1. Star Ocean: The Second Story
It was summer 2001, my two BFFs went on vacation with their families, and I was left at home with a small TV in my room to watch DVDs and play videogames. A little isolated, but entertained, I devoted myself to the first major RPG I’d play (nay, CONQUER) multiple times over. Star Ocean: The Second Story was that game where I’d know the secrets, treasures, and optimal set-ups like it was the back of my hand. I wanted to see a bunch of the endings and do several playthroughs to see what all the exclusive characters were like. I wanted to mess up every boss in the Maze of Trials because I optimized my team to destroy — SO2 especially made me love “damage pileups” (and tri-Ace makes games that WANT to be played this way). From then on, I went from a kid playing on easy modes (not that there’s anything wrong with that!) to deliberately cranking up that difficulty dial. I became hooked on being frustrated by challenges… LIMITER OFF!
2. Valkyrie Profile
Video games have historically handled female characters somewhat generally (and insidiously) as supporting characters, with less HP, playing love interests and damsels. Then along comes Lenneth. Rarely is there a game that treats its entire[?] female roster with such dignity through the often tragic but beautiful stories seen in Valkyrie Profile. Like a Princess getting dangerously close to a mercenary who disgraced her father, an adopted Priestess sacrificing herself to reunite the spirit of the long lost child with her parents, or a Mermaid tragically discovering her dad has died only to be “reunited with him” by a magically granted wish by an oblivious but well-meaning friend.
Lenneth herself is a one-woman army, powerful on the battlefield. Though not immune to a love interest, she becomes empowered by her love as she rebels against divine corruption. The overall experience of this platforming-RPG hybrid is still rewarding and rarely seen (especially before Metroidvanias skyrocketed in popularity).
3. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Wild
Like Shakespeare, some things are good, even when everyone says it’s good. And few games capture the spirit of creativity like Zelda‘s Switch duology. Whereas so many games tend to follow more straightforward attack/react programming, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are about throwing, launching, fusing, crafting, assembling, reversing time, and using the environment to one’s advantage (the first time you deliberately electrocute an enemy during a thunderstorm is the best). Everything feels so organic and polished.
Between their hands-off difficulty (possibly one of the “easiest hard games” ever) and minimal, beautiful soundtracks, the games give you plenty to do and discover. Zelda has never felt more true to its roots yet revitalized, again inspiring a new wave of similar adventure titles.
I’ll cite TotK as the better game, because while I enjoyed BotW‘s slow and careful pace, Tears allowed me to run, fly, and dive between the earth and sky with reckless abandon and freedom.
4. Xenoblade Bionicles
Perhaps more than anything, it’s Xenoblade‘s fusion of fantasy and sci-fi realms that have captivated me the most, delivering in almost equal parts something magical and robotic that has always hooked the hardcore geek in me. The sprawling vistas atop largely explorable landmasses were breathtaking even on the Wii (hey, don’t laugh), but Monolith Soft has only grown in scope and ability, which you could see taking shape back in their Xenosaga days.
The fact that the series has had four excellent games, three of which include full game-length[!] DLC is simply unequaled. However, for simplicity’s sake, it’s the first Xenoblade I’ll always circle back to (there are fewer Field Skills and less lengthy Chain Attacks to return to). But Xenoblade X needed that port years ago, so I’m glad it finally happened.
5. Cyberpunk 2077
The neon-soaked Night City has you trying to cure yourself from a rare biochip implant that will kill you with a fatal dose of Keanu Reeves (…could be worse?). The streets are packed with derelicts, weirdos, psychos, police, elites, and “chooms.” You might be on borrowed time, but the people you meet are willing to lend an ear.
Despite a rocky start, Cyberpunk 2077 went from half-broken vaporware to a near-essential RPG experience. Though the map is several times smaller than CDPR’s The Witcher 3, the scope and verticality ensure nearly every corner is thoroughly detailed and of some importance.
So hook that USB into your machine-modded wrist, experience glitches (or brain damage), or have heart-to-hearts with people just as lost as you. Cyberpunk 2077 demands the first-person view (controversial as it was), and with a cybernetic double-jump and an endless garage of cars to drive/destroy, sometimes it’s just nice to get lost for a while.
Non-RPG 1: Kirby Super Star
Do you have a Kirby person in your life? Are you that person? Maybe you wanted some fuzzy Kirby merch (cuz’ Kirbo gets a lot of incredible merch) (seriously a lot!). Well, even if not, I’m that Kirby fan to others — and now I’m yours too!
Neither too hard nor too serious, Kirby is sunshine, rainbows, literally ANY ability (Fighter, Sword, Doctor, Light Bulb) who goes on big adventures to fight evil forces (like dark matter, voids, dangerous experiments, and yarn) and saving every-buddy.
It’s hard to explain what makes Kirby tick, but like Kirby’s ability to suck in anything, it’s generally everything! Charming visuals, cool music, and fun gameplay — what more does a hit series need? But to me, it’s also an aesthetic, a comfort food when life is dreary, and a lifelong relationship with the series that’s just simply fun.
Oh yeah, Kirby Super Star [Ultra] is my favourite. Followed by Kirby 64 and Kirby: Planet Robobot.
Non-RPG 2: Red Dead Redemption 2
I love immersive games. And while a good story is a treat (and an area where Red Dead Redemption 2 delivers), it’s when a world feels like it was a labour of love I adore — largely because you can always tell when devs go that extra mile. The hand-drawn catalogues? NPCs having realistic schedules and wardrobe changes?! Or any vast array of details involving wildlife (like wolves playing, mourning, and hunting).
The game was effectively Westworld with the degree of “playing a cowboy” on top of being a bonafide GOAT for all else it does. It certainly lassoed a few ideas from popular Westerns (Tombstone, Butch Cassidy, Wild Bunch, TAOJJBTCRF for SURE). And whereas Rockstar Games’ other flagship series Grand Theft Auto effectively gets off on its crude brand of satire and trigger-happy mayhem (don’t get me wrong, I love it too), it’s interesting to see how Red Dead reads near-perfectly like a Western TV show that you absolutely feel a part of.
