11 Games I Am Looking Forward To

There is something bittersweet about anticipating a new game.

First, the sweet.

There is the enveloping excitement that emerges immediately when a project is officially announced. Then follows the unbridled hunger for that first teaser trailer. Theories begin to fly regarding mechanics, design, story, and characters. Gameplay footage is showcased as development progresses. Clues are excavated from every screenshot, video, and announcement made public.

Then, the bitter.

Uncertainty plagues fans. Release dates are either announced ridiculously far in advance (causing an unbearably long wait), surprisingly late (leaving fans in the dark for longer), or are delayed completely (when the industry can’t keep up with the timeline they set without sacrificing quality). Some projects are brought to the public’s attention only to go silent for years (e.g. The Last Guardian).

It seems like my own personal list of games I am eagerly expecting ebbs and flows like waves on the sand. There are dry spells usually around summer and Christmas when release dates are more common and new projects are in their early stages around the world. Then there are times (like now) where there are a plethora of expected masterpieces that I impatiently await.

In honor of this spring’s greater than average quantity/quality of upcoming games, below are 11 games I am incredibly excited about.

11. No Man’s Sky

I hesitantly trust that No Man’s Sky lives up to all the hype. I know how excited people are (I am too), but I have this fear that it’s going to end up like Fable: lots of raised hopes only to lead to unnecessary let downs. Because, like Fable, I can totally see No Man’s Sky being an excellent game. But I can also see it not quite living up to all the lofty expectations. If No Man’s Sky ends up being a solid A- game, I really hope that people refrain from criticizing it for not being an A+.

I mainly want to play No Man’s Sky to make good on the promise that I can be the first to discover my own planet.

10. The Legend of Zelda: Wii U

Riding Epona as she naturally doesn’t run into trees? Leaping off her back while firing arrows at my enemies? Playing in a vast open Hyrule akin to Skyrim? Yes please!

Enough said.

9. Quantum Break

I was saddened by the news that Quantum Break would be delayed but hopeful that the extended development time would ensure a quality product. I feel like this gem has been flying under the radar for months, so if you haven’t seen anything about it, please watch the embedded video below. It gets really interesting around the 5 minute mark.

Quantum Break’s physics/time based gameplay looks like a blast. Its visuals are gorgeous and eerie. I hope it lives up to my expectations, and the delay ends up benefiting the project as a whole. I can honestly say that this is my most anticipated Xbox One exclusive as of yet.

8. Danganronpa 3

I think most people would agree that the high school experience was pretty awful. Sure, there might be some popular kids who enjoyed it pretty thoroughly, but even they might say that high school did a disservice to them by not preparing them for a world that doesn’t care how attractive or athletic they are. Well our high school days were nothing compared to the horrible, upside-down world of Danganronpa.

This series has a pretty fantastic formula. Take a group of “ultimate” high school students who all excel in one oddly specific area of life. Trap them somewhere. Force them to murder a classmate and get away with it if they ever want to escape.

What ensues is a murder mystery teen social mashup that delivers better than I would have ever guessed. These games are full of crazy twists, humorous dialogue, and creative storytelling.

I played the first game in the series when it was ported to Vita, and I loved it. But I was dubious regarding the success of Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair because I couldn’t foresee how it could even work. How could there be more crazy twists when the underlying secrets of the first game were, for the most part, exposed? But sure enough, I was wrong. The second game was every bit as wonderful and shocking as I could have hoped. I have no idea how writer Kodaka (friends with Kotaro Uchikoshi) will make a third game that still surprises his fans, but I now have confidence he can do it.

If you enjoy Zero Escape’s suspenseful story, Phoenix Wright’s courtroom battles, or Persona’s social links, you will probably enjoy Danganronpa. Start with the first entry, Trigger Happy Havoc. Meanwhile, I will be eagerly awaiting Danganronpa 3.

7. Rise of the Tomb Raider

When a close friend recommended the 2013 reboot to the Tomb Raider franchise, I was cautiously optimistic. Here was a franchise I had always liked that seemed to be falling behind the times in terms of mechanics, innovation, graphics, and character development. Well. I guess you could say the old Lara Croft is “developed” (overly so!), but not in a relatable way…

 

Comparison composite via howmanly.com, left image via GameInformer.com, right image via laracroft.wikia.com

You can imagine my pleasant surprise at the new character model for Lara. Her redesign leaves her looking real, healthy, and strong. Her personality was also given a complete overhaul, and it did wonders for the series.

The Tomb Raider reboot takes Lara back to her origin story, in which she is mentally naïve, physically inexperienced, and emotionally desperate. I thoroughly enjoyed the fresh take on a classic character and hungrily anticipate Rise of the Tomb Raider, the next entry in the beautifully resurrected franchise.

Unfortunately, Rise of the Tomb Raider appears to be a timed exclusive for Xbox One (which makes no sense, considering Tomb Raider has always been for the most part a PlayStation thing). Out of an effort to support Sony, we will try to wait it out and purchase the game on PlayStation 4 whenever it is released for the system. I'm sure we won't be the only ones either. Hopefully that will help send a collective message to Crystal Dynamics that their loyal fans are more important than a quick cash grab.

6. Fire Emblem: If

Finally, a Fire Emblem in which you are the (customizable) main character. Since Awakening balanced perfectly the old school elements of Fire Emblem with many new and welcome features, I believe Fire Emblem: If will be free to improve further on the series thanks to Awakening’s success. And the character models will finally have feet!

5. Final Fantasy XV

I had the immense pleasure of playing the Final Fantasy XV demo when it was released, and I must say I was thoroughly impressed. Many old school FF fans are dissatisfied with the current state of things, particularly that Final Fantasy XIII has taken such a massive chunk of development time and effort when they could have moved on to other things. But I think Final Fantasy XV is really going to get everything back on track.

Its design brings me back to what Final Fantasy VII felt like in terms of atmosphere. The universe seems like a strange amalgam of modern and fantasy. One minute you are in a lush landscape filled with bizarre fantasy creatures. The next you find yourself in a convenience store parking lot next to your rockin’ black convertible. Familiar Final Fantasy feelings come rushing back.  Remember what it felt like when you first discovered Final Fantasy VII was an open world? Remember seeing the grand expanse that was Final Fantasy X’s Calm Lands for the first time? Remember learning the draw system and milking it to maximize every spell in Final Fantasy VIII? Remember managing your gear in Final Fantasy IX to make the most of each battle? And while the essence of the game certainly has that nostalgia factor, Final Fantasy XV feels revitalized, refreshing, and novel. Plus the soundtrack is going to be amazing.

4. Uncharted 4

I know this is going to be a fantastic game. Naughty Dog has proven to their fans time after time that they will do what it takes to build top notch products. If you don’t believe me, watch Grounded: The Making of The Last of Us. It’s clear how hard these guys (and ladies) work. If they do anything short of our expectations, it is because the hardware, gameplay, or other such circumstances demand it. But in the end, they are going to ensure that the experience they provide to fans is the best one they can create.

That being said, there have been criticisms regarding Uncharted 4’s gameplay showcased at the 2014 E3. I have a hard time believing the final product will suffer from these same criticisms. Naughty Dog isn’t done. Games frequently do not end up matching with their early gameplay trailers. So graphical limitations that seem to be there now may not be there by the time the game is released. Case in point, check this out.

In other words, they are still learning. The game is still evolving. And I trust Naughty Dog to do it right. That being said, the gameplay here looks super fun.

3. Persona 5

Every Persona fan salivated in unison over the Persona 5 trailer released earlier this year; so much so that if they had all been gathered in Cowboys Stadium to watch the trailer on the massive jumbotron, their drool would have filled the place like a fish bowl. That’s because the video Atlus released was slick. It was filled with style, intrigue, and a completely fresh atmosphere.

I want Persona 5. In fact, my husband and I have been brainstorming for months trying to decide how both of us can play it immediately after it comes out without spoiling the story for each other. Do we take turns playing in a room closed off from the world? Do we track our calendar days so that whoever is ahead in the game can watch the other person? Do we get two copies and play simultaneously in separate rooms like a couple who've let their love die out? We are still debating the best solution.

2. Kingdom Hearts III

There is almost no game I long for more than Kingdom Hearts III. The first installment came out in 2002 just before I turned fourteen. I remember soaking in its imaginative story as a kid. I loved every piece of it, including the Disney influence that so many feared would never work. Kingdom Hearts II came out in late 2005, meaning I had to wait over three years for the full blown sequel. I remember the horribly long wait between KH1 and KH2.

Once Kingdom Hearts II came out, I think a lot of people realized the beauty of this universe. Suddenly, it wasn’t just a Disney/Square Enix crossover. It was an epic clash of light and darkness. It was a coming-of-age tale revolving around themes everyone on the planet can relate to (including love, friendship, loyalty, burdens, tenacity, and sacrifice). But along with Kingdom Hearts II came something else: the extensive wait for the next big game. Sure, there were smaller games in between (that—believe it or not—are instrumental to the overarching story), but every fan of the series knows that there are big, unresolved issues that only Kingdom Hearts III can address.

This franchise has matured with me. I feel like I have grown up with Sora and the gang. As I have become a more complex person, the characters have developed more multifaceted personalities right there with me. The themes of the games have matured as well. Just try playing Birth By Sleep (included in Kingdom Hearts 2.5 Remix) and not feel the emotional weight of its story.

I cannot wait to see what 10-ish years in the making will do for Kingdom Hearts III. I hope its theme of maturation continues and we see a truly developed, dynamic world with the same spectacular cast of characters. I hope the game maintains Sora as his same old good hearted self while simultaneously addressing the heavy burdens he carries. I hope to see some more intense Square Enix characters thrown into the mix, including a fully grown Tidus (he was a kid in Kingdom Hearts I, so why not let him grow up with Sora too?), a villainously insane Kefka, and a mischievous Zidane Tribal. I hope the game has Shibuya (from The World Ends With You) as a playable world, and I hope the gameplay feels both balanced and powerful. But no matter what they do with it, I know Tetsuya Nomura has a crazy intricate plan that I will love.

1. Zero Escape 3

Okay, so I cheated a little. I put Zero Escape 3 on this list despite the fact that it has not been announced yet. But as I stated in my previous post, “The Dangerous Nature of Hype,” I have succumbed to the excitement. My hopes are up.

The Zero Escape series is the smartest game I have ever played. Its writing is quite frankly genius, and I have never experienced anything as exciting before or since. Maybe it’s because of my love for math, psychology, video games, and a good story. All of these elements come together beautifully in 999 and Virtue’s Last Reward.

I have written quite a bit regarding the Zero Escape franchise. I was also extremely fortunate to have many excited readers view my articles after Uchikoshi generously retweeted my husband’s link to this blog. So you guys already know how I feel. In fact, many of you probably guessed that this would be number 1. Now all I can do is look forward to the other ten games on this list and hope this will be released among them soon enough.

How Expanding The Last of Us Could Work

I've put a lot of thought into Naughty Dog's celebrated exclusive since I first witnessed its ending in 2013. As soon as its credits started to roll, I wondered specifically about whether or not a sequel was in the works. A huge part of me (perhaps 95%) was certain that a sequel would ruin the beautifully subtle ambiguity of the ending, but part of me optimistically considered the possibility of another dive into the cordyceps-infested universe (though at the time I was still unsure as to how that would work).

But now I think I have it figured out.

You see, if the story continues from where it left off, it really does ruin the ending of The Last of Us; Naughty Dog intentionally left it up to the player to infer the details of the story's closure. If a sequel picks up directly after the ending, the uncertainty of the ending is lost, and the player no longer has the freedom to draw their own conclusions. Similarly, if the game follows the main characters after the events found in the game--even with a significant leap forward in time--either the same loss of open-endedness occurs, or there remains a large unanswered question regarding what truly happened directly following the first game's end.

On the other hand, a true prequel is obviously out, seeing as the apocalyptic/survival nature of the game would not exist at all prior to the cordyceps infection. However, something rather close to a prequel is not only possible, but in fact quite intriguing when considered in depth.



**SPOILER ALERT**
The remainder of the post goes into detail regarding crucial plot points from The Last of Us. If you have not played the entirety of the game, do not continue reading until you have booted up your PS3 (or 4) and done so.

Recall the game's opening.

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A small Texan family is thrown into the turmoil of the cordyceps outbreak. Protagonist Joel and his brother Tommy come together immediately, driven to protect Joel's instantly lovable daughter, Sarah.

Side note: Naughty Dog brilliantly decided to make the player control Sarah during the first chapter of the game. This is a genius bit of psychology, as it encourages the player to relate to her at a faster rate. You experience both the joy and limitations of being Sarah. If you don't feel attached to Sarah within the first few minutes of gameplay, you are probably plagued with some sort of personality disorder that hinders your empathic capability.

Back to Joel and Tommy. Shortly after the chaos erupts, they hasten to leave town. As they drive, they witness runners attacking the rest of the population. The streets are panicked. A van plows forcefully into their vehicle, turning it on its side and crushing Sarah's leg in the process.

Now that Sarah cannot run, the player takes over as Joel, who carries the helpless Sarah (another beautiful example of gameplay further enhancing the player's attachment toward the characters). Tommy is now the family's primary support, watching out for Joel and Sarah as they run for safety. The player gets a sense of how reliable and selfless Tommy is as he puts himself in danger to protect his family. Thanks to Tommy staying behind, Joel gets Sarah to the outskirts of town. Sarah expresses concern over her uncle, but Joel insists that Tommy will catch up.

Unfortunately, the military is already in position on the outskirts of town. They have orders to eliminate anyone who approaches to border in an effort to contain the infection. It makes sense from an impersonal, state-of-emergency, big picture perspective. But through the eyes of Joel, these orders are a death sentence for his family. He tries to reason with the soldier on the hill. Shots are fired anyway. Tommy arrives just in time to rescue Joel, but it is too late for Sarah. She is lost.

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At this point, The Last of Us cuts far ahead (20 years) into the future. A lot is left to be inferred. But 20 years is a long time and would provide a perfect canvas on which to paint another entry of the series. By filling in just some of the details here, nothing established by The Last of Us would be lost; no conclusions drawn by the player would be undermined, Instead, the already complicated relationship between Joel and Tommy would be further explained and enhanced.



So what do we already know about the time that Joel and Tommy spent together?

1. Joel and Tommy spent years together after Sarah's death.
2. Joel and Tommy start their journey in Texas, and eventually end up in Boston.
3. Tommy suffers from nightmares after the time he spent with Joel.
4. Joel and Tommy did what it took to survive, which most likely involved some hunter-like activities, victimizing innocent people.
5. At some point, Tommy turns from Joel's way of survival in favor of the hope promised by the Fireflies.
6. Joel also makes a change, turning to smuggling. He makes connections with people like Tess and Bill.
7. The strained relationship between Joel and Tommy eventually culminates in a heated argument.
8. The two part ways for an extended period of time.
9. Despite their falling out, Tommy communicates to Marlene, leader of the Fireflies, that she could rely on Joel if she ever needed some serious help.
10. Tommy does forgive Joel rather quickly at the dam, despite the fact that he blames his deep emotional scars on the years he spent with Joel.

The 10 established facts surrounding Joel's and Tommy's missing 20 years are enough to provide a rough outline regarding what another The Last of Us experience could be like. But there is also enough vagueness remaining that Naughty Dog could really tell a story within that framework. It doesn't have to be predictable. It doesn't have to be cold and rigid like my list above. It can be messy and gritty and emotional.

For proof, look at The Last of Us: Left Behind. We knew some of the details surrounding Ellie and Riley. We knew what was going to happen. But players found it worthwhile to explore that story anyway, despite knowing the ultimate results.

Clearly, there are 20 years worth of complicated character interactions between chapter 1 and chapter 2 of The Last of Us (particularly involving Joel and Tommy). There is also enough danger present to make gameplay interesting. Cordyceps is rampant. Survivors have to adapt to the new stages of infection (from runners to stalkers to clickers to bloaters) as they arise for the first time. Hunter groups are just forming. The Fireflies are fresh and strong and fighting the system. The government is trying to establish quarantine zones. People are desperate and trying to survive. Crime--from looting to murder--is occurring everywhere. There are still plenty of weak, desperate people... unlike 20 years in the future, when only the most callused veterans of the outbreak are left.

I think it could work. It would be an unseen take on a familiar universe. It would provide some serious insight into Joel's transformation from a grieving father to a distant, hardened, ruthless survivor. And best of all, it wouldn't do anything that might ruin the original perfection of The Last of us.

The Dangerous Nature of Hype

About three and a half years ago in November of 2011, my husband (boyfriend at the time) heard about a game that sounded right up my alley. It was a cult classic visual novel on DS with fairly intricate puzzles and a complex logic-driven story by the name of 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors (a.k.a. 999).

When I read the basic premise behind the game, I was already hooked. Yet a brief glimpse of what I was getting into did nothing to prepare me for the twists and turns of 999. It was a masterpiece of storytelling that fit perfectly into the visual novel genre of gaming. No other medium—be it film, novel, comic, or television—could do justice to this fantastically haunting tale. I loved every second of it. Gripped by the game’s intensity, I couldn't put it down and ended up pushing through every wonderful, suspenseful moment within a week.

If you've played 999, you'll see it.

The conclusion of 999 was so imaginative that I had to share with someone. My poor future husband claimed he would never play it and therefore let me spoil the entire thing for him as I retold each incredible scene. I spilled my guts for an hour or two while traveling from city to city. He patiently listened while probably thinking I was an overly excited weirdo. I guess that’s not a new development in our lives, but I do count myself lucky he still proposed a couple years later.

So you can imagine my joy at the news that there was a sequel to 999 inbound and scheduled to release on the 3DS a few short months later (February 2012). Out of the blue I was going to receive a second masterpiece! This one was entitled “Virtue’s Last Reward”. Thankfully, the second entry in the now-labeled “Zero Escape” franchise did not disappoint. Ponderings of quantum physics, psychology, mathematics, and moral dilemmas enhanced an already excellent puzzle game. I felt adequately challenged from the experience and enjoyed the story it shared.

The only problem laid in the incomplete nature of the game. Its finale left me with several unanswered questions and a lack of closure. I knew at once this was a setup for an epic trilogy, and I knew I would have to wait impatiently for the next entry.

Except the third game was nowhere in sight. It was revealed on February 13, 2014 that (unfortunately) the games were financially unsuccessful in Japan and that the western market being in the black had little weight in determining Zero Escape 3’s fate. Uchikoshi, the game's creator, connected to his western audience via Twitter and explained that while he wanted nothing more than to create the game we all wanted, it was not in the cards. Heartwarmingly, he explained, “I believe there is still hope. ZE3 will definitely be released somehow, someday!” and added “I will continue to seek a way out,” referencing the catchphrase associated with his own escape puzzles.

Zero Escape 3 is still in the box.

But as time went on, the eventual creation of the game seemed to become less and less possible until fans (myself included) lost hope completely. It was a long and painful process, but I finally decided to let Zero Escape go and accept the cliffhangers that plagued the second title in the series. I turned to other games with similar tones and stories like Danganronpa and adventure games by Telltale. I tried to forget the painful lack of Zero Escape 3.

You might see me cry. Maybe.

Interestingly, Aksys Games Localization, Inc. began a teaser site (http://4infinity.co) in mid-March this year that changed everything. It began with just a counter set to “0303”. Now I understand it is unheard of for a localization team to announce anything. It’s crazy. I get it. But because of the obvious connection to Zero [Escape] 3, the small community of fans suddenly grew restless and started a conversation everyone had put to bed over a year ago when they originally lost hope. I saw hundreds of posts on forums that verbalized how I felt: a very earnest yet reluctant response, almost dissociative in nature. Excitement, yet distrust. Intense loyalty for Uchikoshi, yet a severe disillusionment regarding the profit-driven video game industry.

A screenshot of the original counter on Aksys's 4infinity.co website

I personally felt so torn seeing the teaser site that I couldn’t contain it. Like a teenage girl that had been hurt too many times, I wasn’t sure I was ready to be vulnerable again. But if this was real... if this was what I desperately hoped it was… If, if, if. For a long time, I adopted the “I’ll believe it when I see it” shield and crouched behind it, terrified of getting my hopes up only to have them come crashing back down yet again. But as time has gone on and clues have been exposed, I have slowly opened up to the hype.

So here I am, a good three-ish months from the teaser countdown being finished (if our calculations are correct), and I have allowed myself to get excited. I hate that I have, because I will be crushed if this isn’t real. It is the game I most want to see right now, even above Kingdom Hearts 3, Uncharted 4, Fire Emblem: If, Persona 5… I even want this more than a prequel to The Last of Us set between the first and second chapters!

Sidebar to Naughty Dog (because I’m sure they totally read this blog): Just contact me. I’ll fill you in on all my great ideas for your fungal apocalypse universe.

So that’s that. There is hype. I am letting myself succumb to it. I am vulnerable and hopeful, and it's scary.

The Beauty of Short Games

I used to have a lot of free time, particularly when I was in high school and college. I could play straight through 60 hour games after my classes and still have plenty of time to go hang out with friends, get all my schoolwork done, and go to work. Ever since graduation, however, I haven’t seen quite so much free time. Sure, I can make it through games in the summers thanks to my career as a teacher. But even with the luxury of summers off, I am swamped with planning the next school year, attending professional development seminars, and doing other school related jobs on my computer. I cannot spend every ounce of my time trying to make it through massively sprawling open world games with hours upon hours of content. I have an apartment to keep up with, laundry to clean, food to cook, papers to grade, lessons to plan, relationships to maintain, and a life to live.

Does this mean I don’t enjoy playing games anymore? Absolutely not! I just need to pick and choose what games I play. It’s amazing that as soon as you start to earn enough money to buy games, the time you have to play them seems to decrease and the stockpile of games you haven’t yet played builds up. Thanks to the inverse relationship of free time and net income, I imagine the correlation looks something like this:

So I have found myself gravitating toward the following types of games in an effort to continue this hobby without allowing it to overwhelm the rest of my life.

1. Short games

If I can play a game, master its gameplay, enjoy the story, and only spend ten hours of my life doing it, I am a very happy camper.

Examples: Flower, Journey, Uncharted series, Portal, Telltale games, Tomb Raider, Fire Emblem Awakening, Ghost Trick

2. Proven-to-be-Excellent Games

If I know a game is worth a huge investment of time because I have played it before and enjoyed it, I will likely play it again.

Examples: Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Persona, Skyrim

3. Games I can start and stop without having to remember what happened last time

If I don’t have to stay committed to a game, I don’t have a problem starting it up from time to time.

Examples: Theatrhythm, Animal Crossing, Super Smash Bros., Towerfall Ascension, Audiosurf, Rockband, Little Big Planet

Of course, I've recently poured 93 hours into a game I still haven’t finished (Persona Q). So while I say I appreciate short games and games I don’t have to feel committed to, every now and then, I find myself pouring a bunch of time into a monster of an RPG regardless. Oh well. Back to leveling up.

Why I Love Final Fantasy IX

As everyone knows, the Final Fantasy franchise has had its ups and downs, its massive successes and its occasional flops. As such, I got curious and started investigating which games are the most critically acclaimed. I surfed through a few sites, but mainly spent my time digging through metacritic scores. Interestingly, the game that tops Final Fantasy’s list may surprise you.

No, it’s not Final Fantasy VII, despite it being so revolutionary and well-known. No, it’s not Final Fantasy VI regardless of its deeper subject matter and incredible story. No, it’s not Final Fantasy X with its gorgeous graphics, immensely fun battle system, and charming story. In fact, there are quite a few entries that I personally cherish, but the one that has topped both the metacritic charts and my own subjective list is Final Fantasy IX. Yes, the one with the weird art style and the protagonist with a tail.

I don’t claim to know all the components that went into Final Fantasy IX’s stellar metacritic score, but below are some reasons that I personally love the game.

1. The main character isn't moody, brooding, or whiny

There is something immensely refreshing about a character that is downright cheerful; between all the overpowered bad boys, sullen heroes, and otherwise exaggerated protagonists, I believe a witty, optimistic, baselessly confident good guy fills a void that I have been craving lately. Zidane is that guy. He is the Nathan Drake of JRPGs. A little reckless, always funny, certainly flirtatious, and never burdened with an overabundance of gloominess. It also helps that he reminds me so much of my always-cheerful husband.

The beauty of having a character whose default disposition is happy is that when the character has a legitimate crisis, the mood shift is more defined. There are a couple distinct developments in Final Fantasy IX’s story that cause great distress to Zidane, and as such, the contrast between his temporary emotional state and his typical upbeat, mischievous attitude is stark. It is enough to make the player realize that if this character is so upset, clearly something is very, very wrong.

2. The music is fantastic

If you enjoy listening to video game soundtracks, chances are good that at least one entry from the Final Fantasy franchise has made your playlist. Let me assure you that the ninth game in the series can certainly hold its own.

First there is the eloquently simple “A Place to Call Home” (a.k.a. “The Place I’ll Return to Someday”). Then you have the immensely catchy, energetic “Vamo’alla Flamenco” that plays both during the staged sword fight in the first act and during the chocobo mini game later on. There’s also the hauntingly understated “Freya’s Theme” (reiterated in the track “A Face Unforgotten”) and the emotional peaks and valleys of “You Are Not Alone”. I could go on for ages, but I will limit myself to two more mentions: the twin themes of “Rose of May” and “Something to Protect.” All of these will be posted below my list in case a desire to investigate happens to be strong enough for you to listen.

3. The ability mechanics are addictive

Having complete control over what skills my party learns and in what order is incredibly gratifying. Final Fantasy IX gives you that kind of influence over your game. I love equipping all the different weapons, armor, and accessories to immediately gain an ability with which I can destroy my enemies. By the end of the game, your abundant selection of abilities can give you a wide array of battle strategies, making fighting have plenty of depth and multiple paths to victory.

4. The game has something important to say

Many JRPGs these days seem to get caught up in the convoluted nature of the genre and don’t really end up saying much of anything by the end of the experience. It is complex for the sake of complexity. While the Final Fantasy series has never really seemed to suffer from that problem (at least not until after X), I will say that IX has a very different story than the surrounding entries.

This game focuses on the themes of war, power, self-acceptance, sacrifice, loss, a sense of home and belonging, mortality, and captivity. Okay, so every JRPG covers these themes. But Final Fantasy IX does carry them out in a new and fresh way, and it does this well.

5. Love

Final Fantasy IX is a love story. It carries some heavy themes just like VI, VII, and X, but it is also driven mainly by romance. While the characters in every other game have a huge purpose with love almost being a side mission of sorts, Zidane clearly is driven almost wholly by his affection for the female lead. In fact, the player is given the chance in game to select that as his motivating factor for everything he has done up until that point. And honestly, it is the choice that makes the most sense.

Believing that he cannot be with Garnet completely demotivates Zidane, and when he eventually tries to take on the group’s quest on his own, his solo mission results in massively negative effects.
Because Zidane is ineffective without Garnet, which is beautiful really. It harkens back to what we all already know about man needing a helper (רעֵ֫זֶ). It’s not that Zidane isn’t skilled (it’s clear he is) or that he “needs her” or that she “completes him” or anything tacky or misguided like that. But when she is with him, he becomes a better version of himself. He is more selfless, more confident, more driven.

Now I’m sure anyone could argue that Final Fantasy X is a love story on par with IX. But I would also argue that the tones of these two stories are vastly different. I appreciate IX’s lighthearted take on what love can accomplish.

Finally...

I recently found time to replay the PlayStation classic in all its glory. Considering it was released 15 years ago back in 2000, it has aged remarkably well to the point where the game felt simultaneously fresh and nostalgic. I never once felt demotivated by traditional RPG grinding, nor did the graphics hinder the experience in the least. The mechanics remained quite solid, and the story still captivated me. All these pieces of the puzzle come together to form a very complete, satisfying game.

Here’s what I am trying to say (unfortunately veiled behind pretty words and elaborate sentence structure): I really enjoyed it to the point where thinking about it gives me a bittersweet, melancholy feeling because I beat the game and miss playing it.

9 Thought Provoking Games That I Still Contemplate

There are some videogames that tell a new story, utilize innovative mechanics, and present it all in a shiny package with plenty of style. But not every game can coax the player into pondering a game for extended periods of time after its conclusion. As such, I have compiled a list of games that I personally spent an extended amount of time sorting through the complexities found within their stories or gameplay.

Since the following list—in no particular order—is comprised of only games that I have experienced the entirety of, I am declaring a loud and resounding spoiler alert from here on. If you don’t want to know any details about the following games, please heed my warning!

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1. The World Ends With You

MetascoreNintendo DS: 88

iOS: 95

For a game that initially comes off as incredibly shallow (due mainly to the abrasive introversion of the protagonist), The Word Ends with You is a game that matures right alongside the wonderful cast of characters. Its story is good enough that even after playing it repeatedly, new things jump out at me about the characterization, themes, and plot twists throughout the whole experience. But what really charms me is how its tone abruptly shifts mid-game.

When I originally played TWEWY, my first impressions led me to believe that it was merely about a self-isolated teenage boy named Neku who wanted everything to go back to how it was before. And really, bearing in mind the trials he overcomes, restoring his world to what it once was would have been considered a win in my book. But what I discovered was so much better; Neku changed into a person who didn’t want to be isolated anymore. The people he once saw as beneath him became treasured comrades. The world he thought was cramped and crowded became open and inviting.

Conveniently, this change in Neku was something I needed to experience back in 2007 when the game initially came out. As an introvert, I saw many of my own qualities—both good and bad—in the protagonist. The fact that he could change so drastically gave me encouragement that I could do the same.

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2. Chrono Trigger

Metascore
Nintendo DS: 92

Following along the same Square Enix vein, Chrono Trigger is a game I appreciate for its grand story, flawless utilization of time travel, and gameplay perfection. Originally on the SNES, Chrono Trigger was released on the DS back in 2008. If you haven’t played this fantastic RPG yet, you should go back and do so. It has aged impeccably well.

Chrono Trigger makes me think mainly due to the implications of moving through eras and making history-altering changes as you go. Its cleverness shines in its many puzzles in which you must make a change in the past and watch it play out in the future. I hesitate to give examples here, because I really want anyone who bothers to read this to experience it for him/herself.

In addition to the time travel mechanic, there are some important quests littered throughout the story that give the characters some added depth. Lucca’s side mission in particular makes the player consider their own life and what changes they would make if they had access to a portal that could take them back in time. I mean this reflectively, not regretfully. By dwelling on the past, we become self-focused and crippled by remorse; by understanding our mistakes in the past, we can move forward in a fashion that is wiser.

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3. Braid

Metascore
X360/PS3: 93
PC: 90

This’ll be short. Braid is a thought-provoking experience for two reasons.

1) Braid has some of the most interesting puzzle mechanics I’ve ever played with. And as a lady who loves puzzle games, this is a significant accomplishment.

2) The twist.

The only thing that keeps Braid from being one of my favorite games is the condescending tone embedded within its script. It had a tendency to chisel away at my enjoyment when I played it. But I can’t deny the puzzles and story definitely engage your brain.

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4. The Last of Us

Metascore
PS3/PS4: 95

In 2013, my husband and I were vaguely excited about this zombie survival third person shooter. It looked interesting, although between it and Beyond Two Souls, I wasn’t sure which one would be more fun. What I realized a few days after its release was that this game wasn’t going to be “fun” exactly. But it was going to be gripping like a train wreck and just as unsettling to watch. My husband played for a couple hours each day following its release. I watched like the story enthusiast I am. As he got past particularly difficult parts of the game (both gameplay and story), I wanted him to keep trudging through the broken universe. However, the game was more exhausting than expected (in a good way) and had to be put down after the emotionally draining portions in particular.

After each stint of gameplay, my brain continued to reel. But that was nothing compared to the amount of consideration I gave this gem after it was finished. Over the next week, I contemplated the story that Naughty Dog told and had to come to grips with all the decisions that were made by the main characters. I didn’t fully fathom all the choices that the protagonist made at the time, but a lot of combing through the script and deliberation over his actions eventually led to what I believe is a decent understanding of the game.

The Last of Us is too complicated for me to summarize here, but I will say that every time I experience it, I see another layer of the onion get peeled back. Every single time. The writing in this game is phenomenal thanks to the efforts of Neil Druckmann. Every inch of its script has a face value, an underlying meaning to each character, and a thematic significance regarding what the story is trying to say as a whole. I can honestly say it is the most well written game I have ever played.

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5. Ghost Trick

Metascore
Nintendo DS: 83
iOS: 87

Here’s another one of those puzzlers I love. Like Braid, Ghost Trick is on here both for its gameplay and for its story.

Ghost Trick takes a new approach to the puzzle genre by allowing the main character to systematically manipulate objects in the game to achieve a desired outcome. You can open an umbrella to startle an enemy or turn on a light to get the attention of an NPC. There are other mechanics as well, such as switching objects’ locations as long as they are both of the same shape. The goal is to save lives by altering the four minutes before a person’s death.

Not only is this another one of those games where time travel is a huge factor, but the story behind it, while silly and “out there”, stays true to the laws of the game and provides several meaningful twists. There were a few times during this deceptively childish looking game that I had to stop and wrap my mind around the final timeline that was formed and the events that led up to it.

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6. The Walking Dead: Season 1

Metascore
PS3: 94

I wasn’t sure I wanted to play this game after the first episode. It's pretty intense, and I can't even stomach the comics in all honesty. The idea of a zombie getting me simply because I did not do a QTE properly was a little unnerving, and the puzzles seemed relatively simple. However, this game really shines through its depiction of decision making. The player is frequently given four choices to either say or do under a time limit. While this sounds easy, I found some of the decisions to be incredibly difficult.

One that I remember mulling over involved my cold and hungry group of survivors coming across what appeared to be an abandoned vehicle full of food and other supplies. I was given the choice to take the rations and gear or not. I remember quickly weighing my options. Chances are whoever owned the vehicle was already dead. It would be a waste to let the supplies sit there if that was indeed the case. And right in front of me I have starving people who need the food to survive. I am supposed to be leading them, and I know I’ll lose their respect if I choose not to take this opportunity. But I lose respect from someone close to me if I do take it when there is a chance the owner of the vehicle is still alive. Also, if the owner is still alive, I would be stealing from them. There is no scenario that makes everyone happy (which makes me very uncomfortable), not to mention I only had about 5 or 10 seconds to make the choice. So I took the food.

I know. I’m terrible.

But the real beauty of The Walking Dead is that eventually, you get confronted with the choices you made in the past. There is no hiding from them, no excuses, no explanation that can make everything look better in hindsight. And yes, I know the game tends to funnel all your decisions into a single, relatively linear game. But it never feels that way.

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7. The Zero Escape Series (Volumes 1, 2, and maybe someday 3)

Metascore
Volume 1 (999) on Nintendo DS: 82
Volume 2 (VLR) on Nintendo DS: 88
Volume 2 (VLR) on PSVita: 84

Both volumes in this series alternate between two game modes as they progress through a suspenseful mystery involving 9 strangers forced to put their lives on the line.

The first game mode utilized is that of a graphic novel with lots and lots of text. I have to stress, however, that as boring as games with a lot of exposition can be, this game is anything but. Every written word has voice (despite no voice acting in the first entry) and the urgency with which everything is happening will hold your interest as you progress through the story. This game is filled with everything from basic psychology to mathematics to quantum physics, so it's not just a bunch of meaningless text to fill time. Every line is important later on.

The second format the game takes on is that of escape puzzles. You've probably played escape games before, and I often find they are fun but often meaningless ("Why am I trapped?"). 999 gives purpose to the typical escape game, and you feel like you've really accomplished something as you solve each puzzle.

I will not say anything of the plot; even with the warning at the top of the page, I cannot bear to let someone accidentally stumble across a spoiler on this one.

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8. Persona 4/Persona 4 Golden

Metascore
PS2: 90
PSVita: 93

Persona 4 is about a group of high school kids who try to solve a murder mystery in their small country town. This isn’t the most mind-bending game, and there really aren’t puzzles or crazy decisions to make due to it being a dungeon crawling JRPG. However, there are two reasons I still let this one join the list.

First off, the battle system is genius. That’s not something I contemplate, exactly, but it is worth noting. It manages to be both simple and deep in all the right ways, and I never got bored of taking out enemies.

Second, there are a few points in the game where your entire perception of things is completely 100% wrong. Your deduction regarding who is responsible for all the terrible things happening in your hometown, while logical, still manages to be fallacious. Time and time again. And the real cause of troubles is an even bigger surprise than all the other twists in the game. That being said, the final few hours of Persona 4 are incredible.

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9. Danganronpa 1 and 2

Metascore
Danganronpa 1 on PSVita: 80
Danganronpa 2 on PSVita: 81

There is no video here because everything I found either spoiled something or was too weird out of context. Just play this and the weirdness will all make sense. Kind of.

Frequently described as Phoenix Wright meets Persona meets Zero Escape (three of my favorite franchises), Danganronpa is a creepy teen life/mystery game in a mostly visual novel format. Game segments alternate between spending time with your friends and solving mysteries all while trying to escape a high school.

Danganronpa struggles a bit with its execution of puzzle gameplay. I love challenging puzzles as much as (or more than) anyone, but the player should never feel like a puzzle is unfair. Unfortunately, Danganronpa can sometimes feel this way due to its sometimes-too-large jumps in logic and a few terrible mini games. But don’t let that scare you away from a very unique and fun experience.

Again, my reason for including Danganronpa is twofold.

For one, the mysteries are pretty decent. There were a few really clever ones in there that got me to gasp out loud (or yell with excitement) when I solved them.

But my main reason for including Danganronpa is for the plot twists. As you’ve probably figured out by now, I love a good twist. Danganronpa has several of them. 

Usually all in quick succession. Twist after twist after twist. I remember thinking about the endings of both games for several days after beating them. Even the idea of playing them again and experiencing all the twists again is appealing.

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Honorable Mention: Mario Party (any of them)

Because I end up contemplating whether a few hours of fun was really worth losing all my friends.

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So there you have it. I understand the games that made the cut here are ultimately skewed in favor of the games I enjoyed or spent more of my time on. But then again, this is my blog, so you’ve gotta deal with it.

Theatrhythm: Kingdom Hearts is a Perfect Fit

I've been playing a lot of Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy Curtain Call as of late, primarily due to the recent release of Chrono Trigger and The World Ends with You DLC. I have just passed the 40,000 Rhythmia mark in addition to the 70,000+ I collected from the first game, yet I feel just as entertained by Theatrhythm as I was when I first played it (if not more so).

I admit almost bashfully that part of the satisfaction I experience is due to the immensely satisfying reward system within the game. I know it seems silly to enjoy unlocking crystal shards, earning gold stars in my record book, and gathering up CollectaCards, but I just can’t help it. The creators did a fantastic job giving me a reason to keep coming back for more tapping, holding, and sliding. But that isn't the only rationale for why I love Theatrhythm, nor is it my primary reason.

Theatrhythm takes music that is both expertly composed and emotionally resonant and creates something new with it.

The music is well-written. They have passionate back stories. And they have the player’s memories to tie it all together. Theatrhythm takes all those elements and reveals them at their maximum potential by allowing players the opportunity to vividly and retroactively experience feelings they had at the climax of a game. Plus it’s fun to tap along.

It’s something I wish I could do with every epic video game moment because quality music is such an instrumental (pun intended) part of that climax. Chrono Cross’s “People Imprisoned by Destiny” and Persona 3’s “Battle for Everyone’s Souls” are perfect examples of songs that I vividly recall experiencing for the first time and would love to relive. And while songs from Chrono Cross are a distinct possibility, it disappoints me to think that I will most likely never play a game like Theatrhythm that utilizes the dynamic, catchy soundtracks of franchises like Persona. But I digress.

Knowing that so much of Theatrhythm’s strength comes from this trifecta of story intricacies, skillfully constructed music, and emotional appeal, I have to make a case for the perfection that could be Theatrhythm: Kingdom Hearts.

First off, Kingdom Hearts is epic, endearing, and filled with layered narrative. It has a loyal following, beautiful scores by Yoko Shimomura, and—thanks to its prolonged gaps between releases—plenty of nostalgia and emotional appeal. However, this in itself is not enough to make a good argument for its success were it to be made. Fortunately, I have included here several additional reasons why I think Kingdom Hearts could work.

1. A plethora of characters to choose from

Surprisingly, one of the most common criticisms I’ve seen on the web happens to be what I consider one of its greatest strengths. I have seen many forum posts and comments beneath articles stating that Kingdom Hearts simply doesn’t have enough characters to substantially fill the game. I beg to differ.

Including only characters original to the series gives us Sora, Riku, Kairi, Aqua, Ventus, Terra, Roxas, Naminé, Xion, Axel/Lea, Ansem the Wise, Ansem Seeker of Darkness, Xemnas, Xehanort, The rest of Organization XIII, Data Sora, Data Riku, Vanitas, and Eraqus. The cast could easily be broadened with some of the Disney cast (particularly Mickey, Donald, and Goofy). Some of the more prominent Final Fantasy characters could also add to the mix (including “Leon”, Cloud, Sephiroth, Aerith, etc.). Finally (albeit unlikely), I would include the main five characters from The World Ends with You due to both their involvement in Dream Drop Distance and their Square Enix roots. This would lend itself to a cast of 40+ without even depending on a bunch of Disney characters getting added into the mix.

2. Fantastic music from seven (soon eight) games

Yes, some of the main themes repeat. But there is still an appropriate amount of music to be considered here. Consider the following tracks pulled from the first game alone. Note that (to my knowledge) I didn’t even have to pull any Disney tracks to compile this list. I also believe that the later games actually show a greater diversity in their soundtracks, which would help.

• Hikari
• Destiny Islands
• Kairi’s Theme
• Night of Fate
• Destiny’s Force
• Traverse Town
• Shrouding Dark Cloud
• Blast Away III
• Hollow Bastion
• Scherzo Di Notte
• Destati
• Forze Del Male
• Always on My Mind
• Simple and Clean

So from the first game alone, I pulled 14 tracks that stand out quite well. If the same quantity can be pulled from the other six games that are currently released, that would include nearly 100 songs to play. While Curtain Call boasts an impressive 200+ songs, I think it is important to keep in mind that 100 songs from less than half the number of titles is equally remarkable. And keep in mind, Disney tracks could always be included to further satisfy the already excellent selection of music.

Again, since these were only pulled from the first game, there are many impressive pieces that we are missing out on here, many of which are my favorites (looking at you, “Unbreakable Chains”). But I think my point stands that there is in fact more than enough quality music to make a Theatrhythm: Kingdom Hearts.

3. Easily adapted feature zones

Feature zones are included in each music stage of Theatrhythm as a means to break apart each type of music stage into memorable parts. This also serves to provide players with a particular goal mid-song as they strive to summon powerful allies, ride fast chocobos, or see the extended version of a video mash-up.

The feature zones from each Battle Music Stage (BMS) could be seamlessly implemented into a Kingdom Hearts adaptation through the inclusion of Disney summons as seen in Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2. Instead of Ifrit, Shiva, and Bahamut (among others), the game would include the familiar likes of Simba, Genie, and Mushu. Another option—if Disney summons seem a bit too small compared to the grand Final Fantasy affairs—would be to implement Sora’s Drive Forms at this point in the stage, allowing him to use Valor, Wisdom, Limit, Master, Final, or Anti Form.

Similarly, Field Music Stages (FMS) could substitute the use of a gummi ship in the feature zone instead of riding a chocobo. The player’s successful input of touch, slide, and hold commands could be the primary factor in determining how grand a gummi ship they receive for the short time they have it. This would easily parallel the various chocobos and their different speeds.

Finally, the Event Music Stages (EMS) could be increased in number due to the sheer quantity of Kingdom Hearts cut scenes, something the Final Fantasy series can’t even compare to. Traditionally, each Final Fantasy title only has one EMS to play through, most likely due to the lack of usable clips from some of the earlier games in the series. However, I roughly calculated the time it would take to watch every cut scene so far that takes place in Sora’s universe, and I came up with a number just over twenty-one hours. Twenty-one hours! Even if my calculations are slightly erroneous, that is an insane amount of footage to pull from. It is easy to conclude from that ridiculously high number that pulling enough iconic clips from across each game would be simple enough; in fact, the creators of a Theatrhythm: Kingdom Hearts could even include 2 or 3 EMS pieces with ease and still have plenty of extra footage for each feature zone.

4. The possibilities are endless

It is exciting to think of all the possible directions the Theatrhythm franchise could take. I honestly believe Kingdom Hearts would not only be an incredibly enjoyable installment but also a logical one. Whether it be changing the CollectaCards to match the cards found in Chain of Memories, or adapting the Record Book to reflect the feel of Jiminy’s Journal, I can already see how great Theatrhythm would be if it were to accommodate the Kingdom Hearts realm.

What would you expect from a Theatrhythm: Kingdom Hearts? Leave your ideas and comments below! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some tapping to do.