Draza
2009
I used to hate this game, but over time I really warmed up to it. While I still dont outright love it, the characters and the combat system have grown on me, and I actually appreciate the linearity now after having seen so much open world bullshit.
I still don't like the story or the antagonists though
I still don't like the story or the antagonists though
Shelving it while I'm playing other stuff, but I'm halfway through and so far it's been a really solid game. The story is good fun and the Nemissa/Hitomi combo has a very good chemistry.
Without mods, it's not a very good RPG. The main quest is terrible, and a lot of the sidequests are simple fetch quests. Some faction questlines are pretty decent, but all of them have the problem of making you its leader in a way that feels unearned, specially when you don't have any requirements for them (you can become the Archmage without any kind of magic skills, for example). The only really positive thing I can say about this is the same one for most Bethesda games: the world is beautiful and you can get lost in it for a good while.
(Never finished X-2, this just applies to FFX)
One of the few FF I finished. Visually it's a treat, and while some of the cast can be annoying, they're generally pretty good, with Tidus and Auron being a highlight. FFX has one of my favorite battle systems in the entire series, being a traditional turn based system where turn order is dependent not only on agility, but also on the actions commited in the battle. Couple that with the unique Sphere Grid replacing traditional leveling and you have some very solid gameplay that doesnt get old.
One of the few FF I finished. Visually it's a treat, and while some of the cast can be annoying, they're generally pretty good, with Tidus and Auron being a highlight. FFX has one of my favorite battle systems in the entire series, being a traditional turn based system where turn order is dependent not only on agility, but also on the actions commited in the battle. Couple that with the unique Sphere Grid replacing traditional leveling and you have some very solid gameplay that doesnt get old.
One of the best RPGs I have ever played. Even if it was plagued with big issues because of development hell, it has a fantastic story, highly varied sidequests that are very fun to do, a diverse, charming cast of characters, excellent writing and a good variety of possible character builds.
2011
The story and the characters are worse than the first game, but the gameplay is a big step up and a refinement of the Paradigm system, allowing much more freedom of builds since the beginning instead of halfway through the plot. Instead of being linear like the first game, you explore a bunch of locations in different timelines while you complete the main quest. If you prefer gameplay improvements over a better story, then XIII-2 is definetly the better game.
2012
An improvement over the original in almost every way, and the original was already pretty damn good. The new combat additions make the game way easier though.
2005
This is where everything began, and by result its the most barebones entry. Combat is extremely clunky and side content that isn't major is pretty hard to keep track of. The story though, while short, is good and emotional enough to keep you interested, and the dub, while pretty bad, is charming and good for a few laughs.
2016
The obnoxious grindness of the Majima Everywhere system and most of the OST remixes being awful take a lot of points out of this remake. The combat is exactly like 0's so it's much better than the original, but a lot of the bosses are badly designed. While it still has the charm of all Yakuza games, this is one of the worst entries in the series.
2010
It's very repetitive but jumping and sliding around in slow motion is so fun that I don't even care. Sam is also a very enjoyable character.
The best SMT spinoff, with a really unique atmosphere and story. The Mantra system is a bit grindy, but since skills can be equipped/unequipped without losing them forever you have a huge variety of possible builds at any time.
2016
Oozing with style and the most solid combat in the Persona series. Sadly, the writing after the Kamoshida arc is bad, and apart from being badly paced, the story doesn't seem to know what message it's trying to tell you. If you don't mind the pacing and story then the combat and visuals will carry the experience for you though.
Definetly dated compared to the rest, it's still unique in its own way. The combat is a slog (but easy and quick to get through), the encounter rate is too high and the dungeon design sucks, but I liked the story and the characters. It helps that, unlike the games since 3, the story is able to go straight to the point without being slowed down by normal life events.
Dungeon design took a nosedive, but the story is as strong as the first game, the Mantra system got improved and the soundtrack is arguably better.
An amazing experience dripping with atmosphere. SMT IV gives a unique take on the recurring Tokyo post apocalypse theme of SMT by adding the Kingdom of Mikado on top of it, and the result is a very unique world which mixes a medieval-like setting with a modern post apocalyptic city and godlike soundtrack that combines Samurai themes with Cyberpunk perfectly. A refined Press Turn System and the solid core gameplay of the series is the icing of the cake. Definetly the best place to start with the series if you're curious about it.