Dragon Quest III – 30th Anniversary
Every Major Video Game Anniversary in February 2018
Dragon Quest III released on February 10, 1988 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and pretty much blew the doors off the Japanese games market. It became so widely played that it actually spawned an urban legend that the Japanese government banned publisher Enix from releasing the series on the weekdays thereafter, lest it enticed too many people to skip work or miss school. Indeed, Dragon Quest III was the one entry that transformed the series to the omnipotent cultural icon it is today.
Once started, the game is just impossible to put down. Featuring a streamlined story that leaves enough open for the player to explore, you’ll oftentimes find yourself with a simple task at hand, but with little or no direction on how to actually complete it. Talking to NPCs and searching for information on your own is very much part of what makes Dragon Quest III so immersive, as it doesn’t shy away from thrusting you into its world from the get-go. Seeing as how the game requires you to sink in a good amount of time in order to understand it, it’s not hard to see where that urban legend came from.
Star Fox – 25th Anniversary
Every Major Video Game Anniversary in February 2018
Star Fox is arguably one of Nintendo’s most underrated mascots. The first game in the franchise released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System on February 21, 1993, though the original isn’t exactly what made the series famous. That honor goes to Star Fox 64, whose controls, level design, boss battles, and replayability make it one of the medium’s most important games, if only because it helped pioneer the use of those 3D graphics we all know and love today.
Two and a half decades since its inception, Star Fox has somewhat gone to the wayside in favor of more popular Nintendo franchises like The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario. The last entry in the series, Star Fox Zero for the Wii U, didn’t exactly help usher the series back into the limelight, and it unfortunately remains unclear whether or not we’ll see a new Star Fox game for the Switch in the near future.
Xenogears – 20th Anniversary
Every Major Video Game Anniversary in February 2018
Xenogears’ story, gameplay, characters, and religious themes make it a must-play JRPG for any loyal fan of the genre. Released on February 11, 1998 for the original PlayStation, the game is almost biblical in nature as a grand, epic story seeped with lore unfolds for players to witness with their very own eyes. An “Active Time Battle” gauge with an AP meter and intricate combo system whirling in the midst of battle only adds another layer of immersion into the mix and serves as quite the accomplishment given the technical limitations that the medium faced at the time.
Aside from all this, Xenogears was the first Square game ever to feature voice overs and anime cutscenes, thus marking a precedent in which other developers would learn from and incorporate in their own games going forward. There’s also the game’s timeless soundtrack to consider, which will leave a lasting impression on you well after the credits roll.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance – 15th Anniversary
Every Major Video Game Anniversary in February 2018
Since its debut 15 years ago on February 13, 2003 for the Game Boy Advance, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance remains one of the series’ best entries in terms of the insane amount of depth, replay value, and challenge it offers players. Offering turn-based design elements that make it a step above the original game, Tactics Advance requires players to invest time and thought in it in order for them to derive the most fun it has to offer.
This is perhaps the game’s greatest accomplishment, as it isn’t afraid to turn down the action in favor of a quieter story and more meticulous gameplay mechanics. The former feature is particularly noteworthy, as the title’s characters are surprisingly easy to relate to. If you’re patiently waiting for Square Enix to announce a new Tactics game sometime during this lifetime, playing Advance again in celebration of its anniversary may help.
Lost Odyssey – 10th Anniversary
Every Major Video Game Anniversary in February 2018
Lost Odyssey was an Xbox 360-exclusive JRPG by the creator of the Final Fantasy series that released on February 12, 2008. No, this isn’t made up; at one point Microsoft did have some Japanese games on its platform. As if this didn’t blow your mind already, Lost Odyssey was actually a pretty great game, as it gave turn-based combat a chance to shine in a genre that had all but completely eschewed that gameplay style in favor of real-time action mechanics.
If that didn’t impress you enough, this JRPG actually told a mature story and featured a flawed set of characters, making it very much something intended for adults alone to enjoy. If its somber setting doesn’t stick with you, Lost Odyssey’s fearless attitude to be something that many games in its genre have passed up on will.
Other Anniversaries
Every Major Video Game Anniversary in February 2018
Several other titles join in the festivities this month. The crude platformer Gex: Enter the Gecko, Kojima-directed mech opera Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner, and the last installment to Visceral Games’ Dead Space series all celebrate anniversaries in February. Though some are older than others, each remains memorable enough to warrant a playthrough in 2018.
Every other anniversary this month can be found below:
- Star Wars: X-Wing – 25th Anniversary
- Gex: Enter the Gecko – 20th Anniversary
- Star Wars: Rebellion – 20th Anniversary
- Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner – 15th Anniversary
- Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb – 15th Anniversary
- Sins of a Solar Empire – 10th Anniversary
- Dead Space 3 – 5th Anniversary
- Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance – 5th Anniversary
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