LogFAQs > #949111653

96. Kirby & the Amazing Mirror (GBA, 2004)

The Kirby series feels like it can often be a well of untapped and unreached potential. Spin-offs like Air Ride that never got fully fleshed-out, 3D platformers like Kirby 64 that never got a proper sequel, or gimmicky platformers like Canvas Curse that only touched the surface of their novel concept - all these are abundant in the series' history. Kirby and the Amazing Mirror lands, perhaps barely, above these to make a complete and satisfying experience.
You've got typical Kirby gameplay - travel across some levels, swallow enemies, collect powers, and defeat bosses. The game's gimmick is that the entire world is an interconnected map, la Super Star's Great Cave Offensive, but much larger and less linear. Because the only thing gating your access to any portion of the game is having the right power, which can be found across the whole map, you can basically go anywhere and do any boss in any order. This works well, giving the user a lot of control over their experience, but also leaves the whole thing feeling somewhat unfocused. Additionally, across the map are unlockable Kirby colors, sound test records, and permanent health upgrades, so at least if you've run into a dead end there is something to find. On the other hand, there's still the feeling that a more focused Metroidvania Kirby experience, with more thorough gating and progression, and more comprehensive powers, could be the top-tier Kirby game that the series has been missing for quite a while.

95. Final Fantasy Tactics (PS1, 1998)

This is probably the highest-quality game in the bottom, say, 25% of my list. Final Fantasy Tactics was a huge turning point in the popularity and design of console strategy RPGs. It's immensely replayable, rewards players for both their time and skill, and has one of the best plots in the series - a somewhat overwrought but satisfying story of political intrigue that despite some awkward translation holds up super well.
But alas, I've never beaten this game...I made it to chapter 3 and was getting destroyed too much to make it farther. And the prospect of building up job skills through a bunch of classes to properly round out my team seemed daunting and exhausting. The game's great, and I am very not great at it. It deserves recognition for its quality, but also seemed hard to toss any higher due to my own lack of expertise.

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it's an underwater adventure ride