Alex95's Top 150 Games (is now a review thread)

[Alex95]

Spoiler: #105

Super Mario Strikers

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I don't really give soccer (or football, for those of you in Europeland) a lot of attention. It's fun to play, so I don't really know why. Super Mario Strikers has been my only real soccer play time ever, despite it being completely inaccurate to how soccer actually works. Never mind all the Mario-esque Charge Shots and Bob-ombs, but you are capable of knocking each other over, beating them into an electric fence, and knocking out the goalie to allow a free hit. As epic as it sounds, I'm pretty sure that wouldn't fly in a real game! Also unlike actually professional soccer, your team is comprised of your captain and four other generic members, when real teams are much larger. This actually allows for more movement and strategy to get to your opponent's goal, and the game play is fact-paced enough that it never feels like the field is empty.

PROS​	CONS​
Soccer filled with explosions and crossed with the beat-em-up genre	You can only control one member at a time, and swapping doesn't really work that well

Spoiler: #104

Super Mario 3D World​

Super Mario 3D Land was a great idea, a good mix between 2D and 3D Mario games that felt like a mix of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario 64. It was a purely single-player experience, though, so the sequel, Super Mario 3D World took it a step further. Mario and Luigi are now joined by Peach and Toad (as well as an unlockable Rosalina) to save the Sprixies that were captured by Bowser. The game uses a lot of power-ups that make great use of the 3D space, from the traditional Fire Flower to the new Super Bell, and even being able to ride within a Koopa Shell. There was enough added to this game that didn't make it feel like just a rehash of 3D Land, but I don't feel like it's very refined. The depth perception is terrible in this game, as it uses 3D Land's camera angles, which mainly relined on the use of the 3DS's 3D function. The controls don't feel all that solid, I don't know why we need to have a run button with a control stick. 3D World certainly has a bigger focus on teamwork, so if you're going it alone, you may run into a bit of trouble with some challenges.

PROS	CONS
Incredible visuals and soundtrack, with fun power-ups and surroundings	Depth perception is terrible in this game
Plenty of well-thought out challenges that make great use of the Gamepad and teamwork

Spoiler: #103

Pokken Tournament​

At last, those Pokemon anime battles can finally become a reality! Pokken Tournament takes the one-on-one Pokemon battles and mixes it with the gameplay of the Tekken series (hence "Pokken") for a chance to see your Pokemon on the field. Each Pokemon has their own set of moves, much more than just the four you're limited to in the main series, and are capable of moving around the field in real time. The field also shifts from 3D space to 2D space, which is done by landing certain moves, turning it into a traditional fighting game mid-battle and opens up new moves and strategies.

There is a very small pool of Pokemon to choose from, however, from ones you would expect in a fighting game (as in, the more human ones) to the likes of Suicune and Gengar. Any other Pokemon can still take part as Support Pokemon. The battlefields don't add much variety, either; they are all different circular shapes, but the terrain does nothing special. The story for the game is pretty cool, having to go up against a corrupted Shadow Mewtwo, but all of the voice actors sounds kind of sleepy and like they'd rather be doing anything else. Especially the partner that is with your for the entirety of the game, Nia, who is very obviously reading from the script. These are all minor complaints though, and don't hamper game play any.

Pokken Tournament Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch also adds additional Pokemon into the mix, including those from the Alola Region from Sun and Moon.

PROS	CONS
Fast-paced action	Voice acting from the human characters needs work

Spoiler: #102

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass​

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass was our first Nintendo DS title, we got it with a special Golden Triforce DS bundle. It really shows what the DS is capable of, far more than that of launch title Super Mario 64 DS. Movement is completely controlled by the touch screen, with some exceptions, and the puzzles make great use of touch controls and the note taking. Overworld exploring is done by boat, like its prequel Wind Waker, though it's done by plotting a course and letting new character Linebeck take the wheel. While the controls are a bit awkward and can take some time to get used to, the main complaint with this game centers around the frequently-visited Temple of the Ocean King. You come back to this level a LOT. Literally every time you complete a dungeon, you have to return to Mercay Island to find out where to go next, even if you are on the complete opposite side of the world, and progress through the dungeon in a time-restricted environment from the start every single time.

PROS	CONS
Well done puzzles and interesting game play mechanics	Temple of the Ocean King
Linebeck is an absolutely hilarious character with great development

Spoiler: #101

Fire Emblem Heroes​

As a big Fire Emblem fan, I enjoyed seeing some of the characters all come together as Spotpass units in Fire Emblem Awakening. But Fire Emblem Heroes took that a step farther and started including everybody! From well-known series icons to the obscure units like it's looking like literally every Fire Emblem character will make their way into the game at some point. The game is constantly receiving updates, and even characters already in the game are getting variants based on seasonal events and holidays. I absolutely love seeing all the characters come together, but that's really the best part about the game. Being a mobile phone title, the character acquisition is entirely based on luck, you spend 5 Orbs for every pull, and you will usually not get the character you are hoping for. Basic game play of Fire Emblem is also heavily streamlined to be able to fit on the phone screens, with movement and statistics nowhere near the level of the regular Fire Emblems. That said, this is easily the best phone games ever, to the point where it was the number one best seller for phone games, beating out the likes of Pokemon GO.

PROS	CONS
The biggest Fire Emblem troupe ever	Character obtaining is restricting to the luck-based gatcha system
While some characters are hit-and-miss, Heroes definitely shows the time and effort that is put into it

 

[Vivian]

Heck, all of this batch are games I love

 

[Alex95]

Thanksgiving weekend is going to be busy, so let's start the Top 100 a few days early!

Spoiler: #100

Fortune Street

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Mario and Angelo. Princess Peach and Princess Princessa. Bowser and Dragon Lord. Putting Mario and Dragon Quest characters together sounds like an idea for an epic quest... but instead they head to the stock market! Fortune Street is the latest in the long-running, previously Japanese-only, Monopoly-like series that has characters from the Super Mario and Dragon Quest series fight for financial control over several locations from the series. Like with Monopoly, game play is slow paced, and the RNG plays out more in the CPU's favor than yours, but literally everything else is handled perfectly. Characters banter with one another in Dragon Quest-style humor, music is remixed to incredible levels, and the game play is pretty solid and there's enough randomness and strategy to keep people interested.

Maybe we'll see a sequel one day that puts characters from Super Mario Odyssey and Dragon Quest XI in.

PROS​	CONS​
Character interactions are humorously well-written	Game play is pretty slow, but solid
Music remixes are incredible	RNG plays out more in the computer controlled characters favor, making game play difficult

Spoiler: #99

Code Name: S.T.E.A.M.​

Legends both real and fictional join together to take on aliens. Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. is another grid-based tactical game created by Intelligent Systems that makes heavy use of folk tales and combines those with steam powered machinery. It's 1860-something, and aliens start invading lands both real and fictional, including America, Britain, and Oz. 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, assembles a strike team to eliminate the alien menace, which consists of Henry Fleming from The Red Badge of Courage, John Henry, folk hero who raced against a steam-powered locomotive, the Lion from Oz, Tiger Lily from Peter Pan, Tom Sawyer, and more. They are all equipped with steam-powered weapons, which effects their movement, attacks, and special abilities. All of them have unique traits to bring to the field, so you really have to strategize who to bring out that best fits the situation.

You can also bring in Marth, Ike, Robin, and Lucina by scanning their amiibo. Despite using swords and magical weapons, they also run on steam (because game play balance), but this is possibly the best use of amiibo I've seen so far. Other units when they fall can be revived at special checkpoints or after the level is cleared, but Fire Emblem units have to be rescanned at the start of a level if they fell in the previous chapter.

PROS	CONS
Character interactions are humorously well-written	There's no level up system, so units can get over powered easily
Comic book-styled cutscenes
3D grid maps that make great use of its environment

Spoiler: #98

Mario Tennis​

While Mario Power Tennis improved many things from Mario Tennis for the Nintendo 64, I also feel like it missed the mark on some. The N64 Mario Tennis I feel has better movement and a more balanced difficulty, to the point where animations don't feel as stiff and I can actually get through the Rainbow Cup. The courts feel smaller in Power Tennis, so I guess that doesn't leave a lot of room for the ball to go. This is good ol' fashioned Tennis at its finest, no recovery moves or flashy power ups that make a match go far longer than it should. It has much of the same content as Power Tennis as well, the only thing really missing are the minigames.

One of these days I'll get the Game Boy Color version of the game and transfer Alex to the N64 version, won't that be fun ^^

PROS	CONS
Solid game play

Spoiler: #97

Super Princess Peach​

Super Princess Peach is a game were you make Peach have an emotional breakdown, but mixed with fun game play! Mario and Luigi have been captured while Peach was off doing who-knows-what, so it's up to her to rescue them. The game plays much like a 2D Mario game, except Peach has new abilities that can manipulate her environment. She can fly and spin, burst into flames and stomp around, water things with her tears and move quickly, and recover health. The game relies on her physical and emotional abilities to move through courses, and it's a pretty solid game. Her umbrella partner, Perry, gives her an additional boost as well. He can drill through blocks below, slide on rails, become a submarine, and help Peach float even though she should already be able to do that on her own. Perry is also your main way of recovering your magic meter-like Vibe Meter that allows you to control Peach's emotions, by picking up enemies and eating them.

The only real complaint I have with this game is (spoiler alert) the game's story doesn't feel finished. Peach saves Mario, and then it ends, as usual-ish. But Perry has a story of his own and it goes incomplete. It set itself up for a sequel that doesn't feel like is ever getting made.

PROS	CONS
Hormone control	Unfinished story
Colorful graphics	Collectathon is fun, but it's just for side games

Spoiler: #96

New Super Mario Bros. U​

At the time of New Super Mario Bros. U, the New Super Mario Bros. series feels like it's gotten stale. The first two were great, but after that, it's just one or two new power-ups thrown in without really changing anything. That's not to say NSMBU is bad by any means, it's a very solid Mario platformer that fits well with the others. It's the same 2D Mario you know and love, with plenty of themed courses, enemies, and coins. But that's just it, it feels like the exact same thing we've seen before except Mario's a flying squirrel now.

At least New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe mixed things up a little by giving certain characters specific abilities. Nabbit is immune to enemies (which is actually pretty lame) and Toadette can turn into Peachette which is... basically just the flying squirrel power-up but without the wall clinging. And she's immune to falling into pits once before leaping right back out. Deluxe sounds too easy.

It really just feels like New Super Mario Bros. Wii HD, which is not a bad thing. If this is your introduction to the NSMB series, then great! This is actually a good game to start off with. But for long-time players, it really adds nothing new.

PROS	CONS
Solid game play with interesting power-ups	More of the same

 

[Vivian]

i needa play fortune and princes peach one of these days nwn

 

[Alex95]

Spoiler: #95

Mario Kart 64

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Mario Kart 64 is another one of those N64 titles that I grew up with. An improved sequel to Super Mario Kart, races now take place in full 3D (though everything else, including the characters, remain 2D sprites), and the game really makes use of the added dimension. While there's no real gimmicks that are added to this game, such as tricks, it is just pure simple go-kart racing. The visuals are nice, the music is memorable, and the controls are pretty solid. The rubber-banding A.I. is at its absolute worst in this game, though, as in it doesn't matter how fast you go, the CPUs will always catch up.

PROS​	CONS​
Out-of-the-box 4-Player game play	Red Shells and A.I. suck in this game

Spoiler: #94

Rage of Mages​

Anybody remember this old computer game? Rage of Mages is a fantasy RPG game that I think can be best described as XCOM meets Fire Emblem. You got swords and magics, and multiple units to select. You can tell multiple units to go in the same direction or tell them to explore.

It's been a long time since I've played this game, I lost the disc somewhere, and I never spent any real time on Rage of Mages II. This was one of the earliest computer games I played, and I sunk a lot of time into it until I got a new computer and it could no longer run it. I remember my uncle and I connected two computers together via Ethernet cable and he pretty much carried me through the playthrough. I couldn't even leave town, I was terrible. Maps are dark until you explore them, so there's a perpetual fog of war effect going on. I think I made it as far as five levels in before I couldn't make it any further. Would love to give this game another go.

PROS	CONS
Amusing graphics and voice acting	You can get overwhelmed very easily
Catchy music that sticks with me to this day

Spoiler: #93

Sonic Adventure 2 Battle​

I've never been a big Sonic fan. In fact, aside from crossovers, Sonic Adventure 2 Battle is the only Sonic game we own (we used to have 06 and Dark Brotherhood, but we got rid of those). We do have a Genesis compilation machine with the first three titles, so I guess that counts? Anyway, Sonic Adventure 2 Battle is a GameCube release of the Dreamcast's Sonic Adventure 2, but with an added multiplayer mode. The game is split between light and dark characters: Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles on the light team and Shadow, Eggman, and Rouge on the dark team. The two stories intertwine and eventually come together, and each character group has their own levels to work with. Sonic and Shadow have fast-paced platforming, Tails and Eggman drive a mech and shoot things, and Knuckles and Rouge go searching for pieces of the Master Emerald.

The game play is pretty fun with memorable music, but as you can probably expect from the 3D Sonic titles, it's a glitchy mess. Characters, specifically Sonic and Shadow, tend to clip through areas and obstacles. The music, while great, is so loud you can barely make out what the characters are saying sometimes. And even then, they frequently talk over each other.

PROS	CONS
Chao Garden	A glitchy mess
Catchy music

Spoiler: #92

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link​

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is notorious for being one of the hardest - if not, the hardest - Zelda title. Some even go as far as to say it's the hardest video game ever, which it's not, but it's understandable why they would think that. This game is very difficult. Stepping away from the overhead view of the original The Legend of Zelda, Link takes on Mario's style and attempts the platforming genre. The result is actually a fun mix of RPG and platforming, with Link gaining new abilities that make full use of the new-found ability to jump. Moves like the Down Thrust and Jump Attack have been seen in games like Smash Bros. and Soul Calibur II, but haven't been seen in a main Zelda title since (unless you want to count the similar Killing Blow from Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword). However, Link progresses at a sluggish pace and it's not immediately clear where it is you need to go. It took us years to find the first dungeon (we don't use strategy guides unless we absolutely have to :P ), and after that, the game just kept getting harder.

PROS	CONS
New mix of jump and sword abilities	Incredibly difficult
Catchy music

Spoiler: #91

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles​

One of the neat things about the Nintendo GameCube was allowing players to connect Game Boy Advances by a link cable to it and give each of them their own screen. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles was, as far as I can tell, the first title to utilize this for multiplayer. Each player's GBA gave them their character's statistics, item line up, and text screen that allowed them all to work together in a way that would not have been possible with regular GameCube controllers.

The game play itself is pretty simple. The world is covered in a dangerous substance known as miasma, and only myrrh is able to counteract it. However, myrrh needs to be replenished every year, so brave heroes step out with a protective myrrh shield that needs to be carried with them in order to take on challenges and gather the myrrh they need. The game makes heavy use of teamwork, one player needs to carry the shield while the others try to protect them. All can gather magic supplies and improve their stats, and every time you enter a level, you are given a special task you can complete for more rewards. You can play this game in single-player with the GameCube controller, and a Moogle will carry the shield for you, but bosses are able to make quick work of you.

We were never able to link up more than two GBAs, so we never experienced the full strength of teamwork this game offers. Maybe with the release of the Remastered version for the Nintendo Switch, that can finally be realized somewhere down the line.

PROS	CONS
Heavy emphasis on teamwork

 

[Alex95]

Spoiler: #90

Pokemon Colosseum

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A vast improvement to the Pokemon Stadium titles, Pokemon Colosseum took the "bring your Pokemon into 3D" concept and then gave it a full fledged story. Gen 3 Pokemon can now be brought out into double battles (I don't think this game has 1-on-1, but could be wrong) in the story, which follows Wes, a defector of Team Snagem, as he tries to recover the mysterious Shadow Pokemon. Colosseum marks one of two times (the other time being the game's sequel, Pokemon XD) where you are capable of catching another trainer's Pokemon, though that is limited to the specific Shadow Pokemon that are revealed by your partner. As you progress, you learn more about Team Snagem and the way to purify the hearts of the Shadow Pokemon. Otherwise, it plays like just about any other main Pokemon title, with added puzzles and different environments due to the third dimension.

PROS​	CONS​
Great graphics, story, and music	No explorable overworld or run button

Spoiler: #89

Chip's Challenge​

I spent years on Chip's Challenge. YEARS. And I've never completed it! This early Windows puzzle game is absolutely massive, I'm pretty sure there are more than 300 levels to this thing, but I've never broken triple digits. It's a pretty simple puzzle game, the objective is to get all the computer chips in order to reach the end of the level. But to do so, you have to match colored keys to their locks, obtain special boots to walk across certain environments, dodge enemies, and push blocks into water to create bridges. Truly a masterpiece of early Windows gaming, in my opinion.

And then I learned Chip's Challenge 2 was a thing and I want to complete both now.

PROS	CONS
Catchy music and enjoyable theme
Hilarious voice overs

Spoiler: #88

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy​

This one's kind of cheating a bit, as it is three games in one. The Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a compilation of the first three games in the Ace Attorney series, redone for the Nintendo 3DS system. The premise of the games are all the same: Gather evidence, use that evidence to find contradictions in testimonies, and out the real killer for their crimes. But all three games handle this method differently, and the stories often take wild turns (sometimes nonsensical turns) that really keep you interested throughout. The third game, Trials and Tribulations, is definitely the strongest of the three, as it brings several things together from the previous games.

The only real issue I have with Ace Attorney is the odd progression system. You have to put your detective skills to great use (despite being a lawyer), but it's never clear exactly when to use them. You could figure out the case very easily at the beginning, but you have to wait for specific moments to point out any contradictions. I could figure out the first case of the second game very easily from the start, but I had to wait for specific events to play out before I could do anything. Oh well, that's law for you.

PROS	CONS
Very well-written characters and story	Progression system is pretty whack

Spoiler: #87

Golden Sun​

Golden Sun is an amazing RPG game by the Camelot studio, the team that creates the Mario Tennis and Mario Golf series. It's not their first IP or RPG, but it's probably the most well-known to Nintendo fans. The game is pretty standard as far as RPGs go: your characters use swords, axes, staves, etc. mixed with a collection of magical powers. But your powers are determined by these creatures called Djinn, and equipping a specific set of them will give you a mixture of powers and abilities. The first game revolves around Venus Adept Isaac and Mars Adept Garet (essentially Earth and Fire respectively) as are attacked in their early years, later learn magic, and then set off to find who attacked them. They later learn the evil ones are trying to set off a cataclysmic event, and now Isaac and his friends are wrapped up in this power struggle.

The first game actually goes unfinished, and ties into the concurrently-playing-out interquel, Golden Sun: The Lost Age, in order for the story to be completed. Isaac is perhaps better known for his Assist Trophy role in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

PROS	CONS
Incredible graphics and music	Difficulty spikes and difficult puzzles
Intertwining story between the characters and environments	Occasional unclear progression

Spoiler: #86

SoulCalibur V​

SoulCalibur V shows that the SoulCalibur games just keep getting better. Familiar faces mixed with new, the game's story follows Sophitia's children, Patroklos and Pyrrah (I am terrible at spelling Greek names) as they are both effected by the mysterious Soul Calibur and Soul Edge. ...But we completely ignored that for the most part and just spent all of our time in the character creator! The game features a very robust creation system that allows you to make characters of all shapes and sizes with plenty of customizable equipment to give them. I myself filled all the slots with my Power Master characters, so it was interesting to see Stephan go up against Caleb or Merlina go up against Kyra in a 3D environment, or at least as close to those characters as I could possibly get.

SoulCalibur VI came out recently and is looking like it improves on just about everything, though I haven't spent a lot of time on the game yet. My only real complaint with that game so far is only one character is unlockable through play-time, the other five are on-disc DLC which is ughhhh.

PROS	CONS
Graphics are very colorful, and the voice acting is incredible	Story is a pretty generic good vs evil scenario
Incredible character creation system that allows you to make the characters of your dreams...	...But is restricted to one profile only, so I couldn't have Stephan go up against the characters my brother created on his profile.

 

[Alex95]

Friday was absolute chaos, so I'm a day late. I barely have time for this today ^^;

Spoiler: #85

Mario Super Sluggers

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I've never been that big into baseball, but Mario Super Sluggers takes everything about it and cranks it up to 11. The basic game play is there, you hit a ball as hard as you can and try to make it around the diamond and back to home plate. But Sluggers adds items, star pitches, stage gimmicks, mini games, and the absolute biggest Mario roster that has yet to be topped (unless you consider Super Smash Bros. Ultimate). My friend who does not play videos games put a lot of time into this game, more than I have, because it's simple and fun to play together. The game also has a story mode that I can't complete because I suck at baseball (¯\_(ツ)_/¯), but it's an interesting way to see all these characters interact with one another.

PROS​	CONS​
Fun and simple game play	Wii motions really take a toll on your arm

Spoiler: #84

The Legend of Zelda: Spirits Tracks​

A vast improvement to the previous Phantom Hourglass, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks takes every good about the previous game and adds its own spin to it. Instead of driving a boat, you drive a train! While your exploration is limited to the track layout, it never feels like you have no control over where you need to go... aside from story elements that hinder your progress, but considering this is a magical railway, it makes total sense. Game play is still heavily touch-based, so it plays much like it's predecessor, but there's one key point that makes this whole game worth playing: Playable Princess Zelda. Having been ripped out of her body, Zelda is now capable of possessing the various Phantoms that patrol the Tower of Spirits (which is a far improved version of the Temple of the Ocean King) and use their abilities to help Link out. There's plenty of variety, humor, and train shenanigans that can keep players interested for a long time.

PROS	CONS
Innovative touch controls and train management	Dark Trains are incredibly powerful
Princess Zelda is fun to control, and Byrne is a very interesting character

Spoiler: #83

Pokemon Yellow​

So our copy of Pokemon Yellow has some sentimental value behind it. When I was 5 or 6, my father's side had a family friend, named Isaac, who stayed at my father's sister's place for a while. He was not doing too good, my only memory of the guy was seeing him in bed, and he soon died of a heart attack. Isaac was a game collector, and had many games he shared with us. Pokemon Yellow was one of the games he gave my father, and my dad gave it to me about a year ago. It's one of our last remaining belongings of him, but even though I never really knew the guy, this game has a special meaning to my dad.

But as far as game play goes, it's as basis as Pokemon can get because it was only the third version of the original Kanto series. Yellow takes more cues from the anime series, including Jesse and James as part of Team Rocket, character graphics that match those of the anime characters, and of course a Pikachu you can talk to. One of these days, I'll play Let's Go Pikachu and explore it in a different light.

PROS	CONS
Simple and addicting	As a restriction from the anime, you can't evolve (or release) Pikachu

Spoiler: #82

NES Remix / NES Remix 2​

NES Remix and NES Remix 2 was a pretty cool way to see NES several titles mixed together, and then redone in a way that made us see them anew. Levels moved faster, characters from other series had to clear a level from a different game, screens constantly zoomed out, you moved left instead of right, etc. They're a bunch of fun challenges, but they aren't very plentiful. The Remix titles takes snippets of games and tells you to complete a specific challenge; the first couple are just to tell you how to play the game. They get more difficult as time goes on, but it would've been neat to go through the entirety of Brinstar as Link, or to have one difference (such as slippery ground) applied throughout Super Mario Bros. It's a good time-waster and an interesting experience.

PROS	CONS
Various olds games remixed into something new	You can't play the full games with different attributions

Spoiler: #81

Portal​

If you've ever wanted to mess with the fabric of reality, Portal is the game for you. Locked in test chambers and told to solve them, Chell makes use of a special gun that shoots portals, allowing her or other objects to move through and into a different portion of the chamber. This game is increibly innovative and throws new challenges at you in every room, and the dialogue from GlaDos is gut-busting humorous. My mother doesn't play games, but this is possibly her favorite one out of all of them we own. It's simple, funny, and incredible.

PROS	CONS
Physics-defying puzzles

 

[Alex95]

Spoiler: #80

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

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Take a trip down the Dark Side of the Force in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. The game follows a kid named Galen, code named Starkiller, who is taken as an apprentice to Darth Vader because of his powerful connection to the force, and he soon grows into a powerhouse of a Sith. He follows Vader commands for a while, until plot twist happens and he instead searches the path of the Jedi. That's the overly simplified version of it.

The game is set between the movies Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, acting as a sort of bridge between them. As Starkiller, you are to grow more and more powerful, taking down Sith and Jedi alike as the story progresses, gaining new powers and abilities. The Force Unleashed is incredibly impressive with great visuals that bring familiar locations and characters to new light, an expansive selection of force powers, and an amazing story that really immerses you in the world of Star Wars. Also, lot's of costumes! That's always a plus. Have you ever wanted to see C-3P0 fight with a lightsaber?

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II expands on Starkiller's story (kinda), but I haven't put a lot of time into the sequel. He's got two lightsabers now, though!

PROS​	CONS​
Immersive story with a wide selection of powers and collectables	Platforming is difficult

Spoiler: #79

Nintendo Land​

Nintendo Land is the virtual Nintendo theme park we all wanted (probably). We got Mario, we got Zelda, we got Metroid, F-Zero, and Pikmin. There are twelve attractions to choose from, split between single-player and multi-player, with the multi-player attractions further split between cooperative and competitive. While all of the games are good in their own way, the single player attractions we hardly ever play. We only break this game out to play Mario Chase with the occasional Luigi's Ghost Mansion because they are simple and fun to play with friends and family.

Maybe one day we'll get Smash Land for the Switch, including Kirby and Star Fox attractions.

PROS	CONS
Mario Chase	Yoshi's Fruit Cart
The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest	Pikmin Adventure
Metroid Blast's gameplay	Metroid Blast's restriction to Motion Plus
Luigi's Ghost Mansion	Animal Crossing: Sweet Day
Octopus Dance
Donkey's Kong Crash Course
Takamaru's Ninja Castle
Captain Falcon's Twister Race
Balloon Trip Breeze

Spoiler: #78

Street Fighter II Turbo​

The best selling fighting game until Super Smash Bros. Ultimate passed it earlier this year, Street Fighter II has seen multiple rereleases over the years. The one we have specifically is Street Fighter II Turbo for the Super Nintendo, and my dad and my brothers break it out a lot. It plays like a regular fighting game, each fighter has special abilities that are used to dwindle the opponent's health bar to zero within the time limit. SFII has 16 characters to choose from, so there's plenty of variety.

PROS	CONS
Simple game play with plenty of variety	We can't figure out how to change the stage, so we keep fighting on JAPAN

Spoiler: #77

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U​

My most played Smash Bros. game so far, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U brought the series in HD with new characters, stages, music, etc. Despite the cuts from Melee and Brawl, the roster of characters is very impressive, and some of those cut characters even came back as DLC. The game is impressive and plays similarly to the previous games before it... But that's really it. You got your regular battles, the usual Classic and All-Star, a wide array of trophies... Custom Moves are fun, but rarely used. The game doesn't add a lot of new variety to the game modes. Hardly anyone likes Smash Tour. But in all honesty, that's okay! Smash shines when it's player against player, pitting Mario against Mega Man, and just having a good time knocking each other off the stage. 8-Player Smash is also a fun time, but dang does that mode use up batteries.

PROS	CONS
Impressive visuals and character line-up	Pretty bare bones in game modes

Spoiler: #76

Mario Party 7​

Mario Party 7 was the last Mario Party title on the GameCube, and it's Mario Party as you know it. Just with more characters, minigames, and stages. Really fun minigames and stages. Game play is like other Mario Party titles before it, but the stages mix things up by allowing you steal Stars, get Stars based on the number of coins you have, race to the top, and more. And if you thought Super Smash Bros. for Wii U was the first game to do 8-Players, guess again! Mario Party 7 wasn't either, but there are 8-Player minigames to enjoy through two people sharing one controller; one person uses the Control Stick and L Button while the other uses the C Stick and R Button. Honestly feels like the weakest Mario Party title on the GameCube, but it's still a great time.

PROS	CONS
Fun stages and minigames

 

[Alex95]

Happy New Year!

Spoiler: #75

Star Wars Episode I: Racer

​

The best part of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (aside from Darth Maul) has to be Podracing. While it wasn't shown to its full extent in the movie, Star Wars Episode I: Racer puts you in the cockpit of the machines and throws you into more tracks than just the one on Tatooine. Every racer has their strengths and weaknesses, and if they take too much damage, they explode and the racer will respawn after a few seconds. It's just straight-up space drag racing and it's a heck of a lot of fun, though the controls can be annoying at times and the AI is ruthless.

PROS​	CONS​
Space drag racing with plenty of environments	Controls are pretty whacky
Humorous voice overs (though Anakin's are borrowed from the movie)	Incredibly long race tracks, possibly longer than N64 Rainbow Road

Spoiler: #74

Mario vs. Donkey Kong​

After about nine years of 3D titles and sports game, Mario returns to 2D platforming in Mario vs. Donkey Kong. It's not the fast-paced platforming the regular 2D games have, however, as this game focuses more on puzzles. Mario constantly has to make use on his environment, even making changes to it in order to progress, such as hitting color switches to make certain platforms appear. After six levels, you then have to lead the little Mini Mario toys through a challenge level and then take on Donkey Kong. And once you beat him for the final time... You unlock the other half of the game!

Too bad none of the other Mario vs. Donkey Kong titles follow this format anymore, though they are all still impressive on their own.

PROS	CONS
Very well thought out platforming/puzzle mix	Mario's jumping physics are pretty bad
Expansive and challenging post-game content

Spoiler: #73

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box​

Another puzzle-heavy game, Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box continues the Professor Layton travels as the second game in the series. As is custom in the series, the game contains a lot of wacky characters and plot points that throw reason out the window all for the sake of making a good puzzle and mystery. As the game progresses, Layton discovers more and more about an underlying plot relating to a special box. The game mixes story and puzzles incredibly well and I wish I had more games from this series, as it ties in to its predecessor and its sequel.

PROS	CONS
Very well thought out story with impressive and challenging puzzles

Spoiler: #72

Fuzion Frenzy​

As a launch title for the XBox, Fuzion Frenzy was made to show the capabilities of four player game play. It's a minigame compilation, and that's all it is, but the minigames are fantastic. There is a story-esque progression mode you can go through, but we usually just stick with the minigame selection. The minigames range from rolling balls, platforming challenges, beat-em-ups, orb collection, hot potato, and tanks. There's as much variety here as you can find in a Mario Party game.

There is also a sequel that does not seem to have gone over well with the critics.

PROS	CONS
Plenty of fun minigames	Also plenty of boring minigames
Each character has their own personality that adds to the charm	I can't understand a word Zack is saying

Spoiler: #71

Wario World​

You can always count on Wario to mix weird with fun, and Wario World is no different. After tackling the 2D genre, Wario decides to move into 3D, and the result is a treasure hunting platformer with beat-em-up aspects. Wario is not afraid to punch, flatten, and throw the enemies if it means finding as much treasure as humanly possible. You can't just go out and get the treasure, though, as the chests are only activated by certain buttons, and in order for Wario to leave a level, he has to collect enough red crystals and then take on a boss. It's essentially the Wario Land series you love, but in three dimensions!

PROS	CONS
Worlds with plenty of variety and challenges	Not very large nor a lot of side-content
Fantastic music and Warioness

 

[Alex95]

Spoiler: #70

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

​

After owning Metroid Prime 1 and 2 for years, I really wanted to have the full trilogy. It took me years to find and buy Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and it did not disappoint. Everything about this game is near perfect and greatly expands Samus's story. Being able to aim Samus's gun with the Wii Remote feels almost natural, and she has plenty of new abilities to use that make great use of the new controls. You can even interact with her Gunship, allowing you to pull up progress displays before thrusting into a new world.

The only problem is I have a great deal of trouble playing this game. My hands are not very stable, so my aim is incredibly off and does not appear to be getting better. This is a problem I have with all first-person shooters, not just Metroid. The lock-on system has been adjusted in this game, so it doesn't really work the way it used to. I am as far as the Mogenar fight and that asks too much of me. One day, I'll play through the game that took me so long to obtain.

PROS​	CONS​
Incredible graphics and an expansive lore	Coordination is terrible for me, making easy targets difficult to hit
Humorous voice overs

Spoiler: #69

Final Fantasy VIII​

Final Fantasy VIII plays pretty much like any other Final Fantasy title, though of course with its own mechanics thrown in. Building off of the new timing system used in Final Fantasy VII's battles, VIII follows Squall as he goes through this battle academy and soon becomes wrapped up in this manipulative power struggle while also figuring out the cause of these weird dreams. The dreams shift the world into a story told by Laguna, who somehow has access to the same abilities as Squall. I've played through enough of the story to get the gist of their connection, but I'm not going to spoil things here for players who are wanting to play the upcoming Remastered version. There are four discs worth of content, so it will keep you busy for a while.

PROS	CONS
Long story for of twists and arcs	Usual RP underleveledness happens
Memorable music

Spoiler: #68

Mario Sports Mix​

What's better than one sports game? Four sports games! Mario Sports Mix compiles four sports into one package, being basketball, hockey, volleyball, and dodgeball. After their attempt at making a Mario sports game with Mario Hoops 3-on-3, Square Enix was brought in to do better and removed the coin collecting limitation, but added so much more Mario-esque content that this game really is worth more than what you pay for it. The Final Fantasy characters from 3-on-3 also return, along with the Slime from Dragon Quest. My friend and I have a blast with this game, and I really need to continue playing through it.

PROS	CONS
Four games in one	AI can be incredibly annoying at times
Fun minigames

Spoiler: #67

Xenoblade Chronicles X​

While it may have the Xenoblade Chronicles title, Xenoblade Chronicles X only shares a similar game play with its predecessor. The two stories, content, characters, etc. share nothing alike, though you may recognize some familiar races like the Nopons. But Xenoblade Chronicles X is an incredible and expansive game all on its own. Stories are engaging, characters are incredible, plenty of side-content, and Transformer-like machines that just give hours upon hours of fun. Like in the first Xenoblade, XCX has an expansive collectathon system where every item has a lore behind it, every piece of equipment effects how your character looks, and there are plenty of enemies to fight. As you travel around the world of Mira, you equip your characters with special abilities called Arts to search for missing pieces of the vessel you crash landed in. 80% of the residents on this planet so you as invaders, so you have to tread carefully and negotiate peacefully, or end up having to fight for your life which is already at risk from simply being on the planet.

My favorite part of this game is the absolute lack of personal space, as you can see above :P

PROS	CONS
Fantastic visuals, soundtrack, and voice acting	My mind cannot manage all of the Arts my characters have
Optional difficult system that lowers when you are having trouble just for the one battle, which is nice	While each character has their own spotlight missions, they are usually shafted in favor of the main crew
So much characters and content	Partial nakedness

Spoiler: #66

Kingdom Hearts series​

If you're like me, you enjoy crossover titles. Seeing characters that wouldn't normally come together is just an absolute blast. Case in point: the Kingdom Hearts series. They are all very well done titles, though I haven't fully played through a single one, but they are all an enjoyable mix of Disney content. An overarching story connects them all as Sora battles the Heartless and Organization XIII through a mix of Disney worlds. While Final Fantasy is also mixed in, the characters for that series act as mainly side content for Kingdom Hearts, which is kind of upsetting, but Final Fantasy plays a bigger role in Kingdom Hearts than most people realize. While the story and content is mainly about Disney, Final Fantasy inspires the game play. Sora, Donald, Goofy, and the occasional fourth team member are all equipped with magical abilities and class forms that effect everything about this series. It is a wonderful mix of RPG content that shapes the world of Disney into something completely unique.

PROS	CONS
Recognizable characters mixed with new stories	While you can get characters like Hercules and Tarzan on your team, they are only temporary, and would've been a powerful addition to the traveling team
Familiar worlds are explorable in a whole new light

 

[Alex95]

Spoiler: #65

LEGO series

​

Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Batman, Harry Potter... All already great series on their own, so what happens when you throw LEGO into the mix? Answer: hilarity. The LEGO versions of these games are fantastic reenactments of their movie scenarios, told by imagery rather than words (though they grunt a lot), with some creative liberties being taken in order to get the point across. But while you can experience things as they should be in a new way, the fun comes from being able to explore these scenarios as any other character in the game! Play as Palpatine as you go through Attack of the Clones. That sword guy that swings his sword around and Indy just shoots him? You can play as him! Or play as Harley Quinn and beat up Joker. Plenty of possibilities, and you can even make a custom character to throw in.

Multiplayer is also great fun, and you can beat each other up with almost no consequences. While you lose some LEGO studs if you die, you immediately respawn where you fell. There's no life system, so the game can come off as pretty easy, but there are plenty of challenges and rewards to collect in these games that is great fun for everyone.

PROS​	CONS​
Humorous retellings of famous stories	Sometimes depth perception can be a little off
Plenty of extra content and characters to choose from

Spoiler: #64

Mario Kart 7​

Mario Kart 7 is actually pretty incredible for a 3DS title. It just looks and feels great to me, visuals are vibrant and controls are solid. As one of the first 3DS games, Mario Kart 7 had a lot to prove by bringing Mario Kart to a high-powered handheld. The DS was already capable of 3D graphics with Mario Kart DS, so courses on the 3DS took advantage of the 3D function by introducing two new mechanics: Flying and diving. This game looks incredible with 3D turned on, as it really feels like you are looking out into the field as you are high in the air or seeing the water flow around you. The race tracks in this game are some of the best I've seen in the series. Mario Kart 7 also introduces the option of building your own kart. While previous games starting with Double Dash!! allowed you to choose different vehicles, Mario Kart 7 allows you to pick a kart body, the wheels, and the glider to make the best possible kart for a race, or to just look silly.

Mario Kart has also had pretty memorable track music, but I can't for the life of me remember most of them from Mario Kart 7. They also prioritized the character roster quite oddly, as we got Wiggler and Honey Queen over characters like Waluigi and Bowser Jr. I get they had limited roster space to work with, and new characters are always a welcome addition, but something just seems off here, especially since Wiggler and Honey Queen have not returned in Mario Kart 8. Coins also return from Mario Kart: Super Circuit that serve mainly as a way to unlock new kart pieces, but the amounts to do so are so ludicrous that it gets tedious easily.

PROS	CONS
Well-designed race tracks that come to life in 3D	Odd roster choices and kart piece unlocking progression

Spoiler: #63

New Super Mario Bros.​

Back in 2006, Mario has not been seen in a true 2D game since Super Mario Land 2, 14 years prior. Wario instead took it up while Mario explored 3D worlds. While Mario did have various remakes and the Mario vs. Donkey Kong game, it wasn't until New Super Mario Bros. marked the return of Mario and Luigi exploring 2D worlds. Premise is the same as any other Mario game, Peach is captured by Bowser and you have to save her. There are new power-ups thrown in, bosses that are more than just Bowser and the Koopalings, and very well thought-out level design that makes New Super Mario Bros. worth far more than whatever you pay for it.

Unfortunately, it has its limitations. The graphics are not the greatest I've seen on the Nintendo DS, they actually look pretty terrible at times. And while the game may be called New Super Mario "Bros.", player 2's Luigi is instead a separate solo mode, meaning players cannot explore the game together using the same cartridge. There is a multiplayer mode, but it's a star catching battle mode, which is still fun. Both of these complaints don't hamper game play in any way, though.

PROS	CONS
A welcome return to 2D Mario with fun power-ups and great level design	Graphics aren't that great
Memorable music	While the star catching minigame is fun, multiplayer is lacking

Spoiler: #62

F-Zero GX​

In what is probably the last good F-Zero game, F-Zero GX is the absolute best the series can offer. 30-man racing, incredibly diverse race tracks, an intense story mode, and a vehicle designer. As far as I'm concerned, this is the best in straight up, anti-gravity, demolition derby, drag racing. But make no mistake, this game is incredibly brutal. Even on the easiest difficulties, the game will not take things easy on you, so you really have to manage your Boost Power wisely if you have any hope of placing in the top six. This is especially true in Story Mode, with some chapters having insane requirements to meet that you have to do things perfectly on the hardest difficulty. It is incredibly easy to fly off the track if you are not careful... actually, it's incredibly easy even if you are careful!

But the worst part of it all is this game released in 2004 for the Nintendo GameCube. There were a couple of GBA titles afterward, but this was is the last great F-Zero game. There hasn't even been a re-release of any kind. The series is perhaps only known nowadays due to Captain Falcon's inclusion in Smash Bros. Kid Icarus came out of retirement after a nearly 25 year gap, so it's certainly possible Falcon will take on the race track yet again... but it is not looking very likely.

Go read The 'Shroom's Mach Speed Mayhem if you want to know more about these characters!

PROS	CONS
Plenty of speed. A lot of speed.	Story cutscenes are hilariously bad
Diverse car builder and character roster...	...that are locked behind some very, very difficult challenges.

Spoiler: #61

WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$!​

When it comes to making minigames, no one can do it quite like Wario and crew. WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$ takes the entire selection of games from Mega Micro Game$! and adds a whole multiplayer mode filled with oddities and hilarities. While Mario Party has amazing minigames as well, WarioWare gives them a theme to follow ("Introduction", "Weird", "Sc-Fi", etc.), and mixes them into a short and wild micro games. Single player mode also introduces boss challenges that make use of the GameCube controller, and multiplayer mode has additional mini games where players battle head-to-head or one at a time.

PROS	CONS
Fun times all around!	There are some graphics that are honestly disturbing to look at, but hey, that's Wario for ya

 

[Jackie Frost]

I'm not entirely satisfied with all of the LEGO games being grouped under the same one - LIJ2 is easily my favourite whilst ones such as LEGO Hobbit I barely played in the first place for lack of interest.

Also I know it was a while ago but I think I can't relate to your comment of 3D World's depth perception being bad, I always thought the game looked incredible and never had any trouble with this.

Nice though anyway

 

[Alex95]

I'm not entirely satisfied with all of the LEGO games being grouped under the same one - LIJ2 is easily my favourite whilst ones such as LEGO Hobbit I barely played in the first place for lack of interest.

We have LEGO Star Wars: The Original Trilogy and The Complete Saga, LEGO Indiana Jones, and the three LEGO Batman games. All are very good, but they also all play the same. They just have different content based on the subject.

Also I know it was a while ago but I think I can't relate to your comment of 3D World's depth perception being bad, I always thought the game looked incredible and never had any trouble with this.

The game does indeed look incredible graphically, but the odd camera angle has messed up our jump too many times to count. There is camera control, but it's not done very well. It uses 3D Land's camera angles, which were meant to take advantage of the 3DS's 3D screen, but 3D World does not have that. Still a great game, though.

Nice though anyway

:D

 

[Alex95]

Spoiler: #60

Mario Kart 8

​

Mario Kart is a series that seems to just keep getting better and better, and Mario Kart 8 is no exception. The game looks absolutely beautiful and plays very well, better than any other Mario Kart game as far as I can tell. An impressive cast of characters, completely overhauled retro courses, and the best set of remixed music I have ever heard, even considering Smash Bros.

But that's with the returning stuff. Mario Kart 8 introduces anti-gravity to the mix, along with the returning flight and underwater mechanics from Mario Kart 7, and all tracks, even returning ones, are built around that and come off as feeling completely natural. While anti-gravity is a fun new mechanic, the rest of the new changes and additions... are pretty hit and miss. This is the first Mario Kart since Super Mario Kart that only lets you use one item at a time, and the character roster choices are pretty odd and missing some fan favorite characters like Diddy Kong and Bowser Jr. The new tracks are pretty forgettable to me, along with their music, but there are good ones mixed in there. And Battle Mode is just terrible.

Now, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe fixes all these problems, and the DLC from the original game (that is included with Deluxe) essentially turns Mario Kart into Super Smash Kart and it is amazing. But since I don't own MK8DX, it doesn't effect this rating at all, so... sorry!

PROS​	CONS​
Impressive visuals and soundtrack	Battle Mode is kind of missing but not really?

Spoiler: #59

Pokemon Omega Ruby and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire​

As a fan of the Hoenn Region games, I was very excited to see Pokemon Omega Ruby and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire announced. I was never able to fully play through the original games, and they were either my brothers' or my dad's, but I was able to get Omega Ruby (the one of the two versions I own) for myself. It's a fantastic reimagining of the Hoenn Region that introduces new Mega Evolutions, events, a post-game story, improved Secret Bases, and more! And being able to fly on the back of Latios or Latias over the region is just incredible.

PROS	CONS
Fantastic reimagining of a classic game	I liked the original design of May better

Spoiler: #58

Ape Escape 2​

Ape Escape 2 was one of the only PlayStation 2 games we had for a while, so it's another title we put a lot of time into. The premise is simple: You catch monkeys. By whacking them on the head, superspeeding into them, or hitting them out of a tree with a slingshot. You can also attract them with a scented boomerang, pull large metal blocks with a magnet, or douse fires with a water cannon. Also, some monkeys have guns, another has a motorcycle, and one tries to put on a music video performance. Ape Escape is an incredibly wacky series, but it's also a heck of a lot of fun. It's animal control mixed with platforming challenges, and if that doesn't sound like a good past time, I don't know what does (except for maybe the 57 remaining games on this list).

Also there's a Metal Gear minigame where you're essentially Solid Snake, but a monkey.

PROS	CONS
Hilarious concept and fun gameplay	Using items can be annoying sometimes

Spoiler: #57

Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen​

Normally, when RPGs introduce new characters for your team, they're given a short backstory, maybe an extra side quest, and that's it. Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen goes completely against this and gives every party member their own full-fledged story. You don't even get to play as the main character for four chapters because everyone is a main character! Each character has their own reasons for setting off: You find your friend dead from a bandit attack and are going to find who did it, Alena wants to get out more and goes to join a fighting tournament, Ragnar wants to be the best knight possible, Torneko wants to sell more things, and Maya and Meena want to just simply travel more to show off their skills. They eventually come together and then it turns into a pretty typical RPG, but it shows just how much work can go into character development when you don't focus on just the central character.

PROS	CONS
Simple RPG with multiple stories tied together	Torneko's story is very slow

Spoiler: #56

Hyrule Warriors​

Hyrule Warriors brings everything about The Legend of Zelda and mashes them all together. Due to time-breaking shenanigans, the worlds of Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword all merge together and new bad gal, Cia, is looking for the fragments of Ganondorf's soul in all of them. Obviously, you have to stop this, so a new Link, Zelda, and Impa all set out with new good girl, Lana. The game play is completely unlike anything from Zelda, though. While it has Zelda elements, such as hearts and the locals, the game play relies more on the engine of Dynasty Warriors. To progress, you have to capture a number of keeps, defeat a certain amount of enemies, or defeat a specific enemy, and you have access to special skills that give characters like Sheik and Ruto their own personality unlike anything we've seen from them before. You will also be rewarded with rare treasure if you do well enough.

Dynasty Warriors has a reputation of being pretty repetitive. It's just battle after battle, getting the upper hand on an enemy over and over again, and fighting returning enemies delivers nothing new. It can result in either a lot of waiting for the right moment or a flurry of attacks. A Rank missions on the Adventure Maps are also incredibly difficult. Despite these flaws, there is a lot of content to keep fans of both series satisfied for a while. Hyrule Warriors did so well, that it spawned a sequel and a Definite Edition on the 3DS and Switch respectively, which introduces other games from the Zelda series, and set the path for further crossovers Dragon Quest Heroes I and II and Fire Emblem Warriors.

PROS	CONS
Lots and lots of Zelda content	Repetitive game play

 

[Alex95]

Spoiler: #55

Mario Party 5

​

Mario Party 5 may not have been the first Mario Party I've played (that goes to Mario Party 2), but it was the first one we owned. There's not much you can say about the Mario Party series before Mario Party 9 that is different from other games, so it all comes down to the boards and minigames. Mario Party 5 has some well designed boards, each taking place within different themes. The concept of a dream world really opened up the variety the boards could have. Capsule spaces are done my favorite way here, where they can not only effect an opponent, but you as well, so you really have to think things through with orb placement.

The return of the Star Spirits from Paper Mario as the mode hosts was neat. Along with the usual Mario Party, Minigame Mode, and Options, there is also a Story Mode where you face off against three Koopa Kids, Super Duel Mode where you build a vehicle and take it to battle, and Card Party where the board is randomly generated. All of these new modes have ups and downs. Story Mode game play takes place on smaller boards so the action is quicker, but it's also pretty repetitive. Taking vehicles into battle in Super Duel Mode sounds awesome, but they move so slowly that it is barely fun. And random boards in Card Party is a good way to mix things up, but there's no minigames that makes Mario Party what it is.

PROS​	CONS​
Cool soundtrack and board themes	Extra modes are hit-or-miss

Spoiler: #54

Final Fantasy X​

There are so many good Final Fantasy games, but if I had to pick a favorite, it would be Final Fantasy X. I used to spend a lot of time watching my dad play this game. I loved the character interactions, voice overs are great, story is pretty solid, and it never feels like the game throws too much at you at once. I made it as far as the Albed Cannon before dropping the game (because my brother took the PS2 to his room), but everything about this game is pretty incredible.

It is a pretty standard RPG through-and-through, though. Which means there's grinding, skill systems, and such. Nothing that makes the game bad, but as usual for RPGs, it can take a while to build your characters up. Blitzball is a fun sport minigame that makes use of the 3D environment, but the controls for it are pretty finicky and you are never really given a good chance to spend a lot of time on it.

PROS	CONS
Great story with plenty of content

Spoiler: #53

Super Mario Bros.​

Super Mario Bros.! What more can be said about this game? It's simple, fun, and challenging. And it singlehandedly saved video games after the 1983 crash. Seriously, if you haven't played this yet, you're missing out. It may have been a launch title for the Nintendo Entertainment System back in 1983/1985, and there may not be as much content as you are used to nowadays, but it's a timeless classic that still holds up today.

PROS	CONS
Simple, fun, and challenging

Spoiler: #52

Mario Party 8​

With the launch of the Nintendo Wii, developers were designing games with motion control in mind. Mario Party 8 is a great example of this, as 90% of its game play revolves around motion control. Punch the air to hit the dice block, thrust forward to launch a dart, shake a soda can up and down, drive a car, wash a Chain Chomp, draw graffiti... While there are also more traditional mini games, Mario Party 8 contains plenty of new ideas that would not have been as fun if done in earlier titles.

The other modes leave a lot to be desired, though. The basic Mario Party mode, while still as fun as it usually is, only has two or three boards I can consider fun to play on. Story Mode isn't much of a story, and party points you get don't really do much. Even so, it's a great time with friends.

PROS	CONS
Plenty of well thought-out minigames	Boards are hit-or-miss

Spoiler: #51

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time​

Coming off of the success of Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time adds another duo of brothers into the mix. Mario and Luigi join with their infant counterparts through the power of time travel to stop an invading force and rescue Princess Peach who was kidnapped by said force. There are several instances where the two duos need to split up, solve puzzles, and regroup in order to move on. In one instance, Mario and Luigi are captured, so Baby Mario and Baby Luigi need to travel an entire factory to save them. Puzzles in this game are very well done to account for four characters, and battle abilities are also pretty solid.

PROS	CONS
Lots of well thought out puzzles and environments that make use of four characters	While Baby Bowser is prominent in the story, he and adult Bowser are hardly ever used, only being a focus in one chapter
Great visuals and soundtrack	Fawful also goes underused
As solid as a story can be with time travel

 

[Jackie Frost]

Why did you put SMB1 above NSMBDS?

 

[Alex95]

NSMBDS lacks any real multiplayer, so when it came to the main content, I had more fun coming back to the original with my dad or someone and playing it. NSMBDS is still a great single player game, but it doesn't have much to keep us coming back to it.

 

[Jackie Frost]

NSMBDS lacks any real multiplayer, so when it came to the main content, I had more fun coming back to the original with my dad or someone and playing it. NSMBDS is still a great single player game, but it doesn't have much to keep us coming back to it.

IIRC the only multiplayer on SMB1 was basically just you take it in turns as Mario and Luigi to try the level, which I mean its your opinion not mine, but personally the minigames and Mario vs Luigi battles in NSMBDS sound way more fun. Plus you also ranked SMB1 higher than SM3DW and NSMBU which I believe both have great multiplayer in most of the game.

Also DS has like better graphics, more levels, more bosses, more music, etc.

Not trying to invalidate your opinion or anything just asking

 

[Alex95]

IIRC the only multiplayer on SMB1 was basically just you take it in turns as Mario and Luigi to try the level, which I mean its your opinion not mine, but personally the minigames and Mario vs Luigi battles in NSMBDS sound way more fun. Plus you also ranked SMB1 higher than SM3DW and NSMBU which I believe both have great multiplayer in most of the game.

Also DS has like better graphics, more levels, more bosses, more music, etc.

Not trying to invalidate your opinion or anything just asking

I suppose you could simulate the multiplayer experience for the main story of NSMB by passing the system around. You'd be restricted to either Mario or Luigi, but it'd work. It just wouldn't have the same feel, as you share the same lives, progression, etc. The actual multiplayer mode was fun, yes, not disputing that :P But multiplayer in the main content for the previous and newer games around NSMB also acted as a sort of challenge and/or cooperation that NSMB lacks.

The multiplayer game play in SM3DW and NSMBU were not the problems I had with those games. The multiplayer in those are solid and fun, but the games had other issues that caused them to drop below SMB1 on my list.

Sure, NSMB has more content than SMB1, but it all depends on several factors. Personal history, time spent playing, etc.

 

[Alex95]

Thursday evening, but I'm bored, so let's start the Top 50 a few hours early! Here we go!

Spoiler: #50

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

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The first portable entry in the Super Smash Bros. series, and the portable counterpart to the Wii U version, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS finally allowed Smash Bros. on the go. The roster is shared between it and the Wii U version, but most of the rest of the content is different. Classic Mode I feel is better, Smash Run is an absolute blast, and the stages are mainly based on handheld games.

It is way too powerful for my poor 3DS, though. Being one of the oldest models, my 3DS takes a long time to load this game and a long time to turn it off. It actually can no longer connect to Smash Online now, due to the frequent updates or something. Regardless, the game offers an enjoyable single player experience. For multiplayer experience, you're better off with any other Smash game. Unless it's Smash Run. Play Smash Run together.

PROS​	CONS​
Nice visuals and an impressive roster	Multiplayer is pretty weak

Spoiler: #49

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild​

"Alex95, what are you doing placing the absolute best Zelda game below the Top 5?!?" I don't hear you saying. I've heard a lot of praise for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild when it first released, and followed along with all the hype it's been getting since 2014. But when I finally got to play it for myself, it just felt... lacking. Yeah, you got your Zelda elements, many caves and dungeons to explore, and familiar locations that this may as well be called "Nostalgia: The Video Game". Those are all well and good, and I had a lot of fun with them. For a time.

I completed all the mini dungeons (called Shrines) in a matter of hours, and they were all a lot of fun. They are filled with unique puzzles or a boss fight (or they will just straight up give you the orb), and I like this mini-dungeon concept that was only barely touched upon in earlier titles. New mechanics, like Flurry Rush and Shield Surfing, are also a lot of fun to mess around with, and Link's new arsenal of weapons opens up new ways to fight enemies or change your environment. Literally everything in this game is intractable. If you want to set Hyrule Field on fire, go for it.

But there are just... too many new things shoved into this game, that it was missing a lot of core Zelda elements. A lot of the items you get are still part of Link's arsenal, but they aren't tied to any dungeon's progression and are mainly meant for just combat. The main dungeons are also few in number, totaling five, and while the ability to manipulate the dungeon with the Sheikah Slate is pretty neat, I feel like some opportunities were missed if it was combined with Link's items. There are plenty of quests to do, but they revolve mainly around Link collecting items or beating a certain enemy, or are tied to a Shrine. The collectathons are also incredibly large and tedious. Take a picture of every item, enemy, and small creature you come across. Now go find 900 Korok Seeds, that you need to use to expand your inventory. Also, your weapons can break. All of them. And there's no way to repair them. While this opens up a different level of strategy, I found it more annoying than enjoyable. Link is also an amnesiac, so there's a side-story to the game that takes longer than the actual one.

Overall, this is a good game that you can spend hours on. It's just missing a lot of elements that made Zelda what it is, that this just feels like a new RPG featuring Link from The Legend of Zelda series.

PROS	CONS
Neat visuals	90% of this game is missing its music
Interesting battle mechanics that open up new ways to fight...	...which are hampered by easily breakable weapons
Lots of places to explore and secrets to find...	...but are usually just one-and-done places with things to take pictures of
Link can climb up anything as if he were Spider-Man	Rain and lightning

Spoiler: #48

Super Mario Sunshine​

Mario's 3D games are an absolute blast, and Super Mario Sunshine is no different. It mixes Mario's core game play of jumping on things with the introduction of a new water pack named F.L.U.D.D. that can help Mario get around. F.L.U.D.D. also helps clean the graffiti that's been placed by Mario's shadowy doppelganger. While many feel like the graffiti clean up and water pack messes restricts Mario's movements from those seen in Super Mario 64, it also adds a new level of game play that the course locations make great use of. The Long Jump is replaced with the Hover Nozzle, but the Rocket Nuzzle allows for super high launches that can shatter some obstacles when Ground Pounding back down, and the Turbo Nozzle essentially allows you to surf on water and break through some closed doors. Yoshi is also introduced in 3D, and he uses his juice-spitting powers to turn enemies into platforms.

The only dull moments I can think of are some of the Shine Sprite requirements. The Pachinko Machine and Lily Pad Ride courses are infamous for being notoriously difficult, and the secret level in Pianta Village is brutal if you don't line up your Chuckster launches correctly. The Blue Coins are also a headache if you don't try to take note of them yourself, as no in game checklist is provided for them. Mario's F.L.U.D.D.-less challenges are also pretty neat, but are limited to the secret courses, with one exception. If you could play the entire game without F.L.U.D.D. as a sort of hard mode, that'd be awesome. Make it happen in Super Mario Sunshine HD, Nintendo!

PROS	CONS
Neat visuals and fun locations	Blue Coin collecting and Pachinko Machine

Spoiler: #47

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures​

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures acts as a sequel to the GBA's Four Swords title, and improves on it in every way. Visual improvements, dungeon improvements, and an actual story. The game still relies on currency collecting to move forward, and items can only be used in the location they are found in, but they never feel like restrictions. Progression of the game is broken up into segments in each world, kind of like a Super Mario game, where the goal is to gather Force Gems and beat a boss to rescue one of the magical maidens. The locations are very beautifully detailed and the layouts are impressive, that it never felt like it ran out of ideas.

The game also has a focus on multiplayer, but, similar to my issue in Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, we never had enough Game Boy Advance link cables to play this game to its full potential. The locations can also be incredibly long, especially the later levels, that you can easily spend a half hour exploring the same dungeon. That doesn't sound like an issue when it's other Zelda games, but there's no save points here. You leave a dungeon, you have to do it all again. Here's hoping a Switch remaster comes out that fixes these.

PROS	CONS
Impressive visuals and well thought out locations	Incredibly long dungeons with no save points

Spoiler: #46

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse​

Mario Wiki Awards, 2017. I had enough tokens to get something, so I got Shantae and the Pirate's Curse. I didn't know what this game was going to be, other than it being some kind of platformer. I knew a little about Shantae, her being a half genie and can use magic to transform into a number of creatures to solve puzzles and navigate areas.

But this game threw what little knowledge I had out the window and replaced it with something entirely different! At the end of Risky's Revenge, Shantae ended up losing her magic powers, and now she's on a quest to restore them. Making an unlikely friendship in her rival, Risky Boots, the two uncover a plot that is causing Risky's minions, the Tinkerbats, to go crazy or to be created from other creatures. To solve this issue, Shantae equips herself with some of Risky's items, like a pistol, sword, and even a cannon, to fight through the enemy filled locations.

And it is an absolute blast. The visuals are very impressive, the game play is pretty solid, the music is amazing, and Christina Vee does a fantastic job of providing Shantae with a voice. There is very little I have found wrong with this game (other than the fan-service-y women, but I digress). I 100% this game way too easily, though, there wasn't a lot to do. The good news is, Shantae's story continues past this point.

PROS	CONS
Literally everything about this game is impressive	Getting 100% is simple and doesn't take very long

 

[Alex95]

Spoiler: #45

Kirby Air Ride

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Kirby is one of those versatile characters that can do pretty much anything. He has already been shown to have great pilot skills on the Warp Star (other than when he crashes it), but that is taken a step further in Kirby Air Ride. Plenty of other Stars are brought in for selection for Kirbys to race them against each other in various locations. Kirby Air Ride consists of three modes: The standard Air Ride is for regular racing, Top Ride is a top-down perspective that acts more like slot-cars, and City Trial where Kirbys fight to gain stat boosts and duke it out in a random event. The people I've talked to that played this game always say they had the most fun in City Trial's free mode, where you are unrestrained and can do pretty much anything. Even control Kirby on foot!

The game is pretty short, with only 9 race tracks in Air Ride and I think 5 tracks in Top Ride, but it has a massive checklist for all three modes that unlocks other rewards, like Meta Knight or alternate track music. This is just simply a fun game to mess around in and kill time with.

PROS​	CONS​
Varied race courses with plenty of Star vehicles

Spoiler: #44

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King​

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King seems to be very highly praised among Dragon Quest fans in America, to the point where the main Hero appears as an alternate costume in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. And after playing the 3DS version of the game myself (I was never able to get a hold of the original PS2 game), I could very easily see why. The characters are impressive, and the story they are tied into works incredibly well with them all. All of the four (six in the 3DS version) characters all get tied into issues caused by Doulmagus (however you spell that), but the Hero's part of the story and all the magic and interesting ideas that are used to progress are what really intrigues me. The Hero is your usual amnesiac RPG character, but there's so much that he forgot that the game really makes you feel like you want to help him.

The 3DS version of the game adds some quality of life changes from the original. Voice acting has been implemented, and the voice actors do a very good job of playing their characters. There's a snapshot mode, that you can use to take funny snapshots like the one above, and is also used as a part of some quests. I haven't played the original PS2 game, so I don't know the full changes the 3DS game made, but the 3DS version has the best experience from what I know.

PROS	CONS
Engaging story with fleshed out characters	Battles can be pretty slow (but can be sped up) and there's usual RPG underleveledness.
Memorable music and locations	Jessica's outfits can be on the skimpy side, and the other characters comments on them can be, uh... awkward.
Hilarious writing Dragon Quest is known for

Spoiler: #43

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon​

Luigi returns to clear out a haunted mansion once again in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, but this time, there are more mansions to explore. After the mysterious Dark Moon is shattered, the usually peaceful ghosts of Evershade Valley turn hostile and cause Professor E. Gadd to once again call upon Luigi for help. The game plays pretty similarly to the first Luigi's Mansion, though the ghosts themselves have new tricks up their electroplasmic arms they sometimes try to roll up like sleeves (not even joking, the Slammers do that). They are no longer stunned just by shining the flashlight on them, you have to flash the Strobulb to stun them, and some ghosts have protection from that you have to remove first. The Dark-Light Device is rarely used in ghost hunting, but is necessary to solving puzzles by revealing objects the ghosts have hidden. The ghosts are certainly more varied than they were in the first game, with some being able to move things telepathically and others being in a fixed position that shoots goop.

The main draw for this game comes in the many mansions Luigi explores. Each have a collection of around six missions to complete before fighting the boss of the mansion. While this opens up a lot more variety in terms of puzzles and environments, the lack of connectivity between them that feels missing from the first game. Ghosts and objectives went all over the first mansion, but here they are confined to the one location. That's not a bad thing, but... eh, it's a feeling that's a bit difficult for me to put into words. I like having multiple locations to explore, but it would've been cool to have to come back to a ruined Gloomy Manor or something, you know?

PROS	CONS
Varied locations and ghost enemies	Game progression is pretty linear and doesn't allow a lot of room for exploration

Spoiler: #42

Fire Emblem​

The Fire Emblem series was already a big hit in Japan, but everywhere else got pretty much nothing aside from an animation that only lasted two episodes. Super Smash Bros. Melee helped boost the series popularity with Marth and Roy, and Fire Emblem: Blazing Sword, otherwise known as just Fire Emblem, was soon released in the West afterward.

Blazing Sword is a prequel to the Japan-only Binding Blade, following Roy's father, Eliwood, as he goes to search for his father. This search leads him into the middle of a full-scale war between the nations of Bern and Lycia, and it falls on his group of ragtag heroes and mercenaries to stop it. A few characters will be familiar to Japanese players, but the game also introduces a new introduction following the character Lyndis, which basically serves as the game's tutorial. It's a nice way to introduce newcomers (as many of us were at the time) to the series, but I wish there was a way to play it on Normal mode without the tutorial pop-ups (Hard mode removes them).

I won't spoil everything here, as one of our 'Shroom writers, ManKoops, is currently doing a playthrough of the game over in Strategy Wing. Go give that a look!

PROS	CONS
Plenty of characters with varied traits and backstories	Lyn Mode's tutorials cannot be removed when playing the game on Normal
Impressive story with multiple conflicts and turns

Spoiler: #41

Super Mario 3D Land​

Super Mario 3D Land feels like the perfect combination between Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario 64. It puts 2D elements in 3D space, allowing for more inspired ideas in order to make them all word. What sets this game above its sequel, Super Mario 3D World, for me is the focus on progression of the levels. 3D World's levels are mostly centered around multiple players at the same time, which means they can be a little too open with emptiness sometimes, and the levels that do confine everyone into a small area makes them feel claustrophobic. With 3D Land progression is much easier and focuses on one player's skill alone. And with it being Mario's debut on the Nintendo 3DS, it makes impressive use of the 3D function.

The thing that bothers me the most about this game is the timer. While I like the challenge the timer presents in 2D games, it doesn't really fit that well in a 3D environment. You want to take the time to explore these worlds, to see everything, and you can't do that when you have 400 seconds on your head. There are levels that lower your time limit and make you go through them quickly, which is fine, as they are usually repeats of previous levels. But the timer just feels out of place in a majority of 3D Land.

PROS	CONS
Plenty of levels with their own gimmicks and challenges	The timer doesn't really belong in a 3D game
Making it to World 8 and finding out you've only beaten half of the game

 

[Koops]

Yes, I am LPing FE7, in fact, I'm LPing it so hard that I can confirm that this is not the game where the war between Bern and Lycia is happening. That's for another game (It's obvious which other one). (Also be sure to drop by my section, fellow forum user) (Also no, I'm not using this thread to plug my own stuff, he mentioned it first!)

Btw the game's good, guys, trust Alex.

 

[Alex95]

this is not the game where the war between Bern and Lycia is happening.

I guess I got some information confused ^^; There is definitely something going down in Bern, but it isn't the main focus on the game. There's another dark force at play that is trying to rule over everything

 

[Jackie Frost]

Are you sure 3D Land > 3D World? I was actually planning a head-to-head review of these two games.... today

What sets this game above its sequel, Super Mario 3D World, for me is the focus on progression of the levels. 3D World's levels are mostly centered around multiple players at the same time, which means they can be a little too open with emptiness sometimes, and the levels that do confine everyone into a small area makes them feel claustrophobic. With 3D Land progression is much easier and focuses on one player's skill alone. And with it being Mario's debut on the Nintendo 3DS, it makes impressive use of the 3D function.

I was perfectly OK playing 3D World in singleplayer myself, and I didn't really feel they were empty. Sure the levels do feel broader than in 3D Land but I actually liked that, it made it feel more like an open world adventure whilst still being able to get down to what I wanted to do with plenty of cool stuff on the way.

3D effect was impressive yes but I'd say 3D World's awesome graphics more than make up for it

 

[Alex95]

You could very easily play 3D World alone, though you won't be able to do some of the puzzles very easily. Usually a Double Cherry involved for those, though.

Anyway, the levels in both still have that linear path feel you would find in the 2D games, but I have noticed that some levels were big and spacious without really anything going on. I don't recall 3D Land doing that to any extent. It's not a problem, though, I just like 3D Land's more condensed levels to 3D World's wide-open ones... Which is probably largely in part due to the timer restriction problem I talked about. 3D World is focused on multiplayer, which is great, I had a lot of fun with my brothers. But when I was playing by myself, I had a lot of ground to cover.

As for graphics, 3D World's are definitely more bright and colorful, but it still had this depth issue that 3D Land did not due to the 3D capabilities. Overall, I had more fun with 3D Land than I did with 3D World.