About Me: Games
This meme is going around again, so I'm doing it again! As usual, enforcing "no repeats" just for myself.
18 Games
All-Time Favourite
No surprise. Everything I want in a game: clever physics puzzles, a dollhouse sensibility, funk music, and a very solid mystery.
No surprise. Everything I want in a game: clever physics puzzles, a dollhouse sensibility, funk music, and a very solid mystery.
Favourite Series
Some more than others, but I do have a soft spot for them. And unlike some of my other favourite series (Tales, Ace Attorney, Zero Escape...), I don't think I outright dislike any of the mainline games.
Some more than others, but I do have a soft spot for them. And unlike some of my other favourite series (Tales, Ace Attorney, Zero Escape...), I don't think I outright dislike any of the mainline games.
Best OST
My wife reminded me of this one. Not a dud track in the lot, and one of the few game OSTs that I listen to outside of the game. Was just humming the jury theme yesterday.
My wife reminded me of this one. Not a dud track in the lot, and one of the few game OSTs that I listen to outside of the game. Was just humming the jury theme yesterday.
Favourite Protagonist
This used to be such a controversial thing to say, but I think Tales fans have really turned around on this one, which makes me happy. Luke's journey from spoiled child to doomed, mournful hero is really something. The game deconstructs the chosen one archetype before building it back up in a rather more nuanced and tragic way.
This used to be such a controversial thing to say, but I think Tales fans have really turned around on this one, which makes me happy. Luke's journey from spoiled child to doomed, mournful hero is really something. The game deconstructs the chosen one archetype before building it back up in a rather more nuanced and tragic way.
Best Villain
Look, I can't disagree with people who think the plot of this one is like Swiss cheese, but I still love it, and Tokiko Shigure is a huge part of that. Fantastic villain, incredibly sympathetic and incredibly evil, and when I realized the extent to which she'd played Ryuki I was floored.
Look, I can't disagree with people who think the plot of this one is like Swiss cheese, but I still love it, and Tokiko Shigure is a huge part of that. Fantastic villain, incredibly sympathetic and incredibly evil, and when I realized the extent to which she'd played Ryuki I was floored.
Best Story
The thing I like about Yasumi Matsuno's games is that there's often a "show don't tell" brevity, where characters and background events are rendered in just a few key scenes. In FFT in particular, there is so much interesting stuff packed into the story. You can dig, and dig, and keep playing with it. On the other hand, the central Ramza/Delita foil A-plot/B-plot is plenty rich on its own.
The thing I like about Yasumi Matsuno's games is that there's often a "show don't tell" brevity, where characters and background events are rendered in just a few key scenes. In FFT in particular, there is so much interesting stuff packed into the story. You can dig, and dig, and keep playing with it. On the other hand, the central Ramza/Delita foil A-plot/B-plot is plenty rich on its own.
Have Not Played, But Want To
Considering my favourite genre is Mystery, I feel like this is one of a couple of HUGE omissions.
Considering my favourite genre is Mystery, I feel like this is one of a couple of HUGE omissions.
You Love, Everyone Hates
It's not a perfect game by any means, but I was outright shocked at just how critically reviled it was for (checks notes) being a menu-based adventure game released in 2017. As someone who plays a lot of parser games, I thought it was fine?
It's not a perfect game by any means, but I was outright shocked at just how critically reviled it was for (checks notes) being a menu-based adventure game released in 2017. As someone who plays a lot of parser games, I thought it was fine?
You Hate, Everyone Loves
"Hate" is a strong word, but it def feels like a product of its time. One of the highest-rated games of all time, and definitely has its good points, but didn't do it for me.
"Hate" is a strong word, but it def feels like a product of its time. One of the highest-rated games of all time, and definitely has its good points, but didn't do it for me.
Best Art Style
What if a Colin Thompson book was a video game?
What if a Colin Thompson book was a video game?
Favourite Boss
Omega Flowey. I enjoyed the departures from format and non-verbal storytelling. A boss fight with an interesting "arc".
Omega Flowey. I enjoyed the departures from format and non-verbal storytelling. A boss fight with an interesting "arc".
Favourite Ending
The whole game is an extraordinarily clever use of the medium, and the ending is the cherry on top. I don't think I've seen another Twine game do this.
The whole game is an extraordinarily clever use of the medium, and the ending is the cherry on top. I don't think I've seen another Twine game do this.
Childhood Game
Funny because I didn't play it until I was an adult, but we had the guide, and I was obsessed with it. Interesting aesthetic/world that is a little off the beaten path, and certainly influenced me as a writer (I was even working on a 50+ page TTRPG module based on this.)
Funny because I didn't play it until I was an adult, but we had the guide, and I was obsessed with it. Interesting aesthetic/world that is a little off the beaten path, and certainly influenced me as a writer (I was even working on a 50+ page TTRPG module based on this.)
Most Relaxing
Official game of calm-down time.
Official game of calm-down time.
Most Stressful
That timed segment in Champions of the Just.
That timed segment in Champions of the Just.
Game You Always Come Back To
Honestly, I think this might be Uchikoshi's best game. I played it before there was a "Zero Escape" series, and it was just called 999. Revisiting it over the years, it still holds up despite its flaws.
Honestly, I think this might be Uchikoshi's best game. I played it before there was a "Zero Escape" series, and it was just called 999. Revisiting it over the years, it still holds up despite its flaws.
Guilty Pleasure
It's campy and not as good as the first one and unfortunately Kirishima is very hot. My siblings and I have so many in-jokes about this game.
It's campy and not as good as the first one and unfortunately Kirishima is very hot. My siblings and I have so many in-jokes about this game.
Tons of Hours Played
Lockdown innit.
Lockdown innit.