So I see these top tens all of the time... I never tried to write one before but I figured since this is blog style I can do what I want, how I want it. These will be my top ten games of all time. What's that mean? Glad you asked. I'm going to go through 10 of my favorite games that I keep going back for more every time. I will draw out (hopefully) my thoughts on these games and why I'm so addicted.
Without further ado, here's #10!
#10 Final Fantasy I and II: Dawn of Souls
I haven't picked this up as much as I used to lately, but this game had to make it. At the bottom of the barrel when I first obtained a GBA SP, this was the only game I had that I wasn't jaded on. Not having any other systems and little to no time to really play, the pick up, put down style was a huge help. This game though, had so much more.
For one, this was the origins. Seeing a remastered version of the series when it first came out and, literally, pulled the Nintendo system out of some muddy waters was huge. The game's ironic now, since Final Fantasy as a series doesn't appear to be slowing down.
Why is this so addictive to me where I must come back for more?
I find myself attracted to the charming simplicity of 1 in particular. I challenge myself constantly (when playing) to make parties that are uber hard to use. One time, I ran a party that was just White and Black Magi. That sounds easy, but it's not, not even when you receive Flare and Holy. I find myself wanting to get this game for my kids (when I have them), because I think the history of the series is important. Being able to pick this game up easily and still have a blast gives a time immemorial feel to the game. For those who have played the game, this will be an irony, since time is screwed with so much in the first game.
The second didn't take me in so much, but I definitely give it props. The system is still quite unique on character growth. Want HP? Take a lot of hits. Want Attack? Physically attack as many enemies you can. Think you can't use a Bow as Firion? Give him a bow and let him loose. The game might not be huge on customization, but the ability to grow your characters as you wish was quite awesome. Firion, Maria and Guy are memorable and even Leon later on brings a sort of tragic hero view into play. The story might not be the most catchy, but it definitely gives you the feels of a rebel army versus a might empire. This may or may not be playing off of Star Wars but I won't get into that.
#9 Dungeons and Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun
Ah man... what can I say about D&D that hasn't already been said?
This game came out in 1992 and was made by TSR. You built a party of four and set out on an expedition to find why you and the castle you were serving in came to a valley with a sun that never sets. The expedition won't be spoiled here, but needless to say, it's not a simple solution. With D&D, I think there's never a simple solution. It's like most adventures get the Rube Goldberg treatment.
However, there are notable differences. You're not rolling dice... most things are locked in at values. So that Sword you have will deal 1-8 damage. Your strength will come into play on this and your sword may do 8 more often than 1. Equipment isn't necessarily magical in nature. You're not going to find a Cloak of Invisibility but you will find a Wand of Lightning (PS: Don't use in tight spaces).
The game bounces between outside exploring and inside dungeon-crawling. This really gives it more of a feel of how adventures might run on tabletop. Finding items isn't always exciting, but the enemies in the dungeons are highly detailed and, while 8-bit compared to some graphics these days, they were cutting edge for their time.
Why am I addicted then? I can pick that one up any time and play it. I mean, anytime. I start a new party, maybe challenge myself like FFI and go. It helps that I know what to do but at the same time It always feels like a fresh start. This game was one of my childhood favorites and can never find an equal in the newer games. D&D will never die, not while we can still love it.
#8 Shining Force (series)
This is the one in particular that I'm referring to for this post, but this also applies to CD and II for the series. The new stuff isn't half as good as the old.
Shining Force was a concept that seems simple these days. A group of fighters, wizards and... dragons? Well one at least, these characters go out to save the world from an ancient evil known as the Dark Dragon. Others will have other objectives, but it's always about saving the world, or at least a kingdom or two.
So why does this one capture my attention so readily? That can be thanked by the star modes. When you beat the game, you can play through it again. The enemies will be a bit tougher each time and will increase as you beat the game more and more times. This makes for a very challenging atmosphere. I got up to 7 stars and won but that was as high as I can go. I'm not sure who did it the best, but there has to be others who can go higher.
#7 Metroid Zero Mission/Fusion
These two tied for 7th. I couldn't decide between the two and to be honest I don't want to do so.
Metroid stars one of, if not the most, badass women in all of gaming, Samus Aran. This woman has had a very traumatic life, starting with her childhood when Ridley decided to wreck the lab her parent's worked at (like a boss, come on, you know you heard that in your head). This might be wrong as I'm extrapolating from my memories of some scenes from Zero Mission, but to put it bluntly, she became a sort of warrior from a very young age. She was tempered when she was raised by the Chozo, bird-like men and women who tend to planets as shepherds of sorts. They granted her technology that made her into the warrior she is today, a heroine who can beat every odd.
Why does this addict me though? Doesn't the gameplay change very little between games and playthroughs. Being able to blow away as many enemies as I wish and attempting to go as fast as I can is also very fun and challenging. To be honest, I've never hit 100% items in any of these games, but I don't see that as a detraction and I just may go for 100% in Fusion sometime in the near future. Unfortunately I was an idiot and sold my Zero Mission cartridge, so that's on my to do list when I get paid next.
#6 Borderlands
Before you ask why this isn't the second one, I want to be perfectly honest. I hated the second Borderlands so much it's not even funny. I had none of the feels I'm about to use to describe this game with and will not attempt to sugarcoat any response about B2.
Borderlands is a loot n shoot game released by Gearbox and 2K games. This game is set on the alien planet Pandora. Don't get too excited, Avatar fans, this isn't a lush landscape with a native people who are a lot like Native Americans (I'm drawing a comparison here, if I'm wrong, do correct me.) This world blows monkey chunks. Think that getting maced on a Friday night where you thought you were having a great time was going on? Nothing, not a thing, do you have on how miserable this planet is. The planet Pandora has a rumored Vault with treasure beyond the wildest imagination.
But this isn't answering my question of why it's #6 on my list! The reason for that is that I'm a magpie. I can't wait to loot, open things up, collect rare and exciting weaponry and blow away the competition. This game lacked in storyline but I couldn't stop getting my fill of weapons gluttony to save my life. I think I need an Atkin's diet for myself every time I'm done with the game because of how much I loot.
#5 Bioshock
Another by 2K games, this game was possibly one of my favorites before I even owned it.
Set in Rapture in the early 50s, this game was about a city that was built underwater to escape the tyrannies of the land above. Suffice to say, this paradise didn't last very long once a new substance called ADAM showed up. This stuff could let you do fantastical things that were beyond normal human beings. Think of being able to shoot fire from your hand or do a Professor X and TK some of that stuff!
So why'd I put this on the list? There's not exactly a load of ways to play the game, not in any variation that would be exciting or difficult, minus Big Brass Balls. I'll put it this way. This is one of the few games (when I owned my 360) that I got every last achievement on. No, you didn't read that wrong, me, Mr. I don't 100% jack, did it with that game. The major plot twist still gets me and the connection to a paradise gone wrong into dystopia still nabs my attention.
What's really the best about this game are the Big Daddy fights. No two ever go the same and you will never fully appreciate how difficult these things are to take down. While Gil Alexander in the second game will describe how splicers (enemies) take down Big Daddies for the ADAM the Little Sisters carry as a "Pack of Hyenas taking down an elephant," it's especially daunting to do it 1 v 1 against these guys. Make no mistake, any help you have in the element of turrets and other machinery isn't gonna last you very long at all. When you do take one down it's a pretty awesome feeling. Kinda like "Holy **** did I just do that?"
#4 Castevania: Symphony of the Night
This masterpiece might not take the top spot, but it does the job of keeping me entertained.
Set in early 1700 (don't quote me, I keep seeing 1712 in my head for some reason and it sounds right), you play as Alucard, the son of Dracula, who investigates why Castlevania has shown up earlier than it was supposed to. Unlike the previous games, you can use a wide range of weaponry that you can find, loot and just plain make up out of your shields to cause havoc. Personal favorite? Crissaegrimm. Castlevania has been a very popular series for a long time that has sadly wound down to mediocre games wrapped in God of War-esque like gameplay, but this one outshines every other one. The reasons why? The game plays smoothly and offers a challenge while still being highly enjoyable.
So how's this get my attention on my top ten? This game has been a go to game for me when I'm in a bit of a rut. I can pick this up, blow away Gaibon and Slogra and find myself still playing differently than the last time. Once, I took a challenge to not use any weapon over 20 power and to go naked for the entire game. Guess what happened... if you said I lost you owe your next door neighbor a cat and a cookie.
The game's graphics are gothic inspired, divine yet still overcast as though the sun can't shine through. The combat is smooth and there's very few enemies who will rip your face off like a rotten tomato unless you allow yourself to get caught. The ability to turn into animals and summon familiars adds to depth and even now I'll find myself trying out Bat with Gram and the like, just to see what happens.
#3 Suikoden II
When Konami made this game they did it right. The concept was simple, boy joins army, army betrays boy, boy goes on a frickin' awesome quest to fight said army that betrayed him.
Ok so that's the poorly translated Cliff's Notes version. The game takes a boy named Riou, another named Jowy and their big sister Nanami through a world of growing up. Riou and Jowy inherit two parts to a True Rune and their friendship ends, one rejoining Highland and one making a rebel army to battle the vicious Highlanders led by Luca Blight.
This one I haven't played nearly as much as the others. Point in fact is the time it takes to actually play through the game. Recruiting all 108 stars, as well as completing mini-quests, finding recipes and doing cooking competitions, recruiting flying squirrels (hint: Mokumoku and Mukumuku are the best) and more will rock your world. The feelings that this game evokes are second to none and will never cease to make me want to play it more. Unfortunately the time thing will always curse this game since most of my free time is spent playing my newer games.
One of the best features is how this game draws from the previous game. If you complete the first one 100%, it can be carried over and affect how your game goes in the second round, essentially. I won't spoil it since that will spoil the first game as well, but needless to say when a series can stay connected, it fights better!
#2 Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions
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So before I head into this I want to clarify why it's this and not the original PS1 version. This game is easier to tote on my PSP and the new features have been too much fun to say that the original was better.
FFT is set in Ivalice, a war-torn continent that seems to be locked in a death struggle over who will ascend to the throne, Prince Orinus or Princess Ovelia. You play as Ramza Beoulve, a rather sheltered noble who is the son of the Heaven Knight, Balbanes, a hero of the previous 50 years war. The adventure cannot be described here... it's too big, too massive to just fiddle with a few words that wouldn't do it justice.
So this game's addiction might be clear but I'll clarify using bullets:
- Balthier and Luso are added as recruits, in addition to Cloud.
- Zodiark is a bit easier to learn from Elidibus
- The language is like older English instead of some of the poor translations we received in the first iteration.
- Two co-op modes, Rendezvous and Melee, give the game a heftier feel to it, as well as being a reason to excel.
- New items are in those two modes that makes the end game ridiculously easy.
- Two new classes add value as who wouldn't want to play as a Dark Knight?
- More battles are added here and there to add in storyline clarification. Most notably is the second fight versus Argath (Algus).
I can customize this all day and still never be satisfied. This game is one true gem and if you ever can play it, do so. Get a buddy or two, get the game, grow your own classes and tear some enemies up! The soundtrack and story alone would make the game worth it, but the game as a whole gets a perfect score. However... this game isn't the top. How does it get beaten? Only by one game that evokes the mastery of gaming in a nutshell...
#1 The World Ends With You
This game needs no introduction to why I'm addicted to it. I played it for almost 4 months straight to beat the ultimate boss on the hardest mode at the lowest level possible. I had so many hours on it that when I started over on it, I had no clue as to why I found the game so hard until it hit me... I was unable to remember what it was like starting out.
From the unique art style to the maximized usage of the DS (3DS if you're playing on that system), it is a gem. This game was the only one I could never part with and still have my cartridge all the way back from 2007.
The World Ends With You follows the tale of an amnesiac named Neku Sakuraba who is thrust into the middle of what's known as the Reapers' Game. Whoever survives all 7 days comes back to life (Neku doesn't know this of course). In terms of story, this game cannot be beaten. Throw in a dash of youthful energy, a zetta egotistical set of enemies and dialogue that can only be written by masters and you get a game that has no problem setting itself apart. Nothing comes close to this game... nothing!
So that's my list! Hope you enjoyed it, but I will do a quick Honorable Mentions and end by saying: This felt great to write.
Honorable Mentions
Legend of Mana
Final Fantasy 7
Final Fantasy 5
Pokemon Silver (the first one)
Parasite Eve
The 3rd Birthday
Resident Evil Revelations