I usually don't care for "top __" lists, but I thought this would be fun. So what are your top 5 favorite video games? I'll start:
5. The Last of Us
I think there are several games I could have put here, and I bet if you ask me next week it'll be something else, lol (runners-up include Star Fox 64, Persona 3, Chrono Trigger, and more). But The Last of Us is one of the best I've played. It's one of the several games that have come out in the last few years that have made it into my hall of fame. Almost everything about it is great. The scenarios are actually suspenseful (even if some of them were ripped straight from other zombie/post-apocalyptic fiction) and there are multiple ways to tackle each area. The story was simple but I got so attached to the characters, and just knowing what kind of world they live in was painful in itself. I just wanted them to have a happy life. I also liked the way it called human morality into question ("what are we capable of once society falls apart?") and how it didn't shirk some of the more difficult topics but also didn't glorify killing and violence.
4. Ocarina of Time
Yeah, it's an obvious choice, but there's just so much right about this game. The way it tells its story without even using dialogue sometimes is just perfect - the way the characters move, their expressions, all of it's just wonderful. And it's just a beautiful "coming of age" story, even though most people already know all the plot twists. Plus there were so many cool moments that stuck out to me, like getting sucked into Jabu-Jabu, drawing the Master Sword for the first time, finding Saria and learning her song. I always liked how this game (and other Zelda games) let you play an instrument in the game, and how that instrument is actually integral to the story instead of... just being there I guess. I actually think Wind Waker is just about as good as Ocarina, and if you asked me a few years ago I would have said Wind Waker was better without hesitation. But the more time goes by and the more I look back and the more I replay Ocarina, the more I like it.
3. Okami
The Legend of Zelda is my favorite video game series of all time, and Okami was always that game that - to me - "out Zelda-ed" Zelda. Unlike lot of Zelda games, Okami has you using most of your abilities for most of the game, instead of just the area where you got them. Also the entire concept is just cool, since you play as a god who creates stuff by drawing it on the screen. I like how all the characters in the game - major ones, minor ones, even bosses, and heck even minor enemies! - have a ton of personality and the art style and animations go a long way in conveying it. I appreciate a game that takes time to be silly and can put a smile on your face while also telling a good story. The only thing I didn't like about the game was that the very beginning kinda blows. I almost stopped playing at the super boring intro sections where you get your initial powers and have to make all those trees bloom. And actually I did put the game down for some time, but in the end I powered through it and I'm glad about that cause after those opening parts the game turns gold and stays gold.
2. The World Ends With You (yes, really)
This is one of the best Square games in my opinion. I loved how it tried so many different and unusual things and succeeded with nearly all of them. All the gameplay aspects were super fun. The battles seem pretty wack at first, but once you learn how to play better they become really satisfying and there's a ton you can do with all the different possible pin combinations. I loved all the stupid stuff people would think when you'd read their minds and how you could read the minds of the shop clerks, lol. I loved how there were different clothing brands and how the brands you wore affected the game's other systems. I loved the story (one of the few "survival game" stories I actually like) and how the game actually did quite a good job of revealing things at a nice pace. You didn't get all the information at once, but you were constantly learning more too. The characters were eccentric, which I'm a fan of, and the designs and other visuals were cool (love Nomura).
So there you go. I guess that's my top 5. I think it's pretty obvious that I enjoy games with a good story, great music (I didn't mention it, but all the games that I'd consider my favorites, even ones not on this list, have awesome music), and a good sense of humor or at least some lighthearted moments.
What are you guys' favorite games? Feel free to fanboy out as much as I did write a little bit like I did, or you can just make a list, or you can... just do whatever.
5. The Last of Us
I think there are several games I could have put here, and I bet if you ask me next week it'll be something else, lol (runners-up include Star Fox 64, Persona 3, Chrono Trigger, and more). But The Last of Us is one of the best I've played. It's one of the several games that have come out in the last few years that have made it into my hall of fame. Almost everything about it is great. The scenarios are actually suspenseful (even if some of them were ripped straight from other zombie/post-apocalyptic fiction) and there are multiple ways to tackle each area. The story was simple but I got so attached to the characters, and just knowing what kind of world they live in was painful in itself. I just wanted them to have a happy life. I also liked the way it called human morality into question ("what are we capable of once society falls apart?") and how it didn't shirk some of the more difficult topics but also didn't glorify killing and violence.
4. Ocarina of Time
Yeah, it's an obvious choice, but there's just so much right about this game. The way it tells its story without even using dialogue sometimes is just perfect - the way the characters move, their expressions, all of it's just wonderful. And it's just a beautiful "coming of age" story, even though most people already know all the plot twists. Plus there were so many cool moments that stuck out to me, like getting sucked into Jabu-Jabu, drawing the Master Sword for the first time, finding Saria and learning her song. I always liked how this game (and other Zelda games) let you play an instrument in the game, and how that instrument is actually integral to the story instead of... just being there I guess. I actually think Wind Waker is just about as good as Ocarina, and if you asked me a few years ago I would have said Wind Waker was better without hesitation. But the more time goes by and the more I look back and the more I replay Ocarina, the more I like it.
3. Okami
The Legend of Zelda is my favorite video game series of all time, and Okami was always that game that - to me - "out Zelda-ed" Zelda. Unlike lot of Zelda games, Okami has you using most of your abilities for most of the game, instead of just the area where you got them. Also the entire concept is just cool, since you play as a god who creates stuff by drawing it on the screen. I like how all the characters in the game - major ones, minor ones, even bosses, and heck even minor enemies! - have a ton of personality and the art style and animations go a long way in conveying it. I appreciate a game that takes time to be silly and can put a smile on your face while also telling a good story. The only thing I didn't like about the game was that the very beginning kinda blows. I almost stopped playing at the super boring intro sections where you get your initial powers and have to make all those trees bloom. And actually I did put the game down for some time, but in the end I powered through it and I'm glad about that cause after those opening parts the game turns gold and stays gold.
2. The World Ends With You (yes, really)
This is one of the best Square games in my opinion. I loved how it tried so many different and unusual things and succeeded with nearly all of them. All the gameplay aspects were super fun. The battles seem pretty wack at first, but once you learn how to play better they become really satisfying and there's a ton you can do with all the different possible pin combinations. I loved all the stupid stuff people would think when you'd read their minds and how you could read the minds of the shop clerks, lol. I loved how there were different clothing brands and how the brands you wore affected the game's other systems. I loved the story (one of the few "survival game" stories I actually like) and how the game actually did quite a good job of revealing things at a nice pace. You didn't get all the information at once, but you were constantly learning more too. The characters were eccentric, which I'm a fan of, and the designs and other visuals were cool (love Nomura).
1. Xenogears
My favorite game of all time. I have never played or heard of any other game with a story as good as Xenogears', and I doubt I ever will. The plot never slows down, never gets boring, never lets up. It constantly introduces cool characters, awesome plot points, secrets about the world and the characters and their history one after another. It's absolutely bonkers in the best possible way. I'll be the first to admit that the gameplay isn't really that great - it's basically a worse Final Fantasy (though the Gear battles are pretty fun), but I was ok with that because (a) I wanted to keep the story moving cause it was that good and (b) there were many cool situations like the sinking sand ship, the tournaments, etc. And I liked disc 2 btw.
My favorite game of all time. I have never played or heard of any other game with a story as good as Xenogears', and I doubt I ever will. The plot never slows down, never gets boring, never lets up. It constantly introduces cool characters, awesome plot points, secrets about the world and the characters and their history one after another. It's absolutely bonkers in the best possible way. I'll be the first to admit that the gameplay isn't really that great - it's basically a worse Final Fantasy (though the Gear battles are pretty fun), but I was ok with that because (a) I wanted to keep the story moving cause it was that good and (b) there were many cool situations like the sinking sand ship, the tournaments, etc. And I liked disc 2 btw.
So there you go. I guess that's my top 5. I think it's pretty obvious that I enjoy games with a good story, great music (I didn't mention it, but all the games that I'd consider my favorites, even ones not on this list, have awesome music), and a good sense of humor or at least some lighthearted moments.
What are you guys' favorite games? Feel free to fanboy out as much as I did write a little bit like I did, or you can just make a list, or you can... just do whatever.
Likes:
Storm and Sgtsarge
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