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Top 10 Favorite Games of 2022

#3. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/7/5/AAB6RfAAECov.jpg

This is probably the game that has fluctuated the most on my list. I've had it as high as #1 and I've had it as low as #5 so let's just settle right in the middle here at #3. This is like the ultimate B-Game, what Ninja Team accomplished with such limited time and budget is quite frankly astounding. Chaos memes and goofy dialogue aside, at it's core this game is a Nioh clone (like I checked out Nioh after finishing this game and I was shocked how much of it is just lifted straight from that) that serves as a prequel to Final Fantasy 1 and gives Garland an origin story that he probably didn't need, but I'm happy it exists regardless. Every stage is inspired from an area in each of the 15 mainline Final Fantasy games and we even learn each FF game is its own pocket dimension controlled by higher beings called Lufenians who influence events to make them repeat over and over again Jack's lust to murder Chaos eventually makes him the Garland we all know in his quest to break this timeloop and eventually give way to the true Warriors of Light. Unlike Bayonetta 3, this games combat goes all in on making each weapon type feel like it's own game with deep movesets that are really use it or lose it. When the combat just clicks it feels really amazing, but step away for even a little while and you just kinda forget it all (something I've struggled with a bit when coming back for the DLCs). Those finishing moves where you just brutally murder Final Fantasy enemies never stops being entertaining, especially the cuter ones like Tonberrie sand Cactuars. You can nitpick things about it here and there, but it really felt like a game that was greater than the sum of its parts.