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.
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.
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.
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.
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 trout up and your apartment just stays a wreck for the following two years.
SILENT HILL 2
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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... )
Why it didn’t make the list:
Too many bloody characters!
FINAL FANTASY IV
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
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
FINAL FANTASY VII
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
FINAL FANTASY X-2
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
Why it didn’t make the list:
I acknowledge its status as a guilty pleasure. Also, I mostly like it to spite X fans
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS A2
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
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 )
GHOST TRICK
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
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
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
Why it didn’t make the list:
I suck at this game. Like, hard.
KINGDOM HEARTS DREAM DROP DISTANCE
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
A continuation of SH1 with some really memorable characters!
Heather is a really awesome protagonist.
This song:
Why it didn’t make the list:
Really poor ending variety, compared to SH2.
THEATRHYTHM: FINAL FANTASY (AND CURTAIN CALL)
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
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
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA SERIES
Really cool dungeon exploration.
I love how the story expands with each game!
Tingle
Why it didn’t make the list:
I just don’t feel quite so attached to it.
THE SIMS MEDIEVAL
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
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
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
Originally Posted by Pumpkin
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!
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