Andbrian

For years, I had stated that Xenoblade Chronicles 1 was my favorite game of all time. Now, having played Xenoblade Chronicles 2, I think this might take the cake. I think the OST was better this time around, better graphics (duh, newer system), story was equally good if not better, better combat system and more memorable characters. I absolutely loved it and I hope you will too (it doesn't require that you play the first beforehand).

One of my favorite JRPGs of all time! I love the story, the graphics, and the soundtrack. But above all else, I love how the combat makes you think. Some will argue that you hammer the A button repeatedly (probably true in the early parts of the game). But it felt like a good balance between using skills, buffs, de-buffs and items all in tandem, especially when taking on a major boss. Since completing this, I've beaten DQ8 and I'm currently working on DQ6, so clearly this game turned me into a fan of the series.

Literally my favorite JRPG of all time. I never played the Wii version, so I'm basing this review on the 3DS version. I absolutely loved the story, the soundtrack, the visuals & cutscenes, the gameplay, the voice acting and the equipment/crafting system. There was one boss where the framerate was so bad that it was basically unplayable, but other than that, the entire game ran smoothly. The c-stick on the New 2DS/3DS can freely control the camera in all directions. Can't recommend it enough, and I'm currently working on Xenoblade Chronicles 2 on Switch!

I had only played DQ5 before playing this one. I gotta say, both of those are in the running to be my favorite JRPGs of all time. The story is an easy one but a good one. DQ5 wins in the story department. But the graphics, the soundtrack, the voice acting, the difficulty and the fact that the game is in full 3D all blew me away. Many say that the full orchestral soundtrack being replaced by Synth detracts from the experience, but I feel that the monsters on the field, as opposed to random battles, is a great trade-off. Also keep in mind that I went in blind with the 3DS version, I didn't play the PS2 version at all. One final perk, if you have a New 3DS/2DS XL, the c-stick works to control the camera in all directions. Buy the game before the eShop closes!!

I played Cave Story recently, and it ranks as one of my favorites of all time. I absolutely loved the story, the soundtrack, the gameplay, the difficulty, basically everything. Many label it as a Metroidvania, which I would say it's not (it's actually quite linear). One man (under the name Pixel) created this game (it took him 5 years to do it) and this has got me curious about other single-person creations, like Axiom Verge, Iconoclasts, etc. You can technically still play it for free on PC (it has always been available for free), but then you're missing out on a bunch of cool extras. Go play it!

I'm glad I didn't sleep on this game. I've logged 50 hours so far and it's still holding my interest. In short, I would say this game is a better version of Pokemon. You traverse the world full 3D, the battles are deep, there's more customization, and there's full-blown cutscenes. My only complaint was the main game was too easy, I barely looked into the game mechanics because I didn't have to, but the challenge hits hard in the post-game (I'm just now realizing this is true for all MH games). But to counter negative reviews I've read: it's far more than simple rock-paper-scissors. Knowing monsters well results in more successful turns, which boosts Kinship, which enables you to pull off better moves. The system works great. I also read complaints that it's turn-based (they must have not looked at any gameplay videos before buying). All in all, one of my favorite games ever. Now, on to the sequel!

I don't know why this game hooked me in so powerfully, but it did. I wouldn't call myself a Pokemon fan by any means, I basically just knew about the type advantages/disadvantages enough to get me through (I never knew about dual-types before this game). Other reviewers will tell you that there's no strategic depth, which I suppose is true since each Pokemon only has one move/skill and there's not really much item/equipment. But nonetheless, I was beyond hooked. Like staying up later than I wanted, putting off responsibilities hooked. Give it a try. It just has that super fun x-factor. I would say the main game is easy overall, and then in the post-game, there are some genuine challenges. Of course, it's not on the same level as FFT or Fire Emblem, but man oh man is it a good time.

I really wanted to love this game, but after much endurance, I quit after 18 hours. And trust me, I am NOT one to just give up on a game easily. Everything just felt mediocre. I thought the graphics were terrible (I played on a 2DS XL). Most of what promotes the drive to search rooms in a JRPG is the prospect of finding items/loot or someone to talk to, but I feel like I wandered through a million empty rooms with nothing in them. The battle system felt weak, just a button masher (slight team management as far as items/healing). Speaking of items, there were a ton, but I never used anything more than Apple or Orange Gels. Truth be told, I should have just bumped up the difficulty to Hard, maybe it would've provided more of a challenge. Some positives, however, great voice acting across the board along with good characters. The story was a mix. On the one hand, I did like it, it did a good job of creating intrigue. But then on the other hand, it felt too political, and many times I was like, where is this even going?! Granted, the game came out in 2005. But overall, just left a bad taste in my mouth, and it was my first Tales game, so I'm not exactly thrilled to try another one (I already own Vesperia on Switch).