Mortal Kombat 2 perhaps?

Correct.

Correct!

34. Final Fantasy XV

First Played: 2016

Times Completed: 3

A game that went into development hell but made it back out. Just like FFIX and FFXI before it, what began as a spin-off became a main entry to the Final Fantasy series. The core of Final Fantasy is reinvention and FFXV really makes an effort to be different from any other FF titles, while keeping certain ties with the other games. A mostly open world, real-time action battles and a reinvention of the magic system are three major changes from any other FF game. This time, the party just consists of four friends, which initially seemed like a mistake to me, but I soon realised that it wasn't a bad decision. The relationship between them is built upon at almost every turn, even through normal traversal, fights and camping. Summons are also cut back, with no option to call upon them at will, instead they will only show up occasionally, as does one ally, later in the game. Although I wouldn't want this to become the norm in later titles, I do like it for this one game and it not only makes summons seem more powerful and mysterious, but it's also often a huge relief when you see the screen darken and the summon music kicks in, since the summons are usually incredibly powerful to make up for not being available at all times.

Another design choice is to give more freedom from the beginning before allowing the story to take over, later on. This was a reaction to complaints that FFXIII had been too restrictive at first. I have to say I prefer it like this, as much as I love JRPGs, they do tend to hit you with story from the beginning and only gradually introduce more freedom later on. FFXV felt like an antidote to that particular poison and it gave me a chance to explore aspects of the game before locking me into the story, and there is quite a lot to get on with in FFXV outside of the story. I also like the chapter system that allows you to replay any segment of the story.  I may be the only person to think this, but the inclusion of an optional end game dungeon, with no enemies and only lots of platforming puzzles, was something I really enjoyed. The fight with Ifrit is one of my favourite battles in the whole series.

Another special mention goes to the soundtrack. Any new FF game will be judged against the masterful music that Nobuo Uematsu contributed to the first 10, or so, games. FFXV certainly has a different sound than Uematsu's entries, but it's more than good enough to stand alongside those revered scores. Yoko Shimomura is the main composer this time, sometimes it sounds like Kingdom Hearts, sometimes it sounds like Ben E. King and one time it sounds like Oasis, but it always sounds good.

FFXV restored my faith in Final Fantasy after I was slightly disappointed with XIII (I did still end up enjoying that game too) and after racking up several hundred hours playtime, I think it's my most played game of this generation.

Guessed by Jpcc86

'Shadows of the Empire' is a bit of a darker Star Wars story. For the most part the game is a third person action-adventure game, where you traverse a series of linear levels towards a goal. A couple of levels are different however; there's three flying levels, with the most famous one being a rendition of the Battle of Hoth, the battle on the ice planet seen at the start of The Empire Strikes Back. Then, there's a speeder bike chase level, with appears to be quite infamous because of it's control scheme and speeding through narrow alleyways. I played this game when it came out though, as one of the two games we got when we got the N64, and I thought everything about it was amazing. Including the speeder bike level. This game is also a hidden gem when it comes to the soundtrack. Most of the game is not that special and is a retread of familiar Star Wars tunes, but the main theme is great and the final two levels have a unique and memorable score, it's amazing.

#32: This game was supposed to have a male protagonist at first, like most other games, but to set it apart and not make it seem too much like the gadget spy-movie franchise this takes it's inspiration from, the protagonist was made a female.

Perfect Dark

#33

Tekken 5 (PlayStation 2)

Change From Last Year: -1

To me, Tekken 5 is the peak of Namco's long-running fighting game series. From the faster paced fighting system compared to the previous games, to the roster that basically includes every single one of my favourite characters, this was the game that overtook Tekken 3 as the best in the series, and since then nothing has changed. Tekken 6 was very good as well, but it still wasn't quite as good as 5, and I still haven't gotten around to playing 7. 

Naturally, the best way to play games like this is with friends sitting around the same TV and passing around the controllers around. That is something that has become disappointingly rare in recent years for me, but from time to time the chance to do so still comes around, and it's always fun.

A fair guess, but I don't believe Perfect Dark was ever supposed to have a male protagonist in early development. So, Perfect Dark is incorrect.

I also have never played it. It's one of those have-to-play classics I never played; like I also never played Final Fantasy VII. At some point I should get those games and play them all.

I suppose one of those is Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. I would have to look stuff up to come up with the other though.