Seisan/Frank's Top 10 Games of all Time

Thought you were done reading lists did you? Ha! In all seriousness, I am not sharing this list to jump on some list posting band wagon. In posting this list, I am hoping to give those who enjoy reading my articles some insight on how I judge a video game. Another thing I should clarify is that I really started getting into gaming around the time I got my PS1. So, no, you really won't see many old school titles on this list simply because I missed out on many of them. With that out of the way, let's get on to the actual list!

10. League of Legends

Yes, I am actually putting League of Legends on my top 10 list. A year ago, this would not have been the case, but Riot's ability to make the community much more relaxed and cooperative has made the game very enjoyable for me. Riot has also been gradually adding in new game types over the past couple of years bringing the total up to 4 with the latest being a mode called All Random All Mid (my personal favorite). While each game type only has one map, the variety really comes in from the fact LoL has over a hundred playable characters, 10 of which are free every week, with new characters being added every 3 or so weeks. The frequency of these updates and the guarantee of something new with each one keeps me coming back for more and, hopefully, will for years to come.

9. FTL

Here is a game that really took me by surprise. This was only my second foray into the genre of rogue-likes (my first being Binding of Isaac) and I wasn't expecting this game to hold my attention for very long. Thankfully, I was wrong. FTL is a much more strategic game than Binding of Isaac and much slower paced which, I feel, works to the game's advantage. The pacing of FTL allows the player to very rarely feel cheated by the experience because their reflexes weren't quick enough. Luck still plays a huge factor in FTL, but the majority of that won't come in until the end. Until you reach that last sector and it sinks in that you just don't have enough missiles, or your lasers aren't powerful enough, or you didn't put enough power into a system, but that's okay. The final boss is the ultimate challenge in this game and losing to it time and again is never something to be ashamed of. With the multiple ship unlocks, random events, and kick ass music, FTL is very addicting and enjoyable every jump of the way.

8. Super Smash Bros. Brawl

SSBB is really the only "fighting" game I find myself to be good at. Maybe it's the simplicity of the control scheme or the forgiving nature of the ring-out system that keeps me from getting frustrated or completely destroyed by other players. The main reason why I put this game on my top 10 is because I had a lot of friends who were really into Smash Bros., some of whom were even the best in my state. So, because everyone else was so into this game, I got really into it as well. Not to the point where I would memorize the timing for infinite grabs or such nonsense, but I am definitely one of those people who believe Smash Bros. is best played with no items on. I would go to Brawl tournaments on a weekly basis and constantly play against my friends and other players for hours on end with no signs of boredom. I'll fully admit that, if I didn't know a bunch of other people I could play with, I would have very quickly tossed aside this game for another. Thankfully, my experiences with Brawl were very enjoyable and the fond memories I have easily swayed me to give this game a mention.

7. Dragon Quest 8

What is it about DQ 8 that I like so much? Well...I'm not entirely sure myself. No, it's not because of Cleavage McRedhead. I suppose it's the world itself that draws me to this game. The world of DQ 8 is quite expansive with multiple types of environments and plenty of secrets to be found as a reward to those who go off the beaten path. The story and characters are very shallow and, normally, that would mean I dislike this game. But....I don't. The level up system is very simplistic and, frankly not balanced at all between the various weapon types, the music is hit or miss, and the combat can get repetitive. I guess it really is just the world I'm so infatuated with. Not just the ability to explore it, but also all the towns, people, and events that occur within it. Normally, I'm not one for games with big, open worlds, but I feel this world was just the right size. It had a nice balance of linearity and freedom to explore. I really wish there was more to it then that, but a well designed world and visual style were enough to make me fall in love with this game.

6. Mass Effect

There's no denying Bioware took inspiration from Star Wars in creating Mass Effect. Both universes draw a lot of parallels and, maybe, that's one reason why I enjoy this game so much. This was also back when you could traverse the galaxy and actually explore planets. Sure, the Mako handled like Shepard chugged a six pack the second he/she entered the driver seat and, yeah, there wasn't much variety in the terrain, but at least it was there. Like my previous entry, I always felt the exploration in the original Mass Effect had a good blend of linearity and open world that made it worth trying to scour for every little secret or mineral deposit. This game also has the added bonus of a generally well written story and a cast of characters each with their own dreams and anxieties. I found it difficult to not get attached to Shepard's crew. Each one was so different and interesting that they even provided insight on how each species functioned as a society. The gameplay and RPG mechanics were nice to have, but the crew of the Normandy and their wacky adventures is what has always stood out for me.

5. Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage

Yes, Spyro 2 is one of my favorite games of all time. Now, before you all jump to conclusions, this isn't me just looking back on a game from my childhood with nostalgia goggles. I certainly do have fond memories of this game, but Spyro 2 is also a game that I've been able to go back to several times over the years and still enjoy. It's a fun little game that throws in some slapstick humor that, to this day, can get a few chuckles out of me. With that said, there is one particular reason why I rate this game so highly. As Brad once said, Spyro 1 just has you, "running around an open field collecting gems" because, well, it's true. Spyro 2; however, improves vastly over the first game and not just in adding in some arbitrary use for the gems. Not only are the levels more linear so there's less "open plains gem gathering", but they added upgrades, power-ups, side missions, and a damn good soundtrack. See, Spyro 2 is an example of a game that gets a sequel right: changes enough that adds to the experience while keeping enough the same so it is recognizable as part of the series.

4. The Walking Dead

Telltale's The Walking Dead is a game we've all heard about from just about everyone this past year. I hate to sound like a broken record, but I have to reiterate that this game's writing is phenominal. This is one of the few games that breaks the mold on video game writing and gives us actual characters, rather than an archetype. These characters change and grow as the game progresses and it makes them all feel genuine. Your opinions of these characters will constantly shift throughout the game and you'll find it difficult to get along with all of them. You'll begin to question whether or not it's worth working with some of these people for the sake of humanity's survival. Usually, when I play a video game, there will be characters right off the bat that I like and dislike and those opinions really don't change as the game progresses. Here; however, is where I experienced that for the first time in a game and I loved that feeling. I have hopes that TWD will set new standards for good story telling in video games because this was pretty damn close to perfect.

3. Persona 4

Here we have my all time favorite JRPG. Persona 4 is yet another example of fantastic writing shining through to make this game stand out from the crowd. I mean, let's face it, P4 is a pretty typical turn based JRPG with some dungeon crawling aspects and even the story is pretty standard. What makes this game so damn outstanding, in my opinion, is the characters. The main cast of characters are all high school students and they actually act like it through their dialogue and actions. This game has been criticized by some as being "too cheerful", but I feel the light-hearted tone of the game is a strength. I mean, keep in mind, these are a bunch of high school kids who obtain the power to summon deities, enter an evil world through television sets, and often converse with a living teddy bear. Could you keep a straight face going through all of that? Yes, the fate of the world hangs in the balance, but that doesn't mean it has to be super serious all the time. We, as human beings, often find the need to distract ourselves by doing something we enjoy and I think these characters are a lot stronger because they do that exact same thing. The great humor, well written characters, and a decent plot all convinced me to give this game a high spot on the list.

2. Dragon Age: Origins

DA:O is yet another example of good writing elevating a game into my top 10 list. The parts that have always stuck out in my mind are the origin stories and how well they all tie together into the overall plot. Sure, they all converge to the same point, but those first couple of hours really do a good job of presenting the world and immersing the player in it. The party your Warden gathers together are, unsurprisingly, much like Mass Effect in that they are all easy to get attached to and give insight into some aspect of the world. The reason why this is placed as my number two is simply because I adore Medieval Fantasy. Tolkien was the sole reason why I got into writing to begin with and George R.R. Martin's books have been a huge influence on me. See, I view DA:O as a blending of those two authors. All of the high fantasy elements from Lord of the Rings are melded together with Martin's love for politics and back stabbing and it all works so well. When a video games comes along that seems to emulate both of my favorite authors, how could I not love it?

1. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

This should really come as a surprise to anyone who knows me. Yes, Kotor is my most favorite game of all time, but it is not because I'm some blind fan boy. This game is the reason why I am such an adamant fan of the series. See, it all starts with that opening crawl; that very first line: "Four thousand years before the rise of the Galactic Empire...". That blew my mind the first time I read it. Prior to this, I had always enjoyed the Star Wars movies, but it never stemmed beyond that. I had rented Kotor on a whim and my mind hadn't even entertained the idea that Star Wars could encompass something outside the movies, let alone 4,000 years before them! I was instantly hooked from that point on and I've beaten it well over 70 times since then (no, that's not an exaggeration). Thanks to this game, I have crossed over to the Dark Side and fully embraced my love for Star Wars.

Of course, my love for this game doesn't just end there. Like most Bioware games, this title also had you collecting a band of would-be heroes from various corners of the galaxy who all give some insight-blah, blah, you know that part already. What this game does do different; though, is the lack of a dialogue wheel and, most importantly, no color-coded choices. There is still a morality meter, but this game actually makes you think about what you say or do since only an action overtly evil or good will indicate how it will affect your alignment. I also really enjoyed the RPG elements of this game since the stat building, combat, and skills/feats are all based on the D20 Star Wars RPG system (yes, I've played them both) and I loved the depth of it all. There isn't a single aspect of this game that I don't enjoy and I have yet to play a game that has completely blown me away like Kotor did.