A humorous RPG with tons of charm, but is that enough to give it legs?
Recently, I played through the demo of Miitopia, a new RPG developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. As this is a demo, and therefore only covers a small section of the overall game, I have decided to simply give my impressions in lieu of a full review (which may come later once I finish the full game).
-----
Who would've guessed, that in the year 2017, we would be getting a full RPG starring Miis? Those weird avatars we used to bowl and play golf with are now fighting monsters as warriors and mages. Strange times we're living in.
Miitopia is a turn-based RPG staring, you guessed it, Miis. You (or more accurately, your Mii) play as a hero who has to save Miitopia from the Dark Lord (who can be any Mii of your choosing-so go ahead and make your friend, or ex, the main villain). The Dark Lord, in a rather disturbing plan, steals the faces of various Miitopia citizens, leaving them faceless, emotionless husks (this game got dark quick). Being chosen by a higher power, you journey across Miitopia to rescue faces and stop the Dark Lord.
Watching the characters interact is one of the game's highlights
Being a game made up of Miis, the game becomes very funny right away. The first face I rescued was Batman's, who is the son of Bella Swan. Town populations are (as far as I can tell), made up of random Miis, while the more important ones can be chosen by you. In addition to the Dark Lord, you can pick the Miis of your party members, a great sage (who I made Rick Sanchez), and possibly others. I made all of my party members friends of mine, and seeing them interact and battle together was a delight.
Despite being a turn-based RPG, player involvement is surprisingly detached. In battle, the only character you directly control is your own, where you can choose from the standard RPG menus (attack, skills/magic, items). However, that's the only character you control. All your party members are controlled by AI, where they'll execute one of those three commands at random. This can lead to some pretty frustrating outcomes at times. When using items, you can only choose to use them on yourselves, so if a party member is low on HP or MP, you can't use any items to replenish them yourself, and instead have to hope that they are smart enough to use one themselves.
The level of detachment is also seen when it comes to upgrading your equipment. Instead of dedicated shops like most RPGs, every time you stop at an inn, you can see what item each party member wants. You don't actually buy the item, instead giving the gold to the character to buy the item. Most of the time they'll come back with the desired item, but sometimes they'll instead buy a completely different item.
Another example of the game's randomness is when it comes to the food preferences of your party members. As you battle monsters, your party will gather various food items, each upping a different stat. The twist is that certain party members won't like certain foods, and that will affect their effectiveness. If they don't like it, you get less, if they love it more, and so on. But you won't know how they feel about it until *after* they eat the food once. So it's all a guessing game.
Most notably, this lack of involvement is exemplified in the game's exploration, or lack thereof. The only time you move your character is in towns or the world map. Besides that, your party just moves on their own, and is essentially a cutscene, with your party members interacting with each other. This is amusing at first, but dialogue begins repeating, and I got the sense that this is something that could get old very quick. Honestly, this just feels like a huge missed opportunity, but I'll get more into why I think this is the way it is later.
The relationship between your party members is a huge component
There are some things I very much enjoyed about this game. I think the job/personality mechanics work great. Each character is assigned a personality in addition to a job, and this can impact how battles play out. For example, a cool character may be more likely to dodge attacks, while a cautious character may bring out an item they need if there are none in stock that they had hidden. Its a very clever system, and one that can add tremendously to the variety of battles.
And it can't be stated just how charming this game is. In my hour or so playthrough, I still hadn't gotten over the novelty of seeing my friends go on this grand adventure, and I don't think I will. Knowing their personalities makes some of the interactions even more funny, and I hope you will be able to give even more Miis roles later on.
Now, I feel this is an RPG created for the casual RPG fan. The fan who doesn't want to spend hours grinding or exploring dungeons. Battles happen at predetermined times, and like I said, there's no actual exploration done in the game. As a huge fan of turn-based RPGs, this is a little disappointing, but I think I'm in for the long haul.
Miitopia has definite faults, but it's a game I want to keep playing. I'm definitely going to buy the full version (and I may have already by the time you read this). It's just so damn charming and witty that I can't help but smile my entire time playing. As for whether this will keep me going throughout my entire play through, well, let's see what my final review says.
-----
Have you played the Miitopia demo? Or the full game? Let me know what you think about it! You can also follow me on Twitter!
A reinvigorated adventure for the franchise's 20th anniversary.
20 years is a long time. It's especially so for a media franchise that's still actively creating new installments. Few franchises in gaming are as enduring as Pokemon, and even fewer still have had the impact that Pokemon has. The problem is, when a franchise has been going on for as long as Pokemon has, it starts to fall into a bit of a formula. Even when the formula's as winning as Pokemon's is, it starts to feel a bit samey. Get your starter Pokemon, battle your rival, collect the eight Gym badges, battle your rival some more, face the Elite Four and ultimately the champion, and then ultimately become the champion yourself. It's not a bad formula (I mean it's been going on for 20 years), but a little refresh is what Pokemon desperately needed. Pokemon Sun and Moon aren't a complete overhaul of the franchise, nor should it have been, but it's made enough worthwhile changes that will attract newcomers and veterans alike.
There's a variety of new species for you to discover (and capture)
The most noteworthy change in Sun and Moon are the complete abandonment of the standard Pokemon gym challenge. In previous entries in the series, most towns would house a gym dedicated to a single type (Grass, Fire, Water, etc.) that houses a gym leader, whom you would fight for a badge. The Island Challenge doesn't necessarily deviate completely from this system, but it's certainly a big change for the series. There are seven trials scattered around the four islands of Alola, and each trial has a captain running it, still specializing in a single type, though you do not need to fight them as part of your journey. Each trial culminates in a battle with a so-called "Totem Pokemon" of the type corresponding with the captain. At the end of each island you will face the "Kahuna" in that island's "Grand Trial," who also specializes in a certain type. So while combat is still an integral part of the experience, it's not the focus of these trials, rather, the focus is on deepening your connection with the world.
The world is honestly what struck me the most about Sun and Moon. Unlike previous regions, which merely felt like settings for your journey, Alola feels like a lived-in world; a world that's alive, one with its own defined culture, which is no more apparent than in the Island Challenge. Each trial is different, and the fact that I didn't know exactly what it would be helped keep the excitement going. As the captains and kahunas are more than merely obstacles in your way to being champion, but rather supervisors of your journey, they feel more like fully-formed characters than gym leaders of yore. That's not to say all of them receive compelling development, but its certainly a step in the right direction. The fact that each trial ends with you receive a Z Crystal (more on those later), rather than just a shiny decoration helped build the world out even more.
The world has never felt more alive than in these games
More than any game prior, the world is dynamic and living. The ground isn't flat; the elevation changes constantly, and paths are winding. X and Y definitely innovated in terms of the visuals of Pokemon, though they were really nothing more than the 2D games with added depth. Towns still had the same layout, the world was relatively flat, and despite being able to move diagonally, your movement was still stuck to a grid. Sun and Moon finally break free from the grid, allowing to move freely in this world, making it even more dynamic.
Sun and Moon also streamline the Pokemon experience in numerous ways, the biggest being the elimination of HMs. This has been a long time coming, and the new Poke-Ride system is a vast improvement. Instead of forcing you to fill up a moveslot with an unforgettable (literally) HM move, you now can call a specific Pokemon to help you traverse the various obstacles in the field. It's a great system, and one I'm sure (I hope) will become a mainstay. The other is that once you've faced a Pokemon, the UI will tell you how effective a specific move is on it. Now, some may find this to be "too easy", but with eighteen types now on the board, and all the matchups that come with it, that can be a lot for some. Hell, it even lead me to discover a weakness that I didn't even know existed!
Now, like I said, Z Crystals and Z moves are a thing. Basically, there is a Z Crystal for each type (and some for specific Pokemon as well), and if you know a move of that type (or specific move if it's for a specific Pokemon), and have that crystal equipped, you can unleash a super-powered move. It's not a game-changing feature in a way Mega Evolution may have been, but it can definitely help if you're in a pinch.
The culture of Alola is a central theme in this game
So while I'm heaping praise to these games, they aren't perfect, either. One minor complaint is that your character smiles, all of the time. Even when something potentially cataclysmic is happening, you're still smiling. Nothing game-breaking, sure, but it definitely took me out of the experience from time to time.
But the bigger issue is the game's pacing. The first island is slow, and almost feels like a slog to get through, which is especially noteworthy compared to the previous generation, X and Y and Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, which pretty much dropped you into the adventure and let you go. Sun and Moon have hours of tutorial for you to get through, but once you get off that first island, it picks up immediately. It's just a shame that those first few hours are so slow, because the story is the most compelling in any Pokemon game yet.
That's not to say the narrative is mind-blowing, but in terms of Pokemon games, only Black and White really have a claim to the best Pokemon story. Now, I know none of us play these games for the plot, but having a compelling plot definitely helps getting through the game that much more worthwhile. The story gets dark and pretty weird at times, though it can also be lighthearted as well. Not anything award-winning, but a step in the right direction for sure.
Sun and Moon aren't a complete reinvention of the series, but they were never supposed to be. What it is however, is enough a refresh that will not only attract newcomers and those who may have have fallen out of the series, but also those who have played every entry prior. Smart design choices make this the most streamlined Pokemon game yet, and it's story, setting, and character development is the best this series has seen. The game has some pacing issues, but outside of that, this is game anyone can pick up and enjoy. I can't think of a better way to celebrate the series' 20th anniversary, and dare I say, it's the best entry yet. Not a bad way to celebrate, is it?
-----
Are you as much of a Pokefanatic as me? Then follow me on Twitter! Even if you're not, still follow me on Twitter! And keep checking the blog out! Thanks!
EarthBound (Mother 2 in Japan) is a game that's become somewhat of a cult hit. It was not a success in the states, which lead to the franchise being dead for some time over here, even as Japan got the GameBoy Advance-exclusive Mother 3. However, due to the appearance of main protagonist Ness (and later Mother 3 protagonist Lucas) in the Super Smash Bros. series, the Mother series has always had an air of mystery around it. Soon, a passionate fanbase was created, including those with cherished memories of the game wanting to play it again, and those wanting a chance to experience what many called one of the great series of RPGs. Their wishes were finally granted, as a couple of years ago Nintendo released EarhBound on the Wii U Virtual Console. This has been subsequently followed by the release of Mother (called Earthbound Beginnings here) on Wii U, and releasing EarthBound on the New 3DS Virtual Console. EarthBound is a game I've been sitting on for a long time, and I've finally begun to play it. I decided to give a general summary of what's happening, as well as some commentary. I hope you'll enjoy the ride!
WARNING: Spoilers follow
-----
Mother of the year
First off, this game's not pretty. In fact, the sprites are kind of ugly. But, this is a very colorful game, and it just oozes charm right from the start. The game apparently takes place in the year 199X; okay. It starts off with our hero, Ness (you have the opportunity to name all of the playable characters, plus your dog, at the beginning of the game) snoozing away when he's suddenly woken up by an explosion. After taking a bat from my sister (who I thought was fellow party member Paula for a bit), and getting changed into my normal clothes, I go outside WITH THE PERMISSION OF MY MOTHER to explore what happened. Despite police officers telling me I can't go snooping, I do so anyway. While exploring, I met a guy who eats garlic and works out, which I'm pretty sure is supposed to be a representation of me. I also run into someone who's apparently supposed to be my friend. His name's Pokey (?!), and I don't like him from the start. I'm guessing he's going to turn into an antagonist of something.
This guy is pretty much me
Not finding anything of note, Ness decides to head back to bed, but is rudely awoken by a banging on the door. It's Pokey, who lost sight of his brother, Picky (?!). He basically forces him to join him in looking for Picky, and Ness' is TOTALLY OKAY WITH THIS. Family dog Misty also joins you, which terrifies me because that's almost a guarantee she's going to die. Also, you save the game by find a phone and calling Ness' father, which is ADORABLE; but also makes me wonder, where is his father anyway? Also Ness' sister gives him a cookie (heals you) before you go, which is ALSO ADORABLE.
So, our heroes (and Pokey) go forth towards the meteor, where they are confronted by enemies such as stray dogs and crows. The game is a turn-based RPG, as was standard back in that era. But I'm a huge sucker for good-old turn-based RPG's so this was right up my alley. Ness is pretty much the bulk of the party's forces at this point, Misty occasionally attacks, while Pokey's totally useless. They eventually reach the meteor, at which point Misty LEAVES US AND RUNS AWAY. Not cool, Misty, not cool. Either way, we find Picky, and start to head back.
But not before A TALKING BEE COMES OUT OF THE METEOR AND TELLS ME I AM THE "CHOSEN ONE". Apparently I, along with the help of three others, am supposed to defeat some evil guy named Giygas? Honestly, more information was probably given, but I got distracted once I saw Buzz-Buzz the talking bee, since my mind immediately went to Bee Movie. While on our way back to the houses, we're confronted by something called Starman, which looks just like the guy on the boxart, so I'm gonna guess they're one and the same. . I thought this game wasn't supposed to get weird until later in the story?? Anyway, group fights Starman, while Pokey is as useless as ever.
Like I said, this game isn't very pretty
After defeating Starman, our heroes return to the Pickey & Pokey home, where their mom KILLS BUZZ-BUZZ. Womp womp. Before he dies, however, Buzz-Buzz tells Ness to go to a place called Giant Step, and so, a new adventure has begun.
-----
Like EarthBound? Feel free to share you thoughts, and don't forget to follow me on Twitter. And don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel, where I'll be posting new videos very soon!
Video games are something that have been with me my entire life, and something that I don't think will ever leave. From playing my cousin's SNES that was at my grandparent's house, where my cousins and I spent hours playing games like Super Mario World and Donkey Kong Country 2, to the first ever system that was truly mine, a "glacier" Game Boy Advance that I still own today, which came with a crappy Shrek fighting game that I was too young to realize was awful. That turned into a GBA SP, a Nintendo DS, a second DS, (the first one was in a tragic accident), and finally a 3DS. That turned into a love of console gaming, starting with a used PlayStation my mom bought for my sister and I. We later upgraded to a PS2, which was used probably about 90% for Guitar Hero. Then came the two systems I bought with my own money, the Wii and the PlayStation 3 (I have an amazing story about the time I acquired my Wii, but that really warrants its own article). And before you ask, no, I currently do not have a PS4, though I'm getting closer and closer to finally getting one.
Note: I have never had an Xbox system of my own, not for any reason in particular, just that I only have so much money to spend, and as I've always had Playstation systems, I went with what I knew.
The point is, video games are some of the most important things in my life, and for some reason I'll never know I decided to narrow all of the games I've played & loved to ten. This was actually much, much easier than I would have ever thought, until I realized that I was listing off games that was adding up to be much, much more than ten. Simply put, I love too many games to narrow them down to only ten, but somehow I've managed to do it.
So without further ado, here are my top ten games of all time. Note: For the sake of my sanity, these are presented in no particular order. For multiplatform games I will list only the system I played them on.
-----
Mass Effect Trilogy (PS3)
Why not start off this list with a cheat, huh? Yes, I know these are three separate games, but to be fair I did get them in one collection so that counts, right?
In all honesty, I tried to decide which one I wanted to have on its own, but each game is so essential to the bigger picture that I just could not pick one game to represent this series. Unlike most video game series, each entry is one part of a larger overall narrative, with choices in previous games affecting the current playthrough of the one you're currently playing. This was essentially unheard of when Mass Effect was announced, and no one knew for sure if it would pan out. But it did, and what a way it did. I refused to play any Mass Effect game until the first one was ever released on PlayStation (the first one was originally published by Microsoft and was an Xbox 360 exclusive), and I could not be happier with my decision. The first game is essential, it's where you are introduced to this vast universe Bioware created, the first time you meet characters that have become mainstays.
What makes these games unique is that everyone can have vastly different playthroughs. Even the smallest choice can have a huge butterfly effect that's not seen until a different game. One person may make a choice that another may not even have the option to choose. What truly makes this series succeed is the amazing world-building Bioware did. I grew with the characters, I cared about this world, I felt like part of the Normandy crew. By the time I finished the Citadel DLC (the final piece of content released for Mass Effect 3), I was tearing up, knowing that my time in this world was almost done.
The series became progressively less RPG-focused as it went on (Property of EA/Bioware)
Now don't get me wrong, these games aren't perfect at all. ME1 is pretty rough to get through, and while I didn't outright hate ME3's ending like many, I totally felt disappointed by it. In addition, the gameplay weirdly shifts throughout the series, with ME1 being a full-on RPG with some action elements, and ME3 ending up as a third-person shooter with some RPG elements thrown in. It may not be perfect, but Bioware created an amazing universe I just wanted to get lost in, and I can't wait to return to it in 2017.
Everyone's favorite six-wheeled space exploration vehicle (Property of EA/Bioware)
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES)
Remember when I mentioned that SNES at my grandparent's house at the top of this post? Well, this was one of the games we had, and this was the one that had the biggest impact on me. Right from the opening cutscene, the storybook look of this world is something that has stuck with me since then. I knew I loved it as a kid, but I grew to appreciate it even more as a young adult.
How can you say this isn't beautiful? (Property of Nintendo)
This game wasn't just charming as hell, it was just a flat-out great platformer. It took the basic concepts of the Super Mario series (run, jump, etc.) and added a whole new element. Yoshi, the loveable dinosaur-thing introduced in the absolute masterpiece that is Super Mario World, is the main character you control. After the stork carrying Babies Mario and Luigi is attacked, Luigi is taken to Baby Bowser's castle, while Mario falls right in the middle of Yoshi's Island, surrounded by a rainbow assortment of Yoshis. The Yoshis decide to band together to reunite the babies and save Luigi from Bowser. Each level involves a Yoshi carrying Mario on its back, and you need to protect him all the way through. If something gets to him, well, if it hasn't been ingrained in your head yet, let me show you:
As Yoshi, the game introduced concepts that are now mainstays of the Mario/Yoshi series. Egg shooting, ground pounds, and Yoshi's flutter jumps all originated in this game. The game looks beautiful even today, and while I won't give it away, the level Touch Fuzzy, Get Dizzy is an amazing feat of technology for a 16-bit machine. The graphics, gameplay, and soundtrack all come together to what may be (in my opinion at least) a perfect game.
Thomas Was Alone (PS3)
"Are video games art?" This question is asked multiple times, and this question has popped up even more in recent memory. To me, art is something that hits you emotionally, and makes you feel something. This is what video games do to me, and while others may object, this is why I consider video games to be art. To me, nothing exemplifies this more than than the indie puzzle-platformer, Thomas Was Alone. It is a game that makes you care about what are, essentially, rectangles. Now, they're much more than that, but what this game accomplishes is nothing sort of incredible. There is no spoken dialogue between the characters, and the narrative is told only by the narrator. The narrator speaks for the characters, gives them individual personalities, and ultimately is what makes you care for this ragtag group.
The colorful cast of heroes (Property of Mike Bithell)
As a puzzle-platformer, the gameplay is solid, and can be legitimately challenging sometimes, for me at least. Each character has it's own special ability along with it's unique personality. For example, one can swim, while no one else can, and so can be used as a sort of "boat" to carry the others across water. Another one can be used as a trampoline of sorts, and other characters can bounce off of her to reach even higher platforms. Each character is also a different size, with one being tall and narrow, and another being short and wide, adding another layer to the platforming.
Each character has their own unique ability, forcing you to become creative (Property of Thomas Bithell)
While the gameplay is engaging, it's really the narrative that makes this game so memorable. In addition to the wonderful narrator, the minimalistic soundtrack also adds another element to this game. When everything is thrown together, it makes for a gaming experience that I will never forget.
Pokemon was the first gaming series that I ever connected with, Emerald specifically. I had always watched the anime as a kid, and once I finally got that GBA, I knew I had to get my hands on a Pokemon game. Why did I connect with Pokemon? I think it's because it was the first game I played that was my adventure. The protagonist isn't necessarily a character and more of a vessel for yourself. You can name the character after yourself, catch whatever Pokemon you want, and ultimately play however you want. Add a simple, yet deep and engaging gameplay system, and you've got a winner on your hands.
So why these two games specifically? In all honesty, this was probably the hardest part of making this list. I knew a Pokemon game had to show up on this list, but which one? I've played every one so far, and while I could make a case for my first ever game (Emerald) for purely nostalgic reasons, or the originals (Red/Blue//Yellow) for their historical impact, but then I realized that the one I think about most is the remake of the Gen. II games. (Note: I myself had played SoulSilver, though the differences between versions are minimal.) I feel like the biggest reason for this is something that's shallow and superficial on the surface, but in the end adds a whole new layer to the game; walking Pokemon. Having any one of your Pokemon follow you throughout your entire journey, and the ability to interact with them, really drives home the fact that you truly aren't alone on this journey, you have (up to) six comrades along with you. By getting to spend quality time with your Pokemon, you realize that they aren't just your allies in battle, they truly are your family.
During most of the game, the Pokemon at the top of your party will follow you in the overworld (Property of Game Freak/Nintendo)
In addition, the game is just jam-packed with content. Not only is there the main campaign, plus completion of the campaign opens up a whole other region for your to explore, filled with its own objectives. There's also the Battle Frontier, which I've honestly never cared for all that much personally. I can't be certain, but this game may have the most meaningful post-game content (the Delta Episode in Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire is pretty darn great, though). Pokemon is one of the most important series in video games for me, and these remakes stand above the rest.
The game gives you a total of sixteen gym leaders to fight, the most in any main Pokemon campaign (Property of Game Freak/Nintendo)
Final Fantasy IX (PlayStation)
Final Fantasy IX is my favorite Final Fantasy, if it's placement on this list didn't make that obvious. This is another case where I had to do an internal ranking within a ranking. It was a close race between IX and the also-great VI and X (Note: I have not yet played FFXII, though it is one of the games in my backlog that I most want to play), but ultimately, this love-letter to the Final Fantasy games of yore came out on top. And I think the reason why is because of his heart.
The ATB system is, as usual, fantastic (Property of Square-Enix)
See, after Final Fantasy VII (which I like), VIII (which is actually fairly low on my ranking of the FF titles), and to an extent VI (which I love), which were all dark and brooding, with similarly brooding protagonists (VII and VIII in particular), it was just so refreshing to get a character like Zidane who just loves adventure. He doesn't want to be a hero, but he's not reluctant to be one either. He just ends up in a larger-than-life situation, and just decides to go along with it. In comparison to the dark steampunk settings of the previous three, IX goes all-in on the Fantasy in the title, being a lovely throwback to the original FF titles.
While I mentioned my love of Zidane, honestly I love all of the characters. They're all just so diverse, species- and personality-wise (QUINA QUEN!!!); and this is just a matter of taste, but I love when characters have specific roles within a party. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed both the Materia system of VII and the sphere grid of X, but I just love when each character has a defined role to play in battle, and strategizing around those roles. Add all of what I said above with the alway-great Active Time Battle system, and you've got what is (in my opinion of course) the best Final Fantasy, period.
The colorful cast of characters that will join you on your journey (Property of Square-Enix)
Paper Mario (Virtual Console (Originally on N64))
I remember exactly when I first played Paper Mario. It was the summer before I was going to enter high school, and I had recently had surgery on my arm. Because of that, I was unable to do much, so I was looking for more video games to play to occupy my time. I was on the Wii Shop channel, and discovered a quirky Nintendo 64 game which is the game I'm currently discussing. First off, this game is gorgeous, with a paper-based look (obviously), that mixes 2D character models with 3D backgrounds. The later games in the series expand upon this, and admittedly look superior, but there's a special charm about this game's look, and this game built the foundation for the rest of the series.
This game just oozes charm (Property of Nintendo)
As a spiritual successor to the also-wonderful Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (can you tell I like RPG's?), Paper Mario expands on the awesome battle system used in that SNES masterpiece. The battles are turn-based, but before you land an attack, you have an opportunity to give even more damage. If you time a button press or flick of the analog stick, your damage will double. It also works the other way too, with a well-timed button press can decrease some of the damage you take from enemies.
The companions in this game are top-notch (Property of Nintendo)
The game also has a great partner mechanic. Mario acquires eight partners throughout the course of the game, each based on a classic Mario baddie. In addition to distinct personalities, they all have special abilities that can be used in the overworld. One can turn Mario invisible, one allows Mario to swim across water, and so on. These abilities are not only needed to progress through the game, but also allows you to discover secrets throughout. While the story is an expansion of the classic "save the Princess" Mario story, it takes you to many diverse locations all throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, and is filled with humor and heart.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of my favorite films. There's just something about the adventure genre that I love, all the globe-trotting, puzzle-solving, and exploration that I gravitate towards, and I always jump at the chance to experience these in a more interactive form. I love the original Tomb Raider, though gameplay-wise it certainly hasn't aged well. I also love Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, which was my first PS3 game, probably more than most. As much as Drake's Fortune, Naughty Dog managed to take everything that worked in that game, and only expanded upon for Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.
First off, the scope of the game is just bigger. While the first one took place exclusively in South America, Among Thieves, while not as wide-reaching as the subsequent sequels, took place in more locations than the first, going from the jungles of Borneo to the Himalayas. The game is also beautiful, and the set pieces were just ramped up from the original.
Nathan Drake just doing what he does best (Property of Naughty Dog/Sony)
That's not even mentioning the characters. Their character work is what truly has made Naughty Dog the special studio it is today. The main trio, Nathan, Elena, and Sully, were given even deeper characterizations this time around, with the game taking a deep dive into the darker aspects of Nate's treasure hunting. Among Thieves is also responsible for introducing us to Chloe Frazer, one of my favorite characters in a video game (I still wish to this day she was utilized more in Drake's Deception). The gameplay is solid, with the platforming, puzzle-solving, and (mediocre in my opinion) gunfights; but let's be real here, when it comes to a Naughty Dog game, it's the story that truly makes it stand out.
Nathan Drake also doing what he does best (Property of Naughty Dog/Sony)
Kingdom Hearts (PS2)
Kingdom Hearts is the reason I got a PlayStation2. Well, not exactly. It was the reason I wanted a PlayStation 2. I am a huge Disney fan, and so when I discovered this weird game that mashes up a bunch of classic Disney films, I new I needed it.When our dad decided to buy a PS2 for our family my sister and I each got to pick a game out. I think you can guess which game I got.
However, this story turns somewhat sad. I got a used copy of the game, which worked fine until I reached the second time you visit Traverse Town, the game's hub world. The game froze right before the boss battle, and did so every time I tried restarting it. So, I begged my parents to get me a new copy, which they did (love them!), and so I was finally able to continue my journey to stop the Heartless.
Donald and Goofy helping you fight while inside Monstro the Whale from Pinocchio, as usual (Property of Square-Enix/Disney)
This game just brings back so many memories for me. It was my first introduction to the world of Final Fantasy (I had no idea who all these strange characters were), which, as you can tell from this list, was a pretty big deal for me. Obviously the Disney of it all is a huge factor for me. Even to this day when I replay it I get a smile on my face when I see Donald and Goofy teaming up with Tarzan, Aladdin, and the like. And can we talk about that soundtrack? Yoko Shimomura is one of the all-time great composers in my eyes, and Kingdom Hearts is my favorite game soundtrack, ever. If you've managed to never have heard this before, you're ears are in for a treat.
The story is one of the best for me. When looking at the series as a whole (I still adore the entire series, by the way), it at least appears that Tetsuya Nomura is apparently coming up with this thing as he goes. I don't even want to go into detail about the overall plot of those games. This game is a prime example of why I think that. It is a perfectly self-contained story, but still leaves it open for sequels without the need for cliffhangers. The destruction of his home, and loss and subsequent search for his friends is so heartwarming. As Sora goes on his journey, going to different worlds and getting entangled in a plot involving the Heartless and the Princesses of Heart (those whose hearts are completely devoid of darkness), this is a prime example of a hero's journey. While not the most complex RPG, I still is very playable, and I encourage everyone to play this game, though the sequels/spin-offs (except II, which is great!) are totally up to you.
We don't talk about the Gummi Ship (Property of Square-Enix/Disney)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
I have just one word to describe A Link to the Past: magic. This is another of those games that we played with that SNES I mentioned earlier, though this game mysteriously disappeared. (Seriously, to this day no one still knows what happened to it). When I finally got to play the full game years later, I was enthralled. There's something special to me about 16-bit graphics, and this game perfectly exemplifies that. I was born after this game came out, and was two when Ocarina of Time came out, so I didn't get the chance to really experience this game as a child. By the time I seriously got into video games, the PlayStation 2 was well out, and I didn't play Ocarina of Time until the 3DS remake, so I just can't create the emotional attachmeant that so many have with that game. Don't get me wrong, that game's still a masterpiece, but I just don't associate it with the nostalgia of stepping out into Hyrule field.
One of my favorite video game memories (Property of Nintendo)
This game, however, created just that. It's said so many times, but 16-bit graphics truly are timeless, and this game is beautiful even today. I love weather effects in video games, so that famous rain even got to me. I love exploration, so getting to explore this Hyrule Field was a special experience for me. Zelda game nail the gameplay, so I don't really feel the need to go into too much detail about it here.
But let's talk about the Dark World. I somehow didn't know anything about this when I played, so stepping into this new world (as a rabbit no less), was a moment I will never forget. So many things about this game work, from the look, to the gameplay, to the story, that I could just ramble on about it. But that would be a waste of everyone's time, so just do me a favor, and play this game if you haven't already. It's playable on almost every post-SNES console (except N64 and Gamecube), so it's not a very hard game to find.
HE'S SO CUTE (Property of Nintendo)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (PC)
"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....". I still get chills every time I see this, and hearing that John Williams fanfare is something I'll never get over, and the first time seeing those words on the big screen, before The Force Awakens on opening night is one of those memories you cherish for a lifetime. Suffice to say, I'm a huge Star Wars fan, so getting to experience my own Star Wars adventure was a pretty surreal experience.
The game takes you to all-new Star Wars locations (Property of Lucasfilm/Bioware/EA)
Taking place 4,000 years before the films, Knights of the Old Republic has you play as a soldier (male or female) waking up to find out the ship your on, which is transporting Jedi Bastilla Shan, is attacked by by Darth Malark. You crash on the planet Taris, where you need to find Bastilla. What follows is an adventure that takes you all across the Star Wars galaxy, where you'll discover planets new and old, and meeting a variety of faces along the way, both friend and foe. You recruit all different characters to aid you on your mission, from a Twi'lek teenager and her Wookie companion, to an assassin droid. You even become a Jedi yourself, getting to fight with a lightsaber.
The gameplay plays very much like an old-school RPG, where you can plan your moves ahead of time before watching your hero play them out. You can choose from three different classes, and then more subclasses after starting your Jedi training. Maybe it's because I haven't played any other Star Wars games, but fighting with a lightsaber was awesome. You can also customize your party even more, by giving them certain traits and upgrades, and equipping them with whatever gear or weaponry you feel fit.
As is usual for a Bioware joint, dialogue is a main component of the experience (Property of Lucasfilm/Bioware/EA)
As this is a Bioware game, the worldbuilding is top-notch. As this takes place well before the established canon, Bioware was free to do what they wanted within this pre-exisiting universe. The Star Wars universe is so wide that it can fit any number of stories in it, and I love exploring new corners. Getting to see all new planets was such a treat, and the story, of course, is great as well. This game also has one of the most famous twists in video games, though I won't spoil it here. I will say that you may either see it coming, or have it completely blow up in front of you (like it did for me), either way, I love this game (and its sequel), and I'm hoping the EA-Disney partnership will lead to a KoTR 3.
-----
Well, I did it. Hopefully you stuck around me rambling about things I love. To be honest, this was hard. There are so many games that I had to leave off this list that just kill me. Games like The Last of Us, Journey, Super Mario Galaxy, Lego Marvel Superheroes, Bioshock, Super Mario World, and so many other games are amazing in their own right, but the ten games I listed just stand above the rest in my eyes.
I also made a video of me talking about why I love these games. It's way less concise than this post, and is more me gushing about these games that hold a special place in my heart. I'll try to post more videos like this, so if you enjoy it, like the video and don't forget to subscribe!
Don't forget to follow me on Twitter and Instagram. I'll see you later with some more posts! Thanks for stopping by!
