#200 – Legend of Mana (PS1)
One of the better Mana games. It’s sad to see the series has been run to the ground by Square Enix. Dawn of Mana was a nail in the coffin. I just don’t see the series ever recovering from something like that. But let’s talk about the good times. Legend of Mana was no Secret of Mana clone (Nor was Seiken Densetsu 3 but that game was never localized). The game offered so much customization which was unprecedented for Action-RPGs at that time. The story was average at best like most Mana games but the gameplay shined like it always did. A classic PS1 RPG deservedly so.
#199 – Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus (PS2)
The first entry of Sly was an amazing experience at the time. I probably wouldn’t have even played the game (and thus started the series) were it not for my late purchase of the Gamecube. Basically I ran out of platformers and decided to try this one out. The game was fun right from the start to finish. While I’m not all that big on the plot of the Sly series, the gameplay was always a joy. Hunting the clue bottles and eventually retrieving a piece of the Thievius Raccoonus added more gameplay. The game is quite short and the thieving aspect of the game needs more to be desired. I’m at a stalemate to say good or bad things about the game so I’ll say this; Sly Cooper may not be the best platformer on the PS2 but is worth mentioning in any list considering great platforming games.
#198 – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 (PS2)
Don’t make the mistake of buying Hawk’s 3 for the PS1 like I did. It is a total rip-off and not the same game as the PS2 version. Hawk’s 3 on the PS2 took gameplay (namely create a skater) to new heights. I have to say the game was tougher in my experience than the previous entries (as if the previous one wasn’t tough enough already). I dunno if I was bad at the game but I really struggled with Hawk’s 3 initially. The game remains my favorite skateboarding game on the PS2. Neversoft has never done a wrong as far as this entry.
#197 – Pokemon Platinum Version (DS)
The Pokemon series is one of the most if not the most consistent gaming series. In that it never disappoints its fans. The secret is no secret. The same formula is used over and over again on consoles with superior engines thus producing a clone with superior graphics and a slightly different angle of story. I personally am against game series which don’t even try to evolve and Pokemon has showed the least interest in doing so. But I can’t deny the fact that Platinum was an engaging experience like all Pokemon games are. Having two different screens on the DS was definitely a plus and catching them all was insanity… as always ^_^. The experience still gave me that ‘consistent’ enjoyment but I can NOT call it one of the best games ever as it doesn’t break the barrier of evolution. I have Pokemon Black in my closet and the non-evolution factor has put me off from playing it (haven’t even tried it yet).
#196 – Syphon Filter 2 (PS1)
I already gave a long “don’t judge a book by its cover” speech on Syphon Filter 1. By the 2nd release I wasn’t judging any covers. Instead I had great expectations of the sequel. Seeing two disks was mouth watering and to my surprise the sequel outdid the original. Missions were just more fun in Syphon Filter 2 and the story was overall better as well. I still have many fond memories of the 1st level in the snowfield and the fact that gameplay is so much more balanced in the 2nd one. While Syphon Filter 2 plays almost like the 1st, I believe it to be the pinnacle of the series. A polished and engaging game of an underrated series with no unfair difficulty spikes this time.
--
Rock n' Roll and Glam Metal... It never died