FFXIVCore.com - Final Fantasy XIV Fansite: Sickel's Top 10 Video Game Countdown - FFXIVCore.com - Final Fantasy XIV Fansite

I usually try to maintain my blog as a series of speculations, thoughts, and suggestions for FFXIV, and today is no different... well, kind of. Today, I'd like to trace back through the past 15 years and take a look at my top 10 most memorable video gaming experiences. Please note, the keyword in that last sentence was "my" video game experiences. I'm not here to shove anything down your throat, and I'd find it quite scary if you agreed with me 100%. Don't expect this to be an ultimate list on the most well-crafted video games of all time, but more of a quickly put together list. I'm sure after posting this I'll say, "oh shoot, I forgot about that game!" Anyway, I'll be going through each game briefly, giving reasons as to why it made the list in the first place, and finally concluding with some thoughts on how this all relates to FFXIV. Afterward, I'll be over in that corner with a flame-resistant shield and some troll-be-gone.

10. Halo 2



Yikes, what a way to start off a list, right? I know, I know, the Halo series is not the greatest FPS series to ever grace the planet. Heck, if you ask me, the storyline for Halo 2 was unbearably boring, but, well, it was one of the first FPS games I had played online. After talking with a friend about the game, we were sure that we'd be able to easily topple over any foe we encountered, and... well, let's just say the fairytale didn't end quite as pleasantly as we had hoped. I managed to become a much greater player during the experience though, even joining a "clan" for a short time. I would rank this game as superior to Halo 3 if only for the outstanding level designs, and the fact that for whatever reason, I could snipe so much better in this game than in Halo 3. The reason this game made it on the list is that it's an easily accessible, but addictive game, with loads of fun times jammed in.


9. Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2



OK, OK, let's be honest. This game's storyline is kind of crazy. And by kind of, I mean it is. The co-op gameplay is also a let down, and truly, it's not all too much different from any other hack and slash games that are out there. Well, barring two aspects of the game. The first is the incredible range of difficulty offered to players - from a somewhat easier option to an incredibly difficult challenge. The second, and more influential reason to me is the enjoyable characters. The game goes way over the top in every regard, making flashy ninjutsu, physically impossible maneuvers, and beyond exaggerated proportional characters a norm. Plus, it's got one of my favorite video game characters of all time, Ayane, as a playable character, if only for a few brief levels. What I wouldn't do to... see Techmo release a similar game featuring just her! :D What?



8. Xenosaga Episode 1: Der Wille zur Macht

From here on, you'll notice a repeating theme between all of the games: they all feature great stories. Xenosaga is no exception, pulling the player in through both beautifully rendered cut scenes, enjoyable characters, and its inclusion of many fantasy elements including mechs, and high tech immersive factors. The sound track has a few memorable, and many more less memorable pieces, but I remember it more for its ability to draw me into each character. There are also a number of side quests and storylines to follow and complete, which is always an added bonus.



7. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

MGS2 is remembered as a brilliant game not only because it is a great shooter, but also because it encourages one to always consider stealth and espionage, while factoring in a fantastic, albeit strange, storyline. While I found playing as Snake much more enjoyable, Raiden did begin to grow on me throughout the story. Another more unique point to the game, especially for its genre, is that it features unique and creative boss encounters, with powerful music and cut scenes to back it all up.



6. Final Fantasy X



Where to begin with this epic game? Final Fantasy X truly did have it all, in a sense. A great soundtrack (except, of course, that final boss battle... what the!?), easily distinguishable and enjoyable characters (well... I'll just pretend Wakka was another oops :P), and a developing love story (even with the corny laughing scene). The game featured an exciting battle scheme, incredible cut scenes, the return of summons, who, by the way, were earned through fun quests, a great soundtrack, and one of my favorite leveling systems, the sphere grid. To top it all off, the game had dozens and dozens of side quests, including the all too annoying ultimate weapon quests (Tidus' weapon was the worst!), and an enjoyable mini-game called Blitzball that SE probably could have sold as its own game.



5. Final Fantasy VIII



Wait, FFVIII is higher on the list than FFX? Well, yeah. Why? It's hard to explain, I guess. I didn't enjoy the junction system nearly as much as the grid sphere, I didn't quite enjoy all of the characters as much as FFX, and while the music had many many great tracks to it, there were also many "eh" tracks. I think the reason I consider FFVIII to be one of the best in the series is that it featured so much of everything. The story, spanning four discs, left an impression on the player unlike anything else, or at least in my case it did. I felt that I could relate to the characters, and they were somehow much more believable than those in either FFVII or FFIX. While many criticize Squall, I feel that he developed over the process of the game, and, call me crazy, but I really enjoyed the main villain. The game was just filled with summons, or, Guardian Forces. I think most importantly, it was my first venture into the final fantasy series, and one which I thoroughly enjoyed. What is most important to me about the game is that I still have a sense of nostalgia for it - sometimes I'll listen to a few tracks from the OST, and I've even got a saved file right before the final boss which I have played through at least 30 or 40+ times now... maybe more. For me, FFVIII and FFX are incredibly close to each other, but for whatever reason, FFVIII seems to be just a bit better. ;p



Mystical Ninja: Starring Goemon



Huh!? Where'd this come from!? Mystical Ninja is definitely one of the most underrated and unheard of games of its time. The game can be summed up in one word: creative. The storyline is crazy, funny, and enjoyable at once, launching the player into a quest to save Japan. The characters are simple and enjoyable, growing through many upgrades and easter eggs hidden among the game's environments, and the player is able to switch between any of the four main characters at a whim. The game features a bit of back-tracking, but in a pleasant sense--you will be able to unlock upgrades that allow you to access areas you couldn't previously reach. The game also features some moments where players get to take control of a giant robot called "Impact," entering into some hectic and challenging duels. Yet above all else, what makes this game a gem and truly memorable is the outstanding OST, one of the best of any single video game, in my opinion.



So... want to know the rest? Do you!? Well too bad! I'll finish up with the top 3 in my next blog, along with a re-cap on how this has any sort of relevance to FFXIV. Until then... enjoy this list!