Be it nostalgia or a critical analysis that makes everyone's top ten, I definitely have a mix of both in mine. If you've taken the time to read this humble collection, then be kind to let me know if you relate or object.
Perhaps it's nostalgia or perhaps it's something much more intricate. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind did something for me that no other game has.. And that's made me feel lost, and alone. It made me feel alienated from the world it threw me in. I felt as though I was clinging to life with every dungeon I delved in. But with every victory, it offered me unique spoils that would soon be put to good use. The people of Morrowind are harsh and prejudice. I had to persuade many situations, or shed blood as a last effort. And in Morrowind, no one is exempt from death. Without spoiling the story, all I can say is that you will start off as you normally do, a low life wretch. But what you strive to be later on in the game is something much greater than a Dragonborn or a Champion of Cyrodiil. You won't only find the secrets of Morrowind in this game, but you'll also find a little bit of yourself there too.
It was almost a tie between this and Ocarina Of Time, but Majora's Mask simply left the biggest impact on me. With a Zelda game that only boasts four dungeons, there sure is a lot of depth to be found here. The imagination that Nintendo put into effect is something truly memorable. I can't really put into words what makes this so special. The soundtrack? The side quests? The parallel universe? It's impending sense of doom and all else that I relish in, make this my favorite Zelda title of all time.
While I absolutely adored the first Dark Souls, and enjoyed the second, Dark Souls III is the swan song that I will always remember. It's downright beautiful. It's brutal, and often times completely frustrating, but for all the right reasons. The game is so smooth and so vividly dark that it can be almost depressing at times. There's always a sense of anxiety with every area you trespass. The bosses are wicked and often punishing. The RPG elements are subtle, but deep. And you'll understand what I'm talking about if you've followed the series. It had been a long time since I enjoyed a game this much. Finishing it was almost heartbreaking.
Some of you might be thinking this is blasphemy, but I truly enjoyed Chrono Cross more than Chrono Trigger. But, that doesn't go without saying that Chrono Trigger was a masterpiece. Chrono Cross though, was the unheard song that many players never had the chance to experience. It's a true sequel. While it's not as open ended as Trigger, it stands on it's own two feet by providing a much deeper story, more intense combat, and beautiful visuals. The soundtrack is something to behold as well. If there was a JRPG to rule them all, Chrono Cross would be the forgotten king.
I remember when my cousin introduced me to isometric RPGs when I was around thirteen years old. The concept at the time was a bit confusing for me, especially with a game like Torment. But, as soon as I got the hang of the mechanics, I fell deeply in love with richly written text and disturbingly dark world that this game had to offer. The amount of choice in this game is still unsurpassed in my opinion. There were so many different ways to approach certain situations, that you simply HAD to play this game at least twice. But even that wasn't the main attraction for me. The story, my God, the story is where the honey is. You won't find anything quite so deep and brooding as Torment. If you're an RPG fanatic and you haven't played this yet, then you're dishonoring the genre.
Ah, Albion used to be such an exhilarating place. Fable's characters were so unique and full of life. While the "RPG" mechanics were pretty lackluster, the game itself was an artistic achievement. The world was brimming with life, good and evil, so very "Black and White" *wink*. And Though the game was too short for it's own good, I always came back to give it a good speed run, or to try and discover all it's hidden secrets. I felt such an attachment to this game when it was first released. I can't quite put my finger on it, but Fable has a certain charm that you don't find in many games. That's why it ranks so high on my list, because though its shortcomings are there, the heart that this game boasts is too big to deny. Unfortunately, it's successors fell short on the amazing path they had before them. It's such a damn shame, too.
I spent more than my fair share of hours playing this game, even by myself. The combat was fast, fluid, and fun as hell. The roster of characters was also a much welcomed addition compared to the N64 release. Yes indeed, if I wasn't playing this game with friends, I was most likely playing it by myself either trying to collect all of the trophies, completing all of the events, or just hashing it out against the AI, trying to perfect my craft. And that I did, because I ended up joining local smash tournaments. And what a thrill it was to be able to play against some of my state's finest smash competitors. While only winning 1st place once out of the countless tournaments I attended, it wasn't that thrill of victory that kept me coming, it was the joy of those full house matches and watching all my fellow gamers have a blast.
That moment I set foot on Talon IV was a breath taking experience. Never had I experienced a game so immersive, lonely, and terrifying at that time. the sheer amount of depth in this game was astonishing, considering it was for the Gamecube. There was a refreshing mix of new and old additions into the game. It took everything from previous installments into the series, and threw it all into a somewhat open world first person shooter. The combat was responsive, thrilling, and very challenging at points. There's plenty of puzzles and platforming, with a wide variety of lore to be discovered via your scanner. Retro Studios really outdid themselves with this, creating one of the best first person shooters I've had the chance to play.
I've never been a big fan of the Final Fantasy series. Nor have I been able to actually enjoy and finish many of their titles. But, there is a diamond in the rough. And that my friends is 'Final Fantasy IX'. A game that truly grabbed me by the heart strings, and wouldn't let go until I had finally experienced what it had to offer. The setting truly lives up the franchise in my opinion. It's lite hearted at first glance, but the story is rich with well developed characters, and interesting plot points. Not to mention, the turn based battle system was top notch. Easily goes down as my favorite in the series. Go play it if you haven't.
Those who played the fourth installment into The Elder Scrolls series when it was first released will probably understand the love I have for this game. While Morrowind is a treasure, Oblivion was a pleasure. I spent countless hours during the summer of 2007, plundering Ayleid Ruins, pissing off imperial guards, and most importantly, enjoying many of the game's well crafted quests. And that was where my true joy in Oblivion was experienced. The majority of the quests were intriguingly written and scripted fairly well for it's time. I remember that beautiful moment I set foot into a painted world by wearing a mystical amulet. The way this game begged me to explore every corner, every skeleton infested dungeon, every hole in the ground, each of those moments were truly priceless. The game hasn't aged as well, but there's a plethora of mods available to those who own this gem on PC.
