It's true. I'm in love. I didn't know I could feel this way. I'm moving to Russia and taking up golf, everyone, becuase I'm in love with Maria Verchenova.
The worst part about making a list of your top games is that, inevitably, you'll forget something that you regret. You'll come back a day later, realize your mistake, and beat yourself up. In my case, I got down to the top 10 or so, realizing I had missed some games, but it was simply too late to add them back in. Not only that, but over time, things change. You replay titles, reminisce about your younger years, and things rearrange. All of these thigns happened while making my list, and in the many weeks since it has been completed. No list is perfect, and mine definitely isn't. Recently, I've been playing through all of my old games, and I've really wished I could redo my list. Here is a list of some of my favorite games I wish that I could go back and work in. Some were forgotten, and some were ruled out. Whatever the case, they're just further proof that there can never be a final "best games ever" list. Even with this addition, there are still games like Oracle of Ages, Sin & Punishment, Gunstar Heroes, Demon's Crest, Ikaruga.... well, you get the picture... that didn't make the list.
5. Bubble Bobble
Things get a whole lot harier as you progressYeah, some of you might laugh at this one. This is a game I simply forgot about over the years. It's one of those games I'd sit and play for hours on end when I was really young, and as I got older, shoved aside in favor of games that weren't about purple dinosaurs who shot bubbles out of their mouths. That concept isn't "cool" enough. I received this game as a gift in "Bubble Bobble also featuring Rainbow Islands" for the orignal Playstation. It was one of the first four games I had for the system, along with Crash Bandicoot, Breath of Fire III, and Mega Man X4. That was an interesting Christmas day, as the two games I tossed aside became my favorites as a seven year old. The best of the bunch was Bubble Bobble, a port of an old arcade game. My brother/dad and I would spend hours descending the games levels as Bub and Bob. It never got old. We were always trying to figure out what the letters were for, there was always a waterfall to spice thigns up, each new level was a joy to see, and we'd try to get just that much further. Bubble Bobble is a true classic, and I will love it forever.
4. Mega Man 9
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3. Kirby's Super Star
Revenge of Meta Knight = INTENSEWhen I first got into gaming, Kirby was my #1. My two most played games in my late elementary years were Kirby's Dreamland, Pokemon, and Kirby's Super Star. Super Star is a gem, no doubt. It sends Kirby through a huge variety of games. The main attractions are the best the series has to offer. There's classic Kirby style action in Spring Breeze. The Great Cave offensive is a brilliant little non-linear game where you get to dig up lots of treasures. One of my favorites, the Revenge of Meta Knight, takes kirby through one of the most heart pounding, edge of your seat action games yet. In addition, there is gourmet racing, megaton punch, and many more diversions. There are years worth of gameplay packed into this one. One of my favorite things about it is the sheer amount of personality in the game. Words can't really express how much personality oozes from this game. It's mechanically tight, with great levels, and more charm than you could ever want. I really regret missing this, as Kirby was one of the biggest figures of my Childhood.
Death, my old friend.Another big regret is only mentioning two Castlevania games on my list, none of which were the awesome, straight forward, Belmont with whips originals. These games were fantastic, some of my favorites as a kid. When making my list, I concluded that two 'Vania games were enough, and I excluded the originals based on outdated mechanics. Playing through them again, I made a grave error. They're not outdated at all, they're all still a blast to play, very polished, and a whole lot of fun.
Castlevania II is the least of the three mentioned, if only because your objectives are unclear at times. It's still a ton of fun to explore, and a great game that paved the way for games like SotN, being a non-liner title. Dracul's Curse comes in second of these three, and is an absolutely amazing game, one of the best games on the NES. It amazes me how complete, how polished this games is. It really shines on the platform. Finally, Rondo of Blood, which I regrettably did not get to play until a few weeks ago. I've since played through four times, and the fun has not ceased. The game is packed with replay value, with two characters, tons of stages each with alternate paths, and tons of secrets. I <3 Castlevania
1. Strider 2
A giant flying robot dragon boss? AWESOME.Strider 2 is another game I got as a throwaway for Christmas, just like Bubble Bobble. There must have been a sale on Capcom games in 2000, because I got this along with Mega Man 8. I don't recall what else I got that Christmas, but Strider ended up being one of my favorite games as I entered my 11th year. Unfortunately, like Bubble Bobble, I forgot about it over time. Sometimes it's difficult to remember to show appreciation for games that nobody else has played, or even cares about. Strider 2 is an adrenaline rush. I had played the original Strider, a game that has never really been for me what it is to others. Strider 2 adressed my every complaint, being faster, bigger, and more intense (and with awesome music, not that horrid Genesis stuff). Strider 2 is short and sweet. You rip through five levels, each being unique and awesome. The game does everything right, with great combat and great platforming, something many games of this breed like to forget. Whether playing as Hiryu or Hien, there is much fun to be had. Every time I revisit this game, I experience a high that lasts at least a week. Strider 2 is just awesome, and I'm very disheartened right now that it slipped my mind when making my list. The game is very underrated, and really did deserve a spot on my top 30. Maybe in the future I'll make another. For now, I'm going to go beat up Grandmaster Meio again.
So, yesterday saw the premiere of my "Soulja BoG Tells 'Em" series of lists. Today, I'll make the case for spin-offs of games that did it all right, and should return in some form or another. For most of these, I really don't care HOW they come back, simply that they do.
5. Metal Gear Ac!d
More of this, please.MGA was a launch game for the PSP, and the first game for the system that I purchased. A whole lot of people didn't like the idea of Solid Snake Strategy action, but it turned into an awesome tactical strategy game, with loads of unique concepts and moves built in. They really made this one awesome with some great maps, great teamplay, and a unique card based attack system that really altered how you moved about and attacked enemies. In addition, it provided tons of unorthodox and surprisingly fun stealth gameplay through the strategy. I had as much fun with this game as I did the original FFT, and it stands among the best turn based strategy titles out there. It had one sequel, which was excellenet, but I want more.
Oh, and Snatcher cards were the Illest.
4. Star Fox Adventures
More of this, please.Love it or hate it, SFA was one of the most successful Zelda clones ever. I'd say that among "games that are like Zelda," this one is second only to Zelda. The game had tons of unique puzzles, fun characters, great environments, and lots of secrets. The dinosaur planet was fun to explore, and the game was pakced with unique gameplay. I don't think anyone will argue that the third person gameplay in SFA is 100% better than that of the OTHER SFA, Assault. If they were to make another Adventures game, I'd love to see them tie some more space shooting gameplay into the whole picture. Run around X location, do stuff, defend the planet from incoming ships, run around some more, and have fun. Whatever the case, SFA was a fun game that deserves a sequel.
Oh, and Tricky was the illest.
3. Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
More of this, please.I never thought a Mortal Kombat spin-off could be so awesome after Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, but Midway went ahead and made one with the beat 'em up known as Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks. The game puts you in control of Liu Kang and Kung Lao in an arcade style brawling romp reminiscent of arcade games like Turtles in Time and Battletoads. You and a friend could take control of the two protagonists, and beat the crap out of dudes. There were tons of secret areas, and a plethora of items to collect, and it was a ton of fun alone or with a friend. Additionally, the developers nailed the gameplay, with great gameplay, tons of cool fatalities and such. Honestly, whoever has control of the franchise needs to make something of Shaolin Monks. It was the illest.
2. Mario Tennis
We're not talking about lousy games like Mario Tennis for the N64 and Mario Power Tennis. We're talking good Tennis RPG gameplay of the amazing GBC game. I got More of this, please.the game for my birthday just after it was released, and was hooked from the beginning. The Japanese are weird with their sports themed RPGs, but I now know why, having played Mario Tennis. You take control of a character who has just begun taking classes at a school for tennis players. You can browse the campus, eat in the cafeteria, do drills, hit on chicks, and smack balls with rackets. You get to build your character's game how you please, and learn the ins and outs of the game as you go. There is a simple little story to go along with it all, and eventually, you'll be the tennis champ. All this sorrounds a brilliant game of tennis. It lacks the characters of the N64 counterpart, but it has all the intricacies, and even more depth than it's beefier brother. This is the best tennis game EVER. I don't care if they make it Mario tennis, we just need some more tennis themed RPGs. Sports RPGs are the illest.
1. Kirby's Canvas Curse
More of this, PLEASE!To date, Canvas Curse remains among the most unique, fun, and awesome games on the Nintendo DS. It used the DS in a way that couldn't have been done on any system before it, and it was a freaking blast from start to finish. Few games can stand up to Kirby Canvas Curse when it comes to utiizing the DS' unique features, and the only one that I can think of at the moment is The World Ends With You. The Kirby franchise is known for charm and personality, and when you combine that with the brilliant gameplay of Canvas Curse, you have a winner on your hands.
I'd love to see this game return in some form, preferably something higher on the difficulty scale. The only thing that really held the game back was that, as a Kiry game, Nintendo made it easy. There is so much untapped potential with this game design, Nintendo would be a bunch of fools not to revisit Canvas Curse. This game is the illest.
So, I was lounging around, enjoying a good old fashioned American Burger (which just so happens to be a much more delicious meal than fish & chips) when I was reflecting on the recent title Hamz had placed upon me, Soulja BoG Tell 'Em. That is when it hit me: that would be an awesome name for a blog. Some people had given me some requests to make a blog entitled "A BoG and his Blog," and maybe that will come soon, but this is just a better fit for lists. So I'm going to make lists.
First up, the top 5 games that need a demake! I'd been planning to write this earlier, and also planned to include the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, but recent news ruined this. Devastated, I put it off. Now I'm ready to make it.
The list is obviously inspired by MegMan 9, a demake that did it all right. It took a tired series, being eroded by countless poor cash-ins and spin offs. It returned to the formula that had made the blue bomber an icon, and did it in a wonderful way. Here are, what I feel, are the best games in need of a return to form:
5. Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy XIII is on the way, and... I guess it looks ok. I think the concept of motorcycle Shiva is perhaps the stupidest thing in the entire franchise, but I'm past that. I'm more concerned with the direction the series is taking, which seems to be taking a turn far, far away from the "fantasy." The world of XIII doesn't remotely resemble the fantasy/steam punk blend we've come to know and love from the franchise, in favor of a very sci-fi world. The closest the series has ever come to this much sci-fi was in IV and VIII, but both games still retained that trademark charm. I fear that won't happen for the next game. Not that it will be bad, I'm simply concerned it won't be the More of this, please.Final Fantasy I know and love.
I think it's time to revisit what made it all happen, to do once again what Final Fantasy IX did. It's only been 9 years, but already Square needs to remind themselves why this series is popular. I've made my complaints about XIII above, but I feel it's not since X that these games have really been true to the franchise, and I hated that game. XI was an MMORPG, and we should have petitioned its existence as a main series title. XII was enjoyable, but it should have been a separate game related more to the Tactics or Vagrant story franchises, not main series FF. Also worth noting, it is the first game I know of that masturbates. Bring back black mages with pointy hats and moogles and castles. The series is beginning to take itself to seriously, and that will only do harm. IX had some of the most heartfelt moments while being the most lighthearted FF game in years. We need this again. Squenix, make Final Fantasy XIV the best freaking thing to happen to RPGs since levelling up.
4. Fallout
Aside from the fact that Fallout 3 had the clunkiest playing game I've experienced since the days of the Nintendo Entertainment System, it was pretty fun. That's not an odd thing, either, as I still enjoy the original Castlevania styles despite the fact that Simon Belmont controls like a concrete block. Regardless, Fallout 3 had a massive world jam packed with stuff to do, and it was fun raiding raiders and grabbing the ghouls. Snatcher references are good too, and can only earn points in my book. Unfortunately, it didn't come close to living up to its predecessors. The atmosphere, the gameplay, the everything... it was just great. Fallout always felt at home as a More of this, please.western style turn based RPG, and much of what made it so great was lost in the transition Elder Scrolls clone.
It would be great to see Bethesda make the next Fallout game a return to the old school. Revamp the battle system, the interface, and the gameplay to bring them up to today's standards, and you have a winner. Couple that with Bethesda's signature open world, and you've got a winner on your hands. This is a must, and would be much better than more Oblivion with guns for Fallout 4. If anything worries me about this, it's that I don't actually have faith in Bethesda to make something that isn't Elder Scrolls. They seem almost too content with concrete brick controls and awful third person cameras. Prove me wrong, Bethesda, and do it with the Fallout franchise.
3. Donkey Kong
More of this, please.The Donkey Kong franchise has become a throw away for Nintendo in recent years. The Donkey Konga games, Jungle beat, Mario vs DK, etc. were not bad games, but what happened to the Donkey Kong Country titles, and the great Donkey Kong 64? Nintendo, without a doubt, had a winner on their hands and they've let it go. Sure, Rare is gone, but Nintendo is in posession of a number of talented developers, not to mention I'm positive many third parties would be up for the task. The Donkey Kong platformers have been top tier in the genre. I'm shocked we haven't seen more DK. Hopefully, we will soon.
2. Metroid
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the Prime franchise, particularly the first, which I named my second favorite game of all time. However, the games have been getting progressively worse with each of the major installments. 1 was excellent, 2 was great, and 3 was good. Unfortunately, Corruption in many ways abandoned what made More of this, Please.the franchise so special in the first place, as did the DS version, Hunters. I didn't get that Metroid feeling, the seclusion, the adventure, of all the preceeding games. I was frightened that the franchise may be turning into a cash in with that pinball game, but we got lucky. I'm totally cool if they keep making first person Metroid games, but I think it would be best to see a return to the good ol' days, the 2D Metroidvania gameplay we all know and love. Metroid Fusion and Zero Mission were two of the best games on the GBA, and Super Metroid rarely absent from any major "top 100" list.
Fans have been craving a new 2D installment for years. I'd love to see Smaus explore a new planet, and to see NIntendo bring back the dark, creepy atmospheres. I'd love to see the franchise picked up where Fusion left off. Heck, I'd even go nuts for a Metroid II remake. Whatever it is, we need more Metroid, and we need it soon. Come on Nintendo! Whatever happened to Metroid Dread?
1. Sonic the Hedgehog
Is anyone surprised here? Without a doubt, this is the series that needs a savior. Unlike every other franchise on the list, nothing is going right for Sonic. Just like MegaMan, Sonic has become Sega's source for easy cash and minimal effort. These games are pumped out faster than babies in my home state, Utah. Unlike MegaMan, though, hope is almost completely lost for these games, it seems. Sonic needs the most radical remake, most similar to that of MM9. To rebuild faith in Sonic, they need to go way back, all the way back to the original 3 titles, and Sonic CD. Forget the third dimension, Sega. Just forget it.
You know what else? Forget the absolutely idiotic characters. Blaze the Cat, Silver the Hedgehog, Wave the Swallow.... they all suck balls. That's being nice, too. If you FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, LESS OF THIS!make a new game, don't add a new character. DON'T. I was fine with Tails. Knuckles was ok, Amy was ok, but Shadow pushed it too far. You have enough anthropomorphs to last a lifetime, and you keep adding more. Not to mention, as I said above, all the new ones suck balls. Charmy the Bee is way cooler than Rogue the Bat. Oh yeah, and the series main villain? His name is Dr. Robotnik. Eggman is a stupid name. Once again, the name Eggman sucks balls.
Oh, and you know what ELSE? Innovation is cool, as long as it doesn't suck balls. You know what sucks some major balls? WEREHOGS. Oh, and you know what else? HEDGEHOGS WITH SWORDS. That SUCKS BALLS.
You know what? Wiriting this only makes me less hopeful that anything good will ever come out of Sonic again. The cooler Sega makes sonic, the more lame he becomes. Maybe they should just stop before any more harm is done. Seriously, Sonic sucks balls these days.
As I did with my previous lists, I apologize for getting emotional near the end there, and I also apologize for the slight obsession with ball sucking in the end, too. I hope some people provide good comments, and let me know what I missed. I'll probably make more "Soulja BoG tells 'em" lists in the future, because GB loves lists. Until then, Supaman dat ho.
I’ve been playing a whole lot of Noby Noby Boy lately. It’s oddly addictive, and a whole lot of fun. I’m sure everyone is familiar with the premise – or lack thereof - of Noby Noby Boy, to stretch. As I’ve sat for hours on end just seeing all there is to see in Noby Noby Boy, I’ve come to see that the game possesses within it a great amount of philosophical depth, intended or not.
The most basic philosophy of Noby noby Boy is one which creator Keita Takahasi hasn’t kept quiet about, the idea of “Noby Noby.” The term nobi means “to stretch” in and it’s often used in the same way we in the west would use terms like “chill.” The idea is to let loose, relax, and enjoy life. The game play undoubtedly presents this idea to us with its total lack of structure, the absence of objectives, etc., just Boy and a whole lot of stuff.
Going beyond that basic idea, there is much more to be found within Noby Noby Boy. In particular, I’ve found Noby Noby Boy to work as an allegory for life. I’d like to relate this to the philosophy of the French existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre. Sartre wrote that we make ourselves, and that existence precedes essence. He means by this that we exist before have a reason to exist, an essence. He often used Calvinists to describe a group who were of the opposing viewpoint, that essence precedes existence. The Calvinists believe that we are to live lives of total depravity and service to God, this is our only function in life. Before we are born, they believe, we as humans have a presupposed purpose, to devote our lives to God. Sartre’s view is that we have no purpose, we’re simply thrown into life, without control over gender, situation, and so on. We, through living, create our own purpose.
Noby Noby Boy falls in line with Sartre’s ideas. You’re thrown into a world full of abstract objects and odd humanoids with the ability to walk around, eat, and
Jean-Paul Sartrestretch. You aren’t sent into each world with a specific purpose, you have no preset objectives or goals. You, as you play, create these things, not simply for yourself and your character, but for every random object in each area. You and every facet of every level exist without any true purpose, any true essence, and your job is to make it. You have the choice to eat everything, play basketball with the clouds, whatever you can imagine. You, the player, create the purpose. Existence precedes essence.
Going back to simpler things now, I’ll show you some other ideas that the elements of Noby Noby Boy present, though I’ll continue to illustrate how the game can perhaps be representative of our lives. One very interesting element of the game is the concept of Girl stretching from planet to planet. She began at the moon, and as players stretch themselves, she is now working her way to Mars. From there, presumably she will move on to Jupiter, then Saturn, and so on. All things being perfect, Girl good even move out of our solar system, even out of our galaxy. No matter how much the players stretch, Girl can still stretch longer, out further into the unknown. We’re like girl in our lives. No matter what we do, there is always more to discover, we can always improve on ourselves, and we can see new things.
On the other hand, each level could be said to represent our limitations. Girl stretches limitlessly, but how much we can stretch her is limited to Boy and the worlds he is in. Players must go from level to level, eating and stretching more, but we are limited by the size of the stage and the rules that dictate it. Once again, similar to life: our only limiting factors are physical things.
What’s particularly wonderful about Noby Noby Boy is that we can all take from it whatever we want. It would be completely valid of you to discard my ideas and make the claim that there is nothing to it, it’s all pointless. That would actually be compatible with what I have to say, and would fit well within the allegory for life. Just like Noby Noby Boy, you can take your life, say it’s meaningless, and discard it.
What I truly love about this game is how playing it is the only way to understand it. You won’t quite capture what I’m trying to state in this blog if you haven’t
played the game. What separates it from other games is that it must be played to be understood. Recall the months leading up to the game, when Keita Takahashi failed to adequately explain what it was about, and videos only left us more confused. Once we played it, it made sense. The game can’t be replicated in other mediums, it must be played. Taking it back to our lives, you have to live to really understand what life is all about.
I hope you all enjoyed the read, and I’d love to see what you all have to say. The more I play, the more observations I see can be made about the game. Contrasts to Japanese art and art history, the idea of society and working together, and many more ideas are still swimming in my head. It’s fascinating how much there is to such a simple little game like Noby Noby Boy.
Symphony of the Night. Wow. As long as I've been posting on internet forums, and as long as I've been crafting lists such as these, Symphony of the Night has never falle off of my top five. It's a wonderful title.
Earlier in my series of blogs, I took a little heat about my placement of Super Metroid. You have to realized, I didn't own a SNES. If you're one of those people who loves Super Metroid, consider that it's similar to Symphony of the Night. The latter just came in to my life earlier. Oh, and it's better, too.
SotN was one of the first games I owned for the Playstaion. I got it for Christmas the same year it came out, and I was secen years old. At the time, I was your average kid who liked games. I played Mario, I played Crash. I wasn't really big in to the scene. Then I played SotN. The game changed my life. For the first time, games were more than just games. For the first time, I had a game that was my favorite. I'd get reprimanded on a daily basis for playing to much Castlevania. The game wasn't like anything I had played before. It was all one big level, and I got to map it out, I was exploring this castle, hunting dracula. I was fighting cool monsters. It wasn't like other games that had chunks of gameplay, this was a seamless experience, and I fell in love with it. I drew up a map and took it to school, I read books about dracula, but the one thing that had the biggest impact on me: I fell in love with video games. SotN also opened my mind in the world of games, showing me that any game, 2D or 3D, could be amazing. I am indebted to SotN for this, it's the game that made me who I am today, it showed me how I could be sucked into a game's world, only coming out to eat and sleep.
Now, I don't think the concept of the game is too foreign to anyone. It's a pioneer of the Metroidvania genre, right along with Super Metroid. As a game, it took the Castlevania in an entirely new direction with these exploration elements,and became key in the development of the genre. SotN puts you in the shoes of Dracula's son Alucard, awakened to destroy the threat his father poses when Richter Belmont vanishes. As Alucard, you'll explore Dracula's massive castle. Along the way you'll fight all sorts of demons, explore some quite unusual sectors of the caslte, and build up your strength to fight your father. One of the most important aspects of SotN are the RPG elements. As you explore and defeat enemies, you'll gain experience, level up, and find new equipment. For its time, this was very unique for any game that wasn't an RPG. It added depth to the game, and increased the feeling of progress.
The world of SotN is magical. From the gothic cathedral in the caslte, the creepy catacombs, the decrepit hallways of Olrox's quarters, and the traditional Clock Tower full of medus heads, each area is a new experience. The design of the worlds stands tall among games. The artowork for the enemies, characters, and areas is the pinnacle of the series, and will likely remain that way as the newer games go for a more anime inspired look. It would be foolish for me to forget the soundtrack in SotN's case, as it is among the best gaming has to offer. Even at seven years old, I was able to appreciate the musical score in SotN.
Truly, this game is legendary. I'm not the first person to honor it, and nor will I be the last. Symphony of the Night showed us all that the just because we had moved to the third dimension, it didn't mean that two dimensional games couldn't be phenomenal. Everyone needs to play this game.
4. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Before you read what I say, you must do something in order to get the full experience for the #4 game. Open this link in a new tab, and give it a minute to load. Put your volume so it's not too loud, just enough so you can read as you listen. Press play, then come back over here, and begin reading. If it ends, start the song over again. This is absolutely necessary.
We're once again travelling to BoG's youth. I've always frequented gaming forums, and this period of my life is no exception. I was an avid reader of EGM, and ended up at gamers.com. At gamers.com, I joined a community of gamers called the "Nintendo Resource and Debate," and I logged in to post on that forum every day. Some time into that experience, I logged on just as any other day. We were approaching E3. I saw a topic title: "Metal Gear Solid 3." I froze. Was I dreaming? I couldn't be. I've always been a huge MGS fan, so a third game was enough to get my young self extremely excited. I downloaded the leaked trailer, and witenessed something awesome. Snake with an alligator hat, shooting people? YES. I had to be in a dream, Snake Eater....
Fast forward to when the game actually came out. I gave it to my dad as a christmas present, as he is also a fan of the series. We took turns playing, but eventually I took over. I couldn't put it down. This was like MGS2, only more fun, and it actually made SENSE. Staples of the series returned, great stealth gameplay, zany and awesome boss fights, and brilliant story telling. I loved every moment. I'll be honest, it's embarassing, but I think I spent that whole year doing that nerdy Ocelot hand thing, because I thought it was so wicked cool. Snake Eater, you're so supreme...
Well, anyways, MGS 3 took the series gameplay I loved, added elements of survival, and through it into the outdoors. The jungle added a whole new level of depth to the already great stealth series. Now, staying hidden was a whole different ballgame. Changing Snake's camo was great fun. The blend of both indoor and outdoor sneaking was a great way to keep things fresh the entire way through, and only made it that much more fun. The survival elements did their fare share of fun-adding too. You had to tend to snake bites, broken bones, and gunshots. Now, how Snake can break the same bone twice in a matter of minutes and heal it up fine is a mystery to me, but still totally cool. You have to eat, to keep Snake's stamina up. Some day, you'll feed on a tree frog...
In a series known for its memorable moments, MGS 3 has some of the most memorable. It told one of the most fantastic stories I've ever experienced. If you liked the motorcycle ride with Eva in 4, well you should try your hand at it in 3 while the the maniacal Volgin chases you down in a massive nuclear tank. Volgin in general is an unforgettable character himself, and once he feels your crotch, he won't forget you, either. All of the bosses were memorable in the game, from The Pain and his bees, to the Fury and his obsession with arson. 3 is also home to the best of the epic sniper battles of the series when you bring and ancient old man to his end (CWUTIDIDTHER?). Finally, and most importantly, Metal Gear Solid not only has the greatest final boss battle in the series, but one of the best final boss battles in video game history. She literally is THE Boss. I'll never forget that last showdown in that field of white flowers... and the shocking revelations about that fascinating character that followed. In my time, there'll be no one else...
I don't really know how to sum this up. Metal Gear Solid 3 is just so awesome. You know what? The more I think about it, the more awful the 4th game becomes. It simply can't hold a candle to what may be Kojima's finest hour. What a thrill...
3. Shadow of the Colossus
Oh gosh. Oh my gosh. My love for Shadow of the Colossus is ineffable. It's one of the most brilliant games I've ever played. Years back, already a fan of ICO, I didn't hesitate to reserve SotC. I awaited the game eagerly, as the concept was just so awesome: no dungeons, no petty enemies, just collosi. The idea fascinated me. I wated impatiently, and when the day finally came, I once again didn't hesitate to get my copy. I set aside a lot of time just so I could play this game.
I started my quest took down the first colossi, and moved to the second. Surprisingly, I was disappointed. I don't know what I wanted, but I just wasn't feeling the game at the second colossi. I actually told my self at this point the game wasn't any good. If I wasn't being entertained by now, I never would. I beat the colossus, and decided I'd press on anyways.
I don't know where all that pessimism came from, but it vanished quickly. From the third colossus on, I was just sucked into this game. The masterfully composed score perfectly compliments each and every epic battle with you colossal foes. The sense of scale as you view your enemy, the shaking of the camera as one takes a step, all rendered in the graphics I still can't believe the PS2 can handle. It's just so great. Every colossi I fought I declared the greatest thing ever, and I was confident that the next one would fail to it justice. Each one, though, was better than the last.
When the time came to face the final foe, I just KNEW it would be underwhelming. Those of you who have played the game know that it is absolutely amazing. The game sets it up perfectly, first sending you into building that is colossal in itself. As you ascend the stairs, it only becomes more foreboading. Then, Agro falls. All hope is lost. You go up, step into the rain, and see the most monstrous thing you've ever witnessed. Half the battle is just approaching this beast. If you ever get to him, you're but an insect on his hairy appendages. Of course, the game only gets better in its closing moments.
I can't stress enough how memorable each battle is. First of all, each one is unique in how you must take on the boss. One thing I love about the game is how you're given tools that oyu have through the enitre game, no Zelda style new wepaons, no upgrades. You must figure out how to use what you have. Anyways, each boss is taken down a different way. One must be flipped over by leading him over powerful geysers. Another you must hide from so you can coax him to look down so you can grab on to his beard. One of the greatest feels like an old west train robbery, where you have to ride Agro alongside the beast's relaxed wings as it flies by, and jump off of the moving horse just in time to grab on. Once again, the brilliant musical score only amplifies the experience.
I could talk about Shadow of the Colossus for hours. I really could. I haven't scratched the surface here. There is so much to love about this game that I haven't even mentioned. I've even missed some of the essentials, like the brilliant minimalist story. All I can say is that you need to play, no, you need to experience Shadow of the Colossus for yourself. This one will go down in gaming legend.
2. Metroid Prime
My entire life, I've been a Metroid fan. The first console my family owned was a NES, and my dad's favorite game on the system was Metroid. I used to watch him play, then play my self. When I got a gameboy, I had Metroid 2 for the system. I had even less of an idea what I was doing in this game, but I still loved it. I've mentioned it before, but I missed Super Metroid because of my lack of a SNES. I always wanted to play it, though, as EGM had named it the greatest game of all time. I went on playing the only two Metroid games I knew, however.
When I saw that a Metroid game was coming for the Gamecube, I was very excited. I loved my cube, I loved Metroid, it really couldn't get any better. All the complaints about a first person perspective, all the doubts, all of it seemed to go one ear and out the other. Nothing could spoil this for me, it had been so long since a new Metroid came into my life. I anticipated it, and when release approached, it was on the top of my christmas list. Honestly, though, I was admittedly more excited for Metroid Fusion. Perhaps the whining did have an effect on me, because I thought Fusion would be better. I got both for christmas, and there was a clear winner when Fusion got comfortable in an unpowered Game Boy.
Metroid Prime is brilliant. Some unknown, unproven company from Texas did the unthinkable and made an absolutely fantastic game with Metroid Prime. They went against the established norm in the realm of controls, crafting an unorthodox FPS control scheme that after a little getting used to was a dream to use. They successfully recreated the weapons and gadgets of the old game, making them fun to use in combat in Metroid Prime. Speaking of the combat, it's awesome. You've got your variety of weapons to take into all kinds of combat situations. The native lifeforms of Tallon IV will come at you in many different way. Of course, nothing beats taking on fleets of space pirates, the game's only true intelligent opponents. Oh, and there are the awesome fights against the chozo ghosts. Those still give me the chills. To top it all off, Metroid Prime is full of some of gaming's greatest boss fights, finishing off with and epic battle against the Metroid Prime. Another success is how well the exploration gameplay was translated into three dimensions. Without a doubt, the elements that made its predecessors unique and fun are preserved in Metroid Prime. There are a variety of beautiful worlds to explore, secrets to uncover, and enhancements to gain so you can explore even further.
All of it came together for me to do something no game had ever done to me before. I wasn't just playing a game, I really was exploring Tallon IV. I was a space bounty hunter looking to end space pirate presence on te planet, I was studying its plant and animal life, I was uncovering the secrets of the chozo, and I was experiencing this world. No game has sucked me in like Metroid Prime. I got lost exploring the maze, I got lost as I encountered a new area with some new things to scan, I was lost as I delved deeper into the space pirate facilities. Each of the games many environments created within me an awe that hasn't been lost over time. The eeriness of the crashed frigate, the lush plantlife of the overworld, and the grand tundra that is Phendrana. I can't think of one moment that pushed me out of the world. I was helplessly sucked in. I just can't express to you enough how this game was more than just a game for me, I was truly on an epic journey.
Metroid Prime is a masterpiece. I've said it about other games on the list, and I'll say it again. No game succeeds so well at making you feel like you're really exploring a world and discovering the areas of this uncharted planet. Each aspect of the game only aids in deepening the experience. Today, Metroid Prime still stands out with it's gameplay, its visuals, in every aspect. Metroid Prime is without a doubt prime.
1. Final Fantasy VII
Gallery
YES.
THIS IS IT.
OMG sephiroth is so cool and Tifa has boobz and I love cloud BUSTA SWORDZ and "one winged angel" and barret is like mega man wit a chaingun lol. o ya red 13 is a liek a wolf cat lol. FINAL FANTASY VII IS THE BEST GAME EVAR.
Ok, just kidding.
For realz now:
1. Metal Gear Solid
No, this isn't another joke, and yes, there are two MGS games in my top 5. I love Metal Gear Solid.
I hear a lot these days how great Metal Gear Solid 4 is. I've seen a lot of people list it on their own top __ lists, and I know a lot of people who think it is "so awesome." Now, I guess I'm supposed to say they're entitled to their opinion, but as a massive fan of all the games in the series... I think they go it wrong. The gameplay is overly complex in 4, and it broke my heart that my dad has been unable to grasp the controls, as he is a big fan of the series. There's too much action, and too little stealth. The story is like if you took all the drugs Kojima was taking while writing the second games and quadrupling them. And, at the end of the day, it just can't hold a candle to the rest of the series. In 4, Snake and Otacon travel to Shadow Moses Island. At oen point, you find yourself in Snake's dream, running around on Shadow Moses in the original game. This was the best part of the entire game.
Metal Gear Solid. I just can't think of an intro that will do this game justice. I could talk about history, but it's the same story as ICO, my dad buying me a game I didn't want. When I received it, I just fell in love. A year after I had fallen in love with Castlevania:Symphony of the Night, Metal Gear Solid entered my life. Ask anyone who has played it, you won't soon forget the rollercoaster ride that is MGS.
I guess I'll begin with the story. In the series, the story may not be as creative or well written as that of the thrid game, but it's no slump, either. The twisting tale of Solid Snake and his team on the other side of the codec is marvellous. The characters are memorable, the pacing is spot on, and the themes and overall premise are original.
The gameplay is considered by many to be outdated, but I still love it. I replayed the game not long ago, and I didn't ever have a problem with it. In fact, I think the game plays better than the remake, Twin Snakes. Sneaking around is a blast, and Snake has a plethore of options for hiding due to the awesome level design. The menu system was very new for the time, and has stuck around in the series, and remains intuitive. The variety of weapons and items make combat a whole lot of fun, and you don't need the FPV.
The musical score is one of my favorites. The encounter theme is one that I will never forget. The composition of the Metal Gear theme song is brilliant. The basic "sneaking" ambience is awesome. Psycho Mantis' theme haunting and memorable.
Speaking of Mantis, it's a sin to not mention the game's boss fights. Psycho Mantis is legendary among boss fights. He reads your mind. When he told me I liked Castlevania, I was shocked. HE MADE MY CONTROLLER MOVE. Even the last time I played the game, he surprised me. I'd only saved maybe twice, AND HE KNEW IT. He told me I was wreckless! One of my personal favorites is the second battle with Vulcan Raven. The dude walks around with this huge chain gun in a desolate freezer. When I went for my rationss, only to see they were frozen... holy crap. Battling the Cyborg Ninja is another memorable one, using only the basis of all combat, hand to hand. The second best sniper battle in the game takes place against Sniper Wolf, in that same snow field you fight Crying Wolf. I appreciate Sniper Wolf even more after MGS4, because that Crying Wolf battle wasn't really a sniper battle at all. Finally, a fist fight with Liquid atop the wreckage of Metal Gear Rex is a fight I'll never forget.
Kojima did so much unexpected in this game, from Mantis' mind reading, to using the box to progress the game, and making you do all of Liquid's Dirty work. This game really got my imagination going as a child. It was a difficult task to pull the young me away from Symphony of the Night, but Metal Gear did it. If SotN made me a gamer, MGS sealed the deal. MGS paved the way to me playing the later games in the series, which I've throughly enjoyed. MGS made me appreciate the finer things in games, the characters, the story, and the symbolism. Going back, yes, the writing hasn't aged particularly well, but for its time is was a feat. Today, the charm it once had still remains, regardless of how cheesy Vulcan Raven sounds.
Snake's first adventure was his greatest. I loved every moment of MGS, and any tiem I go back to pound a Hind D with some rockets or break the Ninja's jaw, I feel like a child again. Metal Gear Solid is my favorite game of all time.
Honorable Mention: Ghouls 'n Ghosts
Ghouls n Ghosts is ridiculously challenging, but oh so addicting. It's loaded with personality, and provides intense satisfaction whenever you advance to a new area of a level. An arcade classic.
So, there you have it. My top 30, and my favorite game of all time. I have to say, these five games are very special to me. I love all the games in my top 10, but once you hit #5, you enter a new realm. These games are burned into my mind. I love them all so very much.
I've always been fascinated with the Final Fantasy series for some reason. Something about it just attracts me, as well as so many others. In the years when I was a blossoming young gamer, I, like so many others, enjoyed the Final Fantasy games. Not actually for the games, though. I don't actually really know why. Around this time, the most recent game was the only one I had ever played, Final Fantasy VIII. I thought it was awesome, and Squall was awesome, and chocobos were wicked cool. It was also about this time I was collecting Pokemon cards. In my eyes, there were only two FF games: VII and VIII. It was around this time that I encountered an internet quiz that told me it would reveal "Which Final Fantasy Character are you Most Like?" Being a young "fan" of the series, I couldn't help but see who I was. I took the quiz, and got the results. I don't actually remember who I got, I just remember thinking "There were Final Fantasies before VII?"
Fast forward a few years and you'll find a young BoG whose love was only growing for video games. I think it was 7th grade. About this time, I had played two more Final Fantasy games that weren't VIII, those being VII and X. X was one of the first games I ever saw to completion, and I hated it. It was around this time that I discovered emulators. Growing up, I skipped past the SNES generation straight to a PS1. I had owned a NES before, but no SNES or Genesis. I was gaining an appreciation for so many games that I had missed growing up. I also found Final Fantasy VI.
I remember when I first played the game. Still a huge "fan" of the series, I booted the game up in an emulator pretty late one night. I didn't sleep at all that night.
Final Fantasy VI is a game that has held up after all of these years. It's one of only a few games I've played through more than once, and I've loved it more each time. What makes it stand above so many other games? Well, first, it's the world. The steampunk world that is now Final Fantasy trademark, fantasy intertwined with technology. I still remember how amazed I was by these two dimensional graphics when they were so outdated, as they created such a fantastic world.
Third, the adventure. The team crafted among the most memorable adventures in all of video games. First discovering the secrets of Narshe, first meeting Edgar, fighting with the Returners, the three-way scene, the Ghost Train, Kefka's exploits... I took part in so many wonderful events, only having played it will you understand.
All of this is wrapped around what remains one of the best character building systems in Final Fantasy, the esper system. The system was without a doubt influential on all succeeding FF games, especially VII. Characters grew like other RPGs, but at the same time equipped espers which would also level up, and over time the characters would learn magic spells from them. You could also equip little trinkets to give you bonus abilities. The battle system, the usual ATB, was fun and remains so in most FF games.
I really love VI. Being one of the first FF games I put extensive time in and the first one I truly fell in love with, you must believe me, it is awesome. Oh, I almost forgot: it features the best soundtrack in the series. Can't forget that.
9. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
I grew up loving Super Mario Bros. on my NES, my only console as a child. The original was and remains a classic. This love for the original lead me to rabidly request to play Super Nintendo if I was at someone else's house and noticed that they owned a Mario game. Some of them were bad, as I learned from Mario's Time Machine. Some of them were good, as I learned from Super Mario World. And some of them were just brilliant, as is the case of Yoshi's Island. Whenever I saw Yoshi's Island, I obsessed over playing it. I played it in chunks over my life, and it became one of my favorite games from the bite sized experiences I had of it.
It wasn't until years later that I was finally able to play Yoshi's Island start to finish, one fluid experience. It's much better that way. It was when Nintendo re-released the game as Super Mario Advance 3. When I saw it was coming out, I rushed to reserve it. I played it non-stop for who knows how long. It was one of the first games I was ever nerdy enough to take the instruction booklet to school with me. I just had so much fun with the game, I couldn't get it out of my mind.
Yoshi's Island represents the epitome of straight up platforming. The game is full of huge obstacles, all of which require a skilled thumb to navigate. Each level is masterfully designed, the best level design in the legendary series. By adding the egg mechanic, a dimension was added to combat that will remain fun forever. There is so much variety in each level, too, both in the obstacle Yoshi tackles and the environments he explores. This variety comes in enemies, obstacles, and power ups that make baby mario run on walls or Yoshi fly around as a helicopter. This barely even scratches the surface of how much there is to see and do in Yoshi's Island, though.
I mentioned earlier the environments, which are all truly a sight. Jungles, dystopic castles, flowery fields, and snowy mountains await you. But it's not just the environments, it's the gorgeous art style and the wonderful personality of the game that make it's world stand out. Though it's merely a two dimensional game, few games can stand toe to toe with the brilliant artwork of Yoshi's Island.
Without a doubt, Yoshi's Island is one of the most underrated games of all time. Most people don't even count it in their top Mario games, let alone see it as their favorite. It's got the most personality, the most variety, the best level design, best music, and is more challenging than every other game in the series. Oh gosh. Now I have to go play it again.
8. Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
I received Eternal Darkness as a birthday gift from one of my closest friends. He and I are very different, but we've always shared great video games. I don't think he's ever played Eternal Darkness, but when he gave it to me, he knew I would. And he was right. It actually took me a few years to really get in to the game. I had played it, and I had liked it, but I was young at the time, and never really understood what was going on well enough to play more than 2 or 3 hours. After 2 or so years of sitting on the shelf, looking for a game to play, I started a new game in ED. Though not much older now, I was more mature and smart enough to grasp what Eternal Darkness is. This time around, I played unceasingly. The game grabbed me, and didn't let go.
Eternal Darkness represents a feat in video game story telling. The game's story is absolutely brilliant. The heavily H.P. Lovecraft tale spans known history, from Rome to the modern day. Each twist, each new revelation, only makes it more compelling. The way which the story is told, the themes it presents, and the writing are all magnificent, going beyond anything that came before it. To make the story better, it's got three different paths that, although similar, each shine a little more light on the overall picture.
The game also excels in the little details, from the changing of familiar scenery, the horror elements, but most of all, the sanity effects. The game gives you a sanity meter that will drain over time. When you're low on sanity, you'll feel the effects. Your head might explode, the screen will be out of focus, your game save might be deleted, things that are supposed to happen may not occur. Each sanity effect is unique, surprising, and really brings you into the game as they drive you a little bit insane, too. It only adds to the tension and horror in the game, the story, and the psychological thrills.
The gameplay is basic, but it works. You walk around, solving puzzles Resident Evil style, and taking out enemies with your current weapon. You target limbs to fight, and usually go for the head first, mostly to retain sanity. The game has a unique magic system that allows you to blend magic for different purposes and puzzles, as well as magic to heal and attack. All spells can be assigned to a handy quick spell menu.
Too many people missed Eternal Darkness. Last year, Denis Dyack got a lot of heat when he got banned from NeoGAF and Too Human turned out to be a dud. I still have faith in him, as do many others. Why? Because he made Eternal Darkness, a feat that cannot be spoiled.
7. Final Fantasy IX
Time for a continuation of my Final Fantasy story from my description of VI. We pick up the story with BoG as a sophomore in high school. I've now played two FF games start to finish, X and VI. I own most all of them, I was getting ready for III and twleve in the near future, and IV on my GBA, but I;d played very little. I picked up IV one day, and got sucked in. When XII was released on Halloween, I began playing that. Then it hit finally hit me, I consider my self a "fan" of FF, yet I've only finished two games. I can't just leave yet another half finished. So I put my new copy of XII on hold, and played through IV. Once I had, I finished XII. Then, it was on to III. I'd set up a schedule now, I was going to start new games in VII and VIII (my 4th new game in VIII), and then find a copy IX somewhere. When I started up VII, I just wasn't feeling it. I though I was burned out from FF games for a while. I thought maybe I'd try IX if I could find it, so I drove to my local Play N Trade, and they had it. I went home, and popped it in.
Now, I have to put my experience with the game on hold for just a little longer so you'll understand why I loved what was such and old game at that point. At the time, it had felt like so long since I had really loved a game. The glee I once felt playing video games seemed to have faded away as I got older. I tried to feel it, but it just never happened. Some games I wanted to love came and went. I thought I was just getting older, unable to feel like I did only a few years before.
Now back to the story. I popped in the game, and began playing. That youthful spark came back as I played Final Fantasy IX all night long. I just fell in love. The atmosphere, the characters, the adventure, all came together to make me a few years younger. It was a liberating experience. I love IX for doing it to me.
Not just any game can make you feel like a child again, however. Final Fantasy IX has one of the best stories in the series, some of the most memorable characters, and is just one big exciting adventure. There are turckloads of memorable moments in Final Fantasy IX. I loved so much even just the smallest details of the game, it's locales, and its story.
The game also excels among Final Fantasy games, once again introducing a new, fresh character customization system. I loved learning skills from weapons, and then rearranging my equipped skills to perfect my character. Like VI before it, IX once again gave the cast of characters unique abilities, all of which made selecting a party more interesting (especially once Quina joins the party).
Final Fantasy IX is, in my eyes, the greatest of this fabled series. Though perhaps the writing isn't as good as that of XII, the music (though awesome) isn't quite as good as VI, or the customization may not be as deep as V, I have never had more fun playing an RPG. I don't know why Final Fantasy IX was pushed to the side by so many gamers, but I do know they are all missing out.
6. Half Life 2
Looking back, Half Life 2 was all but destined to be a major disappointment. The original Half Life, though not on my list, is among the all time gaming greats. It was hailed as the greatest single player FPS experience ever. The story was wonderful, the gameplay was great... In every facet, Half Life raised the bar. How in the world can
a sequel top that? When the game was revealed, I'd say it only made matters worse. The graphics were better than anything we had seen to date, the physics were revolutionary, Valve was in way over their heads. As time went on, it seemed only bad news accompanied HL2. Honestly, I wrote it off as another Duke Nukem Forever, probably something that would never come out. When its release became official, and it slowly approached, admittedly, I was really excited. I told my self not to get my hopes up, but Valve had really talked this game up. Really, though, it couldn't avoid dissapointment.
Well, it did.
Half Life 2 is a masterpiece. Everything we wanted in a Half Life sequel is here, and so much more. The graphics are magnificent even today, the combat is tighter than ever, and the atmosphere is unparalleled. They did it. I reiterate, Half Life 2 is a masterpiece. I've said this about so many games on my list so far, but my heart was pounding the entire way through. The game does not skip a beat. Whether you're running from the combine in a sort of underground railroad, your being attacked by aircraft as you run across a bridge, or just experiencing the horror of a headcrab coming out of nowhere, you won't ever get bored. As I mentioned before, the atmosphere is brilliant. Few video game worlds can be as atmospheric as City 17. I'm sitting here, and I just can't describe it. It's just... awesome.
Just as it's predecessor, Half Life 2 raised the bar for gameplay. It helped usher in a new era of first person shooter and advance a genre that was all but perfected. It would be difficult to improve on gameplay in the genre, but with awesome weapons all with cool secondary fire, Half Life 2 set today's standard. The game didn't fall short of awesome combat, utilizing more traditional weapons, as well as the awesome gravity gun. Holy crap, the gravity gun, do you guys remember when your gravity gun gets powered up and you could rip stuff off the walls? Oh gosh. The gravity gun also made for some unique puzzles, which were up to par with those of the first game. All the weapons were awesome, from the standard pistol to the crossbow.
On a side note, though I'm not counting them as the original game, HL2 episodes 1 and 2 are awesome additions to the title.
Even with every opportunity to fail, Valve pulled it off. They continue to do so, what with the Orange Box being as awesome as it is. Oh, yeah, MAKE EPISODE 3.
Honorable Mention: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
Oracle of Ages was a magnificent Zelda title, and my second favorite 2D entry in the series. It had a huge variety of worlds, amazing puzzles, and Ricky the Kangaroo.
Wow. I honestly just want to right my top 5 now. I don't have time though. I'm really excited to share it, even though I know everyone will have their issues with it. Anyways, feel free to discuss and disagree!
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