I have been suffering from writer’s block ever since I came back from visiting my family. It is not necessarily a bad thing. It is just hard getting back into writing mode. I need to learn how to build a writing momentum again. Humans are indeed a creature of habit. No wonder some of us are threatened by AI.
To get back into writing mode, I thought I’d do something casual. Let’s talk about video games because life is too short to bottle things up and be serious all the time.
I thought long and hard about this subject. How do I know what my favorite games are? Then I asked myself, what games do I keep going back to? How many copies of the same game do I have? What games left a huge impression on me? I found the answers even though it was really hard because I enjoyed many games. So here are my top 3 in no particular order.
1) Dark Souls II
I know Dark Souls II has a bad reputation among some soul fans, but I could care less. Dark Souls II is my favorite out of the franchise. I like the lore, the character creation, stage and monster design than the first one. So you can say that it’s actually the art direction of Naotoshi Zin and the lead art concept design by Daisuke Satake that stood out to me. It’s like playing inside a fairy-tale book with an edge. And if I can recall, I did jokingly refer Dark Souls II as my abusive lover in this blog post:Dark Souls II Rant: Rings and the Test of Patience as I explained why I kept going back to it.
But I’ll be honest with you folks, I sort of got burnt out with the souls game or any soul-like games. Lately, I rather live life by just going with the flow instead of swimming against a strong current. So maybe Shenmue 2 is actually my favorite game. I am learning how to stop and smell the roses and be kinder to myself.
2) Nier Gestalt/Replicant
According to Yoko Taro, he is a weirdo and only weird people love this game, so that makes me weird, too. Because who would lock themselves away in a room and ponder deep, life questions, and say one of their best summer vacation experiences is inside a video game? What I enjoyed most is how synchronized the music is in each area of the game. I lost count of how many times I replayed the abandoned factory section. Sometimes I just kill robots by following the rhythm of the music. To me the game design is art itself. For a post-apocalyptic world, it sure feels safer than when it was full of civilization, and I didn’t even know I was playing as a mass murderer!
3) Parasite Eve 1 & 2
I am sorry. I can’t decide whether I should pick Parasite Eve or Parasite Eve 2. Oddly, I found myself replaying Parasite Eve 2 multiple times. I like the stage design and the overall ambient atmosphere. Also, Aya Brea is more experienced in the second installment. There is something cool about her navigating alone and a certain quietness to it. Perfect for a big introvert like me who can’t think in noisy places. I also really like the monster design. The battle with the Burner still terrifies me to this day. I am going to replay this game sometime soon.
So, if you were to ask me what my favorite games are, now you know. So what about you? What are your top 3 favorite games?
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Interesting list! Three very different games. Personally, I never quite got Dark Souls. I played it but it never hooked me. I have a huge list of games I like but one that always comes to mind is Witcher 3. More recently, I fell in love with Clair Obscur. But from your list, my favorite is Parasite Eve! I even played the one on PSP (3rd Birthday) although it was not quite as good, I was just happy to be back in the universe.
I heard some good things about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I haven’t played it. Now I am curious. I agree with you, Third Birthday was not so good! If you enjoy Parasite Eve, there is game called Parasite Mutant on Steam. I heard that the demo is decently fun. Anyway, it’s always nice to meet another Parasite Eve fan!
Nier Replicant truly is a class act game, particularly in the way its narrative and game design meld with one another thanks to Taro’s superior direction. And of course, Keiichi Okabe’s mesmerizing score! Still one of the greatest compositions ever created period. Him and Yoko Taro feel like the modern day equivalent of Ennio Morricone and Sergio Leone who did the great spaghetti westerns. Once they’re working in sync, the final result is unlike anything else.
I like the The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. The music in it is very mesmerizing.
Great spaghetti western. For me though, Once Upon a Time in the West is Sergio Leone’s best western. Striking to look at with a story that beautifully builds to an emotional conclusion. It also has arguably Ennio Morricone’s best score.
Oh I will have to check that one out!
It’s extraordinary! Definitely one the best westerns period. The 12 minute opening scene alone is magnificent and puts many other westerns to shame.