Everyone likes Top 10 lists, right?
2018 is pretty much over at this point with only four more days left for it to be discarded away. Because of that, I wanted to keep my new tradition of sharing with you guys some of my favorite games that I played this year. As some of you may know however, I don't play many recent releases if any at all, which means that this list will not be restricted to games released on 2018, otherwise I might not even be able to put a single game in it. Out of all the games I played this year that were released in 2018 I only managed to finish deltarune Chapter 1, which is closer to a Demo than a full game, meaning that Spider-Man, Monster Hunter World and Smash Bros Ultimate cannot really make the list.
Ground rules aside though, I think 2018 was a pretty good year for games with me. There was plenty of experimentation thanks to very kind recommendations from my dear friends and I managed to find a handful of hidden gems that I enjoy dearly. Some of the games of this list I have not actually reviewed, but if you've been keeping up with my Hall of Fame you might recognize a few of them. If you don't know what my Hall of Fame is, then you're missing out.
Yeah, I know making a Top 10 List is kind of cheap, easy and lazy content compared to my usual outings, but I'm still busy working on that Analysis I promised earlier. I just underestimated the scope I was going for and its taken me far longer than I imagined it would.
Anyways, without further ado, let's jump into the list
Ace Combat 04 is a good game. Not my personal favorite of the series, but a damn good game. You'll probably hear me say this a lot more throughout this list, but the thing that separates an Ace Combat game from basically any other arcade simulator or even military action game is its great attention to detail when it comes to presentation. Ace Combat 04 does not only want to be a fun game about fighter planes, but attempts to present it all with such style that its frankly appealing to anyone regardless of their interest in the subject matter. Though I have some issues with it, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't also captivated by its story about the suffering of the people in times of war and the fighters that risked their lives to reclaim the mainland among the shattered skies of a war torn nation.
Yes, I know I'm cheating with this one, that's why its so low on the list. I had played Dragon's Dogma before, I even reviewed it in fact, but we never talk about that. My opinion on the game has changed a lot since then and my 2018 playthrough on the PS4 made me realize that I actually find Dragon's Dogma Dark Arisen to be not only a very engaging Open World Action game, but also a quite daring passion project with thoroughly unique ideas that haven't been explored in any other game. Paying more close attention to the gameplay mechanics and the worldbuilding of Dragon's Dogma made me appreciate the experience as a whole so much more.
Devil May Cry is a landmark action series. You cannot think of its type of action game without instantly thinking about it or any of its sequels. Despite being one of the first of its kind however, the first Devil May Cry holds up really well. It controls very well, has excellent level design and a fun story. Its the kind of game that not only serves as a blueprint for other games to improve upon, but also one that just holds up on its own even though we have come a long way since it was released. Its a timeless and quintessential action game.
Needless to say, I had a lot of fun playing the Ace Combat series this year. The presentation in these games is top notch material and truly elevates their stories to epic levels. This is especially true for Ace Combat 5. Even though it has a rather simplistic story, the way its presented makes it feel like its a beautiful and epic tale. From the awe inspiring orchestral score to the visuals, the game is impressive through and through. Ace Combat 5 not only perfects the gameplay of Ace Combat 4, but adds more variety and more mechanics than ever before. It is a classic and epic game of war, peace and those who sacrifice all to maintain it.
This is the last Ace Combat game on the list, I promise. This is probably my favorite game on the series. Not just because it has the most unique presentation out of all games with its futuristic interface, unique fighter plane designs and electronic soundtrack, but also because of its highly ambitious and expansive storyline with up to 5 different endings. Ace Combat 3's mechanics may be more primitive than later games, but it makes up for it with the sheer scope of its themes and world building which dabbles in themes of trans-humanism and monolithic world governing corporations.
The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild is one of the very best Open World games ever made. The sheer amount of attention to detail in the gameplay mechanics, world and content to explore really puts this title above so many of its kind. Not only that, but the presentation of this world is filled with beauty, serenity and picturesque charm. It definitely lived up to most of my expectations as a fan of the series and it gave a breath of fresh air to the series that I welcome with open arms.
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones was my first game in the Fire Emblem franchise, and it truly makes me want to delve as deep as I can into its history. Needless to say, the game was fantastic. The gameplay had the right blend of challenge and forgiveness while offering a solid mechanical loop that kept me invested in building my team and avoiding death at all costs. More than that though, I was thoroughly impressed with its tragic story and wonderful cast of characters that immersed me in the world and conflict to such a great extent. Its an honestly unforgettable game and I can't wait to see what else this franchise can offer.
Devil May Cry 3 is one of the best action games ever made. It excels at everything an action game should excel at. It keeps the player on their toes with energetic, varied and challenging combat. It gives them time to breathe with solid level design and pacing. Its presented with a thick layer of style. It amuses the player with its charming humor and it also hits them hard with more complex themes that are built up to form a symbiotic bond with the gameplay. Devil May Cry 3 has everything one could love about a game like this.
From the moment I laid my eyes onto this game, I knew it would be something special. And so it was. Fragile Dreams ~Farewell Ruins of the Moon~ is one of the most special games I have ever played in my life. It is a game I have an immeasurable amount of passion and affection for. It is a game that touched me deeply and enveloped me in its story, world, characters, art style, music and anything in-between. It is probably the most involving experience I've had with a game this whole year. So why isn't it higher on the list? Well, Fragile Dreams is a hard sell. It has flaws like it has virtues, and I can't see everyone enjoying this game as much as I do. However, if you have the opportunity, please give Fragile Dreams a chance. I promise you won't be disappointed.
Dead Rising is amazing. It has so much of what I love about a game. It has fantastic level design and gameplay that takes advantage of said level design. It has an incredible amount of replayability and a high skill ceiling for mastering the game. It has memorable characters and situations that stick with you long after you've shut the game off. It has a great selection of songs that give the game a stronger style. And last, but definitely not least, it has a plethora of complex themes and commentary that continues to be relevant and striking more than a decade later. It is such an amazing game and all around my favorite game that I played on 2018. Congratulations Capcom!
And that concludes this year's countdown. I tried my best to put games that I didn't already review as well as give recognition to a diverse variety of games. I don't think I succeeded at that though. Anyways, here are some honorable mentions!
Anyways, that is all.
Once again, I'm very sorry for not updating as often as I did. What I'm working on right now is larger than I expected and it will be quite some time before I'm finished. Thanks for your patience, and I hope you had a great 2018.