Yes! Well done!

I admit the clue was a bit of a stretch on my part  

#18

YoY: -4      My Rating: 9.3/10

Although Dark Souls II is quite comfortably the weakest of the Fromsoftware Soulsborne games, that is only in relation to what are in my opinion among the greatest games of all time. In many ways, Dark Souls II feels like a very different game from the other two entries in the series, and not just because Hidetaka Miyazaki was less involved in its creation. The story and world are much less connected to the lore of the first and third games, and especially the story of Gwyn, although in Scholar of the First Sin, Gwyn's breaking of the cycle of the world becomes a significant inciting incident for one of the major antagonists of the game. However, despite this disconnect, I find Dark Souls II a fascinating game from lore perspective. It feels much more of a human story, while the other two games were more concerned with the actions of gods and the consequences of those actions.

Other notable differences include the world design, which is much less insular and connected than in DS1 and DS3. The various locations don't really wrap around each other or connect to one another, rather they are a series of long chains that shoot out from a central location. However, Dark Souls II also features some of the best designed locations in the entire series, specifically in the three DLC expansions, though weirdly, each of them also contains an optional area that is among the most infuriating locations in the series. The gameplay can also, at least in comparison to the other games, feel weirdly unbalanced and even disjointed at times, owing much to the slightly off-feeling hitboxes.

Still, despite everything, this is still an exceptional game. It might lack some of what makes many other FromSoftware games masterpieces, but I can't hold being the least great game in a series of amazing games against Dark Souls II. The high points are simply so far above most other games that the few places where it stumbles slightly are quickly forgotten.

Guessed by drbunnig

The 2D platformer genre reached its peak pretty early in the game. The greatest games of the genre surely come from the 16-bit generation, or the very late 8-bit generation. During that late 8-bit generation came Super Mario Bros. 3, which I'm certain I actually played when it was still fairly new. Primarily my time with it however was with the Super Nintendo version included in the Super Mario All-Stars compilation of remasters. As always with these, for me, early games, I played them on the Nintendo and Super Nintendo owned by my aunt, before I had consoles of my own. Because this game is so well designed, I was quite decent at it quickly, even at a young age. In fact, I'm sure I was better at it back then than I would be right now, because playing video games is definitely not like riding a bike.

Guessed by Veknoid_Outcast

People often say this game feels a bit dull, dreary and uninspired, but no, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is great. Its world is great, its characters are great, its soundtrack is great, it has great items and weapons and most of all its level-design is great. The dungeons and their bosses are the peak of the series and maybe even in gaming in general. One boss even more intimidating than the next and the boss that made my eyes grow big in particular was the boss of the fourth dungeon; a huge skeletal demon, in a huge round chamber at the end of an equally memorable dungeon by the way. Here the game's unique item usage comes into play as you ride the Spinner along a series of tracks. It's quick, it's fast-paced, it's exciting, the music is pumping you up, it's chaotic and there are multiple phases. When I first played this, all this was overwhelming and it took me over an hour to finish off this boss. No joke, and it was an hour with a smile as big as that chamber.

Guessed by drbunnig

The Jedi Knight series is filled with some great games, its three main ones in particular; from the influential Dark Forces to the immersive Jedi Knight and the intriguing Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast. During the first three levels you'll have to do with uncivilised blasters, but the game really starts when you retrieve your Lightsaber. While this is already the coolest weapon in popular culture, this game makes fighting with it feel very special. Even though you basically only hold the attack button and strafe left and right a bit, it really seems like you're doing moves like in the movies, and you're doing them yourself. All through the game, you'll encounter Dark Jedi enemies, the so-called Reborn and Shadow Troopers. Fighting them is what you want to do. I wanted to anyway, and I used to save the game right before one of these fights. Often, I'd just replay the best engagements by loading up one of the save files. My favourite was the fight with three Reborn in one of the Bespin levels, you know, the floating city from The Empire Strikes Back. The fight is in a cool rectangular arena where they'd jump around trying to get the high ground. They never would against me however, I am the Master.

Feel like this is going unguessed, because the first hint is as recognizable as possible to anyone who's played it, but, let's try one more.

And another hint for #17 too.

To update, I've finished my replay of The Last of Us Part I and am currently writing a rough draft of the commentary on it I'll post here later. It may be one to three days before I get it looking the way I want it to though and post it here. This game is important to me. I want to get this right.

#23
- You can trust those little simians in the opening level, but after that they’re going to start attacking you.
- You visit five different locations in this game. The first and last are preset - you get to choose which order you visit the middle three in.
- The console version was less forgiving due to a different save system, and being unable to adjust the brightness of the visuals.
- Introduces new moves such as running and crawling.
- The fan base tends to split the console games in this series into three distinct groupings. This is the third of six entries in one of these particular groupings.
- The game says there’s 59 secrets to find, but it’s possible to get 60. A little leeway if you’re trying to unlock the hidden level.
- Introduces additional risks to your health, such as poison (gradually drains your health), and cold water (rapidly drains your health if in cold water too long).

#21
- Not sure how all those birds have survived so long, seeing as water damages them.
- If you beat 7 lots of 7, you’ll experience heavy flooding.
- Finding and keeping track of one of the collectibles can be quite a task.
- The developer, often praised for their attention to little details, made sure every level felt connected to each other, as well as the central hub. It’s not unusual to be able to see one level off in the distance when you’re playing in another.
- I don’t know why that creature can't go in water - we’ve taken him there in previous games without consequence

#18
- At the file selection screen, if you slightly misspell a prominent feature of the game, it’ll net you something good.
- If you want to find everything, you’ll have to opt for the worst possible prize at one point.

#17
- More action focused than its predecessor, this game sort of indicated where the franchise it originally took its cues from was going to head in the future.

My list so far

Alright adding the fourth hint, last chance to get these two:

20) This game actually has two titular characters, though it's easy to assume it's the same one
Hint 2: But neither of these two characters are the protagonist
Hint 3: One is the titular character for the whole franchise while the other, referred to by their title, is unique to this entry
Hint 4: Both characters are royalty, but in different realms.

19) To be honest I hated the target practice mini-game
Hint 2: And wasn't too keen on the one where you balance an ice cream either
Hint 3: But neither is a big deal when the combat is off the leash
Hint 4: The developer behind this released two big titles this year: a critical disaster and a bewitching action game.

20 Twilight Princess

19 Astral Chain

Exactly, spot on for both!

Next set of games up for guessing.

#15

-Near the start of the game, you get to decide the name of what is ultimately going to be one of the last bosses you'll have to fight

#14

-One last adventure, though his wife might not be very happy about it

#13

-Fireflies

#12

-Only one lord returns to fulfill his duty

#11

-Takes place in the kingdom of Liberl