#46

Change YoY: NEW!   My Rating: 9.0 / 10

The first new game finding its way to my list this year, and the only 2023 release so far to make it here. Final Fantasy XVI marked a return to true greatness for the series in my eyes, at least as far as the main series' offline titles are concerned. XV had been a very uneven experience with definite highpoints, but also various shortcomings that held it back, and even if XIII had the makings of a genuinely good game, those elements were buried under an avalanche of weird design choices and storytelling issues. XVI, while still not perfect by any means, is the first time since Final Fantasy XII that a main series entry in the series has felt like something truly special.

The game does set itself firmly apart from the rest of the series, having a much darker tone and featuring a more violent and harsh setting compared to earlier Final Fantasy games. Yet, thanks to this FFXVI also quickly finds an identity of its own. I found the main cast of characters very interesting and well-written, the story very good with heavy themes running through it, the gameplay a lot of fun, and the visuals and music absolutely exceptional. I found it wonderful how every region felt distinct from each other, all the way down to the dialects and even the naming conventions of both people and places. It was also great to realize that the side quests actually fleshed out both the characters and the world itself, adding some wonderful detail to the backstories of various people you came across, and giving you a better understanding of how the world had become what it was in the game. The sheer scale of the Eikon fights is also incredible to behold.

My only real complaints are that the game could be a bit more challenging, or at least feature a few more difficult optional encounters if nothing else, and the lack of enemy variety. It would also be nice if a Final Fantasy game would feature an ending that was just happy, for a change. In this game in particular, where so much of the world and story is bleak and hopeless, I think the ending could have been a bit more positive and upbeat, rather than the bittersweet finale that we got. Still, I can't complain too much as I did very much enjoy my time with Final Fantasy XVI, never once getting bored or frustrated with the story or gameplay. 

New set of games;

#45: A helicopter from a spinoff of this game often reports heavy traffic. Guessed by Darashiva - SimCity 2000
#44: Some releases of this game feature the anthem of rather shady real-life government.
#43: Better to follow [his] lead and do as [he] says.
#42: Don't repeatedly click on it rapidly or it'll explode. Guessed by TruckOSaurus - Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness
#41: Just do Metal first, it's better than basically everything. Guessed by Veknoid_Outcast - Mega Man 2

50 - Turok Evolution
- This was the first time a game in this series appeared on more than one home console (at the fifth time of asking).
- This was the final game released in this particular timeline, although canonically it occurs first. An ill fated reboot was released six years later, with any releases in this series since then being limited to remasters of earlier games.
- It wouldn’t be a surprise to see this game remastered in the future, as a studio with a penchant for diving into the past has already worked on re-releases of the first three games in this series.

48 (incorrect guesses - Tomb Raider III)
- This iteration of a highly influential title gives you the opportunity to travel to four previously unvisited countries.
- Whilst your journey through the game is mostly random, you’ll always end it by visiting the same three countries.
- The main reason you’re travelling to these countries is to give people a beat down.

47
- The first boss is comically easy if you play the handheld version of this game.
- And the handheld version is what was picked to represent this title on a recently expanded compilation of games from this series.
- There are two other games that share the same title as this, one of which was released in the same year on a more powerful system.

45
- The protagonist has to enter people’s dreams in order to progress through this adventure.
- The word ‘adventures’ was part of the title of this game in Europe. The NTSC version simply had the protagonist’s name as the title.

44
- You solve everyone’s problems but your own in less than a day. But what you do discover along the way does offer you hope in your search for an old friend.

Current list - https://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread/247804/the-official-thread-the-14th-annual-greatest-games-event-post-only-once/4/#3

#41: Mega Man 2?

Yep, figured that one would be guessed quickly.

#42: WarCraft II, exploding critters!

45: I'm guessing the spinoff is Simcopter, so Simcity 2000?

Super late to this but I've finished my list and will get my posts worked out hopefully soon enough. Here, have the first 10 hints (I'll keep them easy cause I'm running late):

#50 - It's like a tower-defense sidescrolling city-building simulator that can be played in 2-player co-op.
#49 - This game revolutionized its franchise by adopting the genre of another franchise, and played a part in naming said genre.
#48 - This Zelda-like has you go from its hub town to the 4 directions around it, wherein lie gigantic beings. It's not Majora's Mask!
#47 - This other Zelda-like starts you off in a completely grayscale area, from which you travel through doors to the "real" world.
#46 - The most popular entry in a spin-off series so popular it had a whole scene dedicated to it in this franchise's movie.
#45 - This remake decides to strip the main character of their powers right as you reach the ending of the original game.
#44 - The third mainline entry in a franchise that left a lot of now useless plastic toys in people's homes.
#43 - This sequel added the ability to dash out of a crouch, and it's basically impossible to think of these games without it.
#42 - This remake was the first sidescrolling release in this franchise for 15 years.
#41 - A sports simulator that feels more like a job than a game - it doesn't even have music!

A few guesses

49 - Symphony of the Night

43 - Sonic the Hedgehog 2

41 - Football Manager

Yes! I always thought it was kind of mean to do that to the poor critters.

Also correct. Every once in a while you'll hear a news announcement about the traffic, if there are traffic congestions.