1. Cut the Rope (3DS)
2. Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3)
3. Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth (XBOX)
4. Jewel Link Chronicles: Mountains of Madness (NDS)
5. Super Mario 3D World (WIIU)
6. Mario Kart 7 (3DS)
7. Kirby Triple Deluxe (3DS)
8. Gunman Clive (3DS)
9. Child of Light (WIIU)
10. Gunman Clive 2 (3DS)
11. Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition (WIIU)
12. Shifting World (3DS)
13. VVVVVV (3DS)
14. Mega Man 9 (PS3)
15. Mighty Switch Force 2 (WIIU)
16. Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (PS3)
17. Castle Crashers (PS3)
18. Pushmo (3DS)
19. Steamworld Dig (3DS)
20. The Unfinished Swan (PS3)
21. Blaster Master (NES)
22. Samurai Shodown II (NEOGEO/PS2)
23. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (2600)
24. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
25. Shining Force II (GEN)
26. Rayman Legends (WIIU)
27. Gorf (ARCADE)
28. Fairune (3DS)Fairune is a $3 eShop title that I found enjoyable, intriguing, and well-worth the amount that I paid for it. It is an ARPG that plays similarly to Falcom's Ys series, and its combat system is very simple. (That is, your character attacks enemies by simply running into them, and if the enemy is your level you will kill it and take 1 HP damage (and gain some experience). If the enemy is one level above you, you will still kill it, but you will take 2-3 HP damage (and gain a little more experience). If the enemy is more than one level above you, you will take 3-5 HP damage, but you will not be able to harm it. Thankfully, you kill all enemies below your level insantly without taking any damage (but without gaining any experience either).
This final point is critical, since the overwhelming majority of the game consists of exploring its relatively large overworld, underworld, and dungeons to find items that will allow you to proceed. The game is riddled with puzzles and "hidden" passageways that provide most of the game's challenge. (Combat is not that difficult, and grinding levels does not take much time.) In fact, the game's puzzles and "hidden" passages can be outright infuriating at times, but the solutions and locations of the passages are pretty obvious once you figure them out. (I consulted an FAQ after frustration set in on two occassions, and I felt like an idiot once I relaized what I was missing.)
Finally, the game has a charming pixel-art aesthetic, and it looks a lot like Dragon Crystal, Golden Axe Warrior, and Ys: The Vanished Omens (but with graphical flourishes the Sega Master System was incapable of producing). It also has a catchy chiptune soundtrack reminiscent of classic ARPGs.
In sum, I enjoyed the game quite a bit, and since I was able to get through it in a little over 3 hours, it never wore out its welcome. (The game also has a few rare enemy types, and there is a list of "achievements" for those who want to squeeze some additional time out of it.) Moreover, the game has some excellent hidden areas - that I stumbled on quite by accident - that really add to the mystery surrounding its rather cryptic storyline, and the battle with the final boss took the game in a wholly unexpected (but nonetheless enjoyable) direction:
I therefore recommend this game very highly to anyone who is a fan of classic ARPGs, especially at the $3 price point.
