I agree with your statements about how Halo brings friends together for endless nights of bloodshed and cheers. Halo was the reason I purchased an Xbox in the first place, but I don’t really follow it anymore. I was never gripped by the story, but the online gameplay is occasionally fun to jump into.

Your tweets about EVE Online have sparked my interest in what looks like an incredibly daunting and time consuming game. A friend and I sat down one day and dissected what it was all about and were impressed with its depth. I will keep looking in to it.

I never played either of the Final Fantasy titles you listed, and rather have only played FFXIII. Its compelling story kept me progressing game, despite it “one button” gameplay. I will have to play the titles you mentioned, as story is a key asset for me in gaming.

My list:

1. Mass Effect (whole franchise)

I can’t separate ME1 and ME2 as hard as I try. I love the RPG depth and thorough dialogue of ME1, but also love the shooter mechanics and INCREDIBLE art and level design of ME2. I have never connected so emotionally to characters like Garrus or Tali in any other game. The story and score compliment the entire project to present a syfy fantasy epic unmatched by any other title. Seeing as how you worked on this franchise, this might seem like gushing, and to some extent it is. Even if I wasn’t writing this list to you, Mass Effect would still be my favorite game(s).

2. Earthbound

This SNES classic features quirky humor with a soul touching story. With combat borrowed from earlier Final Fantasy titles, there’s no massive innovation present, but Earthbound’s unique presentation has had a lasting impression on my gaming mind. With weapons like frying pans, baseball bats, yo-yo’s, and so forth, character customization is intriguing and effective. Combined with a brilliant score and the most unique final boss battle I’ve ever encountered, HAL studios created a cult-classic game.

3. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

This is not an uncommon title to see on top 5 lists, that’s for sure. The combination of music-based travel and countless mind-bending puzzles, Ocarina of Time drives the player emotionally and mentally. The unique world of Hyrule changes around Link as he recovers colourful medallions and stones to defeat a Satan-esque enemy. This classic game grows with the character in terms of strength and ability, leading the ending into a satisfactory climax.

4. Resident Evil 4

I have never felt more endangered and vulnerable while playing a game. The constant battle for ammo, while also managing a painfully limited inventory box, really throws the player into survivalist mode. Leon proves to be a bad ass in every situation that confronts him, even with an emo-style haircut. The compelling need to just escape the zombie-filled countryside drive the story so that you can prove the game wrong. It’s that particular theme to drives my interest in RE4.

5. Phantasy Star Online

The last (and most embarrassing) of my top 5 list is the SEGA classic, PSO. Despite only having 4 distinct levels and essentially no story at all, I have not logged more time on any other game. The constant hunt for rare weapons and armor combined with a unique anime style fueled my desire to play this game. With a seemingly unchanging community, members of this MMO were close-knit and willing to help others. This game was my first MMO and will always shape how I view RPG inventories and importance of rare weapons.

Closing notes:

I hope you enjoyed my list and comments above. I have a great amount of respect for the work that you do, and applaud your intellect and creativity in your field. I’ve never been so engrained in a community like Bioware’s, and your personal connection to gamers is unmatched. I thoroughly enjoy your games, and with probably die of stress-related complications in anticipation for Mass Effect 3. Keep up the excellent work, and again, thank you for your commitment to prolific and emotional game creating.

-hayden_epro