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Top 5 Game Music Remixes

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We all know the tunes – the soundtracks that bring back memories of a favorite game; the way they moved us and affected the emotions felt during the most intense moments of our button-mashing fests. Without music, gaming simply wouldn’t be the same.

NUMBER 5

Castlevania 2: Bloody Tears

This song is moving and brilliantly played on the piano. Any Castlevania fan can recognize this melody immediately.

Remix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MM_Q0nfaG0

Original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjazC45Qkww

 

NUMBER 4

Super Mario Bros: Super Mario Bros. Theme

A more unique mix on the original tune that anyone who has ever heard of videogames knows by heart.

Remix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crfrKqFp0Zg

Original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEKDF_WbMlg



NUMBER 3

Tetris: Tetris Theme

The original Tetris theme was catchy and creative and managed to stick in heads long after the game was turned off. This brilliant techno remix will make anyone want to dance.

Remix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3wR3aIQ23w

Original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmCCQxVBfyM

 

NUMBER 2

Megaman 2: Several in game songs

This remix has a well-deserved spot as number 2.

Remix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUEO9Mfmn4M

Original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8Ao63nmzuE

 

NUMBER 1




Final Fantasy 2-7: Several in-game songs

"That’s Insane" were the words that came out of my mouth as I watched the guitarist on screen beautifully play through 4 videos of 6 of my favorite games and their themes. It's about 40 minutes of pure creative skill at work, and deserves the number 1 spot as one of the best video game remixes of all time.

Remix:

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ8VYCEXqa4

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kiaCPyaRyU

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztd1XCdLZYU

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsunerK4OPk

Original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9LrE6dRHn8

 

I went through tons of videos to find these gems and I wouldn’t feel right not having an honorable mention section for some remixes that didn't quite make the cut.

 

Castlevania 2: Bloody Tears

Remix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiOP5IrWwgw

Original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjazC45Qkww

 

Super Mario Bros.: Super Mario Bros. Theme

Remix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZpD0btOZx8

Original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEKDF_WbMlg

 

Sonic: Several in game songs

Remix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt4dLfN4J4I

Original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFHvxuuOymo

 

Tetris: Tetris Theme

Remix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-O_rWRVc24

Original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmCCQxVBfyM

 

Super Mario Bros.: Super Mario Bros. Theme

Remix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBgMk4X9MzA

Original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEKDF_WbMlg

 

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MMOs I Really Want to See

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I have spent a lot of my PC gaming career playing MMOs and although I play several other games too, there’s nothing like being able to jump into a virtual world and go questing with your friends, or running a dungeon with an awesome pick-up group. I’ve been waiting and waiting for several MMOs to come out and I have yet to see any developer make mention or formally announce that their making these MMOs. Since I don’t have the knowledge to design and program these myself, I thought that I would help these developers out with a Top Ten list and hopefully someone will see this list and say “Hey, that’s a great idea. Let’s make it” and soon my time will be consumed even more with another exciting MMO. So here it is, my list of MMOs I really want to play!

 

 

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ARGGGGGGGG

5. Wrestling MMO: Okay, I’m going to throw this out there, because I’m a huge pro wrestling junkie and I’ve thought about this one for a while now (I’ve even developed a mock game design document for this one, that’s how bad my addiction is). The basis of this would be live events run by moderators every week and a big one every month, just like the real business. The top competitors (picked by scores from PC vs. NPC, PC vs. PC, and moderators) and champions would compete in these matches. Champions have special rules (some have to compete in every show, etc.) they have to abide by or they are stripped of their titles. There would be several servers so everyone would have an opportunity to compete in the public and pay-per-view shows. Even those that didn’t make it to the shows could watch as audience members. All shows would be broadcast on the game’s official website and would also be recorded for future viewing. Customization options for characters would be broad (I’m thinking Cryptic broad here) and wrestler’s would have to choose original names. Entrance videos and music could also be an option here. Any developers interested yet? Well, send me an e-mail for the game design document!

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This is for Jerry!!!!!

4. Grand Theft Auto MMO: I loved the premise behind Grand Theft Auto. If Liberty City and the rest of the Grand Theft Auto locales were converted into an open-ended MMO world, or just use a new setting exactly, this could be an awesome MMO. You could allow players to drive across interstates to get to new locations, the normal quest mechanic that's involved, and can you say "Gang Wars?" Yes, I know CrimeCraft already exists and that APB is on its way, but a GTA MMO is a whole different story. Add driving in the scale of Grand Theft Auto and possibly the Burnout games, questing, and gang wars for possession of turf territory and you have one awesome MMO, in my opinion.

3. Military-Style MMORPG: Yes, I do know that America’s Army has already been made. But, I’m looking for something a little more in the RPG-style. A game that would let you pick which country you would be fighting for (with real-world choices, and actually using as many countries as possible to make the game a little more realistic). Depending on your choices, you would get to choose which type of soldier you would be (ex: USA = Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, and then you get special options, maybe add SF, Ranger, Air Force Paratrooper, Navy Seal as rewards for reaching a certain level, and actually base these forces on how countries operate their military forces in real life). Country alliances (think clans, guilds, etc) could invade other countries and possibly get some reward out of doing this or actually take over the country if they win the battle (think realm vs. realm, etc).

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So...I cant get stainless steel....

2. Dragon Age MMO: Yeah, I simply loved this game. I’m still playing it, and that says something about the game. If it’s not an MMO, it usually has a life of about 1 week to a month for me. Dragon Age: Origins has lasted since launch day for me. There are just so many options there and the game is downright fun to play. I know a lot of people wish that Dragon Age had a multiplayer option, but I’m going to go one step further. With the right options built-in to the game, and the world converted into a larger, virtual world with more continents or land to roam, this would make an awesome MMO. The travel system would need to change a little bit, and while I like the ability to be able to travel between cities with a mouse-click, I want to roam on my own as well!


Finally, the number one MMO I really want to see:

 

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It puts the lotion on its skin...Why am I getting this note...


1. The Elder Scrolls MMO: I know there are rumors out there that the next Elder Scrolls game will be an MMO and ZeniMax Online is already working on a title and that ZeniMax Online has already registered elderscrollsonline.com. But, Bethesda just claims that they did this to prevent someone else from stealing the domain name first and won’t say anything official about an Elder Scrolls MMO. So, yes, this game makes my list as an MMO I want to see. I loved both Morrowind and Oblivion and would love to see the world of Tamriel converted into a free-to-roam and open-ended MMO. Like I said, there are rumors that this game already exists and that we may be able to play as early as late 2010 or early 2011. That would be an excellent Christmas present for me, ZeniMax Online, and I promise, I’ll try to be good this year..

I know some of you probably stopped reading at "Wrestling MMO", but for those of you that are left, what are your thoughts? Am I crazy, delusional, or is there really an audience for these MMOs? Feel free to let me know of your thoughts and rants.

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Top iPhone games for $5 or less

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The launch of iPhone 2 years ago brought about a brand new gaming device; and with it, a surge of mini-games from a variety of genres.

It may be an expensive toy to buy and maintain, but there are still a plethora of iPhone games that provide quality entertainment anywhere, anytime, for $5 or less.

Free Games cost no money and are just as entertaining as paid games, if not more. Although most free games are mindless and not much fun, there are a few free games out there that are worth downloading.

1. Tap Tap Revenge 3 - Tapulous, Inc.

TTR 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tap Tap is as famous in the iPhone world as McDonald's in the fast food industry. Previous games in the series – Revenge, Revenge 2, Dance, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, and more – were met with enthusiasm from iPhone gamers with a fetish for rhythm games.

Tap Tap Revenge 3 offers a much more social experience, with weapons and shields you can use to fight opponents with in the multiplayer mode, a feature unseen in the previous Tap Tap titles.

The player has to tap on glowing circular blobs according to the background song beat and earn points. The longer your tapping streak (not missing blobs or tapping unnecessarily), the more points you earn.

Songs have different difficulty ratings – Easy, Medium, Hard, and Extreme.
I have found that the Extreme stages increase in extremity with every new Tap Tap game released. For example, Lady Gaga's Extreme tracks are equivalent to Tap Tap Revenge 3's Hard tracks. No fear, though, because practice makes perfect, and with each passing day you will find the blobs become more friendly to the eyes, and you will be able to spot even the craziest of patterns.

While the game itself is free, there are more popular songs that can be downloaded for a small fee. The free tracks were good enough for me, though, so if you're on a budget, they should provide enough lasting entertainment.

2. Cowabunga - Sputnik Games

cowabunga

Cowabunga is about sliding your finger back and forth on the screen, using the raft you control to bounce cows to their safety. Those cows trust you – and you wouldn't want to disappoint them, would you?

Cowabunga's prowess is best witnessed when challenging a friend. I was going crazy saving cows with my mind focused on only one thing: to beat my friend's high score. Which I did, eventually; it was the time of my life.

I would recommend playing the old version instead of the new one – it's way too easy to earn points in the old version, plus it is sometimes nearly impossible to save cows which are way too fat and fall way too fast in the new version.

The comical 'Moo!'s and lifelike bouncing action are a joy one shouldn't miss; download the game and go crazy with a friend, you won't regret it.

3. Traffic Rush - Donut Games

traffic rush

Traffic Rush is another game that is awesome to challenge your friends with.

Gameplay is easy enough: swipe your finger over a car to accelerate, and make sure no cars collide. It's a great way to raise your reaction time. The more cars you clear, the higher your score.

Amazing when played with a friend, or if you're up for challenging yourself.

4. Sneezies Lite - Chillingo Ltd

sneezies

Sneezies is an adorable game with beautiful graphics and relaxing music. The adorable sneezies even sneeze cute, with charming little 'achoo!'s you will never grow bored of hearing.
Because this is a light version, gameplay is limited, but not before you've had enough fun.

The full version sells at 99 cents, which is worth your money if you find the light version fun.

5. Ovenbreak - Devsisters

ovenbreak

You are a gingerbread man who's found himself in a toasting oven! Run for your life or risk becoming a child's tasty snack. The free version of Ovenbreak consists of 5 colorful worlds for you to escape from. Jump, slide, and swing your way to freedom! Along the way, collect all the letters of the word FREEDOM to gain an extra life.

The full version sells at $1.99, allowing you to compare scores with other escapee gingerbread men around the world. Or, if you'd rather stick with your budget, run for your life in Training mode, and remember to write down your personal high score, since the game doesn't record them in the free version.

 

$0.99 Games are among the cheapest you can buy for your iPhone, but can still be a lot of fun.

1. New York Nights: Success in the City – Gameloft

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New York Nights: Success in the City is a highly amusing game where you lead a fully customizable avatar – complete with snazzy hairdos and clothes – through 40 days of fun in a The Sims-like life simulator full of dating, partying and lots more.

The graphics are amazing for a game that costs only 99 cents, and there are a ton of places to explore; what’s more, you get to do extra stuff like ride a bull statue or take kung-fu lessons from a drunkard – need I say more?

2. Pocket God - Bolt Creative

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In Pocket God, you are the almighty ruler of an island inhabited by a couple of adorable pygmies. Decide whether you wish to be a benevolent god and feed them fish, give them fire, and roast birds to provide a feast; or evil and strike your helpless pygmies with lightning, launch them into a volcano and send a tornado their way.

The pygmies can be resurrected at will and you get weekly updates, so there's no limit to the fun you can have with this fantastic title.

 

$2.99 Games are not cheap (in the iPhone world anyway), but they sure are worth it.

1. Bejeweled 2 - PopCap Games, Inc

bejeweled

Bejeweled 2 is a marvelous puzzle game with lots of explosions and sparkling gems; it's highly addictive and high in replayability.

You can try Bejeweled Blitz for free on Facebook to get a feel for the kind of jewel-exploding fun that Bejeweled 2 offers on the iPhone and iPhone Touch.

Be careful, though – the game restarts upon the slightest touch of the screen, so I recommend you lock your phone when you're taking a break.

2. Cooking Dash - Playfirst, Inc

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Cooking Dash is a fun time management game, consisting of 5 restaurants with unique themes (e.g. Italian, Japanese, and American) and 10 levels each. A bestseller through and through.

3. Fieldrunners – Subatomic Studios, LLC

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Fieldrunners is an exciting tower defense game where you build paths out of laser shooters, glob throwers, and electric towers for your enemies to navigate through. Hours of fun guaranteed!

$4.99 Games are just under the $5 limit and worth every cent.

1. Dungeon Hunter - Gameloft

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Dungeon Hunter starts with a beautifully enacted story about how you died and were resurrected to fight evil, and places you in a dungeon to carry out your noble goals.

You can play as a warrior, magician or thief; level up and earn new spells.

Dungeon Hunter is a great fantasy game with rich graphics and a spellbinding storyline.

That's all for now; stay tuned for more budget games as my quest for discovering and bringing them to you continues.

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The Top 10 Games To Look Forward To In 2010

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2009 has undoubtedly been a great year for game releases, with surprises like Arkham Asylum, cinematic experiences like Uncharted 2 and the behemoth that was Modern Warfare 2 – but what is there to look forward to in 2010?
 
 
Mass Effect 2
Release date: January 29th 2010
System: Xbox 360, PC
Developer: Bioware
Publisher: EA
 
Mass 2
 
 
The first Mass Effect was critical hit, but it did have its flaws. Bioware seems to have listened to the fans and fixed many of these issues, completely overhauling the combat system to create the feeling that one is playing a typical 3rd person shooter, while still retaining the RPG elements. The graphics have been overhauled as well, with the game now running at an almost solid 30 frames per second.
 
If you didn't pick up the first Mass Effect, don't worry, Bioware promises this game to be accessible to new gamers. If you did, however, play the last game, you will be able to use your save game to bring over your character from the original, creating the feeling that you are actually playing one long, ever-improving game.
 
You will have to wait until the end of January to find out how much has been improved on, but I'm very optimistic that this epic space adventure will continue to grow and better itself.
 
BioShock 2
 
Release date: February 9th 2010
System: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Developer: 2k Marin
Publisher 2k Games
 
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Bioshock 2 has a lot to live up to – its predecessor created an exciting, original environment and coupled it with a compelling story. The second is revisiting the world of the first game, but does it have the narrative to draw us in? Well, the short answer yes. The game, once again, has a rich storyline and the same beautiful design.
 
A big addition to the game is the inclusion of multiplayer. This section of the game has been designed by Digital Extremes – developers and co-developers of all the Unreal Tournament games. One thing is for sure, these guys know how to create a deathmatch. Couple this with all the plasmids you could use in the first game and you can see that this will be a zany, fast paced, completely over the top experience. Bioshock 2 is definitely a game to look out for in early 2010.
 
 
 
Splinter Cell: Conviction
Release: February 26th 2010
System: Xbox 360, PC
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
 
Splinter Cell Convic

Splinter Cell has tried and tested many formulas over the years, tending to focus on traditional stealth gameplay. The latest title seems to share more with Assassin's Creed than with previous games in the series. 

The game allows for a much more inventive style of play than previous games by offering mini-sandboxes, which can be approached in any way the character movement allows. As Sam Fisher is no longer working for any organizations, he does not possess the usual gadgets. A striking feature is the way the player hides with using light indication and other visual features one of which, 'last known position', displays the player as a white silhouette in the position they were last seen. The enemies will check this position first and it gives the player a visual reference point to avoid. Another new feature – 'mark and execute' – allows the player to peek under a door, marking each enemy to be killed, before taking them out.

The game has deviated from its predecessors in what looks to be a good move by Ubisoft Montreal. From what we have seen so far, the game's set pieces look to be action-packed and fast-paced, and with the introduction of a separate co-op mode, this game is looking exciting and worth placing bets on in early 2010.
 
 
 
Heavy Rain
Release: February 26th 2010
System: PS3
Developer: Quantic Dream
Publisher: SCEE
 
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David Cage – the director of Heavy Rain – has been giving talks recently about the use of the video game medium as a viable art form. This is exactly the impression to be taken from all that we have seen of Heavy Rain so far. 

The game aims to focus on character interaction with both their environment, each other and emotionally with the player. You will often play stretches of the game, performing tasks such as opening doors, playing with your child and making conversational choices. Anyone familiar with Quantic Dream's other releases will have an idea of what to expect visually, with many of the environments feeling dark and slightly eerie. Simple tasks, such as opening and shutting a door, can impact another character – slamming the door might indicate you are angry, while shutting it softly can indicate gentleness.

This game will definitely split gamers upon release as to what qualifies a video game. With less character interaction through direct control and many Quick Time Event sections, many will argue that this could be considered more of an interactive movie than a game. With Sony backing this game heavily, only time will tell whether it will be a 'once in a generation' moment or something more than that. It is definitely an intriguing prospect and I will be looking forward to seeing the final product. This is one to watch. 
 
 

 

Battlefield Bad Company 2

Release: March 5th 2010
System: Xbox 360, PS3, PS
Developer: Dice
Publisher: EA

BC2
 
Battlefield Bad Company 2 is the second game from Dice to be designed with consoles in mind. Following on from the Battlefield trend, this game will incorporate variations of the capture the flag mode and the attack and defend modes as well as offering vehicular combat on a large scale.
 
 
For those who don't already know, the gameplay is based around either the single player campaign or 12 v 12 online multiplayer. Bad Company 2 has 4 set classes, aptly titled 'Medic', 'Engineer', 'Recon', and 'Assault'. Each class has its own customizable load out for players to tinker with.
 
If the recently released Battlefield 1943 is anything to go by, Bad Company 2 should be a blast. Anyone who is currently playing Modern Warfare 2, but wants to try something new, should find this to their liking, as well as anyone who enjoys a tight, objective-based shooter. 
 
 
Final Fantasy XIII
Release date: March 9th 2010
System: Xbox 360, PS3
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
 

FFXIII

 
For players who just love roleplaying games, but aren't into that western style, Final Fantasy might just be for you. With this being the first single player Final Fantasy experience to hit the Xbox, there has been lots of talk about how the Xbox's 8.5gb discs would hold the game back, possibly affecting design decisions. Square Enix has always said that this wouldn't be a factor, and it's starting to look that way – the recently released trailers and gameplay videos show fantastic, vibrant worlds with detailed dialogue and those fantastic cutscenes which make Final Fantasy what it is.
 
The game has already sold well over a million copies in Japan, and has historically always sold well in western territories. Expect this to be one of the biggest releases of the year.
 
 
 
God of War 3
Release: March 18th 2010
System: PS3
Developer: SCEA
Publisher: SCEE
 
 
GOW3

 

 
The gamers, who have already experienced Kratos in the previous God of War games, know how angry a man he is. The God of War games contain some of the most brutal combat seen in video games and this looks to be magnified 10 times in his latest escapades. We have seen a beheading using only bare hands, mythical creatures being cut open and plenty of intestines. 

This game looks beautifully crude and a very competent action game, and for those reasons anyone, who is a fan of the series or enjoys action games like Ninja Gaiden or Devil May Cry should definitely check this out next year. 
 
 
 
Gran Turismo 5
Release: Summer 2010
System: PS3
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Publisher: SCEE
 
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Finally, 2 versions of Forza Motorsport and an elaborate demo later, we are going to see a full version of the daddy of racing games return to the circuit. This version of the game promises improved graphics, realistic damage modeling and the same high-end attention to detail that we have seen in all the previous incarnations of the game. 

The demo version recently hit PSN and there are no major kinks in the driving mechanics to complain about, but this shouldn't be a surprise for anyone who has followed the game's progress. It has been in development for nearly 5 years and had 60 million dollars thrown at it. 

Gran Turismo has always been a sublime racing game and this trend seems to be continuing, judging by what we have seen so far. The game looks fantastic, drives very well and has the biggest selection of cars seen in any racer of this generation. Although Forza has given the Gran Turismo series a run for its money, expect this to be nothing short of the definitive name in driving games.

 

 

Halo: Reach

Release: TBA 2010
system: Xbox 360
Developer: Bungie
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

 

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Until very recently, very few people had seen anything of Halo: Reach. The game was originally unveiled, to the surprise of many, at E309, with an actual gameplay trailer being shown on December 12th
 
The gameplay trailer confirms what many Halo fans had expected – it takes place during the battle of Reach, depicted in the novel Halo: The Fall Of Reach by Eric Nylund. The book follows the battle of Reach and the beginning of the Spartan program, which is where super soldiers – including Master Chief – were developed. The player will play a soldier part of a squad called 'Noble Team'. They are a United Nations Space Command team comprising of 6 members. 

Not much more is known about the game itself, but expect similar gameplay elements as previous Halo games, alongside a new multiplayer element. Also, for those of you lucky enough to own Halo 3: ODST, you can try out the beta of the game, which will be released sometime before the summer.

 

Star Wars: The Old Republic
 

Release: TBA 2010
System: PC
Developer: Bioware
Publisher: EA
 
the old republic
 
Not a single MMO has been able to come anywhere close to the number of subscribers World of Warcraft has managed to attain. This may change in 2010 with the release of The Old Republic.

Set in the same world as the Knights Of The Old Republic games, The Old Republic attempts to create the most detailed and interactive MMO adventure yet. Bioware have long used fully voiced actors in their single player adventures, but to try to animate and voice every character in the ever-changing world of an MMO is a daunting task. It would seem that the dialogue system will be vast and comparable to other games in their roster, such as Mass Effect and Dragon age: Origins. One stand out feature of Old Republic is the on-the-fly customization, which allows any class to fill in for a missing member for a group quest, eliminating the need to spend hours looking for a specific class to join up.

World of Warcraft's reign as the most subscribed to MMO has to end at some point, and The Old Republic is shaping up to be the exact sort of game to give it a run for its money. With the entry level being set quite low – akin to World Of Warcraft – players will be able to jump right in and feel right at home. The Star Wars universe deserves a top quality MMO to exploit its huge lore and mass of environments and planets. Bioware also has a good track record when it comes to making single player RPGs and this is the perfect foray into the online world for them. 
 
 
 
It's safe to say that 2010 should be, once again, a fantastic year for video games. Despite all the closures of development houses and reports of a less-than-perfect economy, the future is looking bright.
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Top 5 Final Fantasies

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final

To say that Final Fantasy is in the elite of the RPG realm would be an understatement. To most, critic and gamer alike, they stand as the flag-bearer of the entire genre. With the classic characters, memorable battles, and devious villains, for any RPG gamer, there isn't any way that you could have avoided beating at least one of these games, even if you spent the majority of your life under the proverbial rock.

For many of us who read this, this list may not be in the order we want. There simply are too many great games to have a parallel consensus about just how great they are, however, this is only the start of the debate. Without further ado, The Gamer Studio presents the top 5 Final Fantasy games of all time.

*Fair Warning, there are spoilers.*

5. Final Fantasy X

Final Fantasy X actually wouldn’t have made my list if you had asked me what my favorite Final Fantasies were, but four seemed like an odd number. I give credit to Final Fantasy X for having a somewhat original story. Sin is not what you expect, and there is a lot more to Sin than just a force attacking cities that get too big and have too much machinery.

The sphere grid was fun to navigate and easy to learn, but I had one major problem with it: everyone can learn everything. You could say the same about Final Fantasy XII with the license board, but it’s so much harder since you need to not only gain the points for the ability, but buy it. Plus, the license board is gigantic and it’s hard to get the characters across it. But in the sphere grid, all you need to do is pick up some spheres and you’re good to go—and you can even transport characters from one side of the sphere grid to the other using certain spheres, allowing easy access to abilities.

As for the characters, I must say that I had a strong aversion to Tidus, and Yuna didn’t have a lot of depth; I didn’t look to her as a strong female lead. I felt that the only characters who actually had—well…character—were Lulu and Auron. Sure, I loved Kimahri, but he wasn’t given much of a personality, since he barely speaks.

But overall, an enjoyable game. There is a certain panache that the story has, and that along with an interesting take on the ATB means this one is worth picking up.

4. Final Fantasy XII

I know several people who absolutely hated the new fighting system. But I thought it worked out great! The elements of a classic Final Fantasy were still there. People said the gambits basically made it so the game played itself—but you could turn them off. And—don’t laugh—but I found it sufficiently difficult even with the gambits. Though the story was a bit confusing and they tried doing that medieval thing with the dialogue, it still held my interest long enough for—again, don’t laugh—ninety hours.

The characters all had a strong personality—except perhaps Penelo. Still, I didn’t find myself hating any one character, which is always good. Vaan didn’t seem to be a very strong character either, but the great thing about Final Fantasy XII was that the characters were mostly equal in terms of appearance and importance. They all appeared in the scenes, they were all available to fight, they all contributed to the story in pretty important ways.

3. Final Fantasy VII

When I first started playing Final Fantasy, VII was my favorite for a long, long time. But at that point, I had only played VII, VIII, and X. I was not altogether too impressed with VIII and X, and in comparison, I thought VII was absolutely, stunningly amazing. I was one of those fans. But the more I played other Final Fantasies, the less amazing I thought VII was.

Now considering it’s still on my list of favorites, that means it’s pretty damn good. First of all, I spent years trying to figure out the story, as my very confused brother had told me that Cloud and Sephiroth died fighting each other and the Cloud and Sephiroth in the story were clones of the dead ones. Even after I figured that one out, the story is still rather confusing. Regardless, it’s one of the top Final Fantasies.

The materia system is extremely customizable, but since the materia doesn’t give you permanent abilities, you don’t have all-powerful characters. It’s the balance that makes a game good.

2. Final Fantasy VI

This game’s story is simply amazing, and in a mostly male dominated genre, there are two strong lead females. Not only do Terra and Celes boast the best stats, but they also demonstrate great leadership qualities. However, this game also has way too many characters. Fourteen, in fact, and I found most of them useless. The game is divided into two parts—The World of Balance and the World of Ruin. You start in the World of Ruin a year after the world breaks apart, which is an interesting concept—most Final Fantasies have continuous big events.

The system lets you learn spells through Espers—each Esper has a set of spells that characters learn. At 100%, they have the spell permanently. This, again, is not a cheap system, as some of the spells are learned rather slowly. However, I found I hardly ever used the Espers themselves.

Kefka is your average evil-consumed villain with no regard for human life, and does have a few memorable quotes. My brother once told me that he likes the older Final Fantasies because there’s strategy involved, not just power-leveling until you win. I believe VI is the first to be one of the power-leveling games. So, how did I defeat Kefka? By casting Ultima over and over again.

  1. Final Fantasy IV

If I absolutely had to pick a favorite, I’d pick IV. I prefer not to have too man sidequests—if there are too many, I just won’t bother. In IV, there are very few sidequests, giving me the time and interest to complete them. The story took me in completely, and the characters are always likable and sympathetic. I also liked that there were only just enough characters at a time to complete a party—no need to worry about who’s not being leveled up or not. At the same time, you change characters often enough to make it interesting.

The story has several plot twists and the villain, Zemus, actually does have reasons for doing the things he does. Cecil, our hero, is sufficiently badass as a dark knight in the beginning, then undergoes a transformation to a paladin—obviously a representation of evil to good, and a personification of Cecil’s personal transformation. There’s the old story of “protect the crystals, they hold our power!” But for one, this is one of the first Final Fantasies, and for another, it’s still different enough from the other ones even with the whole crystal thing.

Each character comes with set abilities, so you always have a balanced team. This system works out well, obviously. The game is still difficult enough even when you don’t have to teach your characters a bunch of abilities. Like I mentioned before, my brother had said that the older Final Fantasies actually included strategy. This is one of those Final Fantasies.

Zeromus is a very, very, very difficult final boss. Again, strategy is the key here. You can’t just throw all your strongest spells and summons at him. The ending is also rather lengthy, and really ties everything together. For those reasons and more, I believe that this happens to be the best Final Fantasy.

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