So somewhere in the darkness of the late 90s, I decided that the breadth of games that I had gone through merited a list. Perhaps for absurdity's sake, perhaps to try and convince myself to kick the "childish" habit; whatever the case, I now have proof positive that I've done some dumb things in my life, I'm a proud (and old) gamer, and I wish to share that very madness with the Giantbomb community.
Got addicted like everyone else. Which makes it all the more surprising that 2 is doing absolutely nothing for me.
Wasn't a Punch Out kid (it was way too hard for my young mind), and Super seemed just as unapproachable. But I checked my resolve and tried busting through this game. I'm glad I did, it's a fun franchise. Still not sure how I did it though. Even my pattern memorizing that gets me through all those Mega Man bosses was put to the test here.
I didn't really buy all the hype about this game, but it was enough to make me wanna play through it. It was competent, certainly had a voice and style all its own. But I dunno, what can I say? It didn't win me over.
Third person shooters though, I could be on board for. Where you can throw dudes into walls and ceilings for an hour? No okay, this I'm for. Here's a sandbox where you can blow up heads, throw stuff before The Force Unleashed existed, and watch that black dude go through every hairstyle you can't think of.
Oof, played this wayyyyyy too late. Ykno what doesn't hold up? This spiritual successor to Deus Ex. This game made me realize that I won't be going back and playing anymore PS2 FPSes ever again.
Addicted all the way through. When someone who doesn't speak English as their first language is all about this, you know it's great. Still haven't started the second (much less third). That's just a matter of having that much time I know is gonna go down the riddle-drain.
They tried pretty hard here, and I respect their efforts, but yeah, it sorta felt like the series was off the wheels by this point. Forgotten Sands was a better return to form, but at least new ideas were spattered about in all these games? Can't blame Ubisoft of messing up the good parts, that's for damn sure.
This was pretty awful. The first level had me sold, but by the third Dahaka chase, I was pretty bummed out at what they were making me do.
OH, they totally released Sands of Time in a modern engine. Great! On board.
Blew my mind. So fluid and rich, responsive. Arg, can't we just rerelease this in a modern engine?
Nolan North presents Prince of Persia. I actually was all about this redesign. Still feels just as smooth, but has a lot of new ideas that I think worked out great. Actually went through and get all those damn lights. First 360 game to make me wanna finish it and do every achievement that didn't feel greedy.
My computer couldn't play this at the time of release, so it played it years later. Would've been mind-blowing at its time. By the time I played it, I felt like I was replaying Half-Life 1. Doesn't make it bad, just old.
Another mediocre game probably seen as less-than-mediocre that probably only I played through. I love me some predator (and can make the mandible clicking sound real well), so I had to play it and sing with my flaying friend. Feels like every renderware game in the world, but hey, kill yo'self some mobsters and (spoilers!) xenomorphs. I kinda liked it. Then again, I hated the Predator vs Aliens games at the time, like that arcadey SNES one? woof.
Groovy puzzle game. Again, one of the first DS games I played, so many moons ago. I remember good things.
Actually spent the time to beat this, sadly. Not that kind of patience on 2 though. I mean at least it gives you more than even the modern handheld games give ya.
I really want this game to hold up, like a lot. But it just doesn't! And this was so inspiring playing it in Blockbuster. Pity.
So here's what happened. During college I figured I'd play this even though I was outta this franchise (due to age, of course). But to make it interesting, I'd just play it with ONLY my starting pokemon and stop once I get systemically stuck. So I pick up a Torchic, named it Burny and went. I never once leveled up a pokemon aside from Burny and Kyogre once I got him (since I was /that/ far into it), and actually beat the game without a gigantic amount of trouble. I think I just got lucky picking a Fire/Fighting/Flying/Ground pokemon that just beats everything in the way. So bragging rights at least?
Again? And there's a third one on the way?! I'll do it but I'm not telling anyone that I'm enjoying it so thoroughly!...
Why did you suck me in with your circle drawing? Curse you Pokemon!
Dungeon crawler, but it's made toward kids, so it's playable by people who aren't so great at such games. It was good, but a healthy break is needed for me before I hit the sequel or a similar game.
A game you can play while watching TV. Oh, and don't forget the shame.
Shame. Move along.
Bruce Campbell! I didn't even realize that while playing it, and I love me some Evil Dead. Oh the shame.
Cute, enjoyed the take (although I bet most didn't like it), and felt like a nice competent platformer.
Kinda weak continuation of the best alligator jumper.
OH GOD SO ADDICTIVE. Once you make the Statue of Liberty, there's never anything else to do. This is true in life as well as this game.
Now this one tied up pretty nice. I have questions about tri-clops, but whatever. Still fantastic.
Keep it goin Capcom, love it. Ending was kinda off, but at least they didn't keep doing that.
Started an addiction. Much like Chibi Robo and Trauma Center, it's hard to try and explain to other people that a lawyer game is really awesome, but it is. So just don't care what you think. Play, enjoy.
Played this years after it came out, so it didn't hit me as hard as most. Felt like a half decent Goldeneye clone for me. Hate as you will.
Now here is a beast. I didn't think I was gonna like the RPG/action mix that stopped me from getting too far in Vagrant Story (5 times I've started that game now). But this worked out pretty well. That 5 form boss on the ship was one of the most stressful final bosses I've gone through.
Tried 2 but I think that's too different to work out.
Felt kinda forced? I mean it wasn't Um Jammer, but the same magic wasn't here. Still good to have it.
This is what sold me on rhythm games, on the PSX controller, and on Sony being a viable console in general. My freestyling on these levels is sincerely known well by friends of mine. check turn signal to the check turn left uh.
You're right internet, it really was a step up on the old one in so many ways. If you think about it, you see how game-y so so many things are, but don't do that. Just enjoy the wonder that it is.
Personality makes this whole series, and here's where it starts with a bang. This is where I felt like Mario started to really have different continuing series, and it feels good. Gets more Mario games pumped out but covers different itches.
I actually thought this was pretty cute. I'm sure they thought way more games would turn out like this on the DS. At least level 5 kinda picked up the pieces.
Yep, that was one of the first DS games. S'workin.
Play this game immediately. Don't care if you hate Japan, don't care if you think games are hard, you know it's just that good.
This game kept me going. But oh man is this a throwback (and pastiche) of everything you loved in the id Tech 1/Build Engine years. It's...good? I can't decide. Probably.
A good little shooter. Nothing fancy here.
Real realreal short, but great concept. You can actually give this to a person, have them beat it, then take it back, it's just that fast.
I'm no good at tactics. At. All. But I got good for this game. I started going into the Phantom Realm well after this game. It takes a great RTS (that's not too hard, lookinatyou Fire Emblem) to get me into it, and here we are.
YOU CAN PLAY AS MEGA MAN, WHY AREN'T YOU PLAYING THIS RIGHT NOW?!
Actually a way way better fighter than you'd think.
Jean Reno!??! Oh, he only did like, 5 lines in this. Fine.
The opening cinematic for this is still breathtaking. A fine installment.
Ykno what a crazy demon samurai game needs? Dating sim elements, yeahhhhh.
Controls RE style? For-get it! Wait, this feels way better than RE, as though it was made with the control style in mind! Probably unplayable now, but was pretty spiffy back in the day.
But ohmygod that hanging upside down guy. Everything he says...*shudder*
Maybe this'll get me interested in this apparently super popular show? No, makes it even worse? aiight.
Ykno what made this feel super-legit as I played this? I played this in its entirety in Japan. Only game I think I played there, but what a great game. The Starfox-talk drove the roommate crazy though.
So yeah, great LoZ game, you know all this!
Usually one tower defense feels like em all. But the personality on this one drew me in like so many others. Glad I did, nice to have a good feeling tower defense every now and again just cuz.
DS version. There should be a name for crappy games that you beat just to feel better now that you've beaten a game after a dry spell. Or ones that you can beat while trying it out.
Too scared of the first two to touch just yet. But this was a solid solid game. You hold it book style, and it totally feels like a simplified 3D game. Through and through.
Feels and plays like a classic SNES or Genesis game, but its 2003 and on the GBA! Are you a ninja cop? Cuz you have to tell me if you're a ninja cop.
I intentionally made this my first 360 game so I could learn the controls from all the QTEs. That plan worked wonderfully. Also could've made me biased, but I thought this was a solid Ninja Gaiden wanna be that wasn't so goddamn hard that I hated ninjas forever.
Female Shinobi. Plays exactly the same. Probably a bit easier? It's been so long. I remember liking this quite a bit.
Again, a ravishing game. So simple yet so enjoyable. So long as you can convince a S.O. or family member to run and jump, they'll probably enjoy this to some degree too. When in doubt, pick them up and tell them not to fuck this up for us.
This is what convinced me to buy a DS. The perfect new Mario game. Simple if you want, challenging as all hell if you want every big coin. And lemme tell ya, that coin where you get it in the mini-mario maze and then you have to race to the end with the meteors?...don't talk to me about that.
Watching Pyramid Head do sporting events should be a pasttime. Well enough sports minigame with GREAT Konami cameos. Great.
Quick, dumb, zero investment in the "story", moving on.
I dunno how I actually beat this but I did. It was good, but I figure this one was easier than its sequel, cuz I can't even get halfway through that sucka.
Now here's one game I'll defend to the death since I was the only one who played it. It's not perfect, or even spectacular, but it was way surprising how enjoyable it was. It's Devil May Cry but with some Japanese sci-fi twists. You're Jake and the bad guy's name is Keith? Konami feelin in that serious-but-not tone. Forget the oil concept, it's good!
This was such a quick game, I basically played it between other games and/or during commercials.
Da-Da-Dash! Oh Impact, I miss you.
Really difficult to play now given how bad it controls and otherwise feels. But I remember eating this game up. Got the batteries for that dude, upgraded all the weapons. Good times. I just realized I never played the sequel!!
I thought this was Maniac Mansion. I didn't read it correctly. Beat it anyways, let's never speak of it again.
I actually thought this game was gonna be some bad adventure game with some action in it. Turned out to be pretty great. I bet if they didn't have all that sweet, appropriate Primus music, it wouldn't have won me over, but good gorbachev that music kept me interested.
Brutal feelin game. Voices were /all/ wrong here, but the fighting felt like a good upgrade and mix between 2D and 3D fighting games. Shaoside was a punk though.
I will say this was more fun with a buddy, but it held my interest pretty well. Those into the mythology are still pounding their heads over the ending, I try to think about it as little as possible.
So I got my action-adventure from Konquest. And it felt better than the last two games'. The half-brother garbage was a bit cliche of course. But that boss sure did gimmie a run for my rushed-through money.
It was good. The story was relatively compelling, the final boss was crazy delicious.
How much would it make you cringe to learn that I only completed this game in 2010. It was rough to look at, but I felt it my duty to experience this game as an important part of history. Skipped 2 though, just seemed more of the same. Also, those dream sequences with the walking on red lines? Kill that developer.
Of course it's fantastic. One of the first post-SNES fighting games I really got behind.
Great in its time, but again, better iterations in the franchise's history.
Laughably worse. I think I started playing on mute halfway through, it got so bad. That of course made it hilarious when that final boss popped out, but man, THIS is the best plot you have? If I wanna just punch people mindlessly, I'll go play Final Fight 2.
Actually played this on the PS2. Still totally playable though. Levels felt a smidgen too long as I felt the need to stop after just one. Cinematics were gorgeous though. I've watched that "shit gets bad" one over and over.
Oh, the PSX fighting game! Okay, I was thinking of that SNES War of the Gems greatness of a game. No this was good, but there are better ones in the Capcom(and/or SF)/Marvel games.
One of the first games I sat there afterwards and went, "Why did I just do that? Who am I trying to impress playing quick garbage?". Then I played the DS version for the same reason. And that was WAY worse.
I remember it looking better and feeling a bit smarter than the previous one. Other than that I forget.
This felt like a look into what Game and Watch would be in modern times. Great puzzles albeit with zero replay. Definitely unusual for me to like since I sorta hate Lemmings.
Oh! I had forgotten this was a thing! I love adventure pinball games. This, the Metroid one, Sonic, Kirby, even Pokemon. Arg, might have to find this and play it again now.
Much like Warioware, this game works seamlessly with a DS. Surprised there haven't been any more of these.
Actually beat the whole story mode on this. Not that that's hard, but it sure does take a bit of patience.
Not sure how many people've actually played it, but I consider it the best of the series by leaps and bounds. It felt like they made Super Mario RPG all over again. The controls, the new world. Having fury.
I'd have the fake italian as my text alert if I could. What's with Luigi's deep darkness they keep referring to?! Did he create Bowser? Is he Bowser?! (great game, you know that)
Filled that grid with golds and never looked back. No tilt and I'm alright.
Personally confirmed as a hit in South Korea. I might even go as far as saying this is the best iteration.
Gimmicky two-person thing just got in the way. At least there were new maps?
Maybe not the best Mario Kart anymore, but I feel like it had the best items.
Fantastic Nintendo basketball game by Squeenix on the DS? Somehow. Really solid title. Last FF team had me livid, but it was worth it.
DS version only (so far). Good sports minigame collection. Does anyone know how to actually surf successfully in California Games? So frustrating as a kid.
I actually don't hate the babies that much. This series is stupendous though. I'd make the fake-italian my ringtone if I could find it.
Mmm, development hell games. 5 hours of alright for what it was.
Another Magical Quest game?!?!? ON BOARD!
Never played the genesis games, but this was pretty decent. Always somehow get this confused with the strategy genesis game...Shining Force.
Never played the Boktai games (sun?), but this was pretty good. Felt like it overstayed its welcome, but these kind of games are nice on the DS.
Very good proof of concept. So short and sweet, it's hard to complain about much. Maybe the controls a bit.
Oh god, they ruined this franchise. Incomprehensible story, like I could see what they were going for, but lordie. Just make the first one again Capcom!
Melee weapons did make it more fun, as did the variety in level missions. What else to say? It's great.
See above. A good game to suggest for those new to platform gaming.
THAT MENU MUSIC. Not the best kart racer. But hey, goemon!
It's the zombie shooter we all know and love. The potential the AI Director makes me excited for the future of AI in gaming.
Pretty remake. No complaints, but it's pretty durn easy.
Actually my first Soul Reaver game aside from a few minutes of Soul Reaver 2. I in fact enjoyed this quite a bit. The variety of levels and puzzles felt solid too. Tony Jay as the Elder God was a good surprise.
