10. Final Fantasy III
This is the high point of the Final Fantasy NES trilogy. It was Japan exclusive until the DS remake in 2006. The soundtrack has been changed from chip music to Final Fantasy IX quality synthesized orchestral music. The same went for Final Fantasy I and II.
9. Final Fantasy V
This is the low point of the Final Fantasy SNES trilogy. However, it exemplified the Job system, effectively introducing new classes. The song title "Dear Friends" was lent as the title of the first Final Fantasy orchestral concert "Dear Friends: Music from Final Fantasy." The Final Fantasy V soundtrack sounds good, but rather moody.
8. Final Fantasy IV
This is my first Final Fantasy game ever. I was introduced to Final Fantasy in 1995, when I was in high school. This was the only Final Fantasy game I ever played until late 2000. Final Fantasy IV introduced Active Time Battle, which I like better than the battle system used in the Final Fantasy NES trilogy. Final Fantasy IV is getting remade a la Final Fantasy III DS.
7. Final Fantasy VI
This is my favorite old school Final Fantasy game, and the high point of the Final Fantasy SNES trilogy. Classic characters include Terra, Locke, and Shadow. It has references to Star Wars. Final Fantasy VI was praised for its graphics at the time of its release, and also for its soundtrack. I love the Final Fantasy soundtrack myself, but not as much as the Final Fantasy X soundtrack. Nobuo Uematsu said that the Final Fantasy VI soundtrack was his favorite effort.
6. SimCity 3000
This is the second best of my second favorite video game series. This was also my second SimCity game. I was in college when this game came out. It has introduced new interesting concepts.
5. Star Wars: Empire at War
Star Wars: Empire at War takes place between Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. I am so addicted to playing this Star Wars computer game. I like the Forces of Corruption expansion pack as well. I usually play as the Rebel Alliance, and sometimes the Zann Consortium in the expansion pack, but never as the Galactic Empire.
4. SimCity 4
This is the best of my second favorite video game series, next to Final Fantasy. SimCity 4 introduced the Region feature, so that cities are no longer built in isolation. It has the most complex gameplay concept of any SimCity game. It introduced the day-and-night cycle. It is closer to the real world than its predecessors. SimCity Societies did not live up to the quality of SimCity 4. The title SimCity 5 can be reused for a future SimCity title. I was introduced to SimCity on the same year I was introduced to Final Fantasy, hence 1995, but one month after. My first SimCity game was SimCity 2000.
3. Final Fantasy X-2
This is the sequel to Final Fantasy X. It is the most underrated Final Fantasy game ever. It has received a mixed reception. Criticizing Final Fantasy X-2 for T&A content is unacceptable to me. Final Fantasy X-2 has brought the Job system to new heights.
2. Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XII is close to taking the no. 1 spot among my favorite video games. I have been hooked on this game ever since the first 10 hours. I never get tired of this game. It is very user friendly, and there are no random encounters. Crystals fit in the best for save points, instead of spheres as in Final Fantasy X. Final Fantasy XII also has a descriptive Bestiary system, which lets to read descriptions on the enemies as well as Sage Knowledge (additional information on the world of Ivalice). Final Fantasy XII is the first Final Fantasy game to receive a perfect score from Famitsu and the second Square Enix game to do so (Vagrant Story being the first).
1. Final Fantasy X
Yes, this is my favorite video game ever. It has the best work of Nobuo Uematsu. I listen to the Final Fantasy X soundtrack on a regular basis. It has great characters like Tidus, Auron, Yuna, and Rikku. Suteki Da Ne is my favorite video game song, especially the orchestral version. I did a karaoke performance of Suteki Da Ne myself. I played To Zanarkand on the piano. I listen to the Final Fantasy X soundtrack regularly, at home, and someone else's home, and on the road. The story is one of the best. Final Fantasy X received a mixed reception, albeit positive, at the time of its release. The Sphere Grid is one of the best leveling systems ever, and one that I like. Like Final Fantasy VII (what many users say), it deserves a 10/10. Final Fantasy XIII may overtake Final Fantasy X as my favorite video game, because of Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Final Fantasy I - This is the first installment of my favorite video game series. The original version's gameplay was cumbersome, but for the remakes, this is not the case. I am glad the gameplay was streamlined, and the soundtrack updated. The gameplay was modernized in the GBA version. I prefer the PSP version, because it has both the gameplay of the GBA version and the soundtrack of the Final Fantasy Origins version.
Final Fantasy II - This is the low point of my favorite video game series. I still like this game though. It has a somewhat interesting leveling system. However, the story is the worst of all Final Fantasy games. It is a tragic Final Fantasy game. I do not like the original version. Like Final Fantasy I for the same reasons, I prefer the PSP version.
Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu - It is my favorite Nintendo game ever. Classic characters include Sigurd, Cuan, Levin, Lex, Jamka, Ayra, Celice, Oifey, Leaf, and Shanan. I was in high school when this game was released exclusively in Japan. I discovered this game in 2002. Ayra has been my favorite Nintendo character since the GameCube days, thus overtaking Luigi from the Super Mario series. She introduced the Swordmaster class, which has become my favorite Fire Emblem class. Because of that, my favorite character in each Fire Emblem game is usually a Swordmaster. I praise Ayra so much that I most wanted her in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, as well as Sigurd who is the main character, but sadly, that request was shot down on several occasions.
Fire Emblem: Rekka no Ken - This is the first Fire Emblem game released in North America. Popular characters include Elwood, Hector, Lyndis, Sain, Guy, Jaffar, Raven, and Karel. Lyndis is announced to appear in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, sadly as an Assist Trophy. I am very shocked about this Assist Trophy announced, not only for Lyndis, but also for Punch-Out!'s Little Mac. I will not be playing Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Melee will be my last Super Smash Bros. game.
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones - As of now, this is my last Fire Emblem game. It is a beginner's Fire Emblem game. It revived the gameplay concept of the Japan-only game NES game Fire Emblem: Gaiden.
SimCity 2000 - This is my first SimCity game. It introduced concepts like education, health, water, what not. It changed the perspective to isometric perspective, which would also be used in SimCity 3000 and SimCity 4.
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