Well, things just got weird. Basically, we learn that Tifa was last seen in the mansion of mafia man Don Corneo, who I think is looking for a bride. Unfortnuately for our heroes, no males (except those who work for Corneo) are allowed in the mansion, which leads Aeris to come up with a plan to dress Cloud up as a girl to get in. What follows is a very, um, strange series of events. After finding a dressmaker at a bar and getting him out of a funk, he makes a very beautiful dress for Cloud. However, that's not enough, so Cloud goes around town looking for accessories (wig, makeup, etc.) to pretty himself up some more. This brings us to the Honeybee Inn, which is pretty much a brothel. Cloud enters one of the rooms, but passes out after seeing a vision of himself? He's woken up by a man, who I'm pretty sure raped Cloud, and this game is suddenly a whole lot different than I remembered.
But we must press on, I guess, and Cloud & Aeris pretty themselves up to enter the mansion. They find Tifa, where we learn that she's here to get information from Don, as he may be involved with Shinra. They eventually confront him, and after threatening his geintalia, he admits he's been working with Shinra; not only that, he also reveals that Shinra plans on destroying Sector 7 (where our heroes reside), as that's where they believe the AVALANCHE headquarters is. Well, that's just not good at all, is it? But before our heroes have a chance to react, Don opens up a trapdoor, sending our heroes into the sewers. They make their way through the sewers, but not before defeating a giant pig monster.
When the group finally reaches Sector 7, it's already under attack, though the AVALANCHE crew is trying is best to defend it. Tifa and Cloud go to help Barret, while Aeris goes off on her own to look for Marlene. Honestly, that doesn't sound like a very good idea. Since all Materia leaves your possession as soon as you leave the party, all the girl's got to defend herself with is a giant stick. But no one seems to think about that, as they all go on their separate ways. Unfortunately, they're too late, to save the sector with Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie among the casualties. We hardly knew ye (literally). To add salt to the wound, they find out Shinra captured Aeris and is taking her to their headquarters. Guess that stick didn't do you much good, did it?
Tifa and Barret take this pretty hard, Barret especially so since he doesn't know where his daughter is. Coupled with the fact that 50% of AVALANCHE is now gone, things aren't looking good for our heroes. But none of that matters to Cloud, of course! No, he is more concerned with what all this "ancient" crap has to do with Aeris. Obviously the best place to start is with her mother, so they go back to Aeris' house, where, SURPRISE; Aeris took Marlene before she was kidnapped. After a lot of climbing, our group finally makes it to Shinra HQ, and face their next challenge.
I guess I should talk a little more about the game itself, no? Well, after spending more time with the Materia system, I'm starting to warm up to it more, though I'm still not completely sold on it. Call me old fashioned, but I personally like when characters have defined classes and abilities, and you have to work your strategy around how they best fit in your party, a la Final Fantasy IV and IX. Don't ask me why, as I can't really put it into words, but I just find it more fascinating from a character and gameplay perspective. On the other hand, I really did end up loving the Sphere Grid of Final Fantasy X, but that's also a fair bit different than this. While the characters in X can theoretically learn any ability, they each start on a certain section of the grid, with abilities related to that character. So in a sense, the characters are somewhat divided into classes. The characters in VII are similar in that each character has different stats and different ways of attacking, but unless I'm mistaken any character can learn any ability. So while some characters may be better suited to learn magical rather than physical abilities, all characters can learn magic spells. Only three characters can be in your active party, and only X allowed you to switch characters mid-battle, so I'm not really sure what are the real advantages of the Materia system.
I may not be on board with this system quite yet, but I do know it's fairly popular, so I'm wondering if it becomes more complex the further into this adventure we get. But, that's for another time, because for now, our journey is on pause.
Horror is a very difficult genre to master. Besides comedy, it may be the hardest genre to be successful in. To genuinely scare your audience, and to have it feel natural and in service of the story, isn't easy. The last few years has been fairly interesting with regards to horror; along with the usual sub-par remakes and many films assuming gore = horror, there have been some great horror films, like The Witch, It Follows, and The Conjuring, among others. Lights Out, from director David F. Sandberg and producer James Wan (The Conjuring, Insidious) is really none of these things. It's probably not going to be going to be remembered as a masterpiece in the horror genre, but it isn't a complete disaster of a film, either. It's a perfectly good horror film, one with many positive elements.
The film, based on a 2013 short film of the same name, centers around Rebecca (Teresa Palmer), a young woman who is estranged from her mother, Sophie (Maria Bello). You find out that Sophie has been previously diagnosed with depression, but that isn't what drove the women apart. Rather, it was something else, something more sinister. Sophie has an "imaginary friend" or sorts named Diana. But instead of it being merely being a product of Sophie's mental illness, it is in fact a malicious entity, one that can only function in darkness. Rebecca's half-brother Martin (Gabriel Bateman) begins encountering Diana, causing him trouble in school, leading Rebecca to re-enter her family's life. You soon discover that Rebecca has had encounters with Diana herself, and that she may in fact be responsible for the disappearance of Rebecca's father. (You see Martin's father, and Sophie's husband being killed by Diana, unnamed at this point, at the beginning of the film.)
The film is a little over an hour and twenty minutes, though it didn't felt like that at all when I watched it. The film just flew by, and the pacing was very good. The film didn't bother to drag on any one detail for too long, and the film just seemed to go from one plot point to the next, though in a way that felt very natural.
Gabriel Bateman, Teresa Palmer, and Alexander DiPersia in Lights Out
The cast in this film were all spot-on, with Bello effectively playing a woman who deeply cares for her family, but also knows she can't fully be there for them. She acts towards Diana as a close friend, though there is always a little bit of tension every time she brings her up. Palmer also shines as Rebecca, a girl who still loves her mother, but is too overwhelmed to be able to fully become close to her again. The relationship between the two is fantastic; the estrangement, but obvious love, between the two adds an extra layer of tension in a film already filled with it. Alexander DiPersia also does his best with the limited role he has, playing the role of an unconventionally supportive boyfriend.
As the main antagonist is something that is only powerful in darkness, the film uses a lot of minimalist horror, which I loved. I'm of the opinion that horror is at it's best when you can't see what the menace is, as that only adds to the tension. For much of the film you don't see Diana, as she is hanging in the dark. I'm not a big fan of the "jump scare-athon" that so many horror films have become, as the the impact of them is lessened the more they happen. The film does not completely avoid them, they are not the main focus of the horror. Rather, especially near the end, the film relies much more on an increasing sense of tension.
Maria Bello in Lights Out
The film does get pretty heavy-handed in its themes, especially towards the end of the film. This culminates in a ending that amounts to what was a very bad metaphor for depression. Many may not find this to be a problem, but many others will, and have, find it to be fairly tasteless, and as was said earlier, heavy-handed. Now, this doesn't detract from the film as a whole, as it's still a very enjoyable horror film, but it is a glaring sore spot.
All in all though, Lights Out is a very enjoyable horror film, and rarely more than that. It won't be remembered as one of the all-time greats, but it is a well-made film, and a surprisingly very good debut from Sandberg. Lights Out may not be a masterpiece, but with a debut as strong as this, one of his next films may very well be.
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
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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.
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There's a little game coming out this year called Final Fantasy XV, maybe you've heard of it? While that game may actually never come out (kidding), there's still an entire backlog's worth of Final Fantasy games to experience. I've been in a Final Fantasy mood lately, so I've been playing quite a few of them actually. However, none happen to be quite as ~ridiculous~ as Final Fantasy VII, probably the most famous and popular game in the series. It's a game I haven't played in the longest time, when I was a child and couldn't comprehend what was going on, so it's pretty muchgoing to be likeplaying it for the first time. While obviously I remember the big events that everyone knows, since I was so young the first time, it'll be interesting to see how different it really is and how much I really remember. I'm going to give a summary of what's happened as well some general commentary for every few hours I play. Without further ado, let's get started.
Warning: spoilers follow
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Final Fantasy VII casts you as Cloud, who is kind of a douchebag; he's the kind of douchebag that knows this quite well, and doesn't mind telling people so. He's the kind of guy that will tell you to your face that he doesn't care about what you're talking about right to your face. He used to be a member of a group called SOLDIER, which from what I can tell is a group of super soldiers (for lack of a better term) working for Shinra, a giant energy company that pretty much rules the world. Apparently they became so powerful by using the planet's lifeforce(?!) as energy. Let me just say, that seems like a pretty short-sighted and terrible plan. But anyway, Cloud also seems to have some sort of PTSD, since he has regular flashbacks. I'm sure this will be elaborated upon later, as well as the assumed "growth arc" turning Cloud from doucebag into slightly less douchey hero.
Cloud quit SOLDIER a while ago, and has now teamed up with AVALANCHE, a group of eco-terrorists created to oppose Shinra. Their grand plan is to destroy Shinra's many reactors, which are the things killing the planet. These reactors are in the city of Midgar, which seems like an awful place all around. There's smog, it's grimy, and the buildings (which seem to be made of trash to begin with) are falling apart. It also looks like Shinra is pretty much controlling the city as a police state, so that's fun.
Looks inviting
Cloud is joined on his mission by Barret, who seems kind of cliche at this point. He's a tough guy who has one thing in his life that gives him a heart of gold; in this case, it's his daughter, Marlene, who is his main motivation for wanting to destroy Schinra. He's also pretty similar to Mr. T, but one of his arms is also a machine gun, so I guess he's cool. AVALANCHE's plan is to destroy Shinra reactors that are what's draining the planet. Again, these plans don't seem all that great; I mean, innoncent people are going to die here, right? They're blowing these giant reactors up. People will get caught in the blast radius. Also, if Shirna is the one source of power for Midgar, wouldn't destorying the reactors lead to Midgar losing all electricity, therefore leading to chaos? AND if Midgar is essentially the government, destroying it would result in anarchy. To be fair I'm not one to hypothesize the implications of destroying the life of the planet, so maybe it balances out. Plus, AVANALCHE is a terrorist organization, so I guess it's not much of a concern. Cloud and Barret are also joined on this mission with fellow members Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie, but they aren't much of a factor here, except Jessie gets stuck during the escape while the detonation countdown is going off, as one does.
So, Cloud and Barret complete their mission, but not before facing off against a robot scorpion thing. I'm fairly certain Cloud is trying to get himself killed during this fight; he tells you to attack the robo scorpion when it's tail is up, but then immediately after tells you that when this happens, scorpiobot will counter with its laster tail. Despite that, they manage to defeat the thing, and destroy the reactor.
Here we meet the third member of our group, Tifa, who's quite..."busty". Not Lara Croft triangle boob level, but her model is a clear indication that this was someone's first time creating a 3D character. She's a bartender at a place that also doubles as AVALANCHE's headquarters. Tifa's apparently Cloud's childhood friend, and I can't for the life of me figure out their relationship. Are they together? Not? Were they? I really have no idea what's going on between them. Tifa's also got some issues of her own, since one of Cloud's flashbacks showed that her father was killed by a (former?) SOLDIER named Sepiroth (I remember him!). She joins the group on their next mission to destroy another reactor. Cloud at first refuses to join, because apparently he doesn't care about the fate of the planet he lives on. Only after getting an offer of even more than before, he joins once again. (Side note: the money for cloud is coming out Marlene's COLLEGE FUND?!? WHAT?!?!).
This is obviously not my first Final Fantasy game, so I'm quite used to the Active Time Battle System, so I won't go into too much detail here. Cliffnotes version, it's still turn based, but instead of going in a sequence, each character has a bar that gradually fills up before you can perform a command, giving the battles a faster pace. I happen like the ATB system a lot. The characters don't have defined classes (you'll see why below), but they each have their own weapon sets and abilities. Cloud uses his big-ass Buster Sword, and is the strongest attacker of the group. Barret uses his gun arm (as he should), and is pretty strong defensively. Tifa...punches things. Gotta give the girl credit for her moxie, but punching doesn't seem all that effective when fighting robots and such, but apparently she must have a super punch or something, because she can kill robots and such with her fists, so what do I know? She' not quite as strong as Barret, but she's pretty damn close, so once again, props to you, girl. Her Limit Break also something has to do with slot machines, so there's that.
So, while I like the basic battle system, I'm not sure how I feel about the materia system just yet. Basically, materia are these objects that you can equip to your weapons and armor, not only giving you special abilities associated with that materia (like magic commands such as Fire and Cure), but also changing your stats as well. This is totally a personal thing, but I like when each character has a specific class and abilties, instead of you molding the character into whatever you want, as is the case here. There's also "special" materia, I guess, that changes the affect of the materia, but I haven't gotten any of those yet. I'm still trying to wrap my head about how materia functionally works in the world of this game, but that's probably overthinking things. (I can't help it! Do they just jam it into their weapons? And how does jamming an orb into the Buster Sword give you the ability to cast magic??) I also later found out that whenever a member leaves the party, the materia they had equipped reverts back to you? Weird, but nice.
You apparently get magic but shoving *this thing* into the Buster Sword
So, it turns out that our trio has been caught in a trap set up by Shinra. Which, honestly, should have been seen ahead of time. Give yourself a few days before you try to blow up a reactor for a company you attacked very very recenly. Long story short, Cloud gets separated from the group, and falls.
But don't worry! He managed to fall through a roof onto a flower bed! Said flower bed is growing in a church for some reason involving the grass I think? There's a girl tending to the flowers, who you actually met earlier in the story. This girl's name is Aeris, which means she's going to die. Aeris is also the nicest person in the world, so screw you Square. Cloud is his normal arrogant self, which leads Aeris to request Cloud be her bodyguard and escort her home. Turns out there's a reason she needs to be guarded; Shinra's after her, for reasons I don't think have been explained yet, other then those after her calling her an "ancient".
I hope nothing bad happens to her
Aeris fights in battle using a giant staff, which I'm convinced re-uses a sound effect from Super Mario RPG. She's not a very good physical attacker, but an excellent spellcaster. After Cloud returns her home, she decides to attach herself to Cloud, and join him on whatever quest he's on at the moment. The pair catch a glimpse of Tifa, who I think became a prostitue?? But that doesn't seem like Tifa at all, so they decide to investigate.
And that's it for now!
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What are your opinions on FFVII? Love it? Hate it? Utterly confused by it (like me!)? Let me know! Also don't forget to follow me on Twitter if you want! And don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel, which I'm currently working on a few videos for!
Limbo's a game that's been out for a while now, on virtually every system, and is one of the most critically-acclaimed games of the last few years. I just finished my first playthough recently, and somehow, have learned almost nothing about the game in the years following its release. Therefore, I decided it would be a perfect game to review, as I had no real pre-conceived notions of the game; just that it's supposed to be very good. Note: The version played for this review was played on the Playstation 3.
Warning: Spoilers for a game released 6 years ago follow.
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Limbo is a deceptively simple game. If you just looked at screenshots and videos of it, it would appear that you would get everything the game has to offer; a platformer with a monochromatic color scheme. However, once you play the game, you realize it's so much more than that.
Limbo doesn't offer much in the story department. Once you start the game, you're just dropped in the middle of this world. You play as a young boy in the middle of the forest. You're not given any instructions or context, and therefore you just continue on. The world slowly becomes more and more hellish, with various obstacles in your path, may of whom are lethal. You have no one to help you in this world, and the brief glimmers of hope are sparse. You're all alone, and you have to rely on your wits to survive.
NOPE
While the game has many platforming elements, Limbo is much more of a puzzle game. This isn't a Mario platformer you'll be playing. Jumps are short and floaty, and most times when crossing a gap you'll just barely make the edge. You have no way of directly killing those that oppose you, so you have to be creative. And the game is creative. The puzzles in this game are all just great. They're quite inventive, and while many in a certain area share similar elements, no puzzles are quite the same. Take a puzzle from relatively early on in the game, for example. While running through the forest, you come across a giant spider, just waiting in the trees. Try to approach it, and it strikes with one of its legs, with the goal of impaling you. Before you reach the spider, you notice a bear trap sitting on a branch. Obviously the trap is necessary to get through, but how do you get the trap in the first place? The answer is quite brilliant, honestly. While avoiding getting struck, walk close enough to the spider to let it slam its leg onto the ground. Do this a few more times, and the trap will fall, where you will have to repeat the same process, this time with the bear trap positioned so the spider's leg will get caught in it.
This game is hauntingly beautiful
This puzzle is pretty indicative of the game as a whole. This ins't a very difficult game, but it's not an easy one, either. It requires a lot of thinking, and many puzzles take some time to get through. This game doesn't spell out how to solve the puzzles, but the elements to solve it will be laid out, and once you figure out how it all comes together, it's a real "a-ha!" moment. I may have gotten a little frustrated a few times while playing it, but it never caused me to quit, and I it consequently ended in a "duh!" from me. I don't know if I would necessarily use the term "trial-and-error" to describe the game, as that generally implicates a negative tone, but I did die a lot. So if you somehow haven't played this game before, be prepared to die a lot.
This game is gorgeous. While the graphics certainly look nice, it's the art direction for me that I remember most. The monochromatic look is just so striking, it is one of the most visually distinct games I've played. The game also makes an amazing use of depth of field. With things in the background and foreground having less focus than your protagonist and the world he interacts with. This game also uses light beautifully. With the (few) shines of light just standing out from everything else. It may not have the best graphics in a video game, but it's certainly one of the prettiest games I've played. And this is a game from 2010!
This game really makes you think
I do have one minor complaint, and though it's noted above, be warned that this paragraph will include mild spoilers. There's these slug-like things that periodically show up in the game, and land on your head. When they do, they control you body, forcing you to move in one direction without your input. The only things you can do is control the speed at which you're moving, and jump. The direction can only be changed only by touching a light source, and only a certain creature can remove them for you. I was alright when it first happened, but it started to irritate me a bit when it happened again, especially at a crucial point in the game. I can get why they included it when they did, but it just felt cheap to me, and a way to just prolong the game.
Besides that, I don't have much other complaints; some minor quibbles, but nothing major enough to note in this review. Limbo's a short game, taking me about a few hours to finish (note: I did not play in one sitting, due to time circumstances), but it's a rewarding one. I thought the ending was very powerful (even though the last puzzle of the game may have been the hardest for me to get through). The fact that this was developer Playdead's first game is mind-boggling. A studio's first outing being this polished is almost unheard of, but they just nailed this game. With only one game, Playdead has established themselves as a studio to watch, and if every game they make is as memorable as Limbo, that I can't wait to see what else they have in store.
WARNING: SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST TWO ISSUES OF STEVE ROGERS, CAPTAIN AMERICA FOLLOW
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Despite recently starring in a film grossing over $1 billion, Captain America has been quite the controversial figure lately. In the Marvel comic book universe (not related to the MCU), Steve Rogers was at one point aged rapidly to match his biological age of over 90, leading him to step down from the Captain America mantle and passing it down to Sam Wilson, formerly known as Falcon.
Recent events, however, have had Steve restored to the peak of his physical fitness, and in turn him taking the mantle of Cap back up, along with Sam; new shield and all. As such, he was given his own solo series once again, with Steve Rogers, Captain America #1 being released last month (Just in time for Civil War!). Sounds great, right? One of Marvel's star characters, getting a new series! What could go wrong?
A lot, apparently.
If you've been on the internet at all in the last month or so, there's a good chance you've at least heard of this story. If not, here's what happened. The end of Steve Rogers, Captain America #1 ended with what may be the most controversial comics panel in years.
(Property of Marvel comics)
Yes, that is Captain America saying the words "Hail Hydra". The issue revealed that Cap has supposedly been a double agent for Hydra since his childhood, before World War II, before he ended up in present-day. Of course this was controversial, that's not the problem here. Cap has been battling Hydra for 75 years, so to expect a reveal about him actually working for them to be without controversy would be absurd. However, it is the scope of this controversy that I take issue with.
First off, Cap being Hydra does not, I repeat, does NOTmake him a Nazi. While the connection in the films may be a little closer, Marvel has made it very clear that in the comics, while Hydra did work with the Nazis, they were two completely separate organizations. Hydra has a very complicated history, which you can read about here, if you chose to do so. The point is, the claim that this story, and Cap himself, being anti-semitic are just not true, and quite frankly, disrespectful. You may not agree with a story, but to claim that Captain America is now anti-semitic? That's where I find an issue.
One of Cap's most famous moments (Property of Marvel comics)
The outcry didn't stop there, though. Some people vowed to boycott Marvel. Petitions to Marvel were created. Some people even had the bring idea to BURN their issues, while filming themselves doing it. Why? I don't know. I guess to make a point? Marvel got your money anyway, so I'm not sure what kind of point that is. Long story short, people weren't happy about this, and demanded Marvel to fix this. Which, they did.
Well, sort of. This is all very recent, so you may not know about it yet. Turns out that Captain America never was a Hydra agent all along. To make full sense of this, let's go back to the aging, and subsequent de-aging, of Steve Rogers. You see, his de-aging was accomplished by an entity known as Kobik, who is the personification of Cosmic Cube fragments in the form of a little girl. If you would like to know more about what this "Cosmic Cube" is, click here. The main thing you need to know, though, is that the Cube has reality-altering powers (if you've seen The Avengers, then you know about the Cosmic Cube, but in that film it's known as the Tessarect). Turns out, when Kobik was reverting Steve back to his prime, she was actually under the control of Red Skull, a high-ranking member of Hydra who is one of Cap's biggest enemies. (Okay, so it wasn't actually Red Skull, but a clone; you get the idea.). So while Cap was in fact reverted back to his prime, due to Red Skull's meddling he was also given new memories. FALSE memories. Memories of him being part of Hydra since childhood. So Cap wasn't an agent of Hydra in the end after all. Problem solved, right? Not so fast.
Kobik, and the Cosmic Cube (property of Marvel Comics)
Obviously, this was also a huge deal. Various news outlets reported on this "twist on a twist". Most famously, Paste Magezine posted an article headlined "Marvel Backtracks on Captain America Revelation After Just One Issue", which can be read here (note: they have since updated the article, and published a response to it). The article seemed to imply that this story decision was made in response to the backlash. While I have no doubt that Paste didn't actually think that was the case, the wording made it appear so. The problem is, some people actually do believe that's what happened. That Marvel saw the response, and subsequently changed their story. Obviously if you know anything about how comics work, you know this couldn't be farther from the truth. There's so many moving parts involved with making a comic, especially one from a company as huge as Marvel. Writing, inking, coloring, etc., there's just so much work involved that it's impossible for Marvel to backtrack and change their plans in that short of a timeframe. The process is so rapid and intricate that the minds behind the storylines have to have their arcs planned out very far in advance, in most cases months.
But that's just part of the problem. I take issue with the whole overreaction with this whole situation. The backlash, petitions, burnings, they all stem from an issue that I've seen become more and more prevalent in pop culture: the issue of immediate gratification. More and more consumers of media are wanting immediate payoff, and not willing to wait for it. We live in an era of binge-watching, leaks, and people looking up spoilers for things they have yet to see. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not condemning these. I'm just saying that the rise of the internet has allowed us to be immediately rewarded in various forms of media. It's now possible to watch an entire 13-episode season over the course of a weekend, when previously the only choice was to wait over a period of months to see how a season would play out. I'm not saying that one is better than the other, just that there's something special about seeing one part of a story, and discussing it with others until the next piece of the puzzle is revealed, with the cycle continuing until the story ultimately reaching its finale. During this period, you have the ability to come up with your own theories, reflect upon what's happened previously, and just wait to see how everything plays out. Obviously binge watching completely eliminates that. Sure, you can discuss the events of the season with your friends once they all finish watching, but watching an entire story play out in one sitting severely limits its discussion possibilities, and in my opinion, lessens the impact of the end. There is just something so gratifying about waiting weeks, months, for a storyline to pay off, and when it finally comes, it feels like an accomplishment. Obviously if the ending is disappointing, or not exactly what you wanted, it can feel like you wasted all that time, but if it turns into something you love, the experience is just that much more rewarding.
One of my favorite part of Game of Thrones is seeing everyone discussing their own thoughts & theories (Property of HBO)
Like I mentioned in the previous paragraph, we also live in an era where leaks and spoilers are readily available to anyone who searches for them. I would be lying if I said if I've never done it myself. Sometimes my curiosity just gets the best of me. But there's also something to be said about going in completely, or at least partially blind, and seeing something fully play out in front of you. Last December's Star Wars: The Force Awakens was famously quiet with its marketing, revealing almost nothing about the film's plot at all prior to the film's release; they didn't even have any of the characters talk until the films third trailer (save for one line from Harrison Ford)! Since it's marketing was so sparse, I decided to follow suit, and avoid all spoilers related to it. I even avoided reading any reviews prior to me seeing it; I didn't want any preconceived notions in my head going in to the film, and let me tell you, it made the experience that much more enjoyable. Now, I am someone who firmly believes that spoilers do not ruin your experience, as I believe it's more about the journey than the destination. However, it does make that journey all the more exciting if you don't know what that journey is. Let's take this year's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, a film which I actually didn't like at all. However, that film (in?)famously revealed it's third act in one of its trailers, showcasing that Doomsday (who had never been announced as appearing in the film prior to this) is the threat that unites Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. To be quite honest, I didn't find the final battle very exciting, save for Wonder Woman's appearance, but still, imagine watching the film, and then seeing Doomsday show up, when you never before knew he would. I feel like that would've added a jolt of excitement to what was otherwise a pretty (in my opinion) underwhelming final battle. It could've helped a lot.
Oh how I wish WB held off on this reveal (Property of Warner Bros.)
Obviously it's too late to change how this Captain America fiasco played out. However, I really wish it played out differently. It just disappoints me that so many people were unwilling to wait and see how this storyline would play out, and wanted a fix to it immediately. Let's all be real here, everyone knew that Captain America wouldn't stay a Hydra agent. That's just not feasible. Someway, somehow, this would be a plot point that would then end, and just be another footnote in Cap's long comics history. The last few years have really been a period of change for Marvel's pillar characters. We've seen a Africa-American Captain America (who can fly!), a female Thor (who's dying of cancer), and a Korean-American Hulk. These are characters who have been around for decades; obviously it's necessary to change things up every now and then to keep things interesting. I see Captain America being part of Hydra as an example of that. When this was revealed, I was willing to wait and see how the story would play out, as I knew that Marvel had a plan. They weren't going to keep one of their star characters evil, but obviously many weren't willing to wait, they wanted answers now, and the fact that so many weren't willing to wait just makes me sad.
There was plenty of outcry when Marvel made huge changes to some of its most iconic characters (Property of Marvel)
I really hope this doesn't come off as angry or dismissive, but this is just something I'm very passionate about. Steve Rogers is super important to me (I plan on getting a tattoo of his famous symbol soon), and I just can't stand to see so many dragging him down. Steve has taught me to always do the right thing, and stick to what I believe in, no matter what. Plus, I'm a huge proponent of long-form storytelling, so people demanding immediate gratification without patience upsets me. Just like cable TV, it's possible to wait and see for the end result of a storyline, we just need to be a little more patient.
Captain America will always be one of my biggest inspirations (Property of Marvel)
Got any opinions of your own on this topic? Leave a comment! All feedback is appreciated. If you want to see me less angry, check out my Twitter. And if you want to see pictures of my life for some reason, I'm also on Instagram too.
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.
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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.
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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!
