LogFAQs > #971099179

#12. Xenosaga 3

I think most, if not all of my top games are absolute masterpieces in design, storytelling or what have you. Xenosaga 3? Man, that's just technobabble and power space anime. I just love it though. It's nonsense but it sets a damn tone and Xenosaga's tone is incredibly up my alley. I also weirdly love the combat system in this game - it's my favourite of all the Xeno games. It's simple but super effective.

#11. Metroid Dread

It'll probably take me years to get a solid read on how I feel about this game. The exploration is weirdly limited for such an open environment, locking you into areas until you find the way out. It's shockingly linear in its design choices, a weird illusion of choice that isn't actually there if you peek behind the hood and realize that you're locked in a space. Item hunting isn't all that great either since the rewards aren't that interesting - you don't really need more weaponry. The metroidvania parts of Dread aren't its strongest elements, let's say. The long load times between zones is the best indicator of that. I mean, all of that stuff is good! But it's not on par with other Metroids.

But man, the movement and the speed and the aggressive design of this game. It's intense. It's got a great compliment of boss fights too. It almost blinds you into loving it by just throwing interesting combat design at you over and over. On the right day, this is the greatest Metroid game ever made and at other times, I just get butchered by the EMMI and want to curl up into a ball. I love this game because Metroid is the GOAT series, but I never love it unconditionally. It's still a top 10ish kinda game despite those reservations.