2021: My Favorite Games

#10: Tales of Arise

Boy, I Sure Wish These Bosses Weren't Ass

  Damn, Tales of Arise... While I had Tales of Berseria in my Top 10 of 2017, I will admit it was more of a cling to nostalgia. Tales of Arise would have my favorite characters since Vesperia and it would no longer feel as if all we were doing was traveling from set piece to set piece. It would also have characters that I would say, more so than ever before, felt completely different from one another in terms of play style and that there wasn't a single character I wouldn't use in any given moment depending on the circumstances. What prevents it from actually being the highest rated jrpg on my list (there are 2 of them) are the grievances I have with the boss battles. They're often too hard for no reason at specifically the tail end of the fights which have already been a slog up to that point due to the ridiculous life pools. This often drains the really great moments of any emotional resonance. The story is overall fantastic though and I hope that the good here can carry some momentum for the next Tales game.

#9: Resident Evil Village

I Actually Wanted to Throw Up, It Was So Scary

This game has some stunning highs. Everyone always talks about the House Beneviento moment and with good reason. It was an iconic showing of a return to form; a master class of building terror that stuck with you well after it's moments were history. Just as good is the fact that this is a book end for the complete tale of Ethan Winters. Thematically this game and Resident Evil 7 click. What initially ropes you in with a promise to return to it's horror survival roots becomes a careful and tragic tale of what it means to have a family. Everyone's definition of family is different and so many characters showcase the many different facets of being a part of one. Really what holds it back is that some of the segments are rather meh towards the tail end. Capcom hit their rhythm with this one though and I can't wait to get my scare pajamas on for the next one.

#8: Deathloop

You Just Missed Outer Wilds

Deathloop was SO FUN in the beginning. There was a unique sense of intrigue and the chemistry between the major voice actors was just a blast to  experience. On top of that the back stories of a number of the primary antagonists actually made me feel bad for them. The discovery of why anyone would want to continue the same day over and over again due to a particular kind of trauma they would never want to recreate in the real world had big mood energy. The way it tells this there-and-back again story would've have also had more impact if it weren't for two things: The method and overall story of Outer Wilds was just better and it came out a year ago. They are different games from a gameplay stand point so that's something to be had, but it's those small things that can keep a game from true greatness especially since I've already tasted it.

#7: Guilty Gear Strive

A Smelly Game

The promise of roll back netcode laid pungent in the air. How good could it REALLY be? How much of a difference could it REALLY have? The answer was a lot. Guilty Gear Strive would be the anchor that weighed the FGC with a new precedent. Roll back is a necessity. Tragically this standard was further bolstered with the pandemic fully ablaze. It felt like the only way to play fighting games with other people was to play online. Combine that with a new take on the Guilty Gear formula and the creative expression of the new Roman cancel, you've got yourself a fighting game. To be honest this game means a lot more to me due to the fact that it is the game that got me involved with the local FGC. Also my frustrations with the system have actually allowed me to grow as a learning individual which helps with all of the games I play going forward.

#6: Metroid Dread

I've Died at This Boss 50 Times, Yet I Persist

It's been a bajillion years since I played a sidescrolling Metroid game and to me it is still my preferred and best way to experience a Metroid game. I was curious about the title. The game that created the most fear within me from the Metroid series was Metroid Fusion and I was pleasantly surprised to find out the ties this game has with it. The game is just long enough, with me beating it over a weekend. The mystery is fun, the puzzles are challenging, and the bosses are distinct and brutal. This game would actually prompt me to begin my run at beating a Souls game, something I honestly didn't think I'd ever do. There's one nitpicky control set up that agitated me during some boss fights, but it was a little thing that I eventually got over. It didn't take away the satisfaction I got from defeating a difficult opponent. Please please make more of these. I just can't get enough.

#5: Shin Megami Tensei V

The Quintessential Attack and Dethrone God Experience

Admittedly I'm still playing through Shin Megami Tensei V, but from what I have played of it has been an absolute delight. The demon Pokémon formula still holds up and the interactions with said demons often bring a smile to my face. What I find wholly rewarding about the game is that it never feels like you can grind so much that you completely overpower the game. The game requires you to interact with it's systems. Make one mistake, get struck at weak point, you could suddenly find yourself staring at a GAME OVER screen. That might turn some people off who prefer to grind but for me it made most challenges rewarding in terms of puzzle solving. At all points of the game the story bosses are solvable depending on the demons in your compendium and the items you utilize. A truly rewarding JRPG experience that keeps me going with the mystery of it's story. As a long time fan this actually might be one of the best yet in the series.

#4: No More Heroes III

Pop Culture Deviance

After that first suplex I knew I would get it: a shot of nostalgia. Suda51 takes aim at a new realm of pop culture fandom: the superhero genre. What Suda51 does so well is make an attribute associated with popularity so... trivial. The game has "Superheroes". This isn't true at all of course and we've felt it before with the "open world" game that was No More Heroes. And while it makes the fact that it has superheroes carry no heft at all there is still substance here in the midst of all the insane style. Weirdly enough Travis Touchdown, after spending over a decade with him, has become someone that I strive to be entering my 30s. He genuinely does not care what other people think of him and his passions. Also, he's a home owner. Making moves Travis! And I'm right on that trail.

#3: Psychonauts 2

It Doesn't Have to Be Gamers =/= Mental Health

Wowzers. A game with a sequel about 10 years in the making and it hasn't missed a beat. The gameplay is crisp, the humor is rampant, the emotional undertones and overtones will stick with you for the rest of the month! This is possibly DoubleFine's best game yet and it is the continuation of one of their most special properties. As mental health becomes more and more prevalent within the gaming community, games like Celeste and Psychonauts keep up the discussion on the warfront. There are so many occurrences in Psychonauts 2 that someone, somewhere will resonate with and whatever it is, is tackled with such verve that I can't help but smile. We must learn to love each other and love ourselves if we're to be a strong gaming community. Content like this will bolster that push and definitely has already helped me a lot heading into 2022.

#2: Inscryption

I'm Not Crying, You're Crying

Inscryption is the sad version of every card gamer's Toy Story. That's all I can really say. The game really is the benefactor of it's intriguing mystery. The game will surprise you. It will make you feel a little dread. Most of all, if you have a soft spot for card games, it will make feel something other games have difficulty encapsulating when it comes to self study of a genre. To go on talking about this game would only hurt the experience. Play this masterpiece.

#1: Loop Hero

There is An End to This Wasteland, I Promise You

I did a little bit for the JSB Gamescast regarding this game but I want to reiterate how I feel about it. I love the mixing of it's genres. I think they really experimented here with the actual concept of what a game could be. I feel that Roguelikes as a genre are really poignant right now, whether you're dealing with grief, you lost a job, or you're dealing with this pandemic. Everyone ends up in a wasteland at some point of their life. There is an end, I promise you. Loop Hero captured that feeling for me and all the pieces clicked together, top to bottom, as a work of art. For that, Loop Hero is my GOTY 2021.

Notable Games I Haven't Gotten the Chance to Play at the Time of Writing:

Solar Ash
Death's Door

Axiom Verge 2

Monster Hunter Rise

12 Minutes

Life is Strange: True Colors

Eastward

Lost Judgement

Guardians of the Galaxy

Returnal

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart