HeroOfTim
2000
To say this game is special to me would be an understatement. Final Fantasy IX changed me. It literally changed my life and I would be a very different person without having played it. This game gave me direction, it gave me motivation, it gave me a reason to live. It taught me that life is beautiful and that leaving even just one positive memory in someone's mind means your life was worth living. This is my second favorite piece of media ever made and every day I feel like a better person because of it.
2005
I said before that RE1 remake was one of the easiest 10/10s I've ever given. Nah nah. It's this now. No contest. Absolutely on the same level as REmake's gameplay (if not even better) with the added elements of the hilariously nonsensical story (with so many iconic memes), amazingly fun action movie setpieces, and genuinely ridiculous tension when it actually wants to be a horror game. Definitely a new top 10 game, I had a smile on my face literally the entire duration.
2021
The second funniest game I've ever played. Had a blast with everything about this game. Absolutely cannot wait for the coming chapters and will drop everything to play them immediately.
(Replay) While this is far from the most complex Zelda (it's pretty much completely linear aside from like, two dungeons), it's an absolute blast. Normally this kind of linearity would bore me in Zelda but I don't know, this game is just so much fun. One of the best looking and best sounding games on the console, too. Link's Awakening is a better designed game but the pure fun factor in this one is just wonderful.
Solid game. Even the worst stages, like 5', have fucking baller music so you can never not have fun. Maria is absolutely unplaytested levels of broken but in a fun way.
1990
The NES version of FFIII is significantly more polished than both of its predecessors. It's like they flipped a switch to instantly fix every problem those versions had. The problem is the fucking balancing. You have to grind after nearly every major story beat and it's so tiring. Definitely play the DS or Pixel Remaster versions if you want to experience III for this reason alone.
The job system in general is a bit disappointing. Advertises itself as having so much freedom and then a decent amount of the game practically forces you into an all mage party, or forces you to have dragoons, etc etc etc. It's not egregious, but FFV proved how far you can really take a job system. The gameplay in III does have its moments though, and it was obviously extremely important, starting so many iconic jobs and abilities from FF as a whole. I love the world and the general vibes, and the music wraps everything up in an enjoyable little package.
The job system in general is a bit disappointing. Advertises itself as having so much freedom and then a decent amount of the game practically forces you into an all mage party, or forces you to have dragoons, etc etc etc. It's not egregious, but FFV proved how far you can really take a job system. The gameplay in III does have its moments though, and it was obviously extremely important, starting so many iconic jobs and abilities from FF as a whole. I love the world and the general vibes, and the music wraps everything up in an enjoyable little package.
The Oracle games are some of the only Zelda games I haven't beaten before. The reason being I thought they were mid and boring, but giving it a much fairer shake this time, I actually really enjoyed it. Every single dungeon is good to great, with some great puzzles and fantastic navigation, plus a few really unique dungeon items used in creative ways. It makes me really excited for Ages, since I hear that game focuses more on the puzzles.
The overworld exploration is also extremely fun with the season switching, and is perfectly nonlinear without ever dipping into "what the fuck do I do" territory like Link's Awakening does at times. Overall, not an amazing game or anything, especially right after finishing two of my favorite games of all time, but I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.
The overworld exploration is also extremely fun with the season switching, and is perfectly nonlinear without ever dipping into "what the fuck do I do" territory like Link's Awakening does at times. Overall, not an amazing game or anything, especially right after finishing two of my favorite games of all time, but I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.
One of the quintessential examples of a perfect remake. My only large complaint is the game telling you where to go at almost every point, but honestly if you ignore those pointers the game is actually a lot more open than it seems to be. Still lots of sequence breaking opportunities, still replayable as hell. Easily one of the best Metroid games.
Absolutely timeless. One of my favorite games of all time. Ascended soundtrack (one of my favorites of all time, video game or not), phenomenal level design, a ton of fun to 100%. Favorite platformer.
1994
Outside of a very lackluster final world, this game remains a classic. The level design flows fantastically and the music and general atmosphere is perfect.
The final boss is a little iffy, and the sidequests are definitely bad at times with their 1% drop rates, but besides that, this game is nonstop fun and creativity. The bosses are only topped by Dawn of Sorrow, the soundtrack has some great ones, and as a whole it's just a perfected blend of minor metroidvania navigation and combat more akin to the classicvanias.
Hands down the funniest game I've ever played. Pure charm and hilarity in every aspect. The story is really nice as well, fantastically goofy but emotional when it needs to be. Only loses a star for its gameplay. I find the battles very lackluster and a few dungeons are flat out bad. After the halfway point it gets better though.
2018
Though this game is quite lacking in the story department outside of a few things like the protagonist and chapter 7 in particular (which I'll fully admit is fantastic), the gameplay makes the game more than worth a playthrough. Definitely 10/10 in that regard, and I'll probably get the DLC at some point. Great bosses (combat in general) and puzzles that make Dark Souls look like a game for babies. Music is pretty good too.
1992
(Replay) The public consensus turns a blind eye to this game, and I truly can't fathom why. This game is the culmination of all Final Fantasy up to that point.
Absolutely peak gameplay, the best in the series. It's tough as nails, rewarding, complex, and outright requires you to plan and get as creative as you can. You never have to grind at any point, you just need to figure out what you could change about your strategy and then carry it out. If you primarily care about gameplay, this is the #1 must-play Final Fantasy for you.
The story, often hated on for being comparatively very simple or even childish when it's right next to VI, VII, IX, etc, is very much still good in my opinion. Not great, and not without its flaws, but it's cute, the characters are extremely enjoyable, Exdeath is peak, and the graphical leap since IV allows for some extremely well-directed cutscenes with perfect animations.
The soundtrack is also amazing. It's Uematsu. I don't need to elaborate.
I firmly believe FFV to be the best in the series in every single aspect up to that point. It can't touch the following classic entries for story, but in every other area it absolutely measures up, and in gameplay, clears all of them.
Very happy I replayed as I had forgotten most of it and happy to say it has risen above VIII for me. The most underrated FF by a lot.
Absolutely peak gameplay, the best in the series. It's tough as nails, rewarding, complex, and outright requires you to plan and get as creative as you can. You never have to grind at any point, you just need to figure out what you could change about your strategy and then carry it out. If you primarily care about gameplay, this is the #1 must-play Final Fantasy for you.
The story, often hated on for being comparatively very simple or even childish when it's right next to VI, VII, IX, etc, is very much still good in my opinion. Not great, and not without its flaws, but it's cute, the characters are extremely enjoyable, Exdeath is peak, and the graphical leap since IV allows for some extremely well-directed cutscenes with perfect animations.
The soundtrack is also amazing. It's Uematsu. I don't need to elaborate.
I firmly believe FFV to be the best in the series in every single aspect up to that point. It can't touch the following classic entries for story, but in every other area it absolutely measures up, and in gameplay, clears all of them.
Very happy I replayed as I had forgotten most of it and happy to say it has risen above VIII for me. The most underrated FF by a lot.
1992
Marred by some very bad levels at the very end (shudder Metropolis Zone) but before that, it's very good. Great example of the skill mastery that is the main appeal of 2D Sonic's design.