I bought something for me:
Five crazy games!
Four bloody films, Three Sanctuaries, Two Middlemans,
and a Colbert's Christmas Special DVD
When it comes to video games there can be all kind of arguments - JRPG vs. WRPG, Call of Duty vs. Gears of War, Zelda vs. Mario, Leaf vs. Water vs. Fire starting Pokemon.
But only a few games can be universally agreed upon as the craziest, most time consuming, plot-twisty, over the top, innovative, and yes, rewarding, games out there. These games are above and beyond and if you haven't played them, you haven't experienced the jaw-dropping glorious confusion that comes with any one of these fantastic titles:
Catherine (XBOX 360/PS3)
Plot: Vincent, an ordinary guy, is stuck choosing between his long term girlfriend Katherine who's pushing for a big commitment, and new mysterious young hottie Catherine. Also, he's having terrifying nightmares where he must climb to the top of a tower before the floor gives out beneath him - if he falls in the dream, he'll die in real life.
Why It's Innovative: First off, you don't get to choose how Vincent responds. Instead you answer survey questions about your own views on marriage and commitment, and chooses Vincent's reactions based on that. And no, there is no "right" choice, he's an absolute tool of a douchebag either way. Instead you're rewarded for the strength and consistency of your choices. Additionally, the game itself is the climb up the tower in Vincent's dream, a physics breaking timed 3D puzzle with a 2D view.
Why It's Crazy: Oh, and also there's a 64 level move limited mini-game version of the main puzzle. And a social element where you can accidentally kill the other characters if you aren't careful. And final bosses like uh,
The World Ends With You (DS)
Plot: Neku Sakuraba wakes up on the busy streets of Shibuya, Japan only to realize that no one can see him, there's a timer on his hand counting down to his death, and mysterious creatures are attacking him. He soon makes friends with Shiki, Beat, Rhyme, and the very mysterious Joshua and Mr. H as he tries to beat the Reapers and their game while his timer counts down.
Why It's Innovative: This is one of the very few games that truly uses every feature of the DS. You fight by activating pins with different moves: slashes up and side, pressing, tapping, and dragging. BUT also blowing into the mic, closing the lid, and fighting using both the stylus and the D-pad simultaneously. Which they teach to you so smoothly it feels natural. Also, it's a beautiful game with great music.
Why It's Crazy: Beating the game is about only 10% of the game. Upon beating the game, you must replay each day and complete additional challenges in order to unlock all the back story that makes the game make sense. Oh, and having done all of this on ultimate difficult, I've never managed to beat the optional final boss on easy. Yeah.
Folklore (PS3)
Plot: University student Ellen and occult journalist Keats are both drawn to a village where they witness a murder and begin separately investigating the towns heritage and Ellen's connection to it. They end up gaining the ability to cross over to the realm of spirits to continue their research and are drawn into a massive battle where they are very much out of their depths.
Why It's Innovative: Well, as someone who doesn't own a PS3, this game is incredible. You fight using captured spirit souls, which are used by lassoing them and then pulling them in by shaking, balancing, twisting, and flipping the controller. Plus, you play as Keats and Ellen separately in any order you like, only for them to be united at the last few chapters. The art is beautiful and the side characters are hilarious.
Why It's Crazy: I still don't actually remember the whole story of this game, it was that weird and confusing and fantastic. Plus it's uber dark - by the first few hours of play you have abusive and dead mothers and very creepy vengeful spirits. Also, I mean it when I say they are out of the depths; you get duped along with Ellen and Keats which leads to some really heart bounding moments.
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors (DS)
Plot: The movie Saw as a graphic novel on a DS. And slightly less blood. A boy, Junpei, wakes up to find he's been kidnapped and trapped on a rigged ship full of crazy puzzles with 8 other people, and they have 9 hours until the ship will be deliberately sunk with them on board. There are 9 numbered doors, each of which can only be opened by 3 - 5 people who's watches (each with a different number) sum up, and door 9 holds the way out....
Why It's Crazy: Did I mention that the watches are detonators for the bombs in people's stomachs? And also, you did notice that I said only 3 - 5 people can open a door, but only one door leads to freedom? Yep. This game is incredibly compelling, as you watch the smallest actions cause people to unravel into insanity or band together.
Shin Megumi Tensei (Persona 3 and 4, Strange Journey, and Devil Survivor) (PS2/DS)
Plot: Well, it's a whole series of crazy but it always goes a bit like this. A boy/man moves to a new environment only to start seeing weird visions/dreams that suggest he is the only person capable of handling some power in the coming days. Then, bad stuff begins happening, and he must explore and monstrous sprawl of levels infested with demons that only he and his companions can fight and ally with. The truth is always absolutely unpredictably complicated, dark, and usually involves the end of the world.
Why It's Innovative: One, every story is very unique; they follow a simular starting formula but the content varies from deadly human karma in Antartica to serial killings in a rural town, martial law in Tokyo, and a deadly 25th hour within the bounds of a private school. Each game has a massive social element that sometimes simply can't be gamed; people will die, and you will have to choose between them. Oh, and the battle system consists of recruiting and fusing demons into a massive quantity of combinations.
Why It's Crazy: One, there are about 20 demon categories, each with 10 or 12 different demons to make. Plus you read that bit about not getting to keep all the characters alive, right? Oh, and sometimes you summon demons by shooting yourself in the head (Persona 3):
Don't worry, they use tarot cards in Persona 4. Of course, they are investigating murders that all look like this:
Yeah...... Fantastic games. Bit hard to sell to your friends. Enjoy!
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