LogFAQs > #977178992

70. Virtues Last Reward
VLR is in a weird spot. A good chunk of it is dedicated to setting up plot points that don't really pay off in the next game. It also...kinda doesn't have an ending? All the secrets are revealed, and then it goes "Isn't that wild? Tune in for the sequel!" A sequel that almost didn't happen, by the way. The climax doesn't feel like a climax, which is what prevents VLR from being one of the all-time great VNs.

But man, that first playthrough is still a trip. VLR executes crazy plot twists with gusto. There's multiple jaw-dropping moments that I remember to this day. Even if the plot peters out near the end, it's worth playing just for the emotional reactions you'll get along the way. Plus...considering I didn't like how 999 or Zero Time Dilemma ended, make VLR's lack of a big crazy ending is a blessing in disguise.

Aside from that, the AB Game Ally/Betray setup is by far my favorite scenario of the three Zero Escape games, effortlessly creating tension. I could say more but we're getting into spoiler territory.

69. Doki Doki Literature Club
I appreciate DDLC for introducing a lot of people to Visual Novels. The vast majority of them probably didn't end up playing anything besides DDLC, but hey.

Can't talk about this one in detail without ruining it. To be brief: it's a short-but-sweet experience that executes its concept very well. Not perfect, but definitely memorable. Bonus points for being one of the few games I've played with family as my second playthrough, where I got to watch reactions.

68. Suikoden II
I struggle to think of a better-paced JRPG. Maybe Chrono Trigger? Either way, Suikoden II is certainly high on that list. It starts strong and keeps consistent momentum throughout its entire runtime. Being half as long as other big games in the genre will do that. I actually lost my save data 2/3 of the way through my first playthrough, and didn't even mind immediately starting a new file, because no part of it felt like a chore. That is not what my response would have been with most games.

Suikoden II's plot is mostly a case of being well-executed rather than unique, but where it stands out is Luca Blight, one of the best villains in all of gaming. Every single scene with him is extremely memorable, and it culminates in a phenomenal boss fight. Jowy also makes for a strong character and plot-driver, being one of the better examples of his archetype I've seen. Man, writing all this out is making me think I should've put the game higher on my list.

67. Silent Hill
It's certainly aged, and the numerous sequels and imitators have somewhat diluted what originally made it so special. With that said, Silent Hill 1 is still one of the best horror games ever made. The plot and characters are whatever, but goes all-in on atmosphere, tension, environments, setting, mood, and music. In every one of those aspects, it completely succeeds.

Horror is the most subjective genres in fiction. It's also difficult write out what makes atmosphere horror work - that sort of thing is better-suited to a two hour youtube analysis with gameplay clips and itemized references, and I'm not about that life. I wouldn't be surprised if someone didn't like SH1. I'll just say that for me, it remains a pillar of the genre. I actually played it after Silent Hill 2, and was still impressed. It's something I would recommend to anyone who cares about horror (and can look past PS1 graphics and controls).

66. Hades
Hades would already be an enjoyable experience with just the gameplay. It's a super well-polished roguelike experience, with fast, fun combat, lots of build variety, and few points of frustration. This is technically the most important aspect of why the game is great. Roguelikes, perhaps more than any other genre, suffer from questionable design choices, which Hades largely avoids.

What really makes it stand out, though, is the frankly absurd amount of dialogue in the game. Its characters have something new to say every time you die. Going a step further, they'll often specifically react to tiny things you did, and you can progress their arcs by giving them items gained from doing gameplay. It's honestly genius how much better this makes the roguelike experience as a whole. No death feels bad, because regardless of lost progress, you still get to go see what the underworld's misfits are up to.