It sure has been a long time since I posted my last list of essential games for your library here. So I’m pretty sure it’s time to get another one up here, just for more educational goodness. I’ve also decided to make this one a bit more modern, featuring games from the last five years or so. Once again, though you may not agree with these lists, these are just a few of my favorite gems. Feel free to debate below.

Let’s get started, then.

Disgaea series, PS2, PS3, PSP, DS: A masterfully crafted strategy RPG and possible health risk to OCD gamers, Disgaea is a must have for anyone who loved games like Final Fantasy Tactics. Starting off deceptively simple, it takes only a few hours worth of play to find out just how much you can actually do here. Disgaea features tons of character and monster classes, rich side-quests, and a level cap of 10,000, no joke. Of course, you don’t have to reach these lofty heights to beat this game, but doling out damage in the millions is exceedingly satisfying. If that’s not enough, the game’s writing has great humor, and also features homicidal exploding penguins, doods. If you don’t have this already, get your copies fast. Even the recent PSP re-releases are climbing in price. (I just found out my PS3 Disgaea 3 is fetching prices in the hundreds now)

Metroid Fusion stands out in my mind as having one of the most frightening enemies in my gaming experiences, which is made all the more impressive by the fact they accomplished this on the GBA. The first traditional Metroid adventure released in a while, Fusion brought back some great memories linking back to Super Metroid’s storyline, while actually fleshing out Samus’s pretty ambiguous character with a bit of backstory. Going back to what I mentioned above, the X-parasite Samus clone is terrifying. I’ve never experienced such fear fueled adrenaline on a handheld system, but thanks to perfect mood setting cut-scenes, getting chased by a mindless zombie with all of your former abilities became akin to playing a survival-horror game on a much more advanced system.

More then half of you just wondered what the hell this was. Well, I’ll tell you right now: God Hand, a gem of a beat ’em-up passed under many people’s radar. Coincidental since this game is produced by Clover Studios, the makers of another incredible, yet over-looked title, Okami. You know, sometime I hear people complain about how hard games like God of War are, and I simply think of God Hand and laugh. This game beats the crap out of you, again and again… Yet still manages to bring you back for more. Robust combat, awesome moves, and insanely wierd characters are one of the driving reasons to buy this game.

BlazBlue, in my humble opinion, is the greatest fighting game out there. I can almost hear the enraged roar of SF fans everywhere as I type this paragraph, but if you don’t agree that BB is at least stiff competition for the number one spot, you have no taste in games, or haven’t played it in stubborn fanboy rage. By the makers of another great series of fighting titles, Guilty Gear, BlazBlue has every element you require from a fighting game. Sharp, crisp 2D visuals? Check. Awesome, balanced gameplay? Check. Incomprehensible storyline? Check. It’s all here, waiting for you to lose hours of your life mastering the characters. Speaking of characters, the cast  are all unique, unusual, and entertaining. From a dual-fan/gun wielding hottie to an amorphous blob, all the way to a vampire lolita who summons a lightning frog named “King Henry”. This is a must-have game for anyone who plays, not just fighting fans. I’m gonna show just how pretty this game is below.

See? I totally told you. Next up, and the final game on this list:

Persona 4 is a great RPG, with an even more impressive story. Avoiding all cliches, P4 places you in the shoes of a non-amnesiac high school student who moves to a small, rural town from the big city. Not much later, bodies start appearing in in strange places, on top of antenna and other high places. The game really starts going from there as you and your ever growing group of friends work to solve the murders, as you find the method of killing is too unimaginable for the cops to figure out. The characters and writing shine here, with an interesting story revolving around facing the dark, or hidden side of our personalities that inhabit everyone. The gameplay is top notch as well, fast paced, and hard to get bored of. Even if you get tired of the drag, right when it seems you don’t want to do any more, a golden bit of story leaks, and you’re right back on the case. Pick this one up, and you won’t regret it.