List your all time favorite game, and explain *why*
Note that I explicitly said "all time favorite", leaving no room for more than one game. So choose carefully.
For me, it's...
Final Fantasy VI
Easily my all time favorite game, even to this day.
I admit, part of the reason I like this game so much could well be, and
in fact, probably is, simple nostalgia. However, I can happily say that
there's much more to it than that. I shall do my best to elaborate on
other, more objective reasons. By far the greatest reason that I
appreciate this elegant masterpiece so much is the story. It's very
immersing in practically all aspects. Given that there are a whopping 14
playable characters in the game (excluding those who only briefly join
your party for story purposes), there is a wide diversity amongst them,
as well as intense character development. Almost all these 14 characters
have at least SOME kind of backstory, most of them quite elaborate and
explicit.
Other marvelous features of this game include quite
possibly the greatest soundtrack I've ever had the pleasure of
experiencing in a video game before. Trust me, that's saying a lot (and
yes, I'm trying to be as objective as possible -- I'm not simply saying
this due to the nostalgic value this game provides, or out of some form
of bias), considering how many games I've played over my years as a
gamer. Quite a bit of the music in this game ignites a wide variety of
different but equally powerful emotions within me. In fact, I don't
think there's even ONE piece of music in this game that I didn't like.
Again, that speaks a lot as to the authenticity of this great game.
Additionally,
graphics, for their time, were quite beautiful. My only real complaint
is that the environment could have used a bit of work. There are a lot
of palette swaps, be that in the form of towns, cities, dungeons, or
monsters. Most areas look the same, just slightly rehashed to resemble a
new area.
I also liked how there were two worlds, and the
villain was absolutely insane. You can't really go wrong with psychotic
villains/characters.
The game's biggest flaw, by far, is the very
meager difficulty. In fact, most enemies are stronger than bosses, and
will actually, in most cases, require more planning. The game can easily
be abused relatively early on. As a result, a lot of your characters
quickly become overpowered (mostly after the start of the second half of
the game). This makes an already easy game easier. Disappointingly so.
Then
there's the Esper system. Basically, Espers are magical stones that
contain summons, what FF games are notorious for. Espers also teach your
characters (with the exception of Gogo and Umaro, two optional
characters gotten in the second half of the game) spells. Finally, some
of them also offer level up bonuses (for example, +1 to Speed upon level
up). In order to gain all three of these benefits (summoning, spells,
and level bonuses), you need to equip them on a given party member
(spells can be gained by getting the required magic points, which
themselves can be gotten by simply battling). Now, the Esper system
could have been cool, but the summons are useless in most cases. More
importantly, the level up bonuses aren't merely a one time thing; a
character could theoretically have an Esper equipped, for an indefinite
period of time, gain thirty levels, and receive thirty level up boosts
on that one Esper. This makes it so that the characters (again, with the
exception of Umaro, Gogo, and possibly Gau, though to a lesser extent)
lose their uniqueness.
All in all though, this is a good game,
and I highly recommend it to anyone, even if they've never played a JRPG
or an FF game before.
For me, it's...
Final Fantasy VI
Easily my all time favorite game, even to this day.
I admit, part of the reason I like this game so much could well be, and
in fact, probably is, simple nostalgia. However, I can happily say that
there's much more to it than that. I shall do my best to elaborate on
other, more objective reasons. By far the greatest reason that I
appreciate this elegant masterpiece so much is the story. It's very
immersing in practically all aspects. Given that there are a whopping 14
playable characters in the game (excluding those who only briefly join
your party for story purposes), there is a wide diversity amongst them,
as well as intense character development. Almost all these 14 characters
have at least SOME kind of backstory, most of them quite elaborate and
explicit.
Other marvelous features of this game include quite
possibly the greatest soundtrack I've ever had the pleasure of
experiencing in a video game before. Trust me, that's saying a lot (and
yes, I'm trying to be as objective as possible -- I'm not simply saying
this due to the nostalgic value this game provides, or out of some form
of bias), considering how many games I've played over my years as a
gamer. Quite a bit of the music in this game ignites a wide variety of
different but equally powerful emotions within me. In fact, I don't
think there's even ONE piece of music in this game that I didn't like.
Again, that speaks a lot as to the authenticity of this great game.
Additionally,
graphics, for their time, were quite beautiful. My only real complaint
is that the environment could have used a bit of work. There are a lot
of palette swaps, be that in the form of towns, cities, dungeons, or
monsters. Most areas look the same, just slightly rehashed to resemble a
new area.
I also liked how there were two worlds, and the
villain was absolutely insane. You can't really go wrong with psychotic
villains/characters.
The game's biggest flaw, by far, is the very
meager difficulty. In fact, most enemies are stronger than bosses, and
will actually, in most cases, require more planning. The game can easily
be abused relatively early on. As a result, a lot of your characters
quickly become overpowered (mostly after the start of the second half of
the game). This makes an already easy game easier. Disappointingly so.
Then
there's the Esper system. Basically, Espers are magical stones that
contain summons, what FF games are notorious for. Espers also teach your
characters (with the exception of Gogo and Umaro, two optional
characters gotten in the second half of the game) spells. Finally, some
of them also offer level up bonuses (for example, +1 to Speed upon level
up). In order to gain all three of these benefits (summoning, spells,
and level bonuses), you need to equip them on a given party member
(spells can be gained by getting the required magic points, which
themselves can be gotten by simply battling). Now, the Esper system
could have been cool, but the summons are useless in most cases. More
importantly, the level up bonuses aren't merely a one time thing; a
character could theoretically have an Esper equipped, for an indefinite
period of time, gain thirty levels, and receive thirty level up boosts
on that one Esper. This makes it so that the characters (again, with the
exception of Umaro, Gogo, and possibly Gau, though to a lesser extent)
lose their uniqueness.
All in all though, this is a good game,
and I highly recommend it to anyone, even if they've never played a JRPG
or an FF game before.
Comments
why because it kicks ass from 1998 - on. i still play this online w the elite few who still haven't given up old memories. not much more to explain on why it's so good. it's late...
super mario 3. infinite replayability, great level design, secret power ups, and a ton of fun. the classic of classics.
Aye. I must say, this too, is a remarkable game.
Super Mario World, my favorite of the mario games and helped get me through Jr. High school.
Hmm?
I'd have to say Chrono Trigger is my top favorite though. To me it's one of the best stories told in the 16-bit era. The Characters were great. The graphics were absolutely amazing for its day, and I'm just a sucker for a good time travel tale. It stands as one of the few RPG's I've beaten multiple times.
The only real negative for me is that Lavos was such an unimaginative puss of a last boss. For such an epic game I thought the mutant space duck inside of Cell's torso, inside of a giant Godzilla tick was sort of lame. He wasn't nearly as disappointing as Yami from Okami though.
Kefka is a super bad ass and could mop the floor with Sephiroth any day. Just had to throw that in.
OH NO YOU DIDN'T
The controls are solid, the music is unbelievable, the characters are quite memorable for an NES game, and its hack n slash fun adds replay value to an RPG, and the graphics are pretty nifty too.
The music has to be the best part of this game. I put it above any other NES title. Thank you Yoko O., whoever and wherever you are!
Kefka is a super bad ass and could mop the floor with Sephiroth any day. Just had to throw that in.
OH NO YOU DIDN'T
Oh yeah. He's got him beat at least on the pure evil factor. Not to mention he actually succeeds in defeating the heroes, taking over the world and twisting it to his will. Plus he's not completely hung up on his mommy. Really I just like Kefka because he's evil for the sake of evil and not as the result of any kind of outside pressure, emotional damage etc. He just likes it. It makes him a cooler villain in my book.
Crystalis. NES version only.
The controls are solid, the music is unbelievable, the characters are quite memorable for an NES game, and its hack n slash fun adds replay value to an RPG, and the graphics are pretty nifty too.
The music has to be the best part of this game. I put it above any other NES title. Thank you Yoko O., whoever and wherever you are!
Hell yes. I have some fond memories of that game.
Final Doom for the PS1 is definitely up there for me. Such a fucking sick game....I prefer the far-superior PC version but it feels good to just take breaks from the computer and fire up the old PS1 mini. Doom I, II and all the expansions are just so badass and innovative, there's really not a lot you can elaborate on why they are so amazing
I loved the PS1 versions of Doom and Final Doom. I loved the ambient lighting that they added and I loved the creepy atmospheric background noises even though the original music kicked major ass.
Final Doom for the PS1 is definitely up there for me. Such a fucking sick game....I prefer the far-superior PC version but it feels good to just take breaks from the computer and fire up the old PS1 mini. Doom I, II and all the expansions are just so badass and innovative, there's really not a lot you can elaborate on why they are so amazing
I loved the PS1 versions of Doom and Final Doom. I loved the ambient lighting that they added and I loved the creepy atmospheric background noises even though the original music kicked major ass.
Me too man. I know what you mean about the music too. Doom's new music fit the dark unsetlling quality of the games really well. Especially the new theme. The reason I prefer the PC port is cause of the better graphics and just overall larger scope of the game. It pissed me off that when they made console ports of Doom they were always forced to shave the levels down and reduce the enemies and maps and everything. Either way though Doom and Final Doom for the PS1 are great ports
It pissed me off that when they made console ports of Doom they were always forced to shave the levels down and reduce the enemies and maps and everything.
Same here. It also irked me a little that they combined Doom and Doom II (with the omission of some levels like the hidden wolfenstein level) into one long game.
The game was not only incredible, but to this day is the only thing that has brought my dysfunctional-ass family together, all of us engaged in the adventure, with a common goal. I was the pilot, but we would all solve the puzzles. I still remember "grumble grumble" giving us fits. (who buys the meat anyway?)
To this day, hearing that opening music gives me a good feeling.
Then Zelda 2 came out..... and we went back to being dysfunctional.
(haha)
I beat it quickly and it's hard to play it more than once.
There was just something about it that evoked so many emotions.
Never has a game been so breathtaking to me. Truly a masterpiece.
Street Fighter II (Arcade). This game blew me away back in '91 and it still impresses me to this day.
Yes same for me, though the Megadrive version holds more nostalgia as that's what I had it on.