Top 10 Favorite Video Games of 2020

When I look back at this year,  I will likely call it "The Year of Escapism." I never had a greater appreciation for escapism than in this turbulent year, and this is coming from someone who has been bullied as a child and went to graduate school. I never heard the word "unprecedented" so many times in a year. 

So in the spirit of escapism, I thought I would give my Top 10 favorite things I got into in 2020. And since I have so many favorite things to cover, I am going to break it up into three parts starting with computer games. Now even though these are my favorite games of 2020 doesn't mean that they came out in 2020. The games on this list range from coming out this year to coming out more than two decades ago. However, I first played them this year which is why I will be considering them for this list. This also means games I played this year that I have played before in a previous year won't count towards the running like Kao the Kangaroo Second Round. Although, Kao wouldn't get on the list even if it was eligible.  

Oh, and honorable mention to Jackbox. You offered a great experience for my friends and I. However, like connecting jumper cables to your nipples, I feel there are more meaningful experiences out there. 

There is nothing much else to say, so let's start it off. 

Number 10: Half Life 2 & Doom Eternal

I played Half Life 2 early this year and considered it my favorite FPS at one point. However, as the year went on, I found the game to be kind of forgettable. Aside from Ravenholm and the opening/ending sequence, none of the game really stuck with me. It's an FPS that has a slower pace which is unusual for the genre. And while that will leave a profound impression once you immediately finish the game, it's not something that lasts. It was a middling experience similar to Doom Eternal which I also played this year. Similar to Half Life 2, only a few sequences stuck with me. And those who've played it might already know those sequences when I say these simple words: Mars. Sword. The First Doom Hunters. And the game is much MUCH faster than Half Life 2, its forgettability stems from a unfortunate case of sequelitis.   

Despite being vague in my memory, I do recall excellent gun play and wonderful movement. In Half Life 2, the atmosphere is astonishingly good whereas Doom Eternal's strength is chaotic rock paper scissors combat that encourages the player to both think on their feet and strategize their approach. 

They were really fun games but not games that stuck with me. Therefore, I feel having them share the number ten spot would suffice.

Number 9: Persona 5

A game that did stuck with me was Persona 5 which was the first game I finished in 2020. 

This game is notorious for getting non-JRPG fans into becoming JRPG fans. And yeah, I guess in a way I was one of those non-JRPG* fans. It is because of Persona 5 that I started playing more games like Final Fantasy 7 and intend on playing others in the future. 

If I had to give Persona 5 a report card, I would give P5 an A+ in presentation, an A- in gameplay, and a B- in story. At its worst, the story falls apart around the last act while the gameplay has mild portions that drag on a bit. However, the presentation is already iconic in gaming culture sporting a wonderful soundtrack and aesthetic. The gameplay is essentially Pokémon which I can't complain about and is probably why it is so accessible. And while the last act to Persona 5 deserves its own future blog post for how bad it is, the characters overall are likable enough to keep everything together.  

I'm glad I enjoyed it as much as it did. I mean, I better have enjoyed it if I spent over 60 hours on it. 

Number 8: Celeste & Sonic Mania

I am doing another tie because I am not sure which game is more deserving. Both games are side-scrolling platformers with fantastic soundtracks. I played both on the Nintendo Switch which adds two more reasons why buying a Switch was one of the wisest gaming purchases I made. And finally, both are aesthetically pleasing with tight controls. 

Despite the many similarities, they obviously feel so different. Celeste was a serene play though. Its story, while not amazing, had its little moments that were pretty tender. The feather scene comes to mind as a great exploration of dealing with an anxiety attack. And admittedly, I started to use the feather trick myself from time to time. As for Sonic, well it's Sonic, and Sonic Mania may be the best Sonic game in the franchise. At the very least, it is deserving to be on the same tier as Sonic 3 and Knuckles and Sonic Colours which is another way to say it's a Sonic game that doesn't have the typical problems that is....well Sonic. It's just pure game and fun, and it became one of the few games this year that I 100%. I tried to do the same for Celeste. But one thing Celeste does that's separate from Sonic Mania was that it's hard as hell. 

  

To add one more similarity before I move on, both are easily some of the best 2D platformers I have played, so it should reflect the next game's quality as it is also a side scrolling platformer. 

Number 7: Battlekid: Fortress of Peril

Let me preface that I played in a way where I would save state between rooms, so obviously I didn't get the complete Battlekid experience of continually banging your head against the wall. However, I don't like banging my head against the wall. I hate the NES hard design of making someone repeat challenges they have already overcome just to get another attempt at one they have yet to complete, so save states it is.  I'm glad I did because without the punishing difficulty the game is really fun. 

And where Shovel Knight seeks to evoke the NES aesthetic, Battlekid seeks to just be an NES game and feels more authentic as a result. And if Battlekid actually came out during the NES era, I would definitely consider it one of my few favorites on the NES. 

Why is it better than Celeste and Sonic Mania? Well Lotus Guardian, that's why. Beating Lotus Guardian was one of the most satisfying gaming moments I had since beating Ornstein and Smough for the first time. Gaming adrenaline is an intoxicating thing. You bet I am going to tell my grandkids about this whether they care or not. 

Number 6: Diablo

There are games I haven't played simply because I think I wouldn't like them: Civilization V, Elite Dangerous, Stardew Valley, Tony Hawk etc. I'm not saying they're bad. I just don't think they fit my tastes.

Well after playing Diablo, I might have to step out of my comfort zone a little more often.

I didn't think I would be into these mindless isometric hack and slashes. For example I couldn't get into Bastion because of the gameplay.

And while the combat can get a little mindless, what makes this game great is everything around the hacking and slashing. This game has an amazing story and a thick atmosphere. I also love how this game handles exploration and progression. It feels like an adventure where you just happen across an awesome sword or a particular monster at any given moment. And unlike Legend of Zelda or other games of the same type, there is no fan fare to these discoveries aside from the final boss.  

The game is also short enough where none of it feels like filler but has plenty of extras encouraging another playthrough. I finished the game wanting more, and that's a good feeling. 

Number 5: Secret of Monkey Island 2

I had this game for a while, but I never got around to playing it as it gather dust in my XBOX 360 digital library.

Well recently, I watched a playthrough of the first game since I was too lazy to play it again. I had such a good time watching it that I needed that high again, so I finally got around to the second one. And let me say, like a lot of my favorite things, I wish I played this game sooner. This game ups the humor, the imagination, and the pacing. Whereas the first game loses engagement after the first half, this game is great all the way up until the final level where it gets really tedious.

Other than that, it has some trappings of the usual point and click: precision clicking to solve puzzles and obtuse solutions. Although in fairness, if you are paying close attention, you will notice the game telegraphs its puzzle solutions more than you think.

Overall, this game rocks. It has some excellent writing and charm. I played a lot of adventure games this year, and this one is easily the favorite among them. 

Number 4: Hades

Remember in the last blog post where I said Kao the Kangaroo was the last game I played in 2020? Well that ended up becoming a lie. Hell, it isn't even the second to last game I played since I compulsively decide to do a quick run through of Hollow Knight over a weekend. 

Anyway, Hades is actually the last game I played in 2020. My brother gave me a $20 e-shop gift card around the time Hades was one sale for $20. I took that as a sign or at least a minimal excuse to impulse buy another game. 

And boy, Hades was a much better way to end 2020 than Kao the Kangaroo. 

I remember seeing Hades a while back and thinking I wouldn't like it. I am not a fan of Supergiant's art style nor do I like how they play, and I thought Hades was going to be another example of that. I only gave it a try because I like roguelikes and have a soft spot for Greek mythology.  

And you know what, Hades surprised me. For one thing, this is probably the best example of contextualizing roguelike elements. Not only do they contextualize it, they make it into a full fledge story with interesting interpersonal relationships, themes, and personality. And because the gameplay is really absorbing, the story elements don't feel like they are hitting you over the head. Easily, it is one of the best written games I have played in a while helped with some luscious voice acting. 

This is also a rare example of a game where I will take the time between each run attempt to just soak in the story and atmosphere. It got to the point where I preferred the breaks between runs more so than the gameplay itself. 

Also an honorable mention to Slay the Spire which was another excellent roguelike I played this year. 

Number 3: Pokémon XD: Gales of Darkness

I am going to cheat on this one because I played this before many times as a kid. However, this recent playthrough was the first time I played this game with Action Replay codes, and the codes do so much to change the game. The biggest problem with Gales of Darkness is the limited Pokémon selection making it one of the least open ended Pokémon games in terms of team roster.  

Action Replay codes completely nullify this. Do you want a Bulbasaur as a starter instead of Eevee? You can do that. Do you want a team of nothing but Spindas and one Unown. You can do that you specific spring child. This turns Gales of Darkness from an okay Pokémon spin off into one of the best RPGs ever. 

I love this game's atmosphere and story. Granted, the story isn't Fitzgerald, but it has a charm of a really good children's anime which I admire. It is also refreshing to have a Pokémon game that doesn't follow a gym badge formula, one of the more stagnant aspects in the Pokémon franchise, nor does it have other stagnant Pokémon archetypes like an Elite Four, a rival, and navigating through random encounter-ridden caves.

With action replay, I have more reasons to play this one. I love this game. 

Number 2: Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

*I should clarify that while I don't identify as a JRPG fan, one notable exception to this notion are the Nintendo RPGs, specifically the Fire Emblem series. 

I played a lot of Fire Emblem! In fact, I am slowly going through the series and am down to just six games out of thirteen, excluding games that have since been remade like Gaiden.

Speaking of Gaiden, its remake, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia (FE15), is excellent and easily stands as my favorite Fire Emblem. 

What people consider to be a great Fire Emblem varies from person to person. So for me, FE15 is the closest to perfecting the series. Its difficulty is just right and has modern flourishes to make the game more fair such a limited rewind function. 

Its story, while arguably not good, is told extremely well through some great voice acting. I usually skip past most Fire Emblem story lines, but this one, as flawed as it is, is very engaging. 

Number 1: Nier Gestalt

I gotta be honest with you. I don't remember what compelled me to buy this game. I don't know if I should credit a Youtuber for recommending me Nier, or a Reddit forum, or a dream. I just know one day I knew this game was amazing and decided to buy it. 

Now I knew it was going to be good, but I didn't expect it was going to end up becoming one of my favorite games I have ever played. 

The literature, video essays, and discussion on this game is rather immense that talking about it would be redundant. It would also spoil one of the most interesting endings to a video game, so my take on Nier is going to be barren as a result.

While I love the themes Yoko Taro presents in Nier, what made me fall in love with this game is the characters. Nier probably has my favorite fellowship in all of the fantasy/sci-fi genre. Granted, I am not well versed in every group of adventurers story out there, but I can't think of a single story that had me this engaged with every single character in an adventuring party. Nier is an excellent protagonist. Kaine & Emil are tied for being one of my favorite video game characters ever. And last but not least, Grimoire Weiss is beautifully sassy and well written. The voice acting is incredible. If the final act was less repetitive and egregious, I would call it a perfect game. 

You could think the gameplay and aesthetic is dated or even outright terrible, but you need to play it. This is a story worth checking out. If I wrote a 1001 Games to Play Before you Die, Nier would be near the top of the list. But for right now, it will sit as my number one favorite game I played in 2020. 

Kao the Kangaroo: Round Two & Metroid Prime 3: Corruption | The Most Unnecessary Comparison Review Ever

In the year 2020, I manage to beat over 100 games in one year. It was a perfect storm of being an man-child with access to money and a pandemic that encouraged me to wallow away in escapism. I like to think 12-year old me would be proud somehow. 

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to review the last game I finished during this year. I thought my last game of 2020 should be something special to warrant a review, so I started brainstorming. First, I thought I play Persona 1 for the PSP as a nice bookend since the first game I finished this year was the wonderful Persona 5. Then after dealing with random encounters again-and again-and again-and AGAIN, I figured Persona 1 wasn't for me. 

I then asked a friend for suggestions to which he suggested the critically acclaimed Disco Elysium. However, I am still waiting on a worthwhile price drop on that game. Yeah I may be a man child with money, but I am also a man child that at least tries to be economical. This is also why I didn't decide to do Spiritfarer, Bug Fables, Pillars of Eternity, and Persona 4 Golden. Great games. I'm just a cheap ass gamer. 

After that, I just started spitballing: Red Dead Redemption 2, Infamous, Last of Us 1&2, Grand Theft Auto IV, Dragon Quest VIII. Nothing... 

THEN, I thought I should throw my hands up and do something completely off the wall. A game that literally no one cares about. I had a few ideas for that one such as Wuppo and Chulip, but nothing spoke to me. It was here that I asked myself, "why not do a game that was on the PSP, that is cheap to play, and that no one cares about?" 

Well after some quick thinking, I decided to buy Kao the Kangaroo Round Two on Steam, and this is why you don't make compromises. 

It's telling that I would rather talk about why I decided to play Kao than actually talk about Kao. There is nothing much to Kao the Kangaroo as it is probably the most generic 3D Platformer I have ever played. Considering there is some hefty competition for that title, this is saying a lot.  

Generic is prominent throughout the game in its story, character design, level design, collectables that I realized that I don't have much to say on the game other than it was creatively plain. "Oh God," I thought. "I don't want to have to go back to the drawing board, especially after three hours of slogging through Kao the Kangaroo." 

I wanted to salvage the idea of reviewing Kao in a silly example of a sunk cost fallacy. So after some more quick thinking, I thought I would compare the game to Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Why Metroid Prime 3? Well Metroid Prime 3 was the second-to-last game I played in 2020....and that's it. Honestly, I couldn't have accidently pick a more different game to Kao the Kangaroo than Metroid fucking Prime! 

I think in a way this will make it into an interesting review, and I say this with sincerity. Not to get ahead of myself, but upon playing Kao it made me grow a fonder appreciation of Prime 3. But with that said, about five hundred words later, let's actually start the review. Here we go!

Round 1: The Story

Metroid Prime 3's story makes no hesitation to differentiate from not only the Prime games but the Metroid series as a whole focusing on a more plot heavy narrative. Generally, Metroid games will leave Samus to her devices even in the more story-centric Metroids. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes has a heavy first act but not much after that. Metroid Prime 3 takes an approach mainly seen in action movies. The first act involves setting up the conflict and the goals of the main characters. The last act resolves that conflict. Everything in between are set pieces to get to that final act. The plot involves Samus as she is tasked by the Federation to defeat Leviathans that have taken over certain planets. The climax involves Samus and the Federation tactfully invading an major enemy fortress. And in between that, you have set pieces you would see in a typical action sequence. For example, Samus has to defend a floating bomb as it is being moved to its drop zone. 

This approach also means there are more moving parts mainly in the character department. Along with the Federation you also have the bounty hunters Rundas, Ghor, and Gandrayda which add extra meat to the plot. My only complaint is that the characters don't get the screen time they need to be fully developed characters, but I will get more into that later.

In Kao, you play as a kangaroo who has to defeat the Hunter and save his friends. That's it. 

Now I won't say Metroid Prime 3 is a good story. In fact I would say most Metroids don't have great narratives in a traditional sense. I guess Super Metroid has a solid arc with the baby Metroid, and Metroid Fusion has a decent character relationship. However, I wouldn't necessarily call it mind blowing, but that's fine. Metroid is held up on the experience, the atmosphere. Metroid Prime 1 exemplifies this best. You are dropped on this planet with no cue on where to go next. All the game tells you is keep moving until the game tells you to stop. To me, that is Metroid in a nutshell. It is this isolation that is both relaxing or chilling depending on what the game wants you to feel. 

Prime 3 has this but tries to add in a narrative on top of it, but the two very different things clash from time to time. The bounty hunters are a good example of this. I love the bounty hunters in their designs and small bits of personalities, but I would have love to know more. However knowing more might interrupt the gameplay, so their story is compromised. I suppose you can do the Dark Souls approach, and Metroid Prime does do this. However, with how action-movie oriented Prime 3 is, I think it would have benefited more from a more traditional story. The stuff with the bounty hunters is just begging for some cool interpersonal relationships. In its current form, the story feels like a generic sci-fi action story that is underdeveloped. 

This is thing number one that Kao would make me retroactively appreciate about Metroid Prime 3. Yeah, I didn't love Metroid Prime 3's story, but hey seeing this in Metroid was new to the palate. It was refreshing how much effort Prime 3 puts in the world building, and I hope the narrative direction in Prime 3 could be better executed in a future title. I see potential of an interesting traditional plot in Metroid. The pieces are there. It just needs more of a creative spark and inspired direction. At the very least, the narrative inspires discussion which is something I can't say for Kao.  

As for Kao, since this a Kao review too, the story is at best needless and at worst disruptive. The plot to Kao, as you have already seen in my one sentence synopsis, is about as basic as a Banjo Kazooie game. However, the game lacks any charm of a Banjo Kazooie game. The dialogue between Kao and his animal friends are purely for function. "The Hunter is at the S&M club. You need to go there next, Kao!" There is no sense of their relationship, no comradery, and no humor. It's so generic it makes the generic elements of Metroid Prime 3's narrative seem less so by comparison. It doesn't help that the sound mixing makes the pacing of the dialogue really bad. I don't remember if this was also a problem in the PSP version or if the problem is exclusive to the Steam release. I can't say. 

Also  the villain is seriously called "The Hunter?" They couldn't think of a better name than that? Can you at least try to stimulate me?!?

Round 2: The Gameplay

Metroid Prime 3 and Kao are pretty blanket derivatives of their genre, Metroidvania and 3D Platformer respectively. Metroid Prime 3 doesn't break any new grounds in the series aside from some motion control gimmicks. Likewise, Kao feels like a conglomeration of random mechanics from other platformers. It has the level design and projectile combat from Rayman 2. It has boomerangs as weapons like in Ty the Tasmanian Tiger, and it has a narrative similar to most animal mascot platformers like Sonic the Hedgehog. 

The lack of gameplay innovation is frankly disappointing to see in Metroid since it is one of Nintendo's most innovative franchises alongside Mario and Zelda. However unlike Mario and Zelda, the series gets kind of rigid from a gameplay perspective, and the innovations between games don't always end in success. For example, compare the innovations between Super Metroid to Samus Returns for the 3DS to the innovations between Link to the Past and Breath of the Wild. Link to the Past established the Zelda formula. Ocarina of Time laid a standard for 3D action adventure games. Majora's Mask had the three day mechanic. Wind Waker had sailing. Twilight Princess had the wolf. Skyward Sword had one-to-one motion controls. And finally, Breath of the Wild brought back open ended exploration seen in original Legend of Zelda. As for Metroid, we don't get to see that level of difference that is as well regarded in Zelda, with some exceptions. Super Metroid established the Metroidvania formula as we know today. Metroid Prime takes Metroid to the 3rd dimension. Metroid Prime 2 adds a dark world mechanic. And finally, Other M does a 3D Metroid from a 3rd person perspective. 

Keep in mind, I skipped Metroid Fusion, Metroid Zero Mission, Metroid Prime 3, and Samus Returns for the 3DS since they don't add anything major from a gameplay perspective. Although they are well made games. Also keep in mind in the case of Metroid Prime 2 and Other M, that their gameplay isn't well regarded among fans. In Other M's case, it is almost universally derided by fans. Point is there is less experimentation when it comes to gameplay in Metroid. Granted, there is experimentation in other aspects. Metroid Fusion adds a more horror vibe. Metroid Prime 3 and Other M add more of a narrative with varying degrees of success. However, Zelda and Mario includes those things in addition to their gameplay advances. Wind Waker and Mario Galaxy are basically iconic examples of aesthetic innovations. Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess also add more of a narrative with again varying degrees of success. For that, Metroid Prime 3 really lacks in gameplay novelty.

It's telling that most of the major innovations in the Metroidvania are not from Metroid games such as Hallow Knight and Cave Story. 

Of course, it's also telling when you compare a game like Metroid Prime 3 to some of gaming's greats, they are going to come off as run of the mill. When you compare it to Kao, on the other hand, your game starts to become more interesting.  

Yeah Metroid Prime 3 isn't innovative, but it still retains that Nintendo polish. Kao is fine, but compare to those Marios and Zeldas and Kao gets pulverized. The combat comes to mind. Kao will get hit randomly when boxing with common enemies. The spider enemies gives you exactly one second to defeat with a boomerang or else you instantly get hit with their projectile. And probably the most egregious example, there are spiked enemies that are only vulnerable when they land behind you meaning you have to wrestle your camera quickly in order to do your roll attack. Again, it is not offensively bad, but it is not polished. 

Metroid Prime 3 gameplay is much smoother to play aside from a few aspects. Certain enemy designs don't convey which weapon you should use because of the muddled environments, which is a step down from the color coordinated pirates from Prime 1. There are also more interruptions in the form of voice calls telling you your next objection. Admittedly, they were helpful in a few situations that keep the game from reaching the obtuse levels of Metroid Prime 2. However, in everything else, it's unfortunately reminiscent of annoying video game helper syndrome. Otherwise, it is a solid Metroid romp. 

Conclusion

Both games are kind of generic but Prime 3 has way more creative energy by comparison. Would I recommend Prime 3? Ehhh kind of. If you are starving for Metroid then this game will fill your appetite, and if you got the game through the Metroid Prime Trilogy Collection then you might as well play it if you haven't already. 

Would I recommend Kao: Second Round? Well no. If you are starving for a 3D platformer, I hope you were really starving like I was because there is not much else to like in Kao. 

That concludes my ramble. Now if you excuse me, I gotta spend time regretting playing Kao as my last game of 2020.