I played through the normal campaign and unlocked every card in the "Wielding Steel" deck, which is a White deck that makes use of Soldiers and Equipment cards. I've always been partial to Green and White. I think they represent my ideals, especially if I were a wizard. Incidentally, I've moved on to the Red deck called "Unquenchable Fire" which is mostly a direct damage deck. I'm having a much easier time with it. I've beaten a lot of computer opponents, but can't seem to connect with many people for online matches.
My wife and I accomplished so much this week. I built a tree farm while she worked on a lumber mill. I harvested seeds while she put together a garden. We defeated the Eye of Cthulu a few times to build our Demonite weapons, then we took them over to the Corruption where we beat the Eater of Worlds a few times. My character focuses on Ranged weapons while hers now focuses on Magic. I currently have a suit of Shadow armor while she's running around in Meteor armor. We were defeated by Skeletron, however. We await our revenge.
I finally beat this game! I've tried at least three separate occasions that I can recall to work my way through this treacherous game. I even got stuck for three hours in the exact spot I got stuck the last time. I finally fought my way past the Reapers in the Shrine of Storms and pushed on to victory! It wasn't until the Black Phantom of Selen Vinland that I was at controller-throwing levels of rage, but even she fell once I changed my tactics. The False King was my final demon and he gave me a run for my money. Excellent game.
I was frustrated with Demon's Souls, so oddly enough I turned to another game that I simply cannot beat no matter how many of Mega Man's lives I throw at it. Perseverance has proven effective, though. I've passed my nemesis (the vile Jewel Man) whose stage is the stuff of nightmares to me. All I have left is Splash Woman and Concrete Man, before heading to Wily's Fortress. I probably would have gotten farther, but I became obsessed with Demon's Souls and it readily consumed the last 48 hours of my life.
A week ago, I realized I needed to name one game the TOP Game of 2012. I'd like to say that I toiled over which one it would be for hours and hours. I'd like all my readers to think that it took me an agonizingly long time of deep reflection and inner debate to come up with one game that would be the poster game for 2012 in my library. I want everyone to think I put a lot more work into this blog than I actually do! The fact is that once I resigned myself to write an article about my favorite game last year, there was only one possible candidate. Then it was only a matter of expressing how this game completely won me over. So without further ado, I present my selection for TOP Game of the Year.
Xenoblade Chronicles is without a doubt the best game I played in 2012. I dedicated nearly 60 hours of my life toward beating it and then against the screaming cries of the rest of my video game library I turned around and started over. I wanted to fight every possible fight, to see every possible sight. I poured another 20-30 hours into the game before I finally had the willpower to put it down and pick up some other, lesser game. I couldn't even tell you what it might have been.
When I was young, a budding gamer if you will allow, I only got a handful of games a year. I got one or two on my birthday and Christmas, and one or two over the summer to keep me out of my mom's hair. In those days, I played games like this quite regularly. I sucked every moment of potential fun-energy out of each and every game I owned. I'm ashamed to admit that like most adult gamers, this is simply not the case anymore. There's too many games I want (and am able) to get my hands on for me to play over and over, scour every corner of every map for every secret treasure. That Xenoblade Chronicles so readily and easily pulled me back into that style of game playing makes it a true gem in my collection.
The first thing I noticed when I started playing Xenoblade Chronicles was it felt similar to Japanese MMO RPG I'd played before, particularly Final Fantasy XI. The more I played it, the more I wished Final Fantasy XII (a single-player RPG based heavily on its predecessor's gameplay) had been more like Xenoblade Chronicles. On the surface, they seem to have a lot in common. You control a single character in an open world environment, fighting enemies in real-time battles. Your party members are running on an AI script that you have a limited control over. This first glance at the game mechanics does make them seem similar, but beyond that first impression they begin to diverge greatly.
The thing I love most about Xenoblade Chronicles is that its depth of gameplay is layered. For example, you can play through the game without worrying too much about which skills you upgrade, which gems you socket to gear, or even which gear you're going to use. Simply optimize your gear based on which stats you want to emphasize on which character and call it a day. There isn't a strict need to toil endlessly over the menus fine-tuning skills and gear to get the most out of your characters. You will get through the meat of the game without many problems. That said, however, you can toil over the menus for hours and hours to fine-tune your characters into gods of battle, each one customized to a flavor of play that you enjoy playing.
You may be wondering why you would do that when I just said you don't need to, but the simple fact is you are rewarded for this effort in the battles themselves. Once you get the hang of the flow of battle, and find a particular character or style you enjoy using, each battle becomes a delight to play. Then it stands to reason, if you like customization and a bit of micromanagement, you can create characters that compliment your own personal style and preferences and the more time you sink into the management, the greater the characters and (assuming you are enjoying your role in battle) fun you will get out of the battle system. There are also numerous monsters in side-quests and roaming off the beaten trails that will challenge you far more than any monster you would face naturally over the course of the game's storyline so they are out there to put your team to the test once you have them tuned the way you want them. This additional layer of depth in customization and battle roles is what really makes this game stand out to me.
Battle is just one example of optional tweaking you can do in the game. There is also a very deep and involving side-quest system with hundreds of quests available to soak up all your free time. They will send you to fight some dangerous foes, or scour the far reaches of the map where you might never find yourself otherwise. Completion not only nets you the standard fiscal rewards, but also allows you to build rapport within each community which will in turn unlock more quests and occasionally ways to improve your characters directly. Doing every quest and mending every broken NPC family in each town will add a significant amount of hours to your experience in Xenoblade Chronicles. It is again a system within the game that you can lose yourself in, or leave completely alone without hindering yourself. You will find that if you enjoy the challenges and trials of the local communities you will not only build stronger characters to take into battle, but stronger relationships to the NPCs living on the surface of Bionis and Mechonis.
O! Did I mention the entire world exists on the bodies of two giant beings frozen in their battle waged thousands of years ago? It is a game world unlike any other I've explored. It also lends to some amazing visuals as you wander through this inspired game world. The environments and their grandeur are where the graphics of this game really shine. The first time I walked out onto Gaur Plains, where the game hopes to impress you with its vast, scenic landscapes and capture your imagination in its clutches, I was breathless. That doesn't happen to me too often in video games, so it should reassure you that even though the graphics aren't going to meet the standards of contemporary blockbusters on Playstation 3 or XBox 360, you aren't going to be disappointed with how the designers chose to convey this world within Wii's graphics.
Official Art: Bionis's shoulder - looking out at Mechonis
I also cannot finish this article without singing the highest praise for the soundtrack. Yoko Shimomura (Super Mario RPG, Kingdom Hearts series, Radiant Historia), Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, Xenogears, Xeno Saga) and the rest of their assembled team truly outdid themselves for this game. I've selected three of my favorite songs for today's widget to give you a taste of the amazing score. The first is the area music where the game begins. At that time I was still asking myself, "What is all the fuss about? This game is good, but is it that good?" Then I stepped out onto Gaur Plains and was greeted by the second song on this playlist and I was thinking "Wow. This game is pretty damn good." The entire soundtrack is awesome, from its gentle night-time lullabies to its upbeat, rocking battle themes. Xenoblade Chronicles has one of the best soundtracks I've heard in years.
What selecting the best of 2012 all comes down to for me is simply how much time I poured into the game and how I was soaked into every aspect of it from beginning to end (and then some). Even thinking about Xenoblade Chronicles for this article got me itching to load up my second playthrough and continue to pour untold hours into fighting those challenging, optional fights all while beefing up my characters to their max potential - something I didn't do justice in my first attempt. All that stays my hand from doing it is the other games I own that won't get played as my life quietly, softly recedes back into the stunning world of Xenoblade. I'll turn on my Wii this afternoon and when I turn it off it will be March. If you haven't yet, try and get your hands on this game and let me know what you think.
- TOP
@TOPGamingBlog
PS: Let me know in the comments if you disagree.
Internet debates over personal opinions is one of my secret hobbies!
I picked up this game for Christmas. I had my eye on it since it launched on Steam Nov, 2011, but I wasn’t sure if I’d like it despite heavy research. It really took a hands-on experience to realize how much I do like the game. The game is a mix of Command & Conquer, Sim City and a dash of Civilization. Earth is largely underwater in the year 2070 and you vie for control of islands across the map. There is heavy emphasis on infrastructure in order to prevail.
I was looking for a free MMO to play when I found Mabinogi. I was skeptical at first, but it was free so I downloaded it. I’m really enamoured with this game despite its simple graphics. I like the anime style, but its the character development that truly shines. Your character is made up of skills rather than levels. If you want to be a warrior, you train the skills associated with warrior. You could also choose to be a farmer, or a carpenter. This game is a mix of what Final Fantasy XIV should have been (with much worse graphics) and Harest Moon. It’s very enjoyable and free!
I played the original Duels of the Planeswalkers on XBox 360 a few years ago. I really enjoyed it, even though the deck building was extremely limited. The pre-made decks were decent and unlocking all the additional cards was addicting. No less so in the sequel, or 2012 version. The decks are all new and it has some additional features. If you like Magic: The Gathering or enjoyed the original game then this is a fun addition to the classic gameplay.
My addiction to Minecraft has dwindled (somewhat) but my thirst for sandbox adventure burns strong. I’m dying to get my hands on Starbound, but in the meantime I picked up a copy of Terraria for my wife. She was skeptical at first, but now we’re happily building a new life together on a randomly generated Terraria world. She has built a candy-cane village while I worked on a forge and a deep mine. Our current plans include a lumber mill and tree farm.
Terraria - "The Legend of Red Cloud"
Red prepares for the battles ahead.
I thought this deserved its own entry. “The Legend of Red Cloud” is a fan made adventure map for Terraria. There is no building, so it plays more like Metroid or Castlevania. You create and play the character “Red Cloud” as he sets off on an adventure to avenge his family. The attention to detail is unbelievable. I highly recommend anyone who loves side-scrolling action adventure games and owns a legitimate copy of Terraria download this adventure map and play it.
This will be my third attempt to conquer this game. If you’ve heard anything about this game, you’ve probably heard that it is extremely difficult. The crafting system in “Legend of Red Cloud” is based on Dark Souls (successor to Demon’s Souls) and so it got me thinking about this game again and how I’ve left it unfinished twice before. I’ve heard New Game + is even more challenging, but I have to beat it once to gain access to that challenge. I’ll let you know how this current attempt goes.
I must apologize to all my friends, family and fans who have patiently been awaiting a new article since my TOP Ten countdown ended in August. I started this project in February, challenging myself to see if I could keep it going for a year straight and hopefully beyond. I failed this challenge and I failed any of you out there who consider yourselves TOP Gaming readers and fans. I am deeply sorry, and I hope once I explain briefly where I’ve been you can come to forgive me and we can push on into 2013 together. I’m looking forward for a fresh start to a new year as 2012 ended up being the worst year in my entire life due to personal tragedy. Mid-August a woman very dear to me who helped raise me alongside my own parents as one of her own children passed away somewhat prematurely and unexpectedly. She had lived a good life full of love and kindness and warmth but naturally I was sad that she was gone. I took some time off from writing to grieve and to go home to attend services. At that same time my third child and second son was born and although I was sad, he brought me great joy and happiness. He was happy and healthy for five weeks and then one unsuspecting evening my wife found him in our bedroom where he had been napping. His heart had stopped; he wasn't breathing. Although he was healthy as far as modern science can ascertain, he simply closed his eyes that night and did not open them again. I’m sure anyone can imagine, this destroyed the rest of the year for me. It’s only months later that I’m able to function again, reading and writing and speaking of his life and death openly. I do not wish to welcome the good, new year bringing all you wonderful people of the internet down into a depression. I simply felt I owed an apology, an explanation and a window into my life and my mindset as I push forward into 2013. My wife and I are coping. My two other children are too young to be too deeply impacted by their loss, thankfully. They are happy and they had a wonderful Christmas. Though my life and my spirit (if you will) have been altered forever, I am settling into what I consider the “new normal” and hopefully I can include blogging once again in my new routine. I felt New Year’s Day was the perfect time to get the ball rolling again. Although it's only symbolic, I am looking forward to starting a new year and leaving 2012 behind me.
This is where we live now!
My wife built us this mansion.
I wanted to take a moment to thank “video games” in general. As I’m sure many other gamers around the world can relate, gaming is an effective way to take your mind off the real world temporarily. While Superman has his Fortress of Solitude, I have video games. It’s safe to say that I have immersed myself fully and unconditionally into gaming like never before because when I am fully integrated into a fake world, the real one gets put on a back burner. I’m extremely excited to tell you all about the wonderful games I’ve played in the last four months, but I’ve played so many that I can only begin to list them here and perhaps break them down for you all sometime in the near future. So consider the following a big “Thank you!” to all the games (and their creators) that helped me get through the final months of 2012.
Tokyo Jungle is a truly quirky game. The basic premise is
that humanity has simply disappeared and the Earth is re-inherited by beasts
large and small. You may play either a carnivore or an herbivore in an attempt
to survive in this new age. You start small and work your way up to larger and
more powerful animals. You must eat, breed and avoid larger predators as you
try to survive on the streets of Tokyo. Successes
in survival mode unlock chapters in the story mode. Eventually you discover
what happened to humanity and why animals rule the roost.
Faithful readers may recall that I played through Recettear: An Item Shop’s Tale a few months ago. I thought of that as a cheap, trial run to gauge whether or not I’d like an “Atelier” game. As it turns out, I like it very much. Somehow running a fantasy item shop, or alchemy shop in this instance, is extremely fun for me.The characters of this game are cute and endearing and the gameplay is very fun, but the game does lack a depth of story. There is no plot twist. You simply scramble to keep an Alchemy Shop running under threat of closure from the government.
Crusader Kings IIis like turning middle-ages Europe into a riveting historical drama akin to A Game of Thrones (without dragons). You select a nobleman and try to gain titles, prestige, land, and power all while trying to avoid assassination and weakening your family. Your primary focus is to keep your bloodline alive and thriving through a quasi-historically accurate rendition of Europe at the time. I haven't personally ventured outside of Great Britain and Ireland yet, but I have been crowned King of both Ireland and Wales in two separate games.
A friend of mine had been peer pressuring me to join him in Minecraft for some time. I had a blast
playing Terrariaso I knew some
aspects of Minecraft would appeal to
me. I turned to the man who convinced me to play Terraria to see if I’d like Minecraft
and as it turns out I do. I now play on a server with my wife and our mutual
friend. We’ve built several small homes, a mansion and a Nether base of operations.
Current projects include an arena for PVP and grinding out experience on
monster spawns and a fully automated farm and ranch for all our food needs.
FTL is
an amazing game. I don’t know how to express how much I adore it. You assume
the role of captain and crew of a starship. Each playthrough of the game
randomly generates a new star chart for you to explore and draws from a wealth
of events to randomly trigger at each destination. The events have varying
options depending on crew, systems and weapon capabilities
meaning each time you arrive at an event there may be new options for you to explore.
The meat of the game is the combat which relies on skill, timing and rerouting
your crew and power to various systems.
Pokémon Black 2 and Pokémon White 2
I don't remember their names even.
I had no interest in either of these games until a week before they were released. I realized they would be a perfect world to sink into with my wife and just play. I was right and it kept our attention for a while. Looking back on it, I don't remember much. I don't remember much about Pokémon Black, either. For some reason these titles of Pokémon are just glossed over in my memory. I did have fun and I beat the Elite Four, but after that I think I just walked away. I wanted to get into the Tournaments and face off against other region's Gym Leaders, but I fear I never decided on a dedicated team to do so.
I also owe a shout out to internet personality, RenDog, whose “Let’s Play Minecraft” series has helped me get through each and every day. His zest for playing games and optimism about everything is a great comfort to those of us watching and dealing with our own problems. Even through his own personal tragedies this year he continued to post videos on YouTube and let us into his life and world. It was inspirational, honestly, and I understand firsthand how hard it can be to not only push through your grief for the sake of your fans, but also include them in your life. I believe I’ve linked to him before and perhaps I’ll write a full article about his channel in the future, but for now I’ll leave you with a link to his YouTube Channel. I have to warn you to start any of his series from the beginning or you’ll be constantly threatened to have him shove video game objects up your butt-hole. You have been warned.
Thank you, RenDog, and I’m looking forward to all your videos in 2013.
