretty much any of the other games, but it's been forever since I've played it. I should do that again soon. I played the PS2 version for the first time in HD 1.5 ReMIX, but I think I prefer GBA in general. The gameplay made more sense to me in a portable game, and I think it didn't translate quite as well in 3D. It was still pretty great though.

I remember when Chain of Memories very first came out. I was completely blown away at the opening and closing cutscenes, and it also kind of blew me away when Simple and Clean played in the credits with pretty good sound. The sprite work was definitely beautiful too.

[Fynn]

I don't think Axel was that bad in the remake. I mean, he only says "Got it memorized?" once, other than that he's pretty much the same as he was in the GBA version. It's way worse in 3D, where every other line he says is his catchphrase :roll2

[Fynn]

#5

So it’s Christmas 2003. Junior high-aged Fynn has his cousin over. He has only two games on his GBA. He can’t wait until Santa brings him a new game (yes, I believed in Santa in junior high, shut up :p). And there it is, a little square box, a water-color image of children on some dramatic background. Little did I know how important this game would become to me. I give you my first Matsuno game, and the highest-ranked FF on the list…


FINAL FANTASY TACTICS ADVANCE


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http://www.phoenixdown.it/everlasting_fantasy/ff-extra/images/ff-tacticsadvance/wp_1024_FFtactics.jpg

Everything starts like a typical escapist fantasy. A young boy (just like me!) doesn’t fit in at school (*gasp) me again!) and just wishes he could be swept away into a magical world. And he is! How cool is that? Very cool.


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Witch one do you smurfing mean? There's like a bajillion of those.

Until things aren’t that cool. Well, actually, apart from the laws getting really strict, there’s nothing wrong with fantasy Ivalice on its own. The only thing Marche notices is missing is… reality. He gets to fulfill his fantasy of being a powerful warrior in a clan that has tons of adventures, his brother can walk, and his friends are happy (heck, probably everyone in Ivalice is happy), but Marche sees what the others don’t want to see. This world is not real, never can be, and any happiness that they may experience in Ivalice is simply a way of escaping their own problems. Marche goes against his friends in an effort to show them that they must face their problems like adults – head-on, no compromises. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance remains one of the most mature FF games to date, with a very in-depth look at escapism and a coming-of-age story that promotes genuine maturity and thoughtfulness. This is one of those games that have thoroughly influenced the way I look at life, and I am forever thankful for it.


http://static.zerochan.net/Final.Fantasy.Tactics.Advance.full.687807.jpg
Sometimes, you just need to learn to accept yourself to let go of a fantasy.

So some people will tell me the gameplay is simply a watered-down version of FFT, to which I have to call bulltrout. Yes, there are some simplifications regarding stats and how armor works, but I think it’s all for the better, as FFT did have some overly complex elements that bogged the game down. Now, FFTA implements races on top of classes, that not only serve to make the game world seem more diverse and, well, alive despite being fake in canon, but makes the characters more unique, even if you argue that classes being exclusive to specific races is limiting. I also find that the FFIX-esque ability learning system is a real plus, though I wish it was more obvious how to get specific weapons and skills.


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Look at all those chickens.

Hitoshi Sakimoto, as usual, offers us a sweeping score that is a tad more playful and lighthearted than what we got in FFT and FFXII, but there’s still a ton of epic music to keep the engagements fun and the really dramatic story segments all the more memorable.


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I seriously, highly recommend this game to anyone. This game is anything but kiddy, while still being entirely kid-friendly. I think the aesop is a perfect one for kids and I am surprised so many people missed the point in all this. Although I still think it’s a sign of a good story that it makes people debate its meaning so passionately. Whether you agree with the message or no, the story is really well-paced and impeccably written, and if you are an FF fan (especially and Ivalice fan), you really owe it to yourself to play this game. To me, this is the best FF of all time.

[Skyblade]

Fantastic game.


Sometimes, you just need to learn to accept yourself to let go of a fantasy.
The picture above this line is broken for me.


So some people will tell me the gameplay is simply a watered-down version of FFT, to which I have to call bulltrout. Yes, there are some simplifications regarding stats and how armor works, but I think it’s all for the better, as FFT did have some overly complex elements that bogged the game down. Now, FFTA implements races on top of classes, that not only serve to make the game world seem more diverse and, well, alive despite being fake in canon, but makes the characters more unique, even if you argue that classes being exclusive to specific races is limiting. I also find that the FFIX-esque ability learning system is a real plus, though I wish it was more obvious how to get specific weapons and skills.

It is watered down FFT, yes. But that is not a bad thing. I mean, if you have a concentrated caustic or bleach, it can be useless for pretty much anything. Yet, if you water it down, it suddenly becomes incredibly useful.

Most of FFT's mechanics were complicated for the sake of being complicated. Yes, there is a lot of depth that you can get out of them, but it took people a lot of time devoted specifically to min/maxing the systems to develop most of those techniques, and even then, it mostly boils down to "follow a walkthrough or recommendations exactly to get the most out of the system, otherwise ignore it". The complexity cost was way too high for the depth they gave.

FFTA cuts out the fluff, then adds a bunch of more accessible features (like races) that put similar (or more) depth in without being nearly as complex.


I'd also like to make a nod here to FFTA2. It improves on FFTA in a number of mechanical ways, most notably, having a much, much better system for getting specific new items than the original. Pity the plot had to be so butchered.

[metagloria]

What the actual frick? I hated Chain of Memories. I've only played the GBA version, but I couldn't even get halfway through.

[Fynn]

What the actual frick? I hated Chain of Memories. I've only played the GBA version, but I couldn't even get halfway through.

Well, youre wrong :monster:




Fantastic game.


Sometimes, you just need to learn to accept yourself to let go of a fantasy.
The picture above this line is broken for me.

That's too bad, because it was a piece of really lovely fanart.

I'll get to FFTA2 once I do my honorable mentions ;)

[Pumpkin]

I liked TA but it didn't make my list because honestly I forget most of it almost immediately after playing it. It just isn't memorable to me unfortunately

[Scotty_ffgamer]

I just got all of the Tactics Advance games! I'm excited to finally play it when I can get around to it.

I should say I meant to just say I prefer Axel's portrayal in Chain of Memories as a whole, not just the GBA version. The problem is once I played the PS2 version, i'd played every other game in the series and I was kind of just done with his character by that point.

[Skyblade]

That's too bad, because it was a piece of really lovely fanart.

Save a local copy, and upload it directly to EoFF.


I'll get to FFTA2 once I do my honorable mentions ;)

Cool.

[Fynn]

#4

Here’s the other promised WRPG, another one that I got into thanks to my wife. I’ve yet to encounter a game that pulls off this kind of unique setting, while at the same time telling a really profound story.


PLANESCAPE: TORMENT


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http://media.ignimgs.com/media/ign/imgs/minisites/topN/rpgs/top-100-rpgs-planetscape-torment.jpg

The game begins in a mortuary. You wake up with no memory and no name, with only a floating, disembodied skull speaking like a gangster keeping you company. Everything’s really dirty, ugly, smelly and in general just… deathy. Deady? Death-esque? Deathinitely.


http://static.gog.com/upload/images/2010/09/5749af6176c47cddb7a660a047850f8fccaa5b14.jpg
Pretty.. skully, if you ask me. Alright, I'm gonna shut up now.

So once again we are back to AD&D. We don’t get to create our character this time, but that’s okay, because the gameplay and battle system takes a back seat in Torment. In fact, I think there’s a total of four obligatory battles in this game. You can even talk your way out of most boss battles, provided you have high enough charisma. On that note, I would even recommend forgoing adding any stat points to the physical stats, instead focusing on wisdom, charisma, and intelligence, since the better developed those are, the more memories your character gets to get back, and the amount of story that you get to experience is much bigger.
Planescape: Torment takes place in the city of Sigil mostly, the City of Doors, situated between the many planes of the D&D multiverse, where anything can act as a gate as long as you have the proper key, not to mention the city itself changes its shape. This concept is pretty amazing, if you ask me, and is implemented really well – while Sigil will remain your hub area, you get to visit a number of different settings to discover what exactly your previous incarnation has done.


http://demo.gamespotclone.com/Image/covers/planescape-torment/planescape-torment-image164059.jpg

Without spoilering too much, this game offers one of the most ambitious stories in video games. What starts of as a simple amnesiac plot turns into a profound tale of mortality, morality, sacrifice and acceptance of one’s fate. The ending I received left me wondering for weeks. The game introduces some interesting philosophies (which you can associate yourself with in-game), which is fitting, considering ideas come alive in Sigil (seriously, you can convince a guy he doesn’t exist and he disappears). And really nothing at all is black or white in this game. Once you start discovering your own backstory and how it all relates to your comrades and other characters you encounter, really nothing is clear-cut. About that – the characters that can join you are some of the most original characters I ever got to join my party. Of the… well “normal”, regular races you encounter in D&D there are only two humans (including yourself, who doesn’t really fit the standard definition of a human; and then there’s Ignus, who is essentially a floating, burning corpse) and one tiefling. Other than that you can get a Succubus, the floating head I mentioned, and an animated suit of armor. There’s eight characters to choose from in total, but once again your party is limited to six members, so you’ll have to miss out on two of them. Though trust me – maintaining a party of six misfits like this can be really challenging. Some are downright insane and will just plain try to kill you if you don’t say the right thing during conversation.


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The music is also pretty unconventional. There’s a lot of synth and other electronic sounds, and though most areas stick to ambient noise, there’s a lot of really solid atmospheric tracks. I am not familiar with other works by Mark Morgan and Richard Band, but this soundtrack really stands out to me as a very memorable one.


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Fans of deep, difficult stories will feel right at home with this one. I would recommend playing this after BG, unless you are already well-acquainted with the AD&D ruleset, as that really streamlines the experience. Planescape: Torment offers a big catharsis factor, one really similar to those of Greek tragedies (you’ll notice more of this trend in the following entries :p). I really find myself speechless now. I really, really recommend this game. It’s not long. Try it and tell me: what can change the nature of a man?

[Pumpkin]

I have never played this game!

[Fynn]

Then you know what needs to be done :3:

[Egami]

It is a really great game and it is by it that I was eventually lead to the likes of Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale and Neverwinter Nights.

[Scotty_ffgamer]

I've never played Planetscape, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, etc. I should get this someday.

[Skyblade]

I have never played this game!

Neither have I.


Then you know what needs to be done :3:

Yep, it's already on my list. I'll get to it eventually.

[Fynn]

I've never played Planetscape, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, etc. I should get this someday.

Neverwinter Nights I'd skip unless you really have a craving for D&D. I really find the base game weak. The expansions are pretty okay, but the main story of the base is just an endless slog of fetch quests through tons of dungeons that all look identical. Plus, you don't get a party, which sucks.

Icewind Dale, however, is pretty cool, but don't go in there expecting character-driven narratives, since you create your entire party this time around.

[Fynn]

Alright, peeps, we're at the podium now. Only three games left, plus a whole long-ass list of honorable mentions.

My only hint for you now is that one of the top three spots is occupied by two games.

I'll post my #3 in a couple of hours. Until then, let the guessing game commence :3:

[Skyblade]

My only hint for you now is that one of the top three spots is occupied by two games.

Oh, so you are putting Golden Sun and Golden Sun: The Lost Age in their proper place on the list. Yay.

[Fynn]

My only hint for you now is that one of the top three spots is occupied by two games.

Oh, so you are putting Golden Sun and Golden Sun: The Lost Age in their proper place on the list. Yay.

Uh... Ha ha... Hah... :erm:

[Fynn]

#3

It is time to take a look at the podium. With three places left, you know these games are going to be something special. And indeed, back when I picked up the first of the two games that occupy the #3 spot together, I never could have expected just how important it would become to me. These two are really what changed my outlook on life significantly. If a game can teach you to really reach out to the truth even if it’s hard, or face death and accept it, no matter how painful it may be, that really goes a long way to prove video games are art. Even though these two are not direct sequels, I lump them together. There really is just no way I can choose the better of the two. Spoilers abound, but I’ll try to keep it more like the usual in the first part, focusing on gameplay, etc.. Once I start going into themes and characters, if you haven’t played the games yet and want to play them some day, I really think you should stop reading and come back to me once you beat them, so we can discuss :)


PERSONA 3 & PERSONA 4

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http://static.zerochan.net/Shin.Megami.Tensei%3A.PERSONA.4.full.1448376.jpg


SPOILER-FREE OVERVIEW

Both Persona games have a similar premise – you are a highschooler who just transferred to a new school. Weird stuff is happening, you get involved. Pretty standard stuff. The way this is implemented, however, is pretty dang phenomenal. You get to play throught the whole school year. You experience each day and get to plan out how you spend them. Whether you decide to grind your attributes, spend time with friends to enhance your Social Link rank, or go and beat up monsters in the dungeons – all those actions will take up your time and you need to carefully plan how you go about it. While it may sound restrictive, it actually flows quite nicely and is pretty natural, as long as you don’t expect to max all your Social Links on one playthrough.


http://www.fantasy-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/persona3-ss04.jpg
Well, excuuuuuuuuuuuuse me for not having the time to sleep properly when I'm trying to save the world!

But I keep getting ahead of myself. What are Social Links, you may be asking yourself. Here’s where I’ll need to elaborate a bit more. So in these games, you battle beings called Shadows, and to do that, you use Personas, which you can fuse, much like regular demons in the SMT franchise, however this time they aren’t members of your party, instead serving as the source of your battle skills. Both Shadows and Personas are divided into the major arcana of the Tarot. Now these arcana are important. For each arcana you get assigned a person that you can become friends with. You need to spend time with them to rank up, getting to know their story, see them develop, and that in turn lets the Personas of that arcana that you create become much stronger, much earlier. These relationships are called Social Links, and maxing a Link is a requirement for unlocking the ultimate Persona of a specific arcana. In both games, there is a large amount of people with whom you can build Social Links, including but not limited to party members. This system really makes the game world feel alive, as you get to know the characters very intimately throughout the school year.


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Everyone loves Nanako.

This is especially true for your closest friends, your party members. In an ironic twist, considering how cynical the rest of the SMT series is regarding friendships, both Persona games make a big deal out of the fact that your group can really rely on each other. The sometimes traumatic events that transpire throughout both games take a genuine toll on all the people involved. Especially in P3, the characters react like real-life human beings would, and you get to see them evolve and grow throughout the year, learning about them more and more, layer by layer, as you really grow closer. It comes off as no surprise then, that my favorite video game character of all time is Junpei Iori from P3.


http://clgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/p3p_screen_junpei_2.jpeg
No, no, the pleasure is all mine.

I’ll get into the themes of the stories soon, so those wary of spoilers beware. For now, let me move on to the battle system, music and version differences :p Battles mostly take place in dungeons which are separate from the life sim part of gameplay. They utilize a modified version of the press-turn system, where the one character that struck an enemy’s weakness gets to attack again and again as long as they keep striking weaknesses and knocking Shadows over, and once all the Shadows are down, the entire party unleashes an All-Out attack, which is pretty devastating. While P4 simplifies the system a bit, combining the three physical attack types into one, for example, it also allows you to actually directly control all your party members, making for a much more streamlined experience than P3 (although the PSP version changes that, so really, both games are equally enjoyable at this point).


http://www.ps3blog.net/wp-content/uploads/p4g_rev04.jpg
Aww yeah!

The music for the series is nothing short of phenomenal. Shoji Meguro uses a lot of vocals in these two soundtrack, performed by two singers with very distinct voices, along with some rap by Lotus Juice mixed in. There’s also a lot of rock and electronic, but that’s more of a staple form Meguro. I’m just gonna let the music speak for itself, it’s really one of my favorites.


6jFaoLrLzd4
1bG6PPQyxyI
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Now there’s a bunch of versions to choose from when playing these games, three for P3 and two for P4. The original P3 on the PS2 is basically the only one you should really skip, and the two other ones – P3 FES for the PS2 and P3 Portable on the PSP each have their own merits that makes it really hard to decide which one is better. FES adds a lot of things that later appear in P3P too – a new (amazingly well written) Social Link, armor changing the look of the characters, etc. – but it also adds a unique element in the form of a bonus chapter called The Answer. I personally was not a fan of The Answer. Yes, it added some much needed explanation to the game’s ending, but it’s just the dungeons without the life sim aspect and it’s super grindy, and while the writing is still really good, a lot of the conflict seems really artificial, only forced in there to fit a theme that felt really out of place in the context. But that’s just my opinion :monster: I vastly prefer P3P and would really recommend it to newbies. Yes, it cuts a lot of corners – the life sim areas are now firt-person, which hurts quite a bit, but you get used to it pretty quickly, and the anime cutscenes are gone (good riddance, IMO – they were really weird in the original) – but other than that, I’d say it’s the most wholesome game experience, even if it lacks The Answer. The addition of Skill Cards and ability to control all your teammates in battle really streamlines the gameplay, the additional difficulty modes let you really tailor your experience, but the real meat of this version is the ability to play as a female character. This may seem little, but it changes a lot. The main plot is slightly altered because of it, and the Social Links are different, all with overall superior writing than the original. Even if you’re a boy – go try out the female route! It’s really fantastic, and everything is PINK! And everyone loves pink :love:


http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z317/Gredlen/Screenshots/Persona%203%20Portable/P3P-obscene.jpg
Yes, that Persona is a penis... What?! :stare:

Persona 4 comes in two flavors. The vanilla game and P4 Golden on the PS Vita. Now, while the Vita version has a ton of new content – new Social Links, new dungeon, new story arc, outfit changes, skill cards, more time to max Social links, etc., it doesn’t feel like that big of an improvement over the original. Don’t get me wrong, I friggin' love Golden, but the additions made here don’t seem hardly as necessary as what was done with the enhanced versions of P3 (and some do seem a bit tacked on, like Marie or, should I say, “Marie-Sue”, amirite? Geddit? Eh? :p), so you really don’t miss much if you just play the original. Plus, the difficulty of normal mode has been really dumbed down in Golden, which kind of sucks.


http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/screenshots/Persona4Golden/p4g_screens_adayinthelife_withmarie.jpg
This would have been so annoying were it not for Eden Riegel's voice acting.

Now that that’s out of the way, I want to spend a little time talking a bit more in detail about theme and characters. If you intend to play this game, I’d advise you to stop reading now, move on to the final remarks, play the goddamn games and come back to me once you’re done, we can discuss. If you don’t or just aren’t bothered – hope you enjoy this :)


MEMENTO MORI
http://th09.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2013/347/a/8/persona_3_4_tarot_card_deck_hr___death_arcana_by_enetirnel-d6xr6ri.png


The main shocking thing about Persona 3 is that the main characters have to shoot themselves in the head in order to summon their Persona. What at first seems to be a case of gratuitous violence only placed there for the shock factor, later turns out to be a truly magnificent, subtle piece of symbolism, very much in-line with the entire game’s theme. In essence, Persona 3 is an affirmation of life, mostly through the acceptance of death. The title song, Burn My Dread, deals with facing the fear of death head on and this is exactly what is the essence of the main plot. Out of your player characters, every one of them faces the death of a loved one at one point or another, and the way they all deal with the grief is really masterful. I can’t remember when was the last time I genuinely empathized with a cast so much (seriously, this game did Hope sooner and made him actually likeable and realistic, as compared to Toriyama’s nonsensical, forced bullshit). The Social Links (mostly Akinari’s) also all deal with loss and change, which are an inevitable part of life and death. The way the story unfolds – how the calamity that approaches is unavoidable and what humanity really wants deep down, how the main character sacrifices him/herself with a smile on their face, really serves to drive the point home.


http://static.zerochan.net/Shin.Megami.Tensei%3A.PERSONA.3.full.236314.jpg

Death is unavoidable, but that is okay. Life is beautiful not in spite of death, but BECAUSE it will one day come to an end. Persona 3 encourages you to really go out there and make your life meaningful because you really only have one life to live. Seeing how such amazing characters like Junpei, Yukari, Akihiko, Mitsuru, Fuuka, Ken, Shinjiro, and even Koromaru face death head on and try to live their life to their fullest despite the looming inevitability of death is truly inspiring. In essence, really, this game is even more about life than about death, mostly embodied through the robot Aigis who is only beginning to learn how to live her life and is prematurely faced with the loss of the person she has loved the most.


http://gamingmemoirs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Aigis-Persona-3-FES.png

I first played this game still as a kid. When I replayed it later as an adult, I only then realized how important this story is. I used to just not think about death because it made me feel depressed. But this here little game really made me realize that, in the end, there is nothing to be afraid of. No one can escape time; it delivers us all to the same end. I am now able to accept death, thanks in part to this game, and I am not exaggerating here. For dealing with such a heavy topic that many find depressing, I really can’t think of a game that is more uplifting, and more able to make you appreciate the beauty of life and how its fragility really gives it a sense of meaning and purpose. I know that I will never forget this story and how it helped change me.


REACH OUT TO THE TRUTH
http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2013/347/5/e/persona_3_4_tarot_card_deck_hr___the_star_arcana_by_enetirnel-d6xr6au.png

Where Persona 3 has guns, Persona 4 has glasses. While overall the theme of Persona 3 speaks to me much more, I also really love this game’s theme. With the glasses, the main cast can see through the fog, disperse the lies people have shrouded themselves in, the fog obscuring the truth.


http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120330013319/megamitensei/images/b/bd/Ameno_sagiri_in_anime_cutscene.jpg

Persona 4 is about the truth. The real truth. The truth often hurts and may not be very comfortable to deal with. Most people will seek to avoid it in order to just live out their peacefully, closing their eyes from what they don’t want to see. But as the main party proves throughout their journeys, the truth isn’t so bad when you have friends by your side. And, likewise, it’s only through complete truth and honesty (honesty towards oneself, most of all) that you can truly make real friends.


http://lparchive.org/Persona-4/Update%2088/3-P4-00014.jpg

And what marvelous friends they are. Though I find the cast of P4 much more riddled with anime tropes and a bit less like real human beings (hello again, Junpei and Yukari), I love how the bond of trust they share throughout the game is so genuine. I really felt as if I was a part of a really caring, trusting group of friends, and it all really made sense. They all witnessed each other at their worst, and they accepted each other for whom they really were, even if they were still all teens and really weren’t sure what they were at that point themselves.


http://cdn.themis-media.com/media/global/images/galleries/display/54/54910.jpg
Kanji's my favorite P4 character, by the way.

From a narrative standpoint, it’s a bit weaker, since the characters reach their personal epiphanies before you even get to meet them properly, but that’s okay. They all really gel well and the most enjoyable parts of the game are the scenes where they get to spend time together. That, and the murder mystery, since this is what the game’s plot is, in essence! Because what other type of plot could be better when your theme is the truth?


http://gamingrunts.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Persona-4.jpg

In all, while I didn’t feel like this game change my life quite as significantly as Persona 3, I really had a blast playing though it. It also helped me come to terms with some areas of my personality that I couldn’t accept beforehand, so yes, both this and P3 have a big catharsis factor for me. I use that term too much, I’m sorry :p

FINAL REMARKS

I really, really recommend both games so, so, SO much. Difficulty shouldn’t be an issue due to the ability to choose some stupidly easy difficulty modes. The tone is really upbeat most of the time, so it’s easy to get into, but when things get serious, they get really serious. Both games are really long and offer tons of fun things to do. It’s a bit hard to get used to the scheduled nature of the gameplay, but once you do, it becomes second nature. Both games suck you in so hard it’s not even funny, and deal with very profound themes in an incredibly well-thought out way to boot. I really can’t stress this enough.

GO PLAY THESE GAMES.


http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2011/333/8/b/persona_3___4_by_aifseiei-d4hnkd8.jpg

[Karifean]

Ah, that reminds me, I wanted to play Persona 3 and 4 at some point. :greenie:

[Skyblade]

Yeah, I have to agree with pretty much all of this.

Personally, I rate Persona 3 over Persona 4, as I think it's tone and themes are more consistent throughout (which I attribute to ATLUS just having a lot more experience writing with a darker tone). But they are both fantastic games, and are not to be missed.

As Fynn says: Go play these games. The gameplay mechanics aren't perfect, but the writing is, quite simply, the best that video games have to offer.

tzHpCOPsVbo

[Pumpkin]

They sound interesting. I might pick one up one day

[metagloria]

It seems like I'm obligated to play these eventually based on how much praise they get, but they just seem...so...weird. Mainly the flow of game progression. Of course, I'm the guy trying to tell everyone not to worry about the clock in Lightning Returns, so I guess it's probably not as big a deal as it seems.

[Electroshock Therapy]

Reading this list and your personal connections with these games really makes me want to play them all. However, I probably will never touch half of these games due to time and money.

And time.

And money.

(But probably mostly due to memory)

But, still. These reviews are really good reads. I'm looking forward to your top two. :)

[Scotty_ffgamer]

I've already heard your opinion on the animated cutscenes in P3, but I love them. They aren't the highest quality, but they do a lot for building the atmosphere for me at times. I adore that opening cutscene when MC is heading to the dorms, listening to the song I like to call Burn My Bread. That scene set the mood for the whole game well for me, and is a big reason of why I got it eventually.

In any case, I love these games. P3 is above P4 for me for a lot of the same reasons too though. It just connected with me more, and I do think the characters are just so much more real and relatable, and their growth feels more natural. The P4 cast is still a ton of fun and has good chemistry, but they just don't hold a candle to Junpei and Yukari.

Also, I'm still kind of on the fence on social links. I do enjoy them, and some have fantastic little stories, but I don't feel the writing there is as strong as other people seem to think. I do like that most all of them seem to take interesting turns and explore interesting themes (even when I don't expect them to such as in the Gourmet King one), but maybe it's just the sort of bite-sized nature that makes me wish there was just more too them sometimes. I dunno. Something always feels off about most of them to me.

[Fynn]

Some Social Links may feel redundant, I'll agree. But I still love how they all fit the game's respective theme, really helping to flesh it out in the process. I think I kind of prefer them in P3 though, since they offer more variety and the theme itself is more interesting, but P4 gives you Links with all party members, which is a huge plus, even if it comes at the cost of the other Links which can be pretty bland at times. It's also a bit sad that most of the party character development in P4 is relegated to S. Links instead of being integrated in the story, but what can you do. I still enjoy them a lot.

[Scotty_ffgamer]

I like the S. Link system. I'd just like to see how it's expanded upon I guess. I need to replay P3 I think because I did prefer its social links to P4 as well, mostly because of the overall theme as you said. I really do hope that if P5 keeps S. Links as I assume it will, it won't relegate all of the development for the main cast in those like in P4.

But like I said, I like the S. Links. Just something felt off about it to me. It may just be that it felt more off to me in P4 for different reasons, and that's clouding my view of them in P3. I dunno.

[Fynn]

The most off thing about them, IMO, is that they don't impact the main story almost at all, which is especially evident in P4. If you don't go for the default love interest, there are no scenes in the main story that even remotely imply that you guys are involved.

[Fynn]

#2

I’ve already said this before, but I have some very specific expectations regarding horror games, or horror in general. I like psychological horror, the type that gets into your head. But oh man… This game gets in your head, throws a big drunk party and doesn’t even bother to clean that shit up and your apartment just stays a wreck for the following two years.


SILENT HILL 2

http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20081008233440/silent/images/4/4a/James.jpg
6LB7LZZGpkw

SH2 is the game that established the status quo of games in the series taking place in the same town, but usually following different characters with separate storylines and themes. Silent Hill 2 came out and there was no mention of the cult from SH1, or Harry and Cheryl. Just James Sunderland, alone in the foggy, foggy town of Silent Hill, searching for his wife, Mary. Nothing weird, if only Mary hadn’t died prior to the game.


http://img4.meristation.com/files/imagenes/juegos/pc/action/silent_hill_2_directors_cut/silenthill2directorscut_02.jpg?1323537127
That's good!... Right?

Still, I really empathize with James’ struggle. I don’t think I’d ever related to a main character so much. Yes, it’s crazy and James knows it. But he got a letter. It’s most likely a hoax. But there is always a slight chance that it isn’t. And even if the chance that he’ll get to see the love of his life again is minimal, he is willing to take it. This is exactly what I would do in his place.
Still, as James goes deeper into the town, it turns out things are even more messed up than they seem at the beginning. Without spoiling too much, James encounters a bunch of people on the way, and each of them is in Silent Hill for their own reasons. They’d all been called to the town and have their own journey to fulfill. I love how it doesn’t all revolve around the main protagonist. Sure, James gets to interact with Eddie and Angela, but their affairs are not really his business. They do, however, serve to parallel his own reasons for being in the town in the first place.


http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/silent/images/8/81/AngelaKnife2.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20131224082043

Since Silent Hill takes the shape in accordance to the psyche of the one visiting it, this time it looks much different from the one in SH1. No more hellish Otherworld – everything is enveloped in extremely thick fog overtime, emphasizing the feeling of isolation and hopelessness that James experiences, even if he keeps pressing on against all the hopelessness. This game isn't even really scary, it's just really morose, crushing... depressive and hopeless. The pacing is horrendous and the controls and battle mechanics are really clunky, but it all really helps emphasize the atmosphere of dread that is so prevalent in this game. And when the truth comes out, and you truly start to understand the significance behind the monsters – what the Lying Figures, the Nurses, and Pyramid Head actually represent – everything makes sense. The truth isn’t pretty, but it is necessary for James to face it. There are many endings in this game, and they're implemented really well. How James finishes his journey really depends on you.


http://static.squarespace.com/static/50d0fc0ae4b0c75e54db0249/t/520998fae4b008a4a3c0d71d/1376360699341/SH2.jpg

The music, courtesy of Akira Yamaoka, is simply astounding, Probably the best in the series. I could listen to Theme of Laura and Promise all day, but the ambient themes really send chills down my spine.


6qalGezr76o

I’ve played this game with my wife. Hauntingly fitting, if you ask me. Silent Hill 2 is all about Eros and Thanatos, love and death, the two main driving forces in the life of a human, in all the different aspects that they may surface. Rich with symbolism, subtlety, and genuine dread and longing, I think Silent Hill 2 is one of the most artistic endeavors in video game history. I really recommend it to those seeking a deep, thought-provoking, heart-rending story. Let me just leave one really important video in spoiler tags. It’s the full letter from Mary to James. I can’t listen to it without tearing up.


4Tl2xZKpHWU

[Pumpkin]

The Silent Hill stories interest me but I scare easily at horror stuff so I would rather watch someone else play it :ohdear:

[Fynn]

The Silent Hill stories interest me but I scare easily at horror stuff so I would rather watch someone else play it :ohdear:

By all means, do so. The stories are really where it's at.

[Fynn]

GLORIA VICTIS

AKA

THE GRACIOUS LOSERS, THE RUNNERS-UP.


HONORABLE MENTIONS

Time to list all the games that almost made my top 25, hoping I can turn around the dreariness of my #2 ;) I won’t be doing these detailed reviews this time. Instead, I’ll put the games in alphabetical order, listing a couple things I love about them and reasons’ why they ultimately didn’t make the list. Let’s begin, then!

BREATH OF FIRE IV

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/13/BoFIVCharacters.png

Why I love this game:
Beautiful art style that remains cohesive throughout the game, unlike the overrated monstrosity that is BoFIII (still a good game, though).
Really lovely battle system that lets you exchange party members in the middle of battle and manipulate the turn order to perform specific magic combos.
Dark, layered story with jaw-dropping twists and really neat POV shifts.

Why it didn’t make the list:
Some 3D models really clash with the gorgeous sprites.
Um… In general I really love it, I just love the others better.

BREATH OF FIRE: DRAGON QUARTER

http://gamefiles.alphacoders.com/fanart/original/9636-5.jpg

Why I love this game:
Really unique game design. Love it or hate it, the way the story unfolds because of it makes it one-of-a-kind.
Dark, dystopian world and very interesting plot. The game system is really well-integrated into the story.
Fantastic music by Hitoshi Sakimoto.

Why it didn’t make the list:
Frustrating difficulty (Limited saves! What the actual frick?!)

CHRONO CROSS

http://sheattack.com/myblog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/cross.jpg

A sequel to Chrono Trigger, yay!
Really colorful, interesting world with tons of great characters.
The story is really dark and really puts what we think we know about all this stuff from Chrono Trigger (Robo... :whimper:)

Why it didn’t make the list:
Too many bloody characters!

FINAL FANTASY IV

http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110410161527/finalfantasy/images/c/c2/FFIVnds_logo.jpg

My first numbered FF and the one I’ve replayed the most!
Classic tale of redemption with a very satisfying ending.
The DS version has an impeccable translation.

Why it didn’t make the list:
A bit dated nowadays.
System’s not really interesting. You want more skills? Grind levels.
Some elements are so goofy it’s ludicrous.

FINAL FANTASY V

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/00/Final_Fantasy_V_Box_JAP.jpg

JOB SYSTEEEEEEM!!!!
A hilarious plot that is very self-aware (especially with the GBA script)…
… that still remains relatively epic and well-told!

Why it didn’t make the list:
No real reason. I just like the others better :p

FINAL FANTASY VII

http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100805045741/finalfantasy/images/e/e2/FF7logo.jpg

Really got me hooked on FF.
The story was told in a nicely cinematic way for the first time!
There’s some unforgettable moments and characters here.

Why it didn’t make the list:
It’s really overdone at this point :monster:

FINAL FANTASY X-2

http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20060221073150/finalfantasy/images/8/83/FFX-2logo.jpg

DRESSPHEEEEEEEEERES!
The missions are fun and the world is much more enjoyable without X’s delusions of grandeur.
I love how it just craps all over its source material :D

Why it didn’t make the list:
I acknowledge its status as a guilty pleasure. Also, I mostly like it to spite X fans :3:

FINAL FANTASY TACTICS A2

http://th08.deviantart.net/fs21/PRE/i/2007/357/3/7/FFTA2_Wallpaper_2_by_goldberry2000.jpg

Vastly improved gameplay from the predecessor, with fun new races and jobs, not to mentions the missions have actual variety this time!
The quests have some interesting storylines of their own, many spanning multiple quests.
You get Al-Cid in your party, that sexy bastard (too bad he sucks).

Why it didn’t make the list:
The main story is really terrible. Like, oh my God…

FIRE EMBLEM: AWAKENING

http://www.destructoid.com//ul/254352-FireEmblemAwakening.jpg

A robust roster of characters who all matter, rather than being faceless goons like in FFT or the like.
The support system really lets you take control of the relationships between the characters. Shipping made awesome!
Interesting class system with some really unique mechanics thrown in.

Why it didn’t make the list:
The main story requires some excessive grinding (at least I needed it. Shut up.)
The main plot seemed really bland to me. It wasn’t really bland, so much as I saw every twist coming and really couldn’t connect to it on an emotional level (sorry, Sky :G)

GHOST TRICK

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/ghosttrick/images/2/25/Ghost-Trick-Phantom-Detective-wallpaper-4.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20131128104239

Fantastically told story! Really, it grips you from the very beginning and only gets better from there!
The puzzles will make you think but won’t be overly complex, so there is a good balance.
Missile! OMG!

Why it didn’t make the list:
Honestly, I just forgot about it before I made the list and couldn’t find a spot to fit it into later :|

GOLDEN SUN SERIES

http://emertainmentmonthly.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Golden_Sun_Wallpaper_by_KaiotoChente.jpg

Fun puzzles in all three games.
The world is very well-developed, taking some serious inspiration from the real world, which is awesome.
I love how in the second game you essentially play as the villains from game one.

Why it didn’t make the list:
While the world is pretty cool, my general impression of the plot is pretty “meh”.
The battle system is just a tad bit too basic for my tastes.

HEROES OF MIGHT & MAGIC SERIES

http://media.moddb.com/images/games/1/1/295/wallpaper.jpg

The ultimate gaming experience in late ‘90s/early 2000s Eastern Europe! No joke, everyone and their mother were playing Heroes III.
My introduction to the strategy genre.
I just really love all the different little factions you get to play as :3:

Why it didn’t make the list:
I suck at this game. Like, hard.

KINGDOM HEARTS DREAM DROP DISTANCE

http://cdn1.spong.com/artwork/k/i/kingdomhea372581l/_-Kingdom-Hearts-3D-Dream-Drop-Distance-3DS-2DS-_.jpg

The story makes some jaw-dropping twists!
I get to play as Riku again!
Dream eaters are fun and flow-motion really makes exploration amazing.

Why it didn’t make the list:
Again, I acknowledge that the story of this game is a guilty pleasure to me.
It’s essentially a bridging game between the previous generation handheld sequels and KHIII, it can’t really stand on its own at all.

MARIOKART AND MARIO PARTY SERIES

http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/screen_kubrick/mig/2/9/3/9/2112939-169_mario_kart_7_vr_3ds_113011_3.jpg

Amazing entertainment to enjoy with your closest friends and family!
Hours upon hours of fun.
My dad sucks so much at these games it’s hilarious.

Why it didn’t make the list:
I can’t really qualify party games for my list for some reason. I can’t enjoy them alone – they’re just good for bringing friends and family together.

MOTHER 3

http://hdwallpapersfactory.com/thumbnail/lucas_mother_desktop_1400x788_hd-wallpaper-692813.jpg

Heart-rending story in a deceptively cutesy environment.
Really memorable characters.
Your dog is a party member!

Why it didn’t make the list:
I haven’t finished it :|
The rhythm element of the combat was weird.
Too many encounters.

PERSONA 2 DUOLOGY

http://static.zerochan.net/SHIN.MEGAMI.TENSEI%3A.PERSONA.2.full.236313.jpg

Really, really dark and intriguing plot!
The characters are really memorable. A gay pairing with the main protagonist is actually really close to canon.
Hitler’s in this game.

Why it didn’t make the list:
I only beat Innocent Sin :(

POKÉMON ART ACADEMY

http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140515211343/pokemon/images/9/94/Pok%C3%A9mon_Art_Academy_European_Boxart.jpg

Draw all your favorite Pokemon!
My drawing skills have really improved thanks to this!
A really good course for digital drawing with robust tools at your disposal.

Why it didn’t make the list:
I can’t really classify this as a game, though.


POKÉMON CONQUEST

http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/screenshots/PokemonConquest/DS_PokemonConquest_char_PSLENG_MainVisual.jpg

A strategy RPG with Pokemon!
Really robust game system with tons of characters to recruit and legendary Pokemon to obtain.
I actually got to know a bit about Japan’s feudal period because of this game.

Why it didn’t make the list:
It would be nice if the other campaigns used more varied maps…


SILENT HILL

http://cdn.bloody-disgusting.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/silenthill1cover.jpg

The game that started it all.
The scariest in the series, IMO.
Unforgettable atmosphere.

Why it didn’t make the list:
Some really clunky controls.
Really hard to get a good ending without a guide.

SILENT HILL 3

http://www.gamewallpapers.com/previews_480x300/wallpaper_silent_hill_3_05.jpg

A continuation of SH1 with some really memorable characters!
Heather is a really awesome protagonist.
This song: WDCktKqHBGQ

Why it didn’t make the list:
Really poor ending variety, compared to SH2.


THEATRHYTHM: FINAL FANTASY (AND CURTAIN CALL)

http://operationrainfall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Theatrhythm-Final-Fantasy-Picture.jpg

A Final Fantasy rhythm game!
The art style is just totes adorbs.
It’s way too addicting.

Why it didn’t make the list:
I guess I just like the others better, again… :(

THE LAST STORY

http://86bb71d19d3bcb79effc-d9e6924a0395cb1b5b9f03b7640d26eb.r91.cf1.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/the-last-story-cheats-artwork.jpg

Really unique battle system that utilizes your surroundings.
The party really feels like they gel really well with each other.
The plot deconstructs a lot of really common fantasy tropes in quite a clever way.

Why it didn’t make the list:
The main breeding pair is a couple of soulless zombies that have so little personality and yet the game wants us to love them so badly (Sakaguchi, please stop. I loved you :()
Aside from the deconstruction, the plot is not really that memorable or well-paced.
This game overshadowed the champion RPG on the Wii only because everyone seems to have a boner for Sakaguchi :colbert:

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA SERIES

http://cdn1.sciencefiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/legend-of-zelda.jpg

Really cool dungeon exploration.
I love how the story expands with each game!
Tingle :3:

Why it didn’t make the list:
I just don’t feel quite so attached to it.


THE SIMS MEDIEVAL

http://bestgamewallpapers.com/files/sims-medieval/sims-medieval.jpg

The Sims – only in medieval times!
An interesting combination of the Sims, RPG and strategy game elements.
There’s so much wit to the writing in this game!

Why it didn’t make the list:
Even though the genre combo is an interesting one, the game fails to fully deliver on any end :(
Could use more than one map for the missions.

VAGRANT STORY

http://www.casualvillain.com/Vagrant%20Story/Ashley&Callo_wallpaper.jpg

Really fantastic, dark story and some unforgettable characters – as is to be expected from Yasumi Matsuno.
The graphics are pretty jaw-dropping even by today’s standards.
I love the crafting system and how this is essentially a survival RPG – you live by what you find and scavenge, there are no shops.

Why it didn’t make the list:
Too bad that you have to read up on additional material to fully understand the story :(
The difficulty is a bit too extreme at times.

[Pumpkin]

I has some of those games on my list

[Scotty_ffgamer]

I was absolutely certain that Innocent Sin would end up on your list. And it hasn't. Sad times. I'm about to start up Eternal Punishment now, I think.

[Electroshock Therapy]

Noticing the long-ish wait. If your last game doesn't have a novella-sized review and an album of music samples, then I will be disappointed indeed. :p

I'm kidding!

I realize it's probably real life getting in the way (doesn't it always?). No need to rush. I just felt like dropping in.

[Fox]

Well we've had the honourable mentions, now we just need the recap of the top 24 before the final reveal!

[Fynn]

Yes, I have been tremendously busy and was sure people lost interest because of all that. But if you're still here - I'll do my best to post it up ASAP. A recap might be a good idea too ;)

[Scotty_ffgamer]

I'm ready!

[Fynn]

I'm ready!

But is your body ready?

[Bubba]

Let's have it!

[Fynn]

#1

To quote the FFXV tagline, it’s been a long way coming. And in more ways than one! I apologize this took as long as it did, but I can now finally tie up all loose ends and present to you this long overdue game, that has also been long overdue with an English release. At least in the US – here in Europe we got it way earlier! Suckers! :exdee:


XENOBLADE CHRONICLES

http://www.imgbase.info/images/safe-wallpapers/video_games/xenoblade/15055_xenoblade.jpg

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I guess this comes off as no surprise to many of you here. Yes, I’ve shared my love for Xenoblade Chronicles on multiple occasions, and I really can’t stress how amazing this game is. It may not have the incredible writing of, say Persona 3, or the fantastic symbolism of Silent Hill 2, but by God, does this game serve a spectacular balanced dish of cool story, memorable characters, fantastic presentation, huge, living, breathing world, with some amazing music thrown into the mix.


http://gearnuke.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/xenoblade-12307193.jpg

The first thing that you notice about Xenoblade is that it is beautiful, against all odds. It’s a Wii game, so no HD, and some of the textures seem bloated. But you soon discover that good art direction trumps HD graphics any day of the week. The world looks huge and colorful, with a really high drawing distance, so you can really see far away. The monsters are designed to look like they really fit into the natural fauna of the place. Each area has its own type of beauty, from the glowing trees of Satorl Marsh, through the vast plains of the Bionis’ Leg, to the steamy rainforest of Makna. Bionis is a living, breathing place, and you can see it with your very eyes.


http://purenintendo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2522724-xenoblade_official_art_shoulder.jpg

Speaking of living worlds, there’s a whole lot more to Xenoblade’s than just the eye candy. The world is comprised of two huge bodies of ancient titans called the Bionis and Mechonis who froze mid-combat. It hardly gets more creative than that, if you ask me. You start off on the Bionis which is inhabit by animals and humanoid races a-plenty. You’ll have access to five main civilization centers, where there are a crapload of named NPCs that you will be doing quests for, influencing their relationships with each other in the process, depending on your actions, thereby developing the infrastructure of the cities, making more subquests appear. It all feels really organic and it’s nice to see that the people you do missions for actually have their own lives – they’ll only appear in certain areas at certain times, for example, going about their daily schedules. I have never been so immersed in a world before as in here.


https://rpgsquare.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/xenoblade-chronicles-eryth-sea.jpg

The relationship building doesn’t stop there. What would a good RPG be without a party? Besides Shulk, your main character, you get six unique people, each playing differently, that you can slightly influence the relationships of. By performing heart-to-hearts at certain points in the game, the party grows closer together, allowing them to support each other more in combat. The heart-to-heart conversations act in a similar way Social Links in Persona or Support Conversations do in FE: Awakening. They’re all pretty charming and really help you get to know those characters better, making your journey more immersive. Each character can also act as a party leader if you so choose, much like in FFXII, but here, each plays completely differently. Which brings me to the battle system.


http://gamingbolt.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/xenoblade_chronicles_screen.jpg

The battles play out in a very similar way to FFXII, so they’re kind of MMO-like. Battles progress in real time, but it’s not exactly an action RPG. The default action for everyone is to attack, but you get to perform different arts that have a cooldown period after you use them. You get to decide what ends up on your arts pallet, and you even get to upgrade those abilities. And like I said – each character plays differently. Shulk, for example, has arts that have different effects depending on which side he attacks his enemy from, Dunban has arts that help him be a fantastic evasive tank, Sharla has a slew of healing arts, while Melia is one of the most interesting executions of the mage class I have ever seen, since her magic arts work as elemental support and fill up her gauge which, upon release, unleashes the actual offensive spell which depends on how much the gauge has been filled. The characters also learn passive skills that they can share with each other if they have a high enough relationship value. And there’s a whole lot of equipment slots to fill and, like in for example Tactics Ogre, it’s not always obvious which piece of armor is better, because while it may raise one stat considerably, it will also lower the other by quite a bit. So you really get a lot of options when it comes to customizing your characters. Ooh, and did I mention that each piece of armor changes the character’s looks?


http://www.hookedgamers.com/images/1542/xenoblade_chronicles/screenshot_wii_xenoblade_chronicles024.jpg

I don’t want to say a lot about the story, so I’ll keep this short. This is a Takahashi game and it shows… And yet it’s kind of the “safest” of his games. Sure, there’s tons of Xenogears/Xenosaga-ish twists, but there’s little of them in comparison and the story feels much more like a regular shonen coming-of-age story. Which is not a bad thing on its own! It’s still a Takahashi story through and through, so it’s still really well presented and incredibly well-paced, considering the amount of non-story content. It’s just not as ambitious or groundbreaking as Xenogears’. It’s still really memorable and has some really unforgettable characters.


http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/xenoblade/images/a/a2/Xb-character-poster.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20111016062133

The music is nothing short of amazing. Not only is part of it composed by Yoko Shimomura, we have Yasunori Mitsuda composing the ending song. Still, I think the biggest surprise about this soundtrack are the newcomers – Manami Kiyota and ACE+. I had not heard music from these guys before, so their amazing tracks in this game were a much welcome surprise. I’m kinda sad this group won’t be coming back for the sequel, but the new game also sounds nice so far, and I’m glad we at least got to experience this beautiful soundtrack.


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I really can’t stress enough how good this game is. I actually had to beat it twice, since I accidentally erased my save file after getting really far in. I still had a blast both times. The game world is so expansive and immersive that I often spent days just fulfilling quests and exploring every nook and cranny of the huge maps. I’ve really only scratched the surface of this game’s greatness. I can only tell you guys to go play it. You can play it on the Wii or the New 3DS. It’s well worth it. I’d never imagined I could get so deeply immersed in a game world. This game is an adventure to remember.

Xenoblade Chronicles is my favorite game of all time.


http://hdwallpapers.cat/thumbnail/xenoblade_chronicles-prison_island_in_eryth_hd-wallpaper-1087056.jpg

[Pumpkin]

It's a pretty awesome game! Still need to finish it one day, but I know the whole story and stuff. It's just loong to play

Great list Fynn :D

[Fynn]

Yeah, sorry it took so long to finish :shobon:

[Karifean]

Huh, wouldn't have expected that. I might need to play it after all.

[Fynn]

Really? And I thought everyone here was aware of my Xenoblade obsession :p

[Ayen]

I forgot this list still existed.

Don't become like Square, Fynn. :colbert:

[Fynn]

I forgot this list still existed.

Don't become like Square, Fynn. :colbert:
Don't worry - everyone has :monster:

But seriously, I wanted to finish it MUCH earlier. You have no idea how much work I had in the meantime. I don't get money from this, unlike you, so I can't really drop everything and make the list.

[Wolf Kanno]

You just finished this? Well you're still better than BoB's track record so you have that.

[Fynn]

I only just added Xenoblade - it's been months since I added my number 2 at that point.

I've just been insanely overworked, people! :G

[Midgar Mist]

I shall have to read it all on my desktop, its too much for my poor old phone.

[Midgar Mist]

I shall have to read it all on my desktop, its too much for my poor old phone.

I see the boyfriend chipped in with a wager and made a self critical comment on page one of this thread. Bless :-)

But yes Fynn, I shall play games and stuff.

[Shauna]

Let's not be bumping year old threads going forward!