I finished 55 video games this year. Here are my favorites.
5. The Unfinished Swan (PS3)
Breathtaking and majestic, The Unfinished Swan has perhaps the most wonderful opening I have ever played. It truly blurs the distinction between art and video games. I would try and describe it if I thought I could do it justice, but the magic would certainly be lost.
4. Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS)
Easily the best turn-based strategy series, Fire Emblem games are always full of exciting stories and memorable characters. Awakening, while not the best in the series, does much to move the games forward, adding a fun time-travel twist to an otherwise typical plot. The challenging gameplay and character interactions are what makes Fire Emblem: Awakening great.
3. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (PS3)
Anime-style graphics and a magnificent score result in one of the most beautiful games I’ve ever experienced. Ni No Kuni succeeds at being both emotional and care-free, resulting in a game that is as timeless as it is wonderful.
2. Persona 4 Golden (PS Vita)
Describing this JRPG as part high school simulator and part dungeon crawler may seem off-putting to even the most hardcore gamer. But I found this to be one of the most rewarding and satisfying RPG’s I’ve played since the days of the SNES. The characters are fun, the plot is immersive, the battle system is rewarding, and the soundtrack is a delicious J-pop/rock score.
1. Dark Souls (PS3)
The problem with most video games is that there is rarely ever anything at stake. Dark Souls is one of the few games that requires players to be immensely cautious, treating every enemy encounter seriously. An ill-timed sword swing could result in the player’s demise, sending him back to the beginning of the area without any of the precious points he accumulated along the way. It may appear unforgiving, but this action RPG is always fair, and yields immense satisfaction to any player willing to learn the rules. This is one of the few titles where I literally felt myself tingling with adrenaline and anticipation, wondering what traps and creatures might lurk around the next corner.
5. The Unfinished Swan (PS3)
Breathtaking and majestic, The Unfinished Swan has perhaps the most wonderful opening I have ever played. It truly blurs the distinction between art and video games. I would try and describe it if I thought I could do it justice, but the magic would certainly be lost.
4. Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS)
Easily the best turn-based strategy series, Fire Emblem games are always full of exciting stories and memorable characters. Awakening, while not the best in the series, does much to move the games forward, adding a fun time-travel twist to an otherwise typical plot. The challenging gameplay and character interactions are what makes Fire Emblem: Awakening great.
3. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (PS3)
Anime-style graphics and a magnificent score result in one of the most beautiful games I’ve ever experienced. Ni No Kuni succeeds at being both emotional and care-free, resulting in a game that is as timeless as it is wonderful.
2. Persona 4 Golden (PS Vita)
Describing this JRPG as part high school simulator and part dungeon crawler may seem off-putting to even the most hardcore gamer. But I found this to be one of the most rewarding and satisfying RPG’s I’ve played since the days of the SNES. The characters are fun, the plot is immersive, the battle system is rewarding, and the soundtrack is a delicious J-pop/rock score.
1. Dark Souls (PS3)
The problem with most video games is that there is rarely ever anything at stake. Dark Souls is one of the few games that requires players to be immensely cautious, treating every enemy encounter seriously. An ill-timed sword swing could result in the player’s demise, sending him back to the beginning of the area without any of the precious points he accumulated along the way. It may appear unforgiving, but this action RPG is always fair, and yields immense satisfaction to any player willing to learn the rules. This is one of the few titles where I literally felt myself tingling with adrenaline and anticipation, wondering what traps and creatures might lurk around the next corner.