The original Legend of Zelda, on the Nintendo Entertainment System, was a revolutionary game when it was released. It was the first game to feature a battery backup for saving, and one of few games of the time to feature a large, open world that could be explored freely. The came contains nine different dungeons that can be played in (almost) any order, and a much harder "second quest" unlocked after beating it the first time.
The Legend of Zelda is one of the best games ever because of its combination of fast-paced action, exploration, and puzzle-solving; none of the dungeons are a simple "walk in a straight line and press A" style, instead all requiring some degree of secret-finding and resource management to complete. Also, the game’s innovative inventory system led to a large range of treasure being available, some better than others, and a variety of different ways to fight the mobs.
October 3rd, 2007
Posted by
Darien |
Best Games Ever |
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It’s only fitting that I start this column with Baten Kaitos, since I started the ol’ game reviews with it back in the day. Baten Kaitos is (as is its prequel, Baten Kaitos Origins) an RPG with an unconventional card-based battle system. It was unfairly criticised by some major game sites (no points for guessing which one that’s a euphemism for) for being "too hard," which makes no sense to me. I mean, it’s not a very hard game; I get the idea that modern RPGs are supposed to be exercises in finding the "fight" command enough times to get to the next cutscene, but even by that standard, it’s not too hard. I’ve played hard games, and this isn’t on the same level. It was also criticised for having "too much gameplay" and I won’t even give that the benefit of pretending to understand it.
What sets the Baten Kaitos games apart from other RPGs? The battle system is fast-paced and exciting, and rewards quick reflexes and quick thinking in a way that few RPGs do, while at the same time not seeming "gimicky" or like you’re being forced to play endless tiresome minigames. It’s also paced correctly; both games start you out slowly enough that you’ll have plenty of time to adjust to the odd mechanics before they get difficult, and gradually ramp up the number of choices you have to make and the speed with which you have to do it. The typical battle in the endgame involves trying to play a large series of cards in the optimal fashion so you can to maximum damage (or healing) while at the same time attempting to leave yourself in a good position for the next turn. Foresight is an excellent ability to have to these games.
It’s also worth noting that the two games play completely differently, despite superficial similarities, but they both manage the same type of fast-paced and engaging combat. That’s a refreshing sight in an RPG these days, since combat that’s interesting in a non-spreadsheet-related way is a rarity.
September 30th, 2007
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Darien |
Best Games Ever |
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This is basically an "intro" article explaining what this category will be about in the future. The idea is, there are a lot of video games out there. A lot of them are truly excellent, a lot of them are truly crap, and a staggering number are mediocre. In this series, I’ll highlight games that are exceptional in some fashion and discuss exactly what it is that sets them apart from the rest. Note that these won’t all necessarily be games that I gave a perfect score to – it’s quite possible that games I profile in this series will have significant troubles that held them back. Just so long as they were outstanding in one area or other they’re game to be included here.
September 28th, 2007
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Darien |
Best Games Ever |
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