Made me have a one-up over other students when it came to mythology knowledge....  Thass about it.

Otherwise, as an artist and graphic designer, its helps me a lot when it comes to design.  Games usually try to match the aesthetic look they're going for, so they're a wonderful reference.

Lets give a hand to the games that were the 6/10's, the good-not-great's, and the "I wouldn't play it again"'s.

These games may not have stuck out, from start to end.  However, they did a special "one thing" that make them stand apart from all the other games.  Hence, the Honourable Mentions.

They don't have to be shit games, but preferably be thankful for something different in the game then.

For example.
Honourable mention goes to Baten Kaitos...

Theres something about the graphics I hate.
Really plain and offer little to the table besides crispness. 

You're telling me.  I'm a size Small, so that pre-order bonus gives me a new Pyjama to wear to bed... =(
I hope its cotton-y and comfy....

Price is right.  As much as I hate to say, I do get suckered by pre-order bonuses.  I don't think I would have gotten Tales of Legendia if it didn't come with that artbook (I was watching a lot of Samurai Champloo at the time too, so it worked nicely).

That price too...  That has to be, hands down, the best pre-order bonus set ever.

I love the lighting... of all things.  Nice glow to the environments.

Normally I'd pick something a bit more worth looking at.  But I like this.  Because it shows you where I sleep, and (on the left) you see where my PC is that I come and talk to all the fine smart-asses on good ol RPGFan.

You could have used a better example: Tales of Vesperia.

I kinda like how recent Tales games have given you fewer playable characters, but each being much more relevant with very, very specific strengths (and weaknesses).

Yuri- All around strong guy and combo-er

Estelle- Necessary healer when the bosses lay a a big old back-hand slap to your characters

Repede- Speed?  Alternative and more classic fighter... plus he can avoid mystic artes which wins you quite a few secret missions

Karol- I personally don't use him, but he has awesome skills and he gets the strongest equipment

Rita- Elementalist and grade-farmer (though, IMO, melee fighters tend to deal more damage in a shorter amount of time)

Judith- Aeriel chick

Raven- Shit stats, but I reaallly do believe in his usefulness during battle....especially if/when Estelle isn't around.

I wouldn't say the music sucks as much as it was suitable. =)
Both because the game was less than par and it suited the damned fairy-tale princess thing.

Ar Tonelico has some of the best tracks ever heard in a video game (or at least the song albums).
The art work for this title is especially lovely.

I heard the gameplay got way better too.

Am I the only one who feels "big whoop"?
The combat was cool, the gameplay was cute, but the difficulty (or lack thereof) and fluffiness kinda really kill it, no?

This is a title I'd get my little sister if I had one.

Gotta say, I'm actually looking forward to this... should be interesting.

What an odd thing to say by normal standards.

I picked up Kirby Super Star, its just as awesome as it always was.  I kinda preferred the old mini-games, truth be told.  And nice re-mastering of the sounds (is that an odd thing to critique?).  The videos inserted for segments are wicked too. =)