Only the Best

So here I am playing Resident Evil 4 for the Wii and thinking to myself, this is the Resident Evil 4 which always should have been, but also thinking to myself, hey this is probably one of my favourite games ever made. Upon deciding this was true, it occurred to me that I've never put down my top 10 favourite games on this blog. Certainly not thought about it for a while. Sure, I have my readily nameable top 5, but what comes after that? Today we find out, but not just that, no no my dear readers. You are going to be getting a couple of lines regarding each game as well!

01. Final Fantasy IV

It might not come as a surprise to some reading this, that Final Fantasy IV is my favourite game. I first played it as Final Fantasy II, as did most people, and fell in love with it even before you explode the village of Mist. The music, the sprites, the combat, the graphics... it's all I ever wanted at the time. As better translations and graphics were developed for it, and as it progressed it's way to the DS version, it only got better. Now, I believe it's very soul rests in it's current incarnation as a revamped DS game with the best translation and the best graphics. I still love this game and play it 4-5 times a year.  It's still one of the hardest of the Final Fantasy games.

02. Persona 3 FES

When I tell people this is my 2nd favourite game of all time, I often get a load of surprised faces. It is such a good game, but usually slides to the wayside for a lot of people. I play this game over and over and still love it. Even after having done everything there is to do in the game, the grind, the graphics, the personas... they are just so great! I love the story as well. I haven't had the pure joy of playing it on my psp yet (not out here as of this writing), but you can be assured I will be getting it asap.

03. Resident Evil 4

Until the Wii version came out, the PS2 version of Resident Evil 4 was my favourite of the game, though I have played the GameCube version as well, I just think the controls for the PS2 one was better. Resident Evil 4 was made for the wiimote I think... I have tried it with the gun attachment, but it's the worst piece of shit ever considering the A button is on top and the trigger doesn't actually fire, but aims... it's so lame. Anyway, containing Leon S. Kennedy, this game is graphically awesome, musically gratifying, and the story is, like with most Resident Evil games, fantastic. The Wii version of the game is a combination of both GC and PS2 with new things and it's just the way the game should have been.

04. Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII

There was a time in my life where I vowed I would never play a direct sequel to any Final Fantasy game because the creators, at the time, promised they'd never make one in order to give each Final Fantasy game a world within the single game. Of course now this has all changed, but Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII was the first direct sequel to a Final Fantasy game that I played and it was, of course, Vincent who drew me to it. From the tutorial (which I still play every time I turn the game on before I start the game proper) to the end I enjoyed it so much that as soon as I beat it the first time on Normal, I started a new game on EXHard and have never played another difficulty yet. One of the only games I actually play on hard because I love to continuously upgrade my guns. The story, the graphics (for the time made), the music and the voices are so compelling, I just can't get enough.

05. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

The fantastic encased in this game is undeniable, unless you're a crazy person. With such an incredible combat system, awesome dialogue, superb cutscenes, and amusing commentary, Crisis Core doesn't have to beg you to continue playing it. Sometimes I get the urge to play this game and nothing can stand in the way.

06. Star Ocean: The Last Hope International

Originally, it was the 360 version of Star Ocean TLH which so grasped me in its... grasp, but having since played the PS3 version, I can say it is so much better. TLH is the best in the Star Ocean series. Graphically, it's gorgeous & the music is quite epic & filled with a slot of cinematic soundscapes. The voice acting is rather acceptable in English, but it wasn't until International that we were able to have the Japanese voice acting & let me tell you, it is MILES better than the English. It fits so well... the translation is epic & the story is still incredible & gripping. There is so much of this game I could go on for hours about, but I'll save it for a review of International in the future.

07. Assassin's Creed II

There has never been a game which I have become so adapted to so quickly as the Assassin's Creed games. The first one was a spectacular dream of reality (literally) but with the 2nd one, life bloomed anew. By far the better game of the series (I have also played the ds/psp AC games) it took me away from the world. Everything about it enthused me & knitted a deep love within me. Every time I think of the game, or play it, it raises itself a little higher in my list of joy. One day it may make it to the top five if not higher. With more AC games on the horizon, however, they could easily replace it, but there will always be an AC on my top list.

08. Dissidia: Final Fantasy

There's a lot of Final Fantasy on this list, but I can't help my love of them & Dissidia is a perfect example of the RPG & fighter mesh working out. The amount of time I have put into this game is frightening, even to myself at times. Somehow the voodoo that they did worked out so well & made me fall in love with a fighter game. With voice acting & awesome scripting & art, Dissidia is almost a perfect game. Not only was it thrilling to finally hear some of my favourite characters from Final Fantasy (Frioniel, Bartz, Squall, Cecil, Cloud of Darkness etc) but it was incredible to see them with updated graphics & movesets. This game will always have a place in my black materia heart.

09. Final Fantasy XII

I know I'll get shit for this one as so many people hated the guts of this game, but I think it's one of the best Final Fantasy games. The story was just so wonderful and the translation was impeccable. The graphics and voice acting were astonishing and I really did love the combat! There isn't really much I can think of that I didn't like about this game. I even came up with PS2 achievements for this game :)

10. Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening: Special Edition

For a while, the regular Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening was in this place, but as the Special Edition was released, it sky-rocketed pass the original version. The special edition gives awesome new things to do as well as giving you the awesome original features of the original. Dante is wonderful, sardonic, and beautifully drawn as always. The story is great and I adore combos.